Question 1

The form of government in which the society is ruled by a dictator or clique that forbids all threats to its position is called:
A) a democracy.
B) a liberal democracy.
C) an authoritarian autocracy.
D) a unitary democracy.

Accepted Answer

An authoritarian autocracy is a form of government in which a dictator or small group holds all power and prohibits any opposition or threat to their rule. This type of government does not allow for democratic processes or individual freedoms, making it distinct from liberal democracies, unitary democracies, and other forms of government.

Question 2

Anarchists and libertarians believe in the:
A) least role for government.
B) most important part of human life.
C) expansion of government public policies.
D) need for government intervention in society.

Accepted Answer

Anarchists and libertarians both believe in minimizing the role of government in society, with anarchists advocating for the complete abolition of the state and libertarians advocating for limited government intervention in individual liberties and free markets.

Question 3

Democracy demands that the people:
A) obey their leader without question.
B) establish a ruling elite who will make the best choices for all.
C) exercise sovereign authority over themselves.
D) never compromise in legislation.

Accepted Answer

Democracy is a system of government where power resides with the people, and they exercise their sovereign authority over themselves. This means that people have the right to participate in decision-making, elect their leaders, and hold them accountable for their actions. Obedience without questioning, establishing a ruling elite, and refusing to compromise in legislation are all contrary to democratic values.

Question 4

Political ideology consists of:
A) passing trends in economic theory.
B) deeply held beliefs in ideas about the best form of government.
C) temporary ideas about family institutions.
D) beliefs held with little conviction.

Accepted Answer

Political ideology is a set of deeply held beliefs and ideas about the best form of government, including values and principles regarding social, economic, and political issues. It is not a passing trend or temporary idea held with little conviction.

Question 5

Justice means:
A) the same things to all people.
B) different things to different people.
C) some are entitled to more than others.
D) inequality is the way of life.

Accepted Answer

Justice is a concept that varies greatly among different cultures, societies, and individuals. What one person or group considers just may be seen as unjust by another, leading to the understanding that justice means different things to different people.

Question 6

The U.S. army moving into Iraq:
A) reestablished the government of Saddam Hussein.
B) did not completely halt the economic and social life of most Iraqis.
C) led to anarchy-widespread looting and destruction of property.
D) is a classic example supporting the theory that government is an unnecessary evil to be abolished as soon as possible.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. army moving into Iraq led to anarchy-widespread looting and destruction of property.

Question 7

Democracy is a Western ideology. For democracy to work, one needs the right environment which includes:
A) a commitment to minority rights.
B) a commitment to religion over democracy.
C) the technology available for a print and other media communications network.
D) a tradition of respect for group over individual rights.

Accepted Answer

A commitment to minority rights is necessary in any democratic system, regardless of culture or ideology. Options B, C, and D are not necessary conditions for democracy to work.

Question 8

Reactionaries are people who believe that:
A) all governments should be abolished.
B) government is necessary but currently plays too large a role.
C) dictatorship is best and that the government role should be expanded.
D) think only a minimal government is necessary.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Reactionaries are people who believe that:
A) all...

Question 9

Robert Nozick sees a role for a minimal state and his views are called:
A) Anarchist.
B) Reactionary.
C) Libertarian.
D) Communist.

Accepted Answer

Nozick's views are typically classified as libertarian, as he argues for a minimal state that is focused primarily on protecting individual rights and enforcing contracts, and is otherwise largely hands-off in terms of economic and social regulation. This approach is consistent with many key tenets of libertarianism, including a strong emphasis on individual freedom and limited government intervention.

Question 10

Communist theory views government as a:
A) positive good.
B) necessary protector of civilization.
C) necessary evil.
D) unnecessary evil.

Accepted Answer

Communist theory views government as an unnecessary evil, believing that in a true communist society, the state would eventually wither away as class distinctions disappear.

Question 11

Oliver Wendell Holmes and William O. Douglas both held the view of government as a:
A) positive good.
B) means to punish evil with maximum force.
C) means to regulate absolute conformity in all things.
D) necessary evil.

Accepted Answer

Oliver Wendell Holmes and William O. Douglas both viewed government as a positive good, emphasizing its role in promoting the general welfare and protecting individual rights rather than merely as a punitive force or a mechanism for enforcing conformity.

Question 12

Democracy, the rule of the people, is rooted in the writings of:
A) George Washington.
B) Thomas Jefferson.
C) John Locke.
D) Aaron Burr.

