TYPES OF GOVERNMENT
What type of government is ruled by one person who has unlimited or nearly unlimited power?
Autocracy
What type of government gives most political power to the national government?
Unitary government
What type of government has a president who serves as the head of the executive branch and is separate from the legislative branch?
Presidential government
Which ancient Greek city-state is known for developing one of the earliest forms of democracy?
Athens
What does it mean for a state to be sovereign?
A state has supreme authority over its territory and can govern itself without being controlled by another state.
Why did European nations establish colonies?
To gain wealth, resources, land, trade opportunities, and political power.
What type of government is a loose alliance of independent states that gives limited power to a central government?
Confederation
What type of government is controlled by a small group of powerful people?
Oligarchy
What type of government divides power between the national government and state or regional governments?
Federal Government
In a presidential government, who is usually the head of the executive branch?
The president
Which ancient civilization influenced modern government through ideas such as republican government and written laws?
Rome
What is legitimacy in government?
The belief that a government has the right and authority to rule
What economic goal encouraged European nations to establish colonies?
To gain valuable resources and increase trade and wealth.
What term describes the idea that government gets its power from the people?
Popular sovereignty
What type of government is ruled by religious leaders or is based heavily on religious law?
Theocracy
What term describes the way political power is divided among different levels or parts of government?
Division of power
What type of government has an executive leader, such as a prime minister, who usually comes from the legislative branch?
Parliamentary government
What system organized medieval European society around relationships between lords, vassals, and land?
Feudalism
What is one way a government can gain legitimacy?
By holding fair elections, following laws, protecting rights, or gaining the consent of the people.
Which Enlightenment idea says that people are born with basic rights that government should protect?
Natural rights
Which U.S. president emphasized government “of the people” during the Civil War era?
Abraham Lincoln
What type of government gives most political power to one ruler or a small group rather than to the people?
Autocracy
In which type of government do states or provinces have significant powers that are protected from the national government?
Federal government
What is one major difference between a presidential government and a parliamentary government?
The executive and legislative branches are more separate in a presidential government, while the executive usually comes from the legislature in a parliamentary government.
How did Athens contribute to the development of modern government?
Athens developed a form of direct democracy in which citizens participated in government.
Why are elections important to government legitimacy?
Elections give citizens a voice in choosing leaders and can provide consent for government authority.
What Enlightenment idea says that government gets its authority from the people?
Popular sovereignty
What ancient civilization influenced modern ideas about republican government and written law?
Rome
A country is controlled by a small group of wealthy business leaders. Which type of government best describes it?
Oligarchy
The United States gives certain powers to the federal government and other powers to the states. What concept does this demonstrate?
Division of power
In this type of government, the prime minister and cabinet are typically chosen from the legislature and must maintain its support to remain in power.
Parliamentary government
How did Roman government influence later ideas about government?
Rome developed ideas about republican government, citizenship, written laws, and representative government.
A government takes power through force but is not accepted by most of its citizens. Why might this government struggle to achieve legitimacy?
People may not believe the government has the right to rule or represent their interests.
How did Enlightenment ideas influence the development of modern democratic governments?
They encouraged natural rights, limited government, popular sovereignty, and government based on the consent of the people.
What medieval system was based on land, loyalty, and relationships between lords and vassals?
Feudalism