Export your learner materials as an interactive game, a webpage, or FAQ style cheatsheet.
Unsaved Work Found!
It looks like you have unsaved work from a previous session. Would you like to restore it?
Total Categories: 6
A government is defined as the system or group of people responsible for governing an organized community, typically a state.
Answer: True
The fundamental definition of a government involves the system or group responsible for governing an organized community, typically a state, and serving as the mechanism for enforcing and determining policies.
In most governments, the three primary branches are the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary, responsible for making, implementing, and interpreting laws, respectively.
Answer: True
Governments typically comprise three main branches: the legislature (law-making), the executive (law-implementation), and the judiciary (law-interpretation).
The word 'government' originates from the Greek verb 'kubernáo,' meaning 'to steer,' and the Latin term 'gubernaculum,' meaning 'rudder.'
Answer: True
The etymology of 'government' traces back to the Greek 'kubernáo' (to steer) and Latin 'gubernaculum' (rudder), signifying the act of guiding or steering a state.
The two primary methods by which political power is obtained are electoral contest and hereditary succession.
Answer: True
The text identifies electoral contest and hereditary succession as the principal methods through which political power is acquired.
The word 'government' originates from the Greek verb 'archē,' meaning 'rule,' and the Latin term 'civitas,' meaning 'city.'
Answer: False
The text indicates that the word 'government' originates from the Greek verb 'kubernáo' (to steer) and the Latin term 'gubernaculum' (rudder), not 'archē' and 'civitas'.
The three primary branches of government are the legislative, the executive, and the military, responsible for making laws, implementing laws, and defending the state, respectively.
Answer: False
The primary branches of government are typically the legislative, executive, and judiciary, not the military. The judiciary is responsible for interpreting laws, not defending the state.
The term 'government' is exclusively used to refer to the approximately 200 independent national governments worldwide.
Answer: False
While 'government' often refers to national states, the term 'governance' is broader and applies to any organized community. The term 'government' can also encompass subsidiary organizations within national states.
Political power is primarily obtained through divine right and hereditary succession according to the text.
Answer: False
The text states that the two primary methods for obtaining political power are electoral contest and hereditary succession, not exclusively divine right and hereditary succession.
What is the fundamental definition of a government according to the provided text?
Answer: A group of people responsible for governing an organized community, typically a state, enforcing and determining policies.
The text defines a government as the system or group responsible for governing an organized community, typically a state, and serving as the mechanism for enforcing and determining policies.
Which of the following are the three primary branches typically constituting a government?
Answer: The legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.
Governments typically comprise three main branches: the legislature (law-making), the executive (law-implementation), and the judiciary (law-interpretation).
From which ancient languages does the word 'government' originate, and what is its metaphorical meaning?
Answer: Greek 'kubernáo' (to steer) and Latin 'gubernaculum' (rudder).
The word 'government' originates from the Greek verb 'kubernáo,' meaning 'to steer,' and the Latin term 'gubernaculum,' meaning 'rudder,' reflecting the concept of guiding a state.
In what specific context is the term 'government' often used more narrowly?
Answer: To refer to the approximately 200 independent national governments worldwide and their subsidiary organizations.
The term 'government' is frequently used more narrowly to denote the approximately 200 independent national governments worldwide and their associated subsidiary organizations.
What are the two primary methods by which political power is obtained, as stated in the text?
Answer: Electoral contest and hereditary succession.
The text specifies that political power is primarily obtained through electoral contest and hereditary succession.
Agriculture, following the Neolithic Revolution, contributed to government formation by enabling food surpluses and specialization in non-agricultural activities, including ruling.
Answer: True
The development of agriculture facilitated the creation of food surpluses, which in turn allowed for occupational specialization, including the emergence of ruling classes, thereby contributing to government formation.
Aristotle classified governments based on who holds power: rule by one person (autocracy), rule by a select group (aristocracy), or rule by the people as a whole (democracy).
Answer: True
Aristotle's foundational classification system categorized governments based on the number of rulers: rule by one (monarchy/tyranny), rule by a few (aristocracy/oligarchy), and rule by the many (polity/democracy).
