Mr. McCormack
American Government
Central Dauphin High School
BIG IDEA WORKSHEET
STUDY GUIDE
Chapter One – Principles of Government
Section One: Government and the State (p 4-10)
__________ is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. (p 4)
This institution exercises three basic kinds of power. (p 4)
1. Legislative Power: _________________________________________________________________
2. Executive Power: __________________________________________________________________
3. Judicial Power: ____________________________________________________________________
These powers are often outlined in a body of fundamental laws known as a __________. (p 4)
__________ is the process by which a society decides how power and resources will be distributed within that
society. (p 5)
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STATE
POPULATION
TERRITORY
Definition:
Definition:
Smallest:
Smallest:
Largest:
Largest:
SOVEREIGNTY
Definition:
GOVERNMENT
Definition:
HOW DID THE FIRST STATE BEGIN?
FORCE THEORY
EVOLUTIONARY THEORY
Definition:
Definition:
Associated with:
Associated with:
Modern Examples:
Modern Examples:
DIVINE RIGHT THEORY
SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
Definition:
Definition:
Associated with:
Associated with:
Modern Examples:
Modern Examples:
Mr. McCormack
American Government
Central Dauphin High School
BIG IDEA WORKSHEET
STUDY GUIDE
Chapter One – Principles of Government
Section Two: Forms of Government (p 12-16)
Governments can be classified in three basic ways: who can __________, the __________ distribution of power, and
the relationship between the _________ and __________ branches. (p 12-15)
PARTICIPATION
CLASSIFICATIONS OF GOVERNMENTS
DIRECT DEMOCRACY
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
Definition:
Definition:
Pro:
Pro:
Con:
Con:
Examples:
Examples:
AUTOCRACY
OLIGARCHY
Definition:
Definition:
Pro:
Pro:
Con:
Con:
Examples:
Examples:
LEGISLATIVE & EXECUTIVE
GEOGRAPHIC BASE
UNITARY
FEDERAL
CONFEDERATE
Definition:
Definition:
Definition:
Pro:
Pro:
Pro:
Con:
Con:
Con:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
PRESIDENTIAL
PARLIAMENTARY
Definition:
Definition:
Pro:
Pro:
Con:
Con:
Examples:
Examples:
Which of the above do you think are best, and why? ________________________________________________
Would anarchy (lack of government) be better than any of these? ______________________________________
Mr. McCormack
American Government
Central Dauphin High School
BIG IDEA WORKSHEET
STUDY GUIDE
Chapter One – Principles of Government
Section Three: Basic Concepts of Democracy (p 18-22)
Please read about the five foundations of democracy and summarize each in the chart below. (p 18-20)
Foundation
Summary
1._______________________
2._______________________
3._______________________
4._______________________
5._______________________
Do you think democratic governments can exist in states when one or more of these foundations are lacking?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
American commitment to freedom is deep-rooted, and it is evident in the nation’s __________ system as well as
its political system. (p 20)
The American economic system is often called the __________, __________, __________, or ___________.
(p 20-21)
It is based on four fundamental factors: (p 21)
1. __________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________________
In our economic system, decisions about production and price are set through the __________, although the
__________ regulates many of those decisions. (p 21)
This regulation is justified for two reasons: __________ and __________. (p 21)
Based on our class discussion, do you think communism would work in the US? _________________________