Chapter 1 Foundations of Government
Who said that life without government was like a war pitting each individual against the other?
Thomas Hobbes
Because many Americans believe that their own opportunity to succeed is related to the well-being of society, they
act for the common good out of enlightened self-interest
The form of government in which one person controls most of their governing decisions is a(n) __________
autocracy
To say that the rights to life, liberty, and property are unalienable means that
cannot not be given up or taken away
What principle of American democracy is exemplified when people vote, obey the law, serve on juries, keep informed about current issues, or volunteer for social services?
citizen participation
Civil disobedience differs from mere lawbreaking in which of the following ways?
civil disobedience seeks to justify its actions by reference to higher moral laws
What principle of American democracy is at work when two opposing groups relax some of their demands in an attempt to reach agreement?
compromise
The Chinese concept of "Mandate of Heaven" is an example of rule by
device right
Why did our nation's Founders believe deeply in safeguarding economic freedom?
economic freedom allows people to build wealth
The Enlightenment inspired American's Founders by _________
emphasizing what could be achieved through the exercise of human reason
The power to carry out, enforce, and administer the law is know as ________
executive power
Which of the following is not a fundamental principle of the American constitutional system?
executive supremacy
"all men are created equal" reflects the Founders' commitment to which principle?
individual worth
Which power involves the authority to interpret the laws and to settle disputes between members of society?
judicial
Rulers who are seen as right and proper by key segments of their nation's population have _______________
legitimacy
What two ideals of democracy did Alexis de Tocqueville think must be kept in balance in order to prevent democratic despotism?
liberty and equality
Integral to the ideal of self--government is the notion that ultimate government authority comes from ____________
people
The idea that political power is derived from the people is called
popular sovereignty
Which of the following are characteristics of a state?
population and sovereignty
According to the natural rights philosophy, the main purpose of government is to ____________
protect individual rights
Americans believe strongly that a balance should be struck between majority rule and _______________
protecting minority rights
Which of the following is another name for the term 'general welfare'?
public goods
Civic virtue is best defined as
putting the common good above individual interests
The people are the ultimate source of authority in which government system?
republic
The supreme power of a state to act within its territory and have absolute authority over its internal and external affairs is called ________
sovereignty
In comparison with the Greek and Roman ideals if civic virtue, the Judeo-Christian tradition
stresses the dignity and worth of each indevidual
Which of the following describes a confederal system?
the central government has only the powers given to it by the states
In American constitutional democracy, citizens are expected to _____________
think critically about public issues and participate in public affairs
What does an authoritarian regime become at its most extreme?
totalitarian
The vast majority of the world's nations have which system of government?
unitary