Thomas Hobbes identified monarchy, democracy, and aristocracy as the three fundamental kinds of Commonwealth, arguing sovereignty is indivisible.
Answer: True
Thomas Hobbes posited that Commonwealths could be fundamentally classified based on the sovereign entity: monarchy (rule by one), aristocracy (rule by an assembly of a part), or democracy (rule by an assembly of all), emphasizing the indivisibility of sovereignty.
Historically prevalent forms of government like monarchy and democracy were always mutually exclusive, meaning a government could only be one type at a time.
Answer: False
The text notes that historical forms of government, such as monarchy and democracy, were not always mutually exclusive, and mixed governments were common.
The development of agriculture hindered the formation of early governments by creating food shortages and preventing specialization.
Answer: False
Contrary to the statement, the development of agriculture facilitated government formation by enabling food surpluses and allowing for specialization in activities like ruling.
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, liberal democracy has become less prevalent globally, with a trend towards increasing authoritarianism.
Answer: False
The text indicates that since the fall of the Berlin Wall, liberal democracy has become more prevalent globally, though a trend towards increasing authoritarianism has also been observed in some regions.
Plato, in 'The Republic,' described only three basic types of government: aristocracy, democracy, and tyranny.
Answer: False
Plato, in 'The Republic,' described five basic types of government: aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny, presenting them as a sequence of progressive decline.
Aristotle classified governments based on the economic system employed, such as capitalism, socialism, or feudalism.
Answer: False
Aristotle classified governments based on who holds power (rule by one, few, or many), not on economic systems.
How did the development of agriculture contribute to the formation of early governments?
Answer: It enabled the creation of food surpluses, allowing for specialization in non-agricultural activities, including ruling.
Agriculture's contribution to government formation stemmed from its capacity to generate food surpluses, which facilitated specialization in non-agricultural pursuits, including governance.
Which historical events are mentioned as contributing to the growth of representative government forms starting in the late 17th century?
Answer: The English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution.
The growth of representative government forms from the late 17th century onwards was significantly influenced by events such as the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution.
What significant global political trend has been observed since the fall of the Berlin Wall?
Answer: Increased prevalence of liberal democracy, alongside a trend towards increasing authoritarianism in some parts.
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, liberal democracy has become more prevalent globally, though there has also been an observed trend towards increasing authoritarianism in certain regions.
According to Plato's 'The Republic,' which type of government follows aristocracy in his sequence of progressive decline?
Answer: Timocracy
In Plato's sequence of governmental decline in 'The Republic,' timocracy follows aristocracy, characterized by rule based on honor.
How did Aristotle classify governments in his work 'Politics'?
Answer: Based on who holds power: rule by one, a select group, or the people.
Aristotle classified governments in 'Politics' based on the principle of who exercises power: rule by a single individual, rule by a select group, or rule by the populace.
An autocracy is a system where supreme power is shared equally among multiple leaders, preventing any single person from having absolute control.
Answer: False
An autocracy is defined by the concentration of supreme power in a single person, not by shared power among multiple leaders.
Aristocracy is defined as a government where power is held by the majority of the population through direct voting.
Answer: False
Aristocracy is a government where power resides with a small, elite ruling class, typically exercising minority rule, not rule by the majority through direct voting.
A republic is a form of government where offices are typically inherited, distinguishing it from systems with elected officials.
Answer: False
A republic is characterized by elected or appointed offices, not inherited ones, and is distinguished by the state being considered a 'public matter' (*res publica*).
According to Juan José Linz, which of the following is NOT considered one of the main types of modern political systems?
Answer: Anarchies
Juan José Linz identified democracies, totalitarian regimes, and authoritarian regimes as main types of modern political systems. Anarchies are typically considered a lack of government rather than a type of government.
What defines an aristocracy as a form of government?
Answer: A government where power resides with a small, elite ruling class, often hereditary or privileged, exercising minority rule.
Aristocracy is defined as a government where power is vested in a small, elite ruling class, frequently hereditary or privileged, which exercises minority rule.
