Comparative government systems: democracy, authoritarianism, and federal versus unitary structures.
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- What is democracy?
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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?
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A system where citizens vote directly on policy decisions and laws rather than through elected representatives.- What is representative democracy?
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A system where citizens elect officials to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.- What is liberal democracy?
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A democracy that protects individual rights and freedoms through constitutional limits on government power.- What does accountability mean in democratic government?
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Officials are answerable to voters and can be removed from power through elections or other legal means.- What is the separation of powers?
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The division of government authority among three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.- What is the purpose of checks and balances?
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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?
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The principle that all people and government officials are subject to and accountable to the law.- What is authoritarianism?
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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?
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A system where a hereditary ruler (monarch) holds unlimited political power with few or no legal constraints.- What is a constitutional monarchy?
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A system where a hereditary ruler's powers are limited by a constitution and the rule of law.- What is a dictatorship?
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A system of government where a single person holds concentrated power, typically acquired by force, with no meaningful democratic processes.- What is totalitarianism?
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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?
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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?
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An authoritarian system in which only one political party is legally permitted to hold power.
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