Politics Unit Study Guide

POLITICS UNIT Study GUIDE
Directions: Identify which type of government fits best in each blank by circling the letter.
1. “Let me say that our system of government does not copy the institutions of our neighbors. It is more the
case of our being a model to others, than of our imitating anyone else. Our constitution is called a
_______________ because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people.” ~ Pericles,
Athens, Greece
A. Anarchy
B. Democracy
C. Oligarchy
D. Dictatorship
E. Monarchy
2. Ancient Egypt's type of government was a ________________. The Pharaoh owned and was in charge of
everything. He had absolute power. Power was usually passed down to his son.
A. Anarchy
B. Democracy
C. Oligarchy
D. Dictatorship
E. Monarchy
3. The founders of the Roman Republic, like the American founding fathers, placed checks and balances on
the power of their leaders. The Romans, however, came up with a way to sidestep these checks and
balances when strong leadership was needed, such as during an invasion. The Senate could vote to grant
absolute power to one man, called a ___________________, for a temporary period. He had the support of
his military.
A. Anarchy
B. Democracy
C. Oligarchy
D. Dictatorship
E. Monarchy
4. The “few” who made policy in the _________________ ruling Sparta were a group of twenty-eight men
over sixty years old, joined by the two kings. This group of thirty, called the “council of elders,” formulated
proposals that were submitted to an assembly of all free adult males.
A. Anarchy
B. Democracy
C. Oligarchy
D. Dictatorship
E. Monarchy
5. Diogenes of Sinope argued, in opposition to Plato, that reason should replace authority in guiding the
people, and imagined a free community without government. This type of government would be
considered an ____________________________.
A. Anarchy
B. Democracy
C. Oligarchy
D. Dictatorship
E. Monarchy
6. A _________________ is a system of government in which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to

pass laws for them. A perfect example is the U.S., where we elect a president and members of the
Congress. We also elect local and state officials.
A. Constitutional Monarchy
B. Democracy
C. Theocracy
D. Aristocracy
E. Autocracy
7. England was an absolute monarchy until 1215, when the Magna Carta took away the power of the king to
charge taxes without the agreement of a "great council" defined in the Magna Carta. This "great council"
was the beginnings of Parliament which led to the creation of a _________________________________.
B. Representative Democracy
C. Theocracy
D. Aristocracy
E. Autocracy
8. _________________ means the rule of the best. In ancient Roman society it was represented by the
patricians, or upper class.
C. Theocracy
D. Aristocracy
E. Autocracy
9. Incan government can be considered a _____________________. Their ruler Pachacuti claimed to be a

direct descendant of the Incan sun god Inti and the creator god Pachacamac. Politics and religion were
fully intertwined.
C. Theocracy
D. Aristocracy
E. Autocracy
10. Rule by one, both dictatorship and monarchy are examples _____________
C. Theocracy
D. Aristocracy
E. Autocracy
11. Which of the below assumes power mostly by force.
A. Direct Democracy
B. Anarchy
C. Dictatorship
12. Which of the below best defines Anarchy?

A. The absence of government
B. A government ruled by one person.
C. A city ruled by everyone
13. Which of the below best describes what a Theocracy is?

A. Rule by a king or queen
B. Rule by a few people
C. Rule by god or religious law
14. Which of the below best defines justice?

A. honesty
B. pay back
C. fairness
15. Which best describes the difference between a Direct Democracy and a Representative Democracy?
A. In a Direct Democracy, people have less Freedom
B. In a Direct Democracy, people vote on issues, not representatives
C. In a Direct Democracy, people are ruled by a small group of people
16. In general, who rules in a Democracy?

A. One
B. Many
C. Few
17. In general, who rules in an Autocracy?

A. One
B. Many
C. Few
18. Which best describes the difference between a Monarchy and Dictatorship?
A. A Monarch can have absolute and total power, a dictator does not.
B. A Monarch must be a king or queen, a dictator is not.
C. A Monarch must be a man, a dictator does not.
19. What is government?

A. A group of people to collect taxes and organize a civilization.
B. A ruling body of a state, nation, or civilization.
C. A way to continue winning wars and gain wealth.
20. What is the purpose of government?