Accepted Answer

John Locke's writing, specifically his "Two Treatises of Government," heavily influenced the idea of democracy and the concept of a social contract between the people and their government. While George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were influential figures in American democracy, they did not originate the concept. Aaron Burr was a political figure in early American history, but did not contribute to the development of democratic philosophy.

Question 13

Of all institutions of social control, government is the most powerful and:
A) inclusive.
B) exclusive.
C) dangerous.
D) safe.

Accepted Answer

Government is considered the most inclusive among institutions of social control because it encompasses a wide range of societal aspects and includes all members within a given territory, affecting various aspects of life through laws, policies, and regulations.

Question 14

The view that government must exist as is and should not be tampered with because it serves a necessary function is called the:
A) positivist approach.
B) functionalist approach.
C) conflict approach.
D) rationalist approach.

Accepted Answer

The functionalist approach argues that government is necessary for society to function and should not be radically changed or abolished. The positivist approach focuses on observing and analyzing existing systems and processes, while the conflict approach sees government as a site of power struggles between different groups. The rationalist approach emphasizes the use of logical reasoning and evidence-based decision making.

Question 15

When conservatism was founded its focus was on a:
A) strong government.
B) weak government.
C) state with a minimal government.
D) society without any government.

Accepted Answer

Conservatism, when founded, emphasized the importance of a strong government to maintain order, tradition, and stability in society.

Question 16

The right of individuals to select their leaders by voting for them is called:
A) autocratic right.
B) oligarchy.
C) popular sovereignty.
D) divine right of the monarchy.

Accepted Answer

Popular sovereignty is the principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives who are accountable to the people. This means that individuals have the right to elect their leaders through voting in a democratic system. The other options, such as autocratic right, oligarchy, and divine right of the monarchy, are not related to the concept of individuals choosing their leaders through voting.

Question 17

Nazism and Marxism are two examples of ideologies underlying:
A) democracy.
B) parliamentary democracy.
C) totalitarian rule.
D) authoritarian democracy.

Accepted Answer

Nazism and Marxism are both examples of totalitarian ideologies, which prioritize the power and control of the government and limit individual freedoms and liberties. They do not align with democracy in any form, whether parliamentary or authoritarian, as both aim for complete state control.

Question 18

Political theory has its origins in the writings of:
A) Aristotle.
B) Douglas.
C) Comte.
D) Durkheim.

Accepted Answer

Political theory has its origins in the writings of Aristotle, who is often referred to as the "father of political science." He wrote extensively on topics such as justice, citizenship, and the ideal form of government, laying the foundation for political thought and analysis for centuries to come.

Question 19

The set of institutions by which a society is ruled is called a:
A) conglomerate.
B) corporation.
C) social league.
D) government.

Accepted Answer

The set of institutions by which a society is ruled is commonly referred to as a government. A conglomerate is a corporation made up of several different companies, a corporation is a legal entity that acts as a single entity, and a social league is a group of people joined together for a common purpose or interest. None of these options accurately describe the institutions that govern a society.

Question 20

In the early 2000s democracy was the form of government in about:
A) 70% of the countries of the world.
B) 10% of the countries of the world.
C) 30% of the countries of the world.
D) 90% of the countries of the world.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the World Bank, in the early 2000s, about 30% of the countries of the world were considered to be democratic. This means that the majority of countries still had other forms of government such as autocracy or oligarchy.

Quiz 13: The Functions and Forms of Government

The form of government in which the society is ruled by a dictator or clique that forbids all threats to its position is called:

Anarchists and libertarians believe in the:

Democracy demands that the people:

Political ideology consists of:

Justice means:

The U.S. army moving into Iraq:

Democracy is a Western ideology. For democracy to work, one needs the right environment which includes:

Reactionaries are people who believe that:

Robert Nozick sees a role for a minimal state and his views are called:

Communist theory views government as a:

Oliver Wendell Holmes and William O. Douglas both held the view of government as a:

Democracy, the rule of the people, is rooted in the writings of:

Of all institutions of social control, government is the most powerful and:

The view that government must exist as is and should not be tampered with because it serves a necessary function is called the:

When conservatism was founded its focus was on a:

The right of individuals to select their leaders by voting for them is called:

Nazism and Marxism are two examples of ideologies underlying:

Political theory has its origins in the writings of:

The set of institutions by which a society is ruled is called a:

In the early 2000s democracy was the form of government in about: