Exam 1: Five Principles of Politics

The relationship between a representative and his or her constituents in which constituents essentially "hire" the representative to act on their behalf is known as a(n)

Autocracy can best be defined as rule by

Governments that are generally unrestrained by law but in which other political or social institutions keep leaders in check are called authoritarian governments.

In American representative democracy,citizens are considered to function as

Why can it be difficult for actors who share a common interest to agree to cooperate?

The term politics is defined as the decisions reached by democratic processes.

Political scientists would most accurately classify a governing system that recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it as

Explain the alternatives to constitutional democracy.

When governments are severely limited in terms of what they are permitted to control,these governments are said to have

What historical developments helped create modern democratic government?

When a small group of individuals controls most of the governing decisions,a government is said to be an oligarchy.

On the small island nation of Tamazia,the small but elite group of purple-spotted Tamazians,who own most of the land on the more fruitful north side,has invaded the less productive southern sections of the island.Now it has taken control of all political institutions.Consequently,the pink-spotted and green-spotted Tamazians who make up the majority of the island inhabitants have to submit to the will of the purple-spotted Tamazians.This new government on the island nation of Tamazia would most correctly be classified as

A government with specific limits on what governments control and how political power is exercised is called a

The following question is an example of a(n) __________ question in political science: "Which political party do a majority of Latinos support in presidential elections?"

The Soviet Union during the rule of Joseph Stalin was a classic example of a __________ society.

Your instructor has organized the class into groups of three students each and assigned each group a research project on different aspects of the workings of Congress.Regardless of the individual contributions of each group member,all three students of each group will receive the same grade based on the quality of the project.After numerous attempts to organize the group to work on the project,you realize the third student in your group will not participate.Instead,you and the second student get together to finish the project since both of you are very concerned about your final grade in the class.However,you are both angry that the third student is going to benefit from your hard work without contributing.Had the instructor told each group that each student's grade on the project would be based on their individual contributions,which problem would the instructor have avoided?

The Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin was an example of a totalitarian regime.

For which of the following reasons is government NOT necessary?

When large numbers of people have some influence over government decision making,the government is said to be constitutional.

A tribal council that meets occasionally to advise the chief has all the essential elements of a government.