Civic Literacy Exam Systems of Government Question and Answers 2

Question 1

What distinguishes a 'democracy' from a 'republic'?

Accepted Answer

A pure democracy allows direct citizen voting on laws; a republic uses elected representatives to make laws on behalf of citizens

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A democracy is governed by a monarch with popular support; a republic has no hereditary rulers

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A democracy requires unanimous agreement for decisions; a republic allows majority rule

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A democracy protects minority rights more than a republic, which gives majority preferences absolute priority

Question 2

What is a 'constitutional monarchy'?

Accepted Answer

A system where a monarch serves as head of state but is limited by a constitution and elected parliament holds governing power

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A system where the constitution grants a monarch absolute power to govern

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A system where the monarch drafts and can amend the constitution at will

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A system where the monarch and elected parliament share equal governmental power

Question 3

What is 'totalitarianism' and how does it differ from authoritarianism?

Accepted Answer

Totalitarianism seeks to control all aspects of public and private life; authoritarianism controls political power but may tolerate some private autonomy

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Totalitarianism is a left-wing system while authoritarianism is exclusively right-wing

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Totalitarianism allows limited elections while authoritarianism bans all elections

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Totalitarianism is a modern term for communism specifically while authoritarianism applies to all non-democratic governments

Question 4

What is 'theocracy' and where is it practiced today?

Accepted Answer

A government in which religious law and religious authorities hold supreme power; Iran is a contemporary example with clerical oversight of government

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A government that requires all citizens to follow a state religion but separates religious institutions from political governance

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A government in which religious organizations advise the elected government but hold no formal power

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A government where the head of state is also the head of the dominant religious institution

Question 5

What is 'oligarchy' and what are examples of it in history and today?

Accepted Answer

Rule by a small group of elites, such as wealthy individuals, military leaders, or a hereditary class; ancient Sparta and modern Russia have oligarchic features

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Rule by a single powerful leader with no checks on authority, such as a dictator

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Rule by the majority through direct democratic voting with no protections for minorities

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Rule by an unelected permanent bureaucracy that controls government policy

Question 6

What is the 'rule of law' and why is it considered essential to democratic government?

Accepted Answer

The principle that all persons and institutions, including the government itself, are subject to the law — preventing arbitrary exercise of power and protecting rights equally

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The requirement that all laws be written down and publicly accessible before they can be enforced

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The principle that the majority's laws automatically take precedence over minority interests

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The requirement that courts must apply the law as written by legislators without any interpretation