ANSWER KEY
Political Systems of Europe
Study Guide
1. Complete the chart below with definitions, country examples, and a symbol to help you remember the
different government terms.
Term
Unitary
Definition
Power is held by one central authority
Confederation A voluntary group of independent states
that agree to some limitations of freedom
in order to reach a common goal
Federal
Examples
United Kingdom
European Union
Power is shared between the central
government and regional governments
US, Russia
Autocracy
One leader has all of the power
Cuba, North Korea
Oligarchy
A small group has all of the power
Former Soviet Union
Democracy
Citizens have the power (vote)
UK, US, Germany,
Russia
Presidential
Democracy
Citizens directly elect the leader
Russia, US
Parliamentary Citizens vote for members of Parliament,
Democracy
Parliament selects the leader
Symbol
UK
2. Which government type allows citizens to have the greatest amount of political influence?
Democracy
3. Freedom of speech is usually censored and controlled in which type of government?
Dictatorship (Autocracy)
4. In which system do local government bodies have the LEAST political power?
Unitary
5. Which system of government shares power between the central and local governments?
Federal
6. Which type of democracy does the United Kingdom have?
Parliamentary democracy
7. Who is the leader of the UK’s government?
Prime Minister
8. Which two systems do NOT share power between the central and local governments?
Unitary and Confederation
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles
9. In which type of government does the power rest with a small group of people?
Oligarchy
10. How is the leader of the country selected in a parliamentary democracy?
Citizens elect members of Parliament, then Parliament selects the leader
11. How is the leader of the country selected in a presidential democracy?
Citizens directly elect (vote for) the leader.
12. In which type of government are citizens MOST likely to choose their leader?
Democracy (Direct)
13. What is the common currency of the European Union?
Euro
14. What are the 3 benefits of joining the EU?
Free trade, move anywhere you want, work anywhere you want, vote in elections even if you’re not a citizen
15. What are 4 European countries that are NOT members of the EU?
Iceland, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey
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