Contemporary’s American Civics and Government
Study Guide
Chapter 1
1. What are the four characteristics of a state? a group of people 2. living in a definite
territory who have 3. a government in power who make and enforce laws 4. without
having permission from higher authority
2. What does a dictator do? A dictator controls the government and rules with absolute
power
3. Which theory states that the earliest government developed from the
family?evolutionary theory
4. What is coercive power? Government has the authority to make decisions and to force
its citizens to obey those decisions
5. Which theory were many ancient civilizations based on?divine right theory
6. What is a federal system of government?divides government powers between national
government and states or provenvional government
7. What are the four main purposes of government? provides a way for people to live in
peace 2.provides public services 3. national security 4. government makes decisions
that affect the economy and economic activities of business and individuals
8. What modern European nations have unitary governments? France, Italy Great
Britian
9. What type of government is found in Japan, Sweden, and Spain?constitutional
monarchies
10. What is similar about an autocracy and an oligarchy? The people who are govern do
not have a choice in their government
11. Who rules in a democracy? the people
12. Who developed the Social Contract Theory? Thomas Hobbes
Vocabulary
1. federal system divides government powers between national government and states or
provenvional government
2. force theory- explains the beginning of government differently
3. oligarchy- a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.
4. evolutionary theory- beginning of goverment
5. autocracy- single person holds all the power
6. divine right theory- was chosen by God
7. coercive power-Government has the authority to make decisions and to force its citizens
to obey those decisions
8. unitary governmentGovernment has the authority to make decisions and to force its
citizens to obey those decisions
9. constitutional monarchy- real power is as the hands of parlament
10. representative democracy- elect representative to govern in their plce
Essay Question
1. What are the three basic systems of government? Name and describe each type.
2.
unitary -all government power is held by the national government
federal-divides power between national government and state
confederate - a loose union of independent states