Government CH 1 Reading Quiz

In the United States, the concept of equality means that every individual

• must sacrifice his or her interests so the needs of the many can be met.
• is born with as much talent and ability as everyone else.
• is entitled to receive the same treatment under the law.
• should receive the same share of worldly goods as everyone else.

What argument is the cartoon making about the role of compromise in our democratic government?

• Efforts to compromise on complex issues usually cause confusion and more harm than good.

• When there are too many compromises between the parties taking place, government cannot work.

• Failing to compromise on major issues by finding common ground can lead to disaster in public policy.

• The path to a compromise between political parties is usually clear and easy to achieve.

Duties are actions a citizen is required to take. Responsibilities are actions a citizen should take. Which of the following actions is a responsibility of citizenship?

• serving on a jury if called

• voting in elections

• paying taxes

• registering for the draft

Use this quote by the French Enlightenment thinker Baron de Montesquieu to answer the question.

“In every government there are three sorts of power; the legislative; the executive, in respect to things dependent on the law of nations; and the executive, in regard to things that depend on the civil law.”

What principle of government presented by the U.S. Constitution is Montesquieu describing?

• federalism

• republicanism

• separation of power

• sovereignty

Use this excerpt from the text to answer the question.

“A majority of the governmental systems in the world today are parliamentary, not presidential, in form.”

Which of the following explanations best explains why people support parliamentary systems?

• Parliamentary systems are not democracies, so rulers can keep more power for themselves.

• Parliamentary governments are better able to prevent conflict between the executive and legislative branches.

• In a parliamentary system, there are checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches.

• A parliamentary system allows the people to choose who will be the chief executive.

If you know that a nation uses a parliamentary system of government, but have no other information, what do you know for certain about the structure of that government?

• who is allowed to participate in the governing process

• the geographic distribution of power in the state

• the relationship between the executive and legislative branches

• that its laws must be collected in a written constitution

Use this excerpt from the text to answer the question.

"Some people insist the United States is more properly called a republic rather than a democracy."

The people who support this statement argue that the United States is a republic because in its government,

• powers are divided between the executive, judicial, and legislative branches.

• political power is used indirectly by elected officials, not directly by the citizens themselves.

• power is shared by a central government and many State governments.

• the people do not have the power to influence the decisions made by the government.

Which of the following statements about the forms of government is correct?

• The central government is strongest in a confederate system.

• Under the federal system, the states have only those powers granted by the national government.

• In a unitary system, the central government determines which powers the local governments have.

• Under the confederate and federal systems, local and central governments have equal powers.

Which statement best describes the form of government that is most common in Europe and the Americas?

• Power is held by a small, ruling elite.

• The people elect officials to represent them in government.

• Rule of the country is passed down through family members.

• A single individual has absolute control over the government.

This image shows Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, surrounded by his military officers. Which type of government does Kim Jong-un represent?

• oligarchy

• democracy

• republic

• theocracy