Main Types
What is rule by the people known as?
Democracy
Which system of the division of power between national and local governments does the United States have today?
Federal System (AKA federalism)
What are the three branches of government in the separation of powers system?
Executive, legislative, and judicial branch
Which amendment protects the "right to bear arms"?
Second Amendment
What is an autocracy?
A form of government in which one person rules
What is a unitary system?
When the central/national government holds nearly all power.
Under which of these two systems are there fixed terms for elected representatives?
Separation of Powers system
Which amendment prohibits "cruel and unusual" punishments?
Eighth Amendment
What is an oligarchy?
A form of government in which a small, powerful group of people rule.
What is a federal system?
When the national and local governments exercise a balance of independent powers and cannot abolish each other.
Under the parliamentary system, who is the prime minister?
The leader of the majority party
What did the 17th Amendment do?
It made senators directly elected by the people. Before, senators were elected by state legislatures.
Ancient Athens was an example of what type of governemnt?
What is a confederal system?
When a group of independent states form an association to cooperate, and the local/state governments have most of the powers.
When is a general election called under a parliamentary system?
Whenever the prime minister decides
Which amendment established the law of soil for U.S. citizenship and began incorporating the Bill of Rights to the states?
14th Amendment
What is the difference between a democracy and a republic?
In a democracy (direct democracy), the people rule/make laws directly, whereas in a republic (representative democracy), the people elect representatives to rule/make laws on their behalf.
Before the Constitution was adopted, which system of the division of power between national and local governments did the United States have?
Confederal System (under the Articles of Confederation)
Other than an election, how can the prime minister be removed in a parliamentary system?
A "vote of no confidence" by other members of parliament (MPs)
What did the 22nd Amendment do?
It limited the President to a maximum two terms.