A. To organize, protect and make laws
B. To make laws, be powerful and accountable
C. To be accountable, beautiful and make laws
21. How do governments ensure justice?

A. Make sure laws are easy to follow so everyone knows what to do.
B. Make sure there is a balance between power, accountability and law.
C. Make sure the government is accountable for its actions.
22. Which of the below is an example of an Oligarchy?

A. Theocracy
B. Both
C. Aristocracy
23. Which ancient civilization established the basis of western democracy?

A. Phoenician
B. Egyptian
C. Sumerian
D. Greek
24. Important long-term contributions of Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations are primarily found in the
area of
A. military technology
B. religious doctrine
C. economic policy and planning
D. government and law
25. The Ancient Greek city-state of Sparta

A. was primarily concerned with the health of their people
B. was a powerful military state
C. granted universal suffrage to their people
D. placed great emphasis on literature and the arts
26. A major contribution of the Roman Empire to Western society was the development of
A. gunpowder
B. the principles of revolutionary socialism
C. monotheism
D. an effective legal system
27. “If a man has knocked out the teeth of a man of the same rank, his own teeth shall be knocked out. If he has
knocked out the teeth of a plebeian (commoner), he shall pay one third of a mina of silver.”. . .
— Code of Hammurabi
Which statement is supported by this excerpt from Hammurabi’s code of laws?

A. All men are equal under the law.
B. Fines are preferable to physical punishment.
C. Law sometimes distinguishes between social classes.
D. Violence must always be punished with violence.
28. Hammurabi’s Code, the Ten Commandments, and the Twelve Tables were all significant to theirs societies
because they established
A. democratic governments
B. official religions
C. rules of behavior
D. economic systems
29. The Code of Hammurabi and the Twelve Tables were designed to
A. create a stable society
B. promote peaceful relations with other cultures
C. provide a framework for the development of democracy
D. emphasize the importance of life after death
30. The Code of Hammurabi was a major contribution to the development of civilization because it
A. treated citizens and slaves equally
B. ended all physical punishment
C. recorded existing laws for all to see
D. rejected the principle of filial piety
31. What form of government is ruled by the land-owning elites?

A. Monarchy
B. Oligarchy
C. Aristocracy
D. Democracy
32. What was Athens a limited democracy?

A. Because everyone voted.
B. Because it didn’t allow women, slaves and foreigners to vote.
C. Because only the merchant class could vote.
D. Because it was for a limited time only.
Directions: Write the letter on the line, matching the definition with the type of government.
________ Oligarchy A. Rule by religious leaders and religious law
________ Dictatorship B. rule by non
________ Direct Democracy C. rule by one, usually by force
________ Theocracy D. rule by a king or queen
_________ Monarchy E. rule by the citizens who vote on all the issues
________ Democracy F. rule by one
________ Autocracy G. rule my many (the people)
________ Representative Democracy H. rule by the people who elect representatives
________ Anarchy I. rule by few

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POLITICS UNIT Study GUIDE

6. A _________________ is a system of government in which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to

9. Incan government can be considered a _____________________. Their ruler Pachacuti claimed to be a

12. Which of the below best defines Anarchy?

13. Which of the below best describes what a Theocracy is?

14. Which of the below best defines justice?

16. In general, who rules in a Democracy?

17. In general, who rules in an Autocracy?

19. What is government?

20. What is the purpose of government?

21. How do governments ensure justice?

22. Which of the below is an example of an Oligarchy?

23. Which ancient civilization established the basis of western democracy?

25. The Ancient Greek city-state of Sparta

Which statement is supported by this excerpt from Hammurabi’s code of laws?

31. What form of government is ruled by the land-owning elites?

32. What was Athens a limited democracy?

________ Oligarchy A. Rule by religious leaders and religious law

________ Dictatorship B. rule by non

________ Direct Democracy C. rule by one, usually by force

________ Theocracy D. rule by a king or queen

________ Democracy F. rule by one

________ Autocracy G. rule my many (the people)

________ Representative Democracy H. rule by the people who elect representatives

________ Anarchy I. rule by few

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