What is the core principle of democracy as a system of governance?
Answer: Citizens exercise power through voting and deliberation, directly or indirectly.
The core principle of democracy involves citizens exercising power through voting and deliberation, either directly or through elected representatives.
What is the key difference between direct and indirect democracy?
Answer: Direct democracy involves citizens voting on all issues, while indirect democracy involves citizens electing representatives.
The key difference lies in participation: direct democracy involves citizens voting on all issues, while indirect democracy involves citizens electing representatives to make decisions.
What distinguishes a republic from other forms of government?
Answer: The state is considered a 'public matter' ('res publica'), with elected or appointed offices.
A republic is distinguished by the state being considered a 'public matter' (*res publica*), with offices typically being elected or appointed rather than inherited.
What does the Latin term 'res publica' signify in relation to republics?
Answer: Public matter or affair.
The Latin term 'res publica' signifies 'public matter' or 'affair,' underscoring the concept that a republic is a state considered a public concern, not the private possession of rulers.
Federalism is a political concept where sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and constituent political units, sharing power between national and regional governments.
Answer: True
Federalism is characterized by a constitutional division of sovereignty between a central government and constituent political units, thereby sharing power between national and regional levels.
The 'separation of powers' model organizes government into distinct branches, such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary, each with its own powers and functions to prevent the concentration of power.
Answer: True
The separation of powers model structures government into distinct branches (legislative, executive, judiciary), each possessing unique powers and functions to preclude the consolidation of authority.
Parliamentary systems often feature a 'fusion of powers,' where government branches intersect, sharing membership and overlapping functions.
Answer: True
Parliamentary systems are frequently characterized by a 'fusion of powers,' wherein governmental branches exhibit interconnectedness through shared membership and functional overlap, contrasting with strict separation.
The 'separation of powers' model organizes government into branches that share membership and overlapping functions to prevent power concentration.
Answer: False
The 'separation of powers' model organizes government into distinct branches with independent functions to prevent power concentration, whereas sharing membership and overlapping functions describes a 'fusion of powers'.
Parliamentary systems are characterized by a strict separation of powers, similar to the presidential model.
Answer: False
Parliamentary systems typically feature a 'fusion of powers,' where branches intersect and share functions, contrasting with the strict separation of powers characteristic of presidential models.
How does federalism structure governmental power?
Answer: By dividing sovereignty constitutionally between a central authority and constituent political units.
Federalism structures governmental power by constitutionally dividing sovereignty between a central governing authority and constituent political units, thereby sharing power between national and regional levels.
What does the 'separation of powers' model entail for government organization?
Answer: It organizes government into distinct branches with their own powers and functions to prevent power concentration.
The 'separation of powers' model organizes government into distinct branches, each with its own powers and functions, designed to prevent the concentration of power.
How do parliamentary systems often differ from the strict separation of powers model?
Answer: Parliamentary systems feature a 'fusion of powers,' with intersecting branches.
Parliamentary systems often exhibit a 'fusion of powers,' where governmental branches intersect and share membership or functions, differing from the strict separation found in presidential models.
What is the fundamental difference between federalism and a unitary state?
Answer: In federalism, sovereignty is divided between central and constituent units; in a unitary state, the central government holds most power.
The fundamental difference lies in sovereignty distribution: federalism divides it between central and constituent units, while a unitary state centralizes most power, with sub-national units deriving authority from it.
A coalition government is formed when multiple political parties cooperate to govern, typically based on a coalition agreement.
Answer: True
A coalition government is established through the cooperative efforts of multiple political parties, usually formalized by a coalition agreement, to collectively administer governance.
A majority government is formed when parties hold only a plurality of seats and rely on agreements with other parties.
Answer: False
The description provided pertains to a minority government, which is formed by parties holding only a plurality of seats. A majority government is formed by parties holding an absolute majority of seats.
A dominant-party system occurs when multiple parties consistently win an equal number of seats, leading to frequent power-sharing agreements.
