Government and Democracy

What is government?

• the services provided a community, such as police protection, fire protection, and public health programs

• the laws that protect peoples’ rights and ensure the safety of a state's citizens

• the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

• the process by which public officials are elected to and removed from office

Which of the following is the best definition of the public policies of a government?

• everything a government decides to do

• everything a government does related to public services

• everything a government does to collect taxes

• everything a government decides to do regarding foreign affairs

Which of the following lists the three basic powers a government must have?

• executive power, legislative power, military power

• legislative power, executive power, judicial power

• economic power, judicial power, legislative power

• judicial power, diplomatic power, executive power

Use the Preamble to the Constitution to answer the question. Which statement BEST expresses the concerns of the founders of the American government?

• Their focus was to create a government that protected the nation from foreign enemies.

• Their focus was to create a government that protected the nation from domestic threats.

• Their focus was to create a nation that protected national interests over individual rights.

• Their focus was to create a government that protected all aspects of the nation and its people.

Use the following quotation to answer the question. Which of the following BEST summarizes this idea?

• Government is necessary to make policy, but should not control people.

• Government is necessary, because people do not always behave perfectly.

• Government is not necessary, but people are better off when it exists.

• Government is not necessary, because people are naturally good.

Use this excerpt from the text to answer the question. Why might this particular classification be most meaningful to people?

• It indicates the balance of power in a government.

• It indicates how democratic a government is.

• It indicates a government’s geographic distribution of power.

• It indicates how flexible a government’s laws are.

In what way is the United States a representative democracy?

• Citizens allow a self-appointed elite to make decisions for them.

• Citizens decide laws and policies directly in mass meetings.

• Citizens choose small groups of people to make laws and policy for them.

• Citizens elect a President who has absolute power to make decisions for them.

Choose the answer that best completes the chart.

• A government controlled by a single person

• A government controlled by a legislative body

• A government controlled by the people

• A government controlled by the rich

Use the chart to answer the question. What is the difference between a unitary government and a federal government?

• In a unitary government, power is shared by an alliance of independent states; in a federal government power is divided between a central government and local governments.

• In a federal government, power is shared by an alliance of independent states; in a unitary government power is divided between a central government and local governments.

• In a federal government, power is held by a single, central agency; in a unitary government power is divided between a central government and local governments.

• In a unitary government power is held by a single, central agency; in a federal government power is divided between a central government and local governments.

A newspaper headline that reads 'President Rejects Tax Increase Bill' is an example of which of the following?

• The President has powers but they are subject to direct control by the legislature.

• The legislative and executive branches must always act together.

• The legislature can act on its own and can never be blocked by the President.

• The President has power to block actions of the legislature.