European Government Vocabulary

parliamentary democracy

A democracy in which parliament chooses the government.

presidential democracy

A form of government in which the citizens directly elect a president

dictatorship

A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws. Supreme power rests with the citizens

Absolute Monarchy

A government in which the king or queen has absolute power.

figurehead

A person who appears to rule even though real power rests with someone else

monarchy

A system of government in which one person reigns, usually a king or queen. A government ruled by a king or queen A government ruled by a monarch

Parliamentary System

A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.

free election

An election in which all citizens can vote as long as they meet the requirements. Each person's vote counts the same.

In what form of government do citizens have little choice in who leads the government?

Autocracy

In which type government do citizens have little or no opportunities to participate in government (voting, running for office)?

Autocracy

In which type government do citizens have very limited rights and freedoms?

Autocracy

What type government has a single leader who holds all the power?

Autocracy

Does this paragraph correctly identify both an autocracy and a democracy: In an autocracy, the people typically do not have the right to vote. In a democracy, one leader holds all the power.

Autocracy is correctly defined. Democracy is NOT correctly defined

What type of government includes a system in which the people do not elect a leader? The leader probably took power violently through war?

Autocracy or Dictatorship

Does this paragraph correctly identify both an autocracy and a democracy: In a democracy, the citizens have many opportunities to use their power by voting for government leaders to represent them. In an autocracy, the citizens play little to no role in choosing government leaders.

Both democracy and autocracy are correctly defined.

What is one similarity between presidential and parliamentary forms of democracy?

Both have a bicameral (two house) legislature

What role does the Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, have in the government of the U.K.?

Ceremonial - very little power

Which of the following is an example of an autocracy? Congress Dictatorship Presidential Democracy Parliamentary Democracy

Dictatorship

House of Commons

England's lower house in Parliament (most powerful of the two)

Parliamentary democracy

Form of government in which people vote for the legislative body, which in turn selects the prime minister.

Direct Democracy

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.

What is the duty of an M.P. in the British (U.K.) government?

M.P.'s are members of parliament in charge of passing laws.

MP

Member of Parliament

Does this paragraph correctly identify both an autocracy and a democracy: In an autocracy one ruler (dictator) has limited power. In a democracy the president or prime minister holds all the power.

Neither autocracy or democracy is correctly defined.

What type government is led by a Prime Minister?

Parliamentary Democracy

In which system of government does the legislature elect the executive leader of government?

Parliamentary democracy

The president has executive power in which form of government?

Presidential Democracy

In which form of government do citizens elect the executive leader of government?

Presidential democracy

In the U.K. parliamentary government, who is the actual head of the government?

Prime Minister

Which European country has a government system where voters elect legislators and separately elect a President: Spain Russia Germany United Kingdom (U.K.)

Russia

Russian federation

Russia and its political subunits, which include 21 internal republics

head of state

The executive role that symbolizes and represents the people both nationally and internationally.

Federation council

The largely powerless upper house of the Russian parliament

Who chooses the Prime Minister in a Parliamentary system?

The majority party in Parliament

Does this paragraph correctly identify both an autocracy and a democracy: In a democracy, the government restricts the freedom of speech and press of its citizens. In an autocracy, the citizens are not allowed to criticize the government.

The statement for democracy is FALSE The statement for autocracy is TRUE

revolution

a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.

representative democracy

a form of democracy in which citizens elect officials to govern on their behalf

monarchy

a government ruled by a king or queen, a government ruled by a monarch

federation

a government that links and unites different groups

democratic/democracy

a government where political authority rests with a nation's citizens

autocratic government / autocracy

a government where political authority rests with a single leader

Citizen

a legal member of a country

legislator

a person who makes laws; a member of a legislative body

monarch

a ruler of a kingdom or empire, king, queen, emperor, empress

federal system of government

a system in which power is shared among state and national authorities

political party

an organization which represents a specific political agenda and socioeconomic positions within a given nation

parliament

common name given to the legislature in a parliamentary democracy

Federal republic

government divided between national and state powers

federal republic

government divided between national and state powers

bicameral

having a legislature divided into an upper and lower house

Sovreign

having absolute authority in a certain realm

advisory

having the power to make recommendations but not to take action enforcing them.

Prime Minister

head of government

legislature

law making body of a democratic government

State duma

the lower house of the Russian Parliament which has little power

House of Lords

the upper house of the British parliament (has little power)

chancellor

title given to the head of government in Germany

president

title often given to the head of government and state in a presidential democracy

prime minister

title often given to the head of government in a parliamentary democracy

elect

to choose by voting