Answer: False
A dominant-party system is characterized by a single political party consistently holding power and forming the government, not by multiple parties winning equal seats.
What is a central role of political parties in modern governance?
Answer: To administer governance, coordinate officials, and field candidates.
Political parties play a central role in modern governance by administering government operations, coordinating officials, and fielding candidates for public office.
What distinguishes a majority government from a minority government?
Answer: A majority government is formed by parties holding an absolute majority of seats in the legislature.
A majority government is formed by parties securing an absolute majority of seats in the legislature, whereas a minority government is formed by parties holding only a plurality.
What constitutes a coalition government?
Answer: A government formed when multiple political parties cooperate to govern.
A coalition government is constituted when multiple political parties collaborate to govern, typically based on a formal agreement.
What is the defining characteristic of a dominant-party system?
Answer: A system where a single political party consistently holds power and forms the government.
A dominant-party system is defined by the consistent holding of power and government formation by a single political party, even within a multi-party framework.
A primary objective in political science is to establish a typology or taxonomy of polities, as classifying forms of government is complex and vital for comparative politics and international relations.
Answer: True
Classifying forms of government is a fundamental task in political science, essential for comparative analysis and understanding international relations due to the inherent complexity of political systems.
Political ideologies can influence the naming and classification of governments, sometimes leading to confusion where movements are mistaken for government forms.
Answer: True
Political ideologies often shape the nomenclature and categorization of governments, as parties may adopt names reflecting their ideologies, occasionally leading to the conflation of movements with governmental forms.
'Social-political ambiguity' acknowledges that governments often exist in 'shades of gray,' making strict categorization difficult.
Answer: True
The concept of 'social-political ambiguity' recognizes that governmental classifications are not always clear-cut, as systems frequently exhibit characteristics across multiple categories, complicating precise categorization.
The 'Government effectiveness index' measures the quality of a government by assessing its political efficacy and state capacity.
Answer: True
The 'Government effectiveness index' serves as a metric for evaluating governmental quality by examining its political efficacy and state capacity, which relate to its ability to implement policies.
The 'de facto' form of government refers to its official or ideal classification, while the 'de jure' form describes its actual operation in practice.
Answer: False
The 'de facto' form of government describes its actual operation in practice, whereas the 'de jure' form refers to its official or ideal classification.
Political ideologies have no influence on the naming or classification of governments, which are solely determined by structural characteristics.
Answer: False
Political ideologies can indeed influence the naming and classification of governments, as parties may adopt names reflecting their ideologies, sometimes leading to confusion with actual government forms.
What is the 'de facto' form of government, according to the text?
Answer: The government's actual operation in practice.
The 'de facto' form of government refers to its actual operation and practice, as distinct from its official or ideal classification ('de jure').
How can political ideologies influence the naming and classification of governments?
Answer: Parties may adopt names reflecting their ideologies, sometimes causing confusion with government forms.
Political ideologies can influence government naming and classification as parties may adopt names reflecting their ideologies, which can sometimes lead to confusion with the actual forms of government.
What does the term 'social-political ambiguity' acknowledge in the context of government classification?
Answer: That governments often exist in 'shades of gray,' making strict categorization difficult.
The term 'social-political ambiguity' acknowledges that governments frequently exist in nuanced forms ('shades of gray'), rendering strict categorization challenging.
What is measured by the 'Government effectiveness index'?
Answer: The government's ability to function and implement policies, related to political efficacy and state capacity.
The 'Government effectiveness index' measures a government's quality by assessing its political efficacy and state capacity, which reflect its ability to function and implement policies.
As of 2021, what was the global prevalence of democracy according to the text?
Answer: Democracy was the most popular form, with 97 out of 167 nations identified as democracies.
As of 2021, democracy was the most prevalent form of government globally, with 97 out of 167 nations classified as democracies.
Who compiles the 'Democracy Index'?
Answer: The Economist Intelligence Unit
The 'Democracy Index' is compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which also categorizes national governments into types such as Full Democracies, Flawed Democracies, Hybrid Regimes, and Authoritarian Regimes.