Government Test Study Guide

Name: ______Date:_____

The following questions cover the citizen participation, distribution of power, and government systems

  1. You are the chief executive in your country’s democratically-elected national government. You come to power in the last election after your political party won a majority of seats in the national legislature. As the leader of your political party, you were chosen to be the government by your co-workers in the legislature. Which form of government do you have?

Parliamentary Democracy

  1. Both the czars and the Soviet dictators were an example of what type of government?

Autocratic

  1. In which system of government does the legislature elect the executive leader of the government?

Parliamentary Democracy

  1. Which type of government would most likely abolish all opposing political parties, the direct election of leaders, and free speech?

Autocracy

  1. What was the USSR’s(Soviet Union) type of government during the cold war?

Communist

  1. What is the difference between a parliamentary democracy and a presidential democracy?

In Parliamentary Democracy the head of the government, the Prime Minister is selected by the legislature (Parliament) and is a member of the legislature (It’s a UNITARY system).

In a Presidential Democracy the head of government is elected separately from the legislature and there is separation of power between the executive, legislature, and judicial branches.

  1. What is a basic way citizens of a democratic nation can influence the government?

By Voting

  1. A major difference between a democratic form of government, like the United States, and a communist form of government, like the former Soviet Union would be _Personal Freedoms.
  1. You live in a small country ruled by one man, who is also the head of the military. The only TV and radio stations you have are owned and run by the government. You can access the Internet, but you can only see certain government-approved websites. Although your country has elections, you are only allowed to vote for your current leader. People who criticize or protest against the government are jailed or executed. Which form of government best describes the government where you live?

Autocracy

  1. What is a confederation?

It is independent states that work together as partners (cooperate) toward a common cause.

  1. What type of government do citizens have no voting rights?

Autocracy and Oligarchy

  1. In what way are the president and prime minister alike?

They both control the military and both control the government.

  1. Which form of government is based on the “rule of the people?”

Democracy

The following questions cover the European Union

  1. What group was created in 1993 for the purpose of creating a single economic market in which there are no barriers to trade, services, or capital among the member states? European Union
  1. Until recently every country in Western Europe had different currency, but now they only have one form of currency called the EURO.
  2. What were some of the goals of the European Union (EU), which was established in the 1990s? List 3
  1. Economic
  2. political
  3. defensive
  1. How has the European Economic Community/European Union seen a benefit to the countries that have joined it?They have benefited through the exchange of goods, environmental issues, human rights, and the standard of living has improved.

The following questions cover Germany, United Kingdom, or Russia’s government

  1. What kind of government does the United Kingdom have?Constitutional Monarchy
  1. What does the Prime Minister in the United Kingdom do?Runs the government, is part of the legislature (House of Commons), and has more power than the King or Queen.
  1. What kind of government does Germany have today?Federal Republic (federation)-it has a constitution and divided power like the United States.
  1. What is the leader of the Parliament in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada called?The Prime Minister
  1. Which part of the British government has the most power?House of Commons
  1. Which form of government is based on the “rule of the people?”Democracy
  1. Who is the head of state in Germany’s FederalRepublic?Chancellor-head of government and controls the military!
  1. What kind of government does Russia have? Federation-with three branches like the U.S.
  1. Which country(s) that we have studied has a federal republic? Germany (the United States is a FederalRepublic)
  1. In the United Kingdom what governing body elects the Prime Minister?House of Commons
  1. How are the members in the German Bundestag selected?Elected by the Citizens
  1. Describe the FederalRepublic of Germany.The German government is made up of three branches (executive, legislative, and judicial).

The executive branch is made up by= Chancellor and President

Legislature= Bundestag (voted in by the citizens) and the Bundesrat.

  1. Describe the United Kingdom’s parliamentary system of government.

The UK has an executive branch=Prime Minister and King/Queen

The legislature=The House of Commons (elected) & House of Lords (appointed)

  1. Russia has a type of government in which power is formally divided between one central authority and several regional authorities. Name that type of government.Federation –federal

You will have an essay questions on your test, it will be one of the following so answer these in a minimum of 3 sentences and be prepared to answer them on your test 

  1. List two advantages of joining the European Union?See #17
  1. List a similarity and a difference between a Presidential and a Parliamentary Democracy

See answer #6.

Additional Similarities: Both are democratic, have executives that are head of government and control the military.

Differences: Head of Governments= President and Prime Minister (different titles)