american gov

📘 American Government Study Guide (Ch. 1)

🔹 1. Theories on the Origin of the State

  • Force Theory: One person/group takes control by force.

  • Evolutionary Theory: State evolved from family structures.

  • Divine Right Theory: God gave royalty the power to rule.

  • Social Contract Theory: People agree to give power to the government for protection.

🔹 2. Four Characteristics of a State

  • Population: People

  • Territory: Defined land

  • Sovereignty: Supreme power

  • Government: Political organization

🔹 3. Basic Principles of American Democracy

  • Worth of the individual

  • Equality of all persons

  • Majority rule, minority rights

  • Necessity of compromise

  • Individual freedom

🔹 4. Relationship Between Executive & Legislative Branches

  • Presidential System: Branches are independent.

  • Parliamentary System: Branches are combined; the executive (prime minister) comes from the legislative branch.

📘 American Government Study Guide (Ch. 1 Continued)

🔹 5. 20 Vocab Terms (Study separately; vocab test!)

🔹 6. Who Holds Power in a Representative Democracy?

  • The people (through elected officials)

🔹 7. Advantage of Each System

  • Presidential: Separation of powers = balanced gov’t

  • Parliamentary: Quick decision-making

🔹 8. Disadvantage of Each System

  • Presidential: Possible deadlock

  • Parliamentary: No strong checks on the majority

🔹 9. 4 Classic Forms of Government

  • Monarchy

  • Oligarchy

  • Democracy

  • Dictatorship

🔹 10. 3 Core Ideas of American Democracy

  • Worth of the Individual

  • Equality

  • Self-government

🔹 11. Power in Government Systems

a) Unitary: Central government has all power

b) Federal: Power shared between central & state governments

c) Confederal: States hold power, central government is weak