Political Theories Quizzes

Which TWO of the following are considered foundational aspects of democratic government? Select all answers that apply.

All individuals are equally accountable to the law.; The power to choose the leader(s) resides with the people. The rule of law, the idea that all members of a society are equally answerable to the law, is a cornerstone of democratic government. Democratic government rests on the notion that power resides with the people, and it is they who choose the leaders.

Which of the following philosophical concepts was a major development in political thought during the Enlightenment?

Authority is derived from the consent of the people. John Locke's philosophy that political power comes only from the consent of the governed directly influenced the American and French revolutions.

Which of the following best identifies the core influence of the Mayflower Compact on later conceptions of government in the United States?

Government exists through a social contract of its citizens. The Mayflower Compact was an example of a civil social contract, in which the citizens of a government unified and agreed to follow its laws.

Which of the following is known for creating the foundation of democratic principles?

Greece Athens, Greece, is considered the birthplace of democracy in the fifth century BC, although forms of democracy existed in small tribes and communities dating back as far as 599 BC.

Of the following, which is the earliest example of written law?

Hammurabi's Code Hammurabi's Code dates to 1740 B.C. The Code of Hammurabi was inscribed onto stone for all to see and it is the first known written set of laws. The laws were to be obeyed, and failure to do so resulted in fines and punishment. These laws greatly influenced legal systems of the Hebrews and later the Romans.

Which of the following was a major contribution of John Locke to the development of political thought in Europe in the 18th century?

He advocated for representative democracy. Locke was one of the most widely recognized democratic theorists of the Enlightenment and advocated for the right of the people to choose their representatives.

Which of the following best describes how the Enlightenment affected Europe during the 18th century?

It brought rational thinking and reason to the forefront of society. The Enlightenment focused on reason and rational thinking and brought about an age of inquiry and skepticism.

"To understand political power aright, and derive from it its original, we must consider what estate all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of Nature, without asking leave or depending upon the will of any other man." The thought of which of the following Enlightenment thinkers is described in the passage above?

John Locke Locke believed all men to be free and in possession of the right to determine the course of their own lives.

Which of the following best summarizes John Locke's view of the source of government authority?

Legitimate governments derive their authority from the consent of the people. Locke believed that all legitimate power was derived from the consent of the governed and that no government could rule when this consent was lost.

In a constitutional monarchy such as the United Kingdom, which of the following is true?

The executive serves as head of government, while the monarch serves as head of state. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch serves as head of state and embodies the sovereignty of the people, while the executive oversees the daily operation of government as head of government.

The constitutional monarchy model operating in Great Britain is most similar to the government of which of the following?

Spain Spain also operates under a constitutional monarchy, with a sovereign holding power as the head of state and a parliamentary system that elects the head of government.

Of the following, which best summarizes the core beliefs at the center of social contract theory?

The authority of a government exists only as it is supported by the people it governs. The idea of a government based on a social contract between it and the people it ruled is fundamental to the development of modern democratic government.

Which of the following contributed most to the beginning of representative government in America?

Two Treatises of Government by John Locke The Two Treatises of Government by John Locke was published in 1689 and had a significant influence on the development of representative government in the U.S. In the book, Locke states that the best government is a contract between the people and the government, establishing that the people should give power to the government and that the power of the government should come from the people and not a king or monarchy.

The United States is classified as which form of government?

a democratic republic The United States is a democratic republic, which means citizens from cities and states elect officials to represent them at the state and federal level.

Based on the hierarchy illustrated, government in feudal Japan would best be classified as:

a monarchy. The Emperor served as the absolute monarch and ruled the country through his Shogun and Samurai.

In the Preamble of the United States Constitution, the founders explain their intent to set forth laws that will govern them and the rest of the county. This is an example of:

a social contract. A social contract is the idea that individuals covenant with each other to create (and be subject to) a form of government. People sacrifice some liberties which is acceptable to living under the rule of law.

