Unit 1 – Foundations of American Government- CP
Chapter 1 – Principles of Government
Section 1 – Government and the State
Name:
As you read Section 1, fill in the answers to the following questions.
1. How is government defined?
2. How is public policy defined?
What are the three basic kinds of power the government has to carry out its public policies?
What do they mean?
a.
b.
c.
3. How is constitution defined?
4. How is dictatorship and democracy defined?

Dictatorship –

Democracy –
5. How is state defined?
6. The state has four characteristics. How are they defined?
a. Population –
b. Sovereignty
c. Territory –
d. Government
7. What are the four most influential theories about the origin of the state and how are
they defined?
a.
b.
c.
d.
8. Which of the two theories might be used to explain the origins of Japan, which has an
emperor typically chosen from the same family.
a. the force theory and the divine right theory
b. the evolutionary theory and the force theory
c. the evolutionary theory and the divine right theory
9. Which of the following statements about sovereign states is NOT true?
A. Sovereign states decide their own foreign and domestic policies.
B. Sovereign states may be possessed by other nations.
C. A dictatorship may exist in a sovereign state.
D. Sovereign states have supreme power within their own territories.
10. Which of the following most accurately describes the force theory of the origin of
states?
A. God gave rulers the right to run states.
B. States originated from the force of the strongest individuals.
C. States were patterned after the institution of the family.
D. States began when people agreed to give up power to the state to promote the general
welfare.
11. Which of the theories for the development of government appears to be supported by
our system of government?
A. Force Theory
C. Divine Right Theory
B. Evolutionary Theory
D. Social Contract Theory
The Purpose of Government
The main purposes of government are described in the Preamble of
the Constitution of the United States:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution of the United States of America.”
12. For what purpose does government exist? List six.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
13. Which of the following is a result of the government’s concern about the general welfare
of its citizens?
a. establishing a state church
b. establishing schools, protecting the environment
c. resolving disputes between local governments
14. Which of the following purposes of government is mainly concerned with other nations?
A. Establishing Justice
B. Promoting the General Welfare
C. Forming a More Perfect Union
D. Providing for the Common Defense
15. Which of the following statements about dictatorships is NOT true?
A. one person or a small group holds power
B. those in power hold absolute and unchallengeable authority
C. dictatorships were unknown until modern times
D. dictatorships are not responsible to the people and cannot be limited by them
16. According to Social Contract Theory
A. the state was born of force
B. the state developed gradually out of the early family
C. those of royal birth have the right to rule
D. the state exists only to serve the will of the people
17. All of the following are classifications based on geographic distribution of power EXCEPT
A. unitary government
B. confederate government
C. federal government
D. democratic government