Political Systems Quiz
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the statement that BEST answers each question. (5 points each) 1. A dictatorship is a political system in which: A) one person has absolute control over all branches of government and the people praise this person. B) one person has absolute control over all branches of government and the people fear this person. C) one person has absolute control over all branches of government, but the people decide how this person conducts the government. D) a few people have absolute control over all branches of government. 2. An autocracy is a political system in which: A) one person has absolute control over all branches of government and the people praise this person. B) one person has absolute control over all branches of government and the people fear this person. C) one person has absolute control over all branches of government, but the people decide how this person conducts the government. D) a few people have absolute control over all branches of government. 3. A monarchy is similar to a dictatorship, except a monarchy differs in that it: A) has more than one ruler. B) always has a constitution which conducts the government. C) has a heredity system which determines the successor. D) has a ruler which is cruel to its people. 4. Democracy literally means: A) rule by the few. B) rule by one. C) rule by the people. D) rule by representative. 5. The United States is a(n): A) dictatorship. B) direct democracy. C) representative democracy. D) oligarchy. 6. A direct democracy is not a reasonable system of government because it: A) can only be used in a large population. B) can only be used in a small population. C) requires the people to give up freedoms. D) requires people to be ruled by one ruler. 7. The three types of oligarchies are: A) theocracy, autocracy, and plutocracy.
B) aristocracy, autocracy, and plutocracy. C) oligopoly, aristocracy, and plutocracy. D) theocracy, aristocracy, and plutocracy. 8. A complete lack of a political system is an: A) autocracy. B) anarchy. C) aristocracy. D) oligarchy.
Matching: Match the type of political system with its example from around the world. One choice is not used! (5 points each) 9. dictatorship 10. monarchy 11. direct democracy 12. representative democracy 13. autocracy 14. oligarchy A) Ancient Greece B) Modern-day Saudi Arabia C) Modern-day Mexico D) Fidel Castro’s Cuba E) Adolf Hitler’s Germany F) Somalia G) South Africa in the 20 th century
Short Essay: Choose TWO of the following questions to answer in a paragraph (5-8 sentences). Remember to explain your answers as best you can. (15 points each) 13. Explain one positive and one negative attribute of one of the major political systems we have learned (dictatorship, monarchy, autocracy, oligarchy, direct democracy, representative democracy). 14. Illustrate the political structure of one of the major political systems we have learned. Make sure to write which one you are illustrating. This does not have to be in a paragraph (think of the table we completed). 15. Explain how the United States is an example of a limited government. Make sure to include at least 2 attributes of the United States political system that make it a limited form of government. 16. What was presidential candidate John F. Kennedy’s position on the separation of church and state in his speech given to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association in 1960?