Which of the following was an important effect of the Enlightenment in Europe during the 18th century?

an increased influence of secular and rational philosophy The Enlightenment occurred during the "Century of Philosophy" and helped spread rational and secular philosophy, which set the framework for the widespread embrace of democratic government in the 19th century.

In which of the following types of government is the country ruled by a powerful few?

an oligarchy An oligarchy is a system of government where a small group of people have and use the powers of government.

Which of the following describes a system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual?

autocratic In an autocratic government, one person controls all decision-making power, as in Stalin's Soviet Union.

Which of the following best describes the British system of relying on past court decisions to determine individual rights?

common law Common laws are created and developed through judicial decision, typically by courts. Common law is derived from tradition and previous responses to situations.

Canada, with both a parliament as governing authority and a queen as head of state, is an example of what type of government?

constitutional monarchy Canada is a crowned republic, meaning power lies with the people but the monarch is the head of state.

The concept of consent of the governed is best reflected in which of the following political systems?

democracy Democracy is a system in which the people consent to be governed through elections.

The following principles described here [checks and balances, limited government, federalism, separation of powers] are best evidenced in which of the following political systems?

democratic republic A democratic republic is where individuals elect representatives to govern on the citizens' behalf. Since the ultimate power resides in the citizens, the notion of a limited government is enacted through a system of checks and balances--a separation of powers. Also, a democratic republic holds to federalism, as it is a group of people covenanting under a government; the United States is a democratic republic.

Of the following systems, which is least likely to promote the welfare and respect the opinion of its citizens?

dictatorship A dictator rules without constitutional limitations, and citizens have little or no freedom or input into government decisions.

Which of the following systems of government was created by the Greeks?

direct democracy The Greeks created the system of direct democracy. In a direct democracy, all citizens have an equal vote in governmental matters. Direct democracies rarely exist in modern times because it is difficult to gather all the citizens, hold a debate, and vote. Logistically, direct democracies are very difficult. Most democracies are representative democracies where citizens choose an individual to represent the citizens.

According to the constitution, which of the following does NOT describe a purpose of the United States government?

establishing democratic governments abroad The U.S. government may act as an advocate for democratic principles around the world, but it is not tasked with establishing new democratic governments.

The Geneva Conventions are a set of international agreements that focus on:

human rights The Geneva Conventions were drafted in the years following World War I and World War II and focused on the treatment of prisoners of war and civilians during wartime.

The International Criminal Court is an example of the type of institution promoted by which of the following ideologies?

liberalism Liberalism advocates for natural rights and the rule of law, which are supported by international institutions such as the International Criminal Court.

The goals of the United Nations, an institution aimed at mutual peace and cooperation, are in line with which of the following theories of international relations?

liberalism Liberalism stresses cooperation and the belief that states gain most when they work toward common ethics and shared values, goals which align with the aim of the United Nations.

The Tenth Amendment states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." This is an example of:

limited government The Constitution sets out specific powers for the federal government, and any powers not specified are given to the states and individuals. This limits the power of the federal government.

Which of the following are best defined as rights that are possessed by all individuals, regardless of place, time, or government jurisdiction?

natural rights Natural rights are seen as belonging to an individual with no requirement. They are traditionally seen as life, liberty, and property (or the pursuit of happiness). Natural rights, like natural law, extend beyond culture, society, or time period.

John Locke's Two Treatises of Government most directly contributed to which of the following?

the rise of democratic political values in Western Europe Locke argued that the power of government relies on the consent of the people and this view contributed to the rise of democratic government in Europe and later the United States.

Which of the following is the best reason why groups of people tend to pass and obey laws?

to maintain order Laws help people know what is allowed and what it not. It helps keep a society in order.

The United States joined the United Nations to foster which of the following goals?

to promote human rights and liberties The United Nations was founded to promote human rights and to address issues of poverty and violence on a global scale.