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GOV CH-1 PRINCIPLES OF GOV

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 
 
MAIN IDEAS
 

 1. 
A federal government is one in which
a.
limited powers are assigned to a central agency by independent states.
b.
all power is concentrated in the central government.
c.
power is divided between a central government and local governments.
d.
powers are divided between a legislative branch and an executive branch.
 

 2. 
The Internet seems especially suited to satisfy which of these needs in a democracy?
a.
to control the lives of citizens
b.
the need for accurate, and always reliable, information on which to base decisions
c.
the need for an uneducated elite to run the government
d.
to be informed about the many different institutions and policies of the government
 

 3. 
In a democracy, the will of the majority
a.
cannot be used to deprive rights to a member of a minority group.
b.
rarely leads to satisfactory policy decisions.
c.
is not open to compromise.
d.
cannot be changed or improved upon.
 

 4. 
The theory underlying modern democracies was developed to challenge the idea that
a.
the strongest person or group has the right to control others by force.
b.
those of royal birth have absolute authority to rule.
c.
the people as a whole are the sole source of political power.
d.
the head of a family, clan, or tribe has the natural right to govern.
 

 5. 
Locke, Harrington, Hobbes, and Rousseau would most likely agree that
a.
the state exists to serve the will of the people.
b.
government should be eliminated.
c.
those of royal birth should rule the state.
d.
the state developed out of force.
 

 6. 
The dominant political unit in the world today is the
a.
government.
b.
state.
c.
nation.
d.
Constitution.
 

 7. 
Which of the following is among the characteristics of a state?
a.
population
b.
territory
c.
government
d.
all of the above
 

 8. 
Which of the following statements is NOT true of parliamentary government?
a.
The executive is chosen by the legislature.
b.
The prime minister and cabinet must resign if they lose the support of a majority of the legislature.
c.
The legislature is subject to the direct control of the executive.
d.
The prime minister and cabinet are part of the legislative branch.
 

 9. 
Which statement about the social contract theory is NOT true?
a.
Governmental powers are granted by the people.
b.
Governmental powers may be limited by the people.
c.
The state was created voluntarily by a free people.
d.
The state is a natural extension of people's family structure.
 

 10. 
Which of the following illustrates the concept of equality of opportunity?
a.
Senators consider testimony both for and against Supreme Court nominees.
b.
Citizens must obey the tax laws but may work to change them.
c.
Government may limit the beliefs and ideas of individuals.
d.
Public schools may not exclude students because of their sex or race.
 

 11. 
Among the broad purposes of the United States government spelled out in the Preamble to the Constitution is the obligation to
a.
provide for justice and the people's general welfare.
b.
defend the country against Americans who oppose its policies.
c.
keep the executive and legislative branches of government separate.
d.
create an autocratic form of government.
 

 12. 
Which of the following statements about sovereign states is NOT true?
a.
Sovereign states can determine their own form of government.
b.
Sovereign states decide their own foreign and domestic policies.
c.
A county or city is considered sovereign because it is subordinate to a larger form of government.
d.
Sovereign states have supreme power within their own territories.
 

 13. 
Which of the following statements about the Internet is false?
a.
The Internet makes it easier to gain knowledge about government.
b.
The Internet led to widespread on-line voting in the 2000 elections.
c.
The Internet contains information that is not always reliable.
d.
The Internet gives individuals the power to entertain and inform themselves.
 

 14. 
All political powers in a state are concentrated at the central level under which form of government?
a.
confederate
b.
federal
c.
unitary
d.
executive
 

 15. 
The individual 50 States lack which basic characteristic of a state?
a.
defined population
b.
government
c.
Constitution
d.
sovereignty
 

 16. 
Which of the following is among the purposes of government outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution?
a.
defending the nation against foreign enemies
b.
insuring order and domestic tranquility
c.
promoting the general welfare of the citizens
d.
all of the above
 
 
INTERPRETING TABLES
Use the chart to answer the following questions.

nar002-1.jpg
 

 17. 
In which country can the executive branch be forced from office for failing to win the legislature's support on a major issue?
a.
India
b.
Syria
c.
the United States
d.
Brazil
 

 18. 
Which characteristic do the United States and Botswana have in common?
a.
Both countries have a unitary form of government.
b.
Both countries have a presidential form of government.
c.
Both countries have parliamentary governments.
d.
Both countries are democratic.
 

 19. 
All of the following have unitary forms of government EXCEPT
a.
Botswana.
b.
France.
c.
Cuba.
d.
the United States.
 

 20. 
Government in which power is limited to a single person or very small group exists in
a.
Brazil.
b.
the United States.
c.
Cuba.
d.
Costa Rica.
 

