US Government - Ried Chapter 1 TEST Foundations of Government 1) What is the function of government in a free enterprise system? A. making production decisions B. limiting its interference C. exchanging goods and services D. controlling distribution of goods 2) What principle of American democracy is at work when two opposing groups relax some of their demands in an attempt to reach an agreement? A. worth of an individual B. rule of law C. self government D. compromise 3) All men are created equal reflects the Founders commitment to which principle? A. worth of an individual B. rule of law C. self government D. citizen participation 4) What two ideals of democracy did Alexis de Tocqueville think must be kept in balance in order to prevent democratic despotism? A. competition and free enterprise B. majority and minority rights C. liberty and equality D. self-governance and self-reliance 5) The executive and legislative branches of government are combined in which type of government? A. presidential B. federal C. parliamentary D. republic 6) Which of the following describes a confederal system? A. Power is concentrated in a central government. B. Regional governments carry out decisions made by the central government. C. The central powers has only the power given to it by the states
7) The U.S. federal system consists of a national government and what other governmental level? A. municipal B. county C. state D. local 8) Which system of government is an indirect form of democracy, placing political decision making at least one step away from the people? A. theocracy B. republic C. presidential D. parliamentary 9) The people are the ultimate source of authority in which governmental system? A. monarchy B. republic C. oligarchy D. dictatorship 10) Which form of government has been the most common throughout world history? A. monarchy B. parliamentary C. republic D. theocracy 11) Who said that life without government was like a war pitting each individual against the other? A. Jean Rousseau B. Thomas Hobbes C. John Locke D. Sir Timothy Williams 12) The Chinese concept of Mandate of Heaven is an example of rule by A. natural law B. social contract C. direct democracy 13) Which of the following is another name for the term general welfare? A. public good B. social contract C. social good D. public contract
14) The supreme power of a state to act within its territory and have absolute authority over its internal and external affairs is called: A. policy B. legitimacy C. sovereignty D. legislative power 15) What three basic types of power do people in government exercise? A. legislative, executive, juvenile B. executive, diving, judicial C. judicial, legislative, sovereign D. legislative, judicial, executive 16) The power to carry out, enforce, and administer the law is known as: A. military power B. absolute power C. judicial power D. executive power 17) Which of the following is a basic function of government? A. taxing citizens B. creating policy C. maintaining a military D. ensuring a national security 18) Rulers who are seen as right and proper by key segments of their nation s population have A. sovereignty B. divine right C. presidentialism D. legitimacy 19) Which theory holds that the first governments formed as a result of people agreeing among themselves to submit to the authority of a state? A. social contract theory B. natural rights C. natural law 20) Which philosopher believed that the formation of societies and government corrupted the human condition and introduced inequality? A. Jean-Jacques Rousseau B. Thomas Hobbes C. John Locke D. Brianne Doepkere
21) In an oligarchy, who runs the government? A. president B. elected officials C. small group of people D. king or queen 22) What does an authoritarian regime become at its most extreme? A. republican B. totalitarian C. dictatorship D. absolute monarchy 23) The vast majority of the world s nations have which system of government? A. federal B. unitary C. confederal D. totalitarian 24) Which type of governmental system did the United States have in its earliest days? A. parliamentary B. federal C. confederal D. unitary 25) In a presidential system, the president is in charge of the: A. national court system B. social justice system C. executive branch D. pizza topping choices 26) In the early days of the American republic, people generally thought of liberty as A. equality B. freedoms C. rebellion D. self government 27) Why did our nation s Founders believe deeply in safeguarding economic freedom? A. Economic freedom allows people to build wealth. B. The new government wanted a large tax base. C. Economic freedom ensures national security. D. Government would be able to control the market.
28) What principle of American democracy is exemplified when people vote, obey the law, serve on juries, keep informed about current issues, or volunteer for social services? A. individual worth B. citizenship participation C. rule of law D. compromise 29) Americans believe strongly that a balance should be struck between protecting minority rights and: A. majority rule B. minority rule C. rule of law D. self-government 30) Supreme Court Case: Gideon v. Wainwright 1963: This case dealt with which of the following? A. Judicial Review B. Freedom of Speech C. Due Process D. First Amendment