Chapter 1 Worksheet

Matching

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	

____	1.	A ____ is the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of government.

____	2.	A ____, often described as a centralized government, is one in which all powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency.

____	3.	Under a ____, the government must resign if it receives a “vote of no confidence.”

____	4.	____ is the power to make law and frame public policies.

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	

____	5.	The power to interpret laws, determine their meaning, and settle disputes within a society is known as ____.

____	6.	Independent states that agree to form a(n) ____ may still retain their separate identities.

____	7.	The structure of a(n) ____ requires that power be divided between a state's central and local levels of government.

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

MAIN IDEAS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Use the chart to answer the following questions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

	25.	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.	government.	
b.	state.	
c.	Constitution.	
d.	nation.	

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

	27.	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 rise.	
b.	The price will drop.	
c.	The price will rise, then drop.	
d.	The price will remain the same.	

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

		

Essay

	29.	What is an ideology?  Identify the two ideologies we discussed in class and identify THREE characteristics of each.

	30.	Identify AND explain the following theories regarding the origins of a state:

	a)  Divine Right Theory
	b)  Social Contract Theory	

	31.	Define a presidential form of government. How is a parliamentary form of government different?  Other than the US, provide TWO examples of other countries with a presidential form of government.

	32.	Define a FEDERAL form of government.  How is it different from a unitary form of government?  What is an advantage of a federal form of government?