Government Power and Democratic Systems

How is power distributed in a government where power is concentrated in the hands of one person?

• Shared among many individuals.

• Concentrated in a single individual.

• Distributed equally among all citizens.

• Held by a small group of elected representatives.

What was a characteristic of direct democracy in Ancient Greece?

• Citizens voted for representatives to make decisions.

• Decisions were made by a small council of elders.

• Each person could cast one vote on a matter, decided by a simple majority.

• Only wealthy landowners were allowed to vote.

In a representative democracy, how do people typically participate in decision-making?

• They directly vote on every law and policy.

• They choose representatives who make decisions for them through elections.

• A single leader makes all decisions without public input.

• Decisions are made by a hereditary monarch.

What is a key difference between a presidential democracy and a parliamentary democracy?

• In a presidential system, the leader is chosen by the legislature, while in a parliamentary system, the people directly elect the leader.

• In a presidential system, the people vote for the leader and the legislature separately, while in a parliamentary system, the legislature appoints the leader.

• Presidential systems have no legislature, unlike parliamentary systems.

• Parliamentary systems do not hold elections, while presidential systems do.

Which institutions typically provide checks on government power in healthy democracies?

• Only the military and police forces.

• An independent court system and a free press.

• A single, all-powerful leader.

• Foreign governments and international organizations.

What is the primary characteristic of federalism in a democratic system?

• All governmental power is concentrated at the national level.

• Power is divided between national and local governments, with certain powers designated to local entities.

• The military holds ultimate authority over all government branches.

• Citizens directly vote on all laws and policies.

What is a common characteristic of authoritarian governments?

• They always hold free and fair elections.

• Power is typically concentrated in one person or a small group, with few checks on their power.

• They prioritize individual liberties above all else.

• They are known for their slow and deliberative decision-making processes.

What term describes the process where strong democracies drift towards authoritarianism?

• Democratic consolidation.

• Political liberalization.

• Democratic backsliding.

• Governmental decentralization.