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