US GOV & politics test 9/10/26

What are the different types of governments?

Direct and indirect democracy, dictatorship, oligarchy, monarchy, theocracy, anarchy.

What is democracy?

Government ran by people, citizens have political power, participate in government.

What is a direct / pure democracy?

Citizens make decisions themselves, eg citizens voting directly on a law or policy.

What is indirect / representative democracy?

Citizens elect representatives who make decisions for them. The US is a representative democracy.

Why is the US a representative democracy?

The US has a very large population, it would be impractical for everyone to vote directly on every government decision and representatives can specialize in governing.

What is a republic system?

Citizens can exercise political power through elected representatives and government operates under a constitution. The Constitution requires every state to have a “Republican Form of Government.”

what is political culture?

shared beliefs and values that people have about government and politics.

Examples

• How much power government should have

• Individual freedom

• Political participation

• Equality

• The role of citizens

• What government should do

What is political ideology?

An individuals beliefs about a government and politics. for example “I think the government should spend more money on education.”

Political socialization

Where people develop their political beliefs and attitudes through school, family, friends, religion, media etc.

Civic participation

Citizens being involved in political / community life for example voting, campaigns, political meetings.

Federalism

Power is divided between the national government and the state governments. They both have governmental authority established by the constitution.

Constitutionalism

Government power is limited by a constitution

Limited government

Government officials cannot do what they want

What is the difference between democratic constitutional government vs dictatorship?

Democratic constitutional government: Government power is limited by a constitution and citizens have a role in choosing their leaders.
Dictatorship: Power is concentrated in one person or a small group, with little meaningful democratic competition or constitutional restraint.

What is a dictatorship?

One person holds extensive political power, usually without meaningful democratic competition or constitutional restraints. with little meaningful democratic competition or restraint.

This distinguishes a dictatorship from a monarchy.

One person → concentrated power

Examples:

• Hitler

• Mussolini

• Stalin

What is an authoritarian?

Government with limited political freedoms and concentrated power.

Totalitarian

Extreme form of authoritarianism in which the government attempts to exercise very extensive control over political and social life.

Authoritarian vs totalitarian

Authoritarian = government controls politics

Totalitarian = government tries to control almost everything

What is oligarchy?

Rule by a small group of people.

Oligo = few

Oligarchy = rule by the few

• Dictatorship → one

• Oligarchy → few

• Democracy → people

Anarchy

no functioning government or central authority.

Theocracy

Religious authority plays the central governing role, often claiming authority from God or religious law.

Monarchy

Government headed by a king or queen, traditionally with power passed through a hereditary line.

What are the two types of monarchies?

Absolute and constitutional/ limited

Absolute monarchy

Monarch holds extensive governing power and is not significantly limited by a constitution or elected institutions.

Constitutional / limited monarchy

There is a king or queen, but their power is limited by a constitution and laws.

For example: United Kingdom King Charles III is the monarch, but elected officials and Parliament exercise most governing power.

Absolute power does what?

Corrupts absolutely.

When political power becomes highly concentrated and there are few checks on the leader, there is a greater opportunity for abuse of power.

Coup d’état

sudden seizure of government power, usually by a small group, often involving military or political insiders.

Coup = forcefully taking control of the government

Every economic system has to answer 3 main questions

what goods should be produced? how should those goods be produced? who are the goods and resources distributes?

What is capitalism?

• An economic system based primarily on private ownership, markets, competition, and prices determined largely by supply and demand.

• eg United States, Australia, Japan

Communism in traditional communist theory:

• Major economic resources are state owned rather than privately owned and a goal of creating a classless society.

• eg China, Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea

Socialism (mixed market)

An economic system or ideology involving greater government/collective involvement in the economy and greater emphasis on economic equality.

eg Sweden, Norway, Denmark

What is political freedom?

Involves people’s ability to participate in political life and exercise political rights.

Examples:

• Voting

• Political expression

• Political participation

• Associating with political groups

What is self government?

The idea that people have the ability and authority to govern themselves.

What is popular sovereignty

People are the ultimate source of governmental power.

Who is Alex De Tocqueville?

French political thinker who traveled to the US in 1830s

wrote Democracy in America and studied American democracy and compared it with European political systems.

Congress

Makes laws

congress has two chambers

House of representatives and senate

what does the courts do?

interpret laws and the constitution

What are the 3 separation of power branches

Branch	Main role
Legislative	Makes laws
Executive	Enforces laws
Judicial	Interprets laws

Checks and balances

Each branch has ways to limit the power of the other branches.

Congress passes a bill → President can veto it.

Congress → can override a veto under constitutional conditions.

Courts → can determine whether government actions violate the Constitution.

Cuban Missile Crisis — 1962

• United States discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.

• Cuba is very close to the United States.

• The U.S. and Soviet Union faced a serious confrontation.

• President John F. Kennedy chose a naval blockade/quarantine rather than immediately launching an attack.

• The Soviet Union ultimately removed the missiles.

Liberty

Freedom from government interference and the ability to make individual choices.

Equality

The belief that people should have equal rights and opportunities

Civic Duty

The belief that citizens should participate in political and civic life.

Civic Competence

The belief that citizens can understand and influence government.

Individual Responsibility

The belief that individuals are responsible for their own choices, actions, and well-being.

Economic Individualism

The belief that individuals are largely responsible for their own economic success.

Political Tolerance

Willingness to allow people with different or unpopular political views to participate in political life.

Culture War

Political conflict over moral and social values.

Progressive

A view emphasizing personal freedom and adapting moral standards to changing circumstances.

Civil Society

Voluntary organizations and groups that exist outside government and the commercial market.

Social Capital

Networks and relationships that help people build trust and cooperate.

Religious Pluralism

The existence and acceptance of multiple religious beliefs and groups within society.

Political Equality

Equal political rights and opportunities to participate in government.

Who is Karl Marx

German philosopher

Economist whose ideas about class conflict, capitalism communism heavily influenced communist theory.

He co-wrote The Communist Manifesto

Traditionalism

The belief that society should preserve established traditions, customs and values

What is the difference between self government and popular sovereignty?

Popular sovereignty means government power comes from the people, self government means people use that power to govern themselves.

what is the difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism?

authoritarian governments restrict political freedom and concentrate power, totalitarian governments seek extensive control over political and private life.