Questions and Answers
What is a state?
A political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government with the power to make and enforce laws without approval from any higher authority.
What is a nation?
Any sizable group of people who are united by common bonds of race, language, custom, tradition, and sometimes religion.
Who was Aristotle?
One of the first students in government.
What was the time of artificial borders?
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What do states share?
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What is consensus?
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What is sovereignty?
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What do states have?
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What is government?
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What theory states that gods are part of governance?
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What is force theory?
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What does the government do?
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What is a nation-state?
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What was Plato's idea of the social contract?
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What was Hobbes' idea of the social contract?
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What was Locke's idea of the social contract?
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What is an autocracy?
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What is an oligarchy?
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What is democracy?
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What is direct democracy?
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What is representative democracy?
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What is constitutional democracy?
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What is a republic?
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What is a totalitarian government?
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What is an authoritarian government?
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What is a constitution?
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Which type of government is led by a dictator?
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What kind of democracy does the USA have?
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Who rules in oligarchies?
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What is popular sovereignty?
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Why is freedom of speech essential for democracy?
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In what ways does the government serve you?
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Study Notes
Government Terms and Concepts
- State: A defined territory with an organized government that enforces laws independently.
- Nation: A large group united by race, language, customs, tradition, or religion.
- Aristotle: Early scholar and student of government theory.
Historical Context
- Colonial Era: Time characterized by artificial borders created during colonization.
Components of a State
- States Share: Population, territory, sovereignty, and government are the core components of a state.
- Sovereignty: Refers to the supreme authority of a state within its boundaries.
- Independence of States: States possess complete power to enact laws, shape foreign policy, and determine actions without external interference.
Functions of Government
- Government Role: Maintains social order, provides public services, ensures national security, and manages the economic system.
Theories of Government
- Divine Right Theory: Belief that rulers derive authority from a divine source.
- Force Theory: Government arises when individuals are brought under authority through force.
Social Contract Theories
- Plato: Proposed a social contract where individuals have obligations to follow the government, structured in a hierarchy.
- Hobbes: Argued for a social contract as protection against the anarchic state of nature.
- Locke: Emphasized citizens' rights to "life, liberty, and property" within the social contract.
Types of Government
- Autocracy: Government led by one person with absolute power.
- Oligarchy: Control held by a small group.
- Democracy: System where eligible members vote, often through representatives.
- Direct Democracy: Citizens make policy decisions directly.
- Representative Democracy: Citizens elect representatives to make policy decisions.
- Constitutional Democracy: Based on popular sovereignty with a constitution guiding government powers.
- Republic: Government by elected representatives and an elected president, with supreme power held by the people.
- Totalitarian Government: Subordinates all aspects of life to state control, led by a singular authority.
- Authoritarian Government: Requires obedience to a small ruling group or individual.
- Dictatorship: A government led by a dictator where power is centralized.
Other Concepts
- Constitution: Fundamental principles or precedents guiding the governance of a state or organization.
- Popular Sovereignty: The principle that government's authority comes from the consent of the governed.
Importance of Freedoms
- Freedom of Speech: Crucial for democracy as it allows understanding of public needs and wants.
U.S. Government Structure
- U.S. Democracy: A representative democracy where elected officials decide policy.
- Oligarchies Rule: Governance by a small group of people.
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Description
Test your knowledge on key government terms and concepts, including the definitions of state, nation, and theories of government. This quiz will help reinforce your understanding of the basic components and functions of government. Dive into the historical context that shapes these ideas!