AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Chapter 1
"Principles of Government"
NAME: ___________________________________
Directions:
1) Read along in your book or follow the power point to answer
the following questions
2) You might also need to refer to an almanac if just using the text book
Government exists to :
1) To control social order
2) Provide public services
3) Defend National Security
4) To make Laws
1. Define the word GOVERNMENT:
an institution that makes and enforces public policy
2. Define the term public policies:
Plans of action created by the government that deal with a variety of issues.
3. What do the three branches of government perform?
a. legislative: make laws
b. executive: enforce laws
c. judicial: interpret laws
4. The STATE is defined as a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized
politically, under a government and having the power to make and enforce
law without consent of any higher authority.
The STATE is composed of four elements: (hint look for bold printed words)
1) Population
2) Territory
3) Sovereignty
4) Government
5. Which country has the most people? ____CHINA_______________
How many? ___2 Billion______________
How many people live in the U.S.? ______308 million___
6. Which country has the largest land size? ___Russia____________
How large is their land? ___________6.6million_______square miles
How big is America's territory? ____3.8 million__square mil
7. define Sovereign:
a state has political independence or absolute power within its territorial boundaries.
No state has any right to interfere with the internal affairs of another sovereign nation
8. There are four Political Ideas/Theories about how States developed. List the four:
1. Force Theory
2. Evolutionary Theory
clan, tribe, agricultural, government
3. Divine Right
4. Social Contract Theory
THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT
The PREAMBLE of the United States Constitution explains the purpose of our
Government.
A. The six purposes are:
1. TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION
Which first U.S. government contract did not work, because it was too weak?
__Articles of Confederation___________
2. ESTABLISH JUSTICE
The concept of justice has developed over time in America.
It has come to mean what? Equality and fairness
What does Anarchy mean? No government
3. ENSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY- Peace at home
What country does not have Domestic Tranquility? HAITI
4. PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE
How does the U.S. provide for the Common Defense of all citizens? Military
5. PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE
List two services that the government provides to promote the
general welfare of its citizens.
1.____Roads, bridges, mail, vaccines______________________
2.____Schools, hospitals____________________
6. SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY= Freedoms
Section 2 FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
10. The classification of governments depends on three areas. List those areas:
(hint-page 12)
1.) _____Who can Participate?__________________________
2.) ____Geographic Distribution of Power_______
3.) _____Relationship between Legislative and Executive branches__________
Part I. Who can Participate?
11. Define a DEMOCRACY:
Power rests with the People
12. What is the difference between a DIRECT democracy and a
REPRESENTATIVE democracy
Direct means everyone makes laws
Indirect means you elect a representative to make your laws
13. Define DICTATORSHIP: Small group or individual has the power.
AUTHORITARIAN DICTATORSHIP: those in power have absolute & unchallengeable
authority over the people
14. List three examples of dictatorships in the 20th Century:
1._Hitler___________
2._Stalin___________
3._____Fidel Castro___
Typically, dictatorial regimes are MILITARISTIC in character.
and they usually gain power by FORCE.
Part II. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF POWER
15. Under a UNITARY government all powers are held by whom?
_____Central/National Government has all powers________
Which country is a prime example of a Unitary government?
GB, FR, Italy, Israel, Japan
16. define a FEDERAL Government: __A government with a division of powers between
different levels of government___
Which countries are prime examples of FEDERAL government?
US, Mexico, Canada
17. What is a CONFEDERATE government?
An alliance of independent states which give certain powers to a national government
List two early U.S. examples of a confederate government:
1. The Confederate States during the Civil War
2. Articles of Confederation
There is only ONE Confederate Government in the world. Which country is it?
____The European Union -EU_formed by 11 countries_________________
Part III.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES
18. There are two types of governments based on the above relationships.
What are they?
1.___PRESIDENTIAL__________
2. __PARLIAMENTARY_______________
Which of the two above is the United States a government?
PRESIDENTIAL
19. Describe how presidential and parliamentary governments are different:
Presidential- the people elect the executive AND the legislature
Parliamentary- the people elect the representatives who then elect the leader
SECTION 3- BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY
20. What are the Five basic concepts of Democracy?
1) Recognition of the WORTH of an Individual
2) RESPECT for the EQUALITY of all persons
3) Faith in majority rule with minority rights!
4) Acceptance of the necessity of COMPROMISE
5) Insistence on the widest possible degree of individual freedom
21. Another term for FREE ENTERPRISE is __CAPITALISM__________.
What does it mean to be this type of an ECONOMIC society?
Your government does not decide on the goods you have to produce, it is settled by
supply and demand
Democracy and Capitalism are NOT the same thing! one is political and one is economic.
22. What does it mean to be called a MIXED MARKET economy?
To have some government intervention, in terms or regulation and
promotion of goods
23. List three examples of government regulation in America:
1. Anti trust laws
2. Pure Food and Drug Laws
3. Anti-pollution standards
24. What types of items does the government grant money for?
Transportation systems- Roads, scientific research, growing certain crops
25. What types of services does our government provide?
Public Education, Postal Services, Road Building
26. Do you think the government does too much, enough, or not enough for Americans?
Explain:
OPINION
27. At first glance, the internet seems to be a great source of Democracy in action.
Why could it also be argued that the internet isn't truly democratic?
The Internet does not guarantee reliability on some sites.
28. Why don't we hold elections on the internet?
The ability of hackers to hack in and fix and election are high.
NOTES: to be completed with Miss Smith
Modern State System- 2 Types
Developed Nations:
Developing Nations:
Growing interdependence between States!!!
This is why we can no longer isolate ourselves from other nations!
Examples:
Non-State international groups (businesses and organizations)
Examples:
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT:
Autocracy:
Oligarchy:
Democracy: When the people rule
Characteristics favoring Democracy:
a.
b.
c.
d.