 21. 
Which statement about the countries of Brazil and Syria is TRUE?
a.
Both countries have a unitary or centralized government.
b.
Both countries are democratic.
c.
Both countries have a presidential form of government.
d.
Both countries are controlled by dictatorships.
 

 22. 
All of the following countries are democracies EXCEPT
a.
Syria.
b.
India.
c.
France.
d.
Brazil.
 

 23. 
In which two countries do dictatorships exist?
a.
Brazil, India
b.
Botswana, Costa Rica
c.
Cuba, Syria
d.
Cuba, France
 

 24. 
Which form of government does Cuba, Costa Rica, and France have in common?
a.
unitary
b.
parliamentary
c.
dictatorial
d.
democratic
 

 25. 
A government can be both
a.
confederate and dictatorial.
b.
unitary and parliamentary.
c.
parliamentary and presidential.
d.
federal and unitary.
 

 26. 
Where does sovereignty rest in a dictatorship?
a.
with the people
b.
with a small group or a single person
c.
with the legislature
d.
all of the above
 

 27. 
The decision to raise taxes is an example of
a.
presidential powers.
b.
democracy.
c.
public policy.
d.
the force theory.
 

 28. 
According to the law of supply and demand, if strawberries become scarce due to a drought in berry-producing regions, what happens to the price of strawberries?
a.
The price will remain the same.
b.
The price will rise, then drop.
c.
The price will rise.
d.
The price will drop.
 

 29. 
According to the social contract theory, the contract is
a.
impossible without the king’s consent.
b.
a document describing the territory of the state.
c.
a constitution.
d.
the purpose of government.
 

 30. 
The United States does not have a unitary form of government because
a.
the States hold more power than does the Federal Government.
b.
the States have powers reserved to them in the Constitution.
c.
the British would not allow it.
d.
the executive and legislative branches are separate.
 

 31. 
Politics is a(n) ____, while government is a(n) ____.
a.
process, institution
b.
negative, positive
c.
institution, process
d.
policy, institution
 

 32. 
“Promote the general welfare” really means that
a.
the state promotes private industry.
b.
the government controls the economy.
c.
the government is a servant to its citizens.
d.
the Constitution establishes the meaning of “welfare.”
 

 33. 
Inability to resolve conflicts can be a characteristic of a
a.
parliamentary government.
b.
dictatorship.
c.
presidential government.
d.
unitary government.
 

 34. 
Which of the following would be MOST threatened by the social contract theory?
a.
John Locke
b.
the people of a state
c.
divine right advocates
d.
the authors of the Declaration of Independence
 

 35. 
Which of the following would NOT happen in a free enterprise system?
a.
Joanne’s Jewels goes out of business soon after a large department store opens nearby.
b.
The government orders K.P. & Co. to produce 30 million metric tons of steel per year.
c.
Sun, Inc. realizes a year-end profit of over $500,000.
d.
Hunt Enterprises is owned by one man, but his product is regulated by the government.
 

 36. 
Democracy’s belief in the worth of the individual is indirectly reflected in the
a.
necessity of compromise.
b.
free enterprise system.
c.
law of supply and demand.
d.
Internet.
 

 37. 
In a democracy, each minority has a right to
a.
determine public policy.
b.
criticize the majority.
c.
be heard.
d.
both b and c.
 

 38. 
For what reason might the ruler(s) in a dictatorship feel threatened by the existence of the Internet?
a.
The Internet can inform, but only when citizens make the effort to utilize its resources.
b.
The Internet can be unreliable.
c.
The Internet might provide a forum through which people could unite and rebel.
d.
The Internet might not be accessible to everyone.
 

 39. 
If you live under a democratic government that conducts its own foreign and domestic policies, in an area with a territory of 50 square miles and a population of 50,000, that area qualifies as a
a.
nation.
b.
Constitution.
c.
government.
d.
state.
 

Matching
 
 
IDENTIFYING KEY TERMS
Match each item with the correct statement below. You will not use all the terms.
a.
judicial power
b.
democracy
c.
Federal Government
d.
legislative power
e.
confederation
 

 40. 

 Independent states that agree to form a(n) ____ may still retain their separate identities.
 

 41. 

 The structure of a(n) ____ requires that power be divided between a state's central and local levels of government.
 

 42. 

 The power to interpret laws, determine their meaning, and settle disputes within a society is known as ____.
 
 
IDENTIFYING KEY TERMS
Match each item with the correct statement below. You will not use all the terms.
a.
constitution
b.
executive power
c.
unitary government
d.
parliamentary government
e.
presidential government
f.
legislative power
 

 43. 

 A ____ is the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of government.
 

 44. 

 Under a ____, the government must resign if it receives a “vote of no confidence.”
 

 45. 

 A ____, often described as a centralized government, is one in which all powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency.
 

 46. 

 ____ is the power to make law and frame public policies.
 



 
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