Comparative government systems: democracy, authoritarianism, and federal versus unitary structures.
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- What is democracy?
- A system of government in which power ultimately rests with the people, who exercise control either directly or through elected representatives.
- What is direct democracy?
- A system where citizens vote directly on policy decisions and laws rather than through elected representatives.
- What is representative democracy?
- A system where citizens elect officials to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.
- What is liberal democracy?
- A democracy that protects individual rights and freedoms through constitutional limits on government power.
- What does accountability mean in democratic government?
- Officials are answerable to voters and can be removed from power through elections or other legal means.
- What is the separation of powers?
- The division of government authority among three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
- What is the purpose of checks and balances?
- To prevent any single branch of government from becoming too powerful by giving each branch ability to limit the others.
- What is the rule of law?
- The principle that all people and government officials are subject to and accountable to the law.
- What is authoritarianism?
- A system of government in which political power is held by a single leader or small group with limited political participation by the population.
- What is an absolute monarchy?
- A system where a hereditary ruler (monarch) holds unlimited political power with few or no legal constraints.
- What is a constitutional monarchy?
- A system where a hereditary ruler's powers are limited by a constitution and the rule of law.
- What is a dictatorship?
- A system of government where a single person holds concentrated power, typically acquired by force, with no meaningful democratic processes.
- What is totalitarianism?
- An authoritarian system where the state seeks to control all aspects of public and private life, including thought, speech, and association.
- What is an oligarchy?
- A system of government in which power rests with a small number of people, who may be distinguished by wealth, family ties, or military control.
- What is a single-party state?
- An authoritarian system in which only one political party is legally permitted to hold power.