AMERICAN GOV VOCAB TEST 01 QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Government - Correct Answer- the formal institutions and processes through which
decisions are made for a group of people
Power - Correct Answer- the government's ability to get things done
Policy - Correct Answer- any decision made by government in pursuit of a particular
goal
State - Correct Answer- a political unit with the power to make and enforce laws over a
group of people living within a clearly defined territory
Sovereingty - Correct Answer- the supreme power to act within its territory and to
control its external affairs
Politics - Correct Answer- the process by which government makes and carries our
decisions
Legitimacy - Correct Answer- rulers are seen as right and proper by important segments
of a nations population
Divine rights of Kings - Correct Answer- Made the king only answerable to God
Social contract theory - Correct Answer- the first governments formed as a result of
people agreeing among themselves to submit to the authority of a state
Monarchy - Correct Answer- the government is headed by one person, such as a king
or a queen, who exercises supreme authority
Dictatorship - Correct Answer- one person, a dictator, or a small group of people can
hold unlimited power over government
Oligarchy - Correct Answer- ruled by a few or an aristocracy
Direct democracy - Correct Answer- Citizens met regularly in a popular assembly to
discuss issues and vote for leaders
, Republic - Correct Answer- A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders
to make decisions for them
Unitary system - Correct Answer- sovereignty, or ultimate authority, rests in a single,
national government
Federal system - Correct Answer- divides the powers of government between the
national government and state or provincial governments
Confederal systems - Correct Answer- Independent state join forces to form a central
government
Presidential Systems - Correct Answer- A president is elected by the people for a
limited term of office
Parliamentary Systems - Correct Answer- Executive and legislative branches are
combined
Instead of a president, there is a prime minister
Ideal - Correct Answer- An ideal is a conception of something in its most perfect form
Liberty (freedom) - Correct Answer- The ability of people to act and think as they
choose
Equality - Correct Answer- The principle that all people possess a fundamental, moral
worth that entitles them to:
Self-government - Correct Answer- The belief that ordinary people could aspire to rule
themselves and do so as political equals
Majority rule - Correct Answer- decisions are made by the majority
Monority Rights - Correct Answer- political rights held by groups who make up less than
half of the population
Liberal democracy - Correct Answer- individual rights and liberties of all people,
including those in the minority, are protected.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Government - Correct Answer- the formal institutions and processes through which
decisions are made for a group of people
Power - Correct Answer- the government's ability to get things done
Policy - Correct Answer- any decision made by government in pursuit of a particular
goal
State - Correct Answer- a political unit with the power to make and enforce laws over a
group of people living within a clearly defined territory
Sovereingty - Correct Answer- the supreme power to act within its territory and to
control its external affairs
Politics - Correct Answer- the process by which government makes and carries our
decisions
Legitimacy - Correct Answer- rulers are seen as right and proper by important segments
of a nations population
Divine rights of Kings - Correct Answer- Made the king only answerable to God
Social contract theory - Correct Answer- the first governments formed as a result of
people agreeing among themselves to submit to the authority of a state
Monarchy - Correct Answer- the government is headed by one person, such as a king
or a queen, who exercises supreme authority
Dictatorship - Correct Answer- one person, a dictator, or a small group of people can
hold unlimited power over government
Oligarchy - Correct Answer- ruled by a few or an aristocracy
Direct democracy - Correct Answer- Citizens met regularly in a popular assembly to
discuss issues and vote for leaders
, Republic - Correct Answer- A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders
to make decisions for them
Unitary system - Correct Answer- sovereignty, or ultimate authority, rests in a single,
national government
Federal system - Correct Answer- divides the powers of government between the
national government and state or provincial governments
Confederal systems - Correct Answer- Independent state join forces to form a central
government
Presidential Systems - Correct Answer- A president is elected by the people for a
limited term of office
Parliamentary Systems - Correct Answer- Executive and legislative branches are
combined
Instead of a president, there is a prime minister
Ideal - Correct Answer- An ideal is a conception of something in its most perfect form
Liberty (freedom) - Correct Answer- The ability of people to act and think as they
choose
Equality - Correct Answer- The principle that all people possess a fundamental, moral
worth that entitles them to:
Self-government - Correct Answer- The belief that ordinary people could aspire to rule
themselves and do so as political equals
Majority rule - Correct Answer- decisions are made by the majority
Monority Rights - Correct Answer- political rights held by groups who make up less than
half of the population
Liberal democracy - Correct Answer- individual rights and liberties of all people,
including those in the minority, are protected.
