Asked by geiger
1. Define unitary.
2. Define confederation.
3. Define federal
4. Define autocracy.
5. Define oligarchy.
6. Define democracy.
7. Describe the difference between parliamentary and presidential democracies.
8. What are the types of government and economic systems of the Brazil, Cuba, and Mexico?
9. What are the three basic questions that all economic systems have to answer?
10. What is a traditional economy?
11. What is a pure free market economy?
12. What is a pure command economy?
13. What type of economic system do most Latin American countries have?
asnwer this and help me renember this for a test and make it easy to understand
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1) Define unitary.
- A unitary system concentrates all key political power in a single, central government. Local governments (if any) exist because the central government allows them and can change or remove their powers. Example: United Kingdom (though it has devolved governments), France.
2) Define confederation.
- A confederation is a loose alliance of independent states that keep most power for themselves and give the central authority only limited powers (usually for defense or trade). The central body depends on the member states. Example: the early United States under the Articles of Confederation; the EU has some confederal features.
3) Define federal (federation).
- A federal system divides power between a central (national) government and smaller political units (states, provinces), with each level having some constitutionally protected powers. Example: United States, Brazil, Mexico.
4) Define autocracy.
- Rule by a single person with unchecked power (a dictator or monarch who makes decisions without meaningful input from others). Example: North Korea (leader-centered authoritarian rule).
5) Define oligarchy.
- Rule by a small group of people (wealthy individuals, military leaders, or a party) who hold power and make decisions for their own benefit rather than by the whole population.
6) Define democracy.
- Rule by the people, usually through elected representatives and free elections, protection of rights, political competition, and majority rule with minority protections.
7) Describe the difference between parliamentary and presidential democracies.
- Parliamentary:
- The executive (prime minister and cabinet) is chosen from and is accountable to the legislature (parliament).
- The executive can be removed by a legislative vote of no confidence.
- Head of state and head of government are often separate (a monarch or ceremonial president + PM).
- Example: United Kingdom, Canada.
- Presidential:
- The president is elected separately from the legislature and serves fixed terms.
- The president is both head of state and head of government (or shares head-of-state duties with a ceremonial figure in semi-presidential systems).
- The legislature cannot usually remove the president except by impeachment for serious crimes.
- Example: United States, Brazil, Mexico.
8) Types of government and economic systems of Brazil, Cuba, and Mexico.
- Brazil:
- Government: Federal presidential republic (democratic elections; separation of powers).
- Economy: Mixed market economy (market-based with government regulation and social programs).
- Cuba:
- Government: One-party socialist/communist state (authoritarian; Communist Party holds leading role).
- Economy: Mostly centrally planned/command economy (state owns major resources), though some private enterprise and reforms exist.
- Mexico:
- Government: Federal presidential republic (representative democracy).
- Economy: Mixed market economy (market-oriented with state involvement in some sectors and social programs).
9) What are the three basic questions that all economic systems have to answer?
- What goods and services should be produced?
- How should they be produced (which methods and resource allocation)?
- For whom should they be produced (who gets the output)?
10) What is a traditional economy?
- An economy based on customs, traditions, and subsistence activities (farming, hunting, bartering). Production methods and distribution follow long-standing practices and roles passed down through generations. Common historically and in some rural/indigenous communities today.
11) What is a pure free market economy?
- A system with private ownership of resources and minimal/no government interference. Prices, production, and distribution are determined by supply and demand in markets (laissez-faire capitalism). In reality, pure free markets don’t really exist; most economies are mixed.
12) What is a pure command economy?
- The government or central planners own resources and decide what to produce, how to produce it, and who receives it. Prices and output are set by the state. Classic examples include the Soviet Union historically and Maoist China; modern countries are usually mixed rather than purely command.
13) What type of economic system do most Latin American countries have?
- Most Latin American countries have mixed-market economies: market-driven with significant private enterprise but also considerable government regulation, public services, and sometimes state-owned enterprises. The balance of market vs. state varies by country.
Help to remember for a test (quick study tools)
- Short definitions to memorize:
- Unitary = One central power.
- Confederation = Loose union of independent states.
- Federal = Power shared between national and local governments.
- Autocracy = One ruler.
- Oligarchy = Few rulers.
- Democracy = Rule by people/elected reps.
- Quick mnemonic for the three economic questions:
- “What? How? Who?” — What to make, how to make it, who gets it.
- Or remember W-H-F (What, How, For whom).
- Difference between parliamentary and presidential (one-liner):
- Parliamentary = executive comes from the legislature and depends on it.
- Presidential = executive elected separately and has fixed terms.
- Country flashcards (one-line each):
- Brazil: federal presidential democracy + mixed economy.
- Cuba: one-party authoritarian (communist) state + mostly command economy.
- Mexico: federal presidential democracy + mixed economy.
- Quick practice quiz (try to answer before checking):
1) Which system gives most power to a central government? (Unitary)
2) Who selects the prime minister in a parliamentary system? (Parliament/legislature)
3) What are the 3 economic questions? (What, How, For whom)
4) What type of economy is based on customs and bartering? (Traditional)
5) Is Brazil federal or unitary? (Federal)
If you want, I can make printable flashcards, a 10-question quiz with answers, or a one-page study sheet you can print and use the night before the test. Which would help most?
- A unitary system concentrates all key political power in a single, central government. Local governments (if any) exist because the central government allows them and can change or remove their powers. Example: United Kingdom (though it has devolved governments), France.
2) Define confederation.
- A confederation is a loose alliance of independent states that keep most power for themselves and give the central authority only limited powers (usually for defense or trade). The central body depends on the member states. Example: the early United States under the Articles of Confederation; the EU has some confederal features.
3) Define federal (federation).
- A federal system divides power between a central (national) government and smaller political units (states, provinces), with each level having some constitutionally protected powers. Example: United States, Brazil, Mexico.
4) Define autocracy.
- Rule by a single person with unchecked power (a dictator or monarch who makes decisions without meaningful input from others). Example: North Korea (leader-centered authoritarian rule).
5) Define oligarchy.
- Rule by a small group of people (wealthy individuals, military leaders, or a party) who hold power and make decisions for their own benefit rather than by the whole population.
6) Define democracy.
- Rule by the people, usually through elected representatives and free elections, protection of rights, political competition, and majority rule with minority protections.
7) Describe the difference between parliamentary and presidential democracies.
- Parliamentary:
- The executive (prime minister and cabinet) is chosen from and is accountable to the legislature (parliament).
- The executive can be removed by a legislative vote of no confidence.
- Head of state and head of government are often separate (a monarch or ceremonial president + PM).
- Example: United Kingdom, Canada.
- Presidential:
- The president is elected separately from the legislature and serves fixed terms.
- The president is both head of state and head of government (or shares head-of-state duties with a ceremonial figure in semi-presidential systems).
- The legislature cannot usually remove the president except by impeachment for serious crimes.
- Example: United States, Brazil, Mexico.
8) Types of government and economic systems of Brazil, Cuba, and Mexico.
- Brazil:
- Government: Federal presidential republic (democratic elections; separation of powers).
- Economy: Mixed market economy (market-based with government regulation and social programs).
- Cuba:
- Government: One-party socialist/communist state (authoritarian; Communist Party holds leading role).
- Economy: Mostly centrally planned/command economy (state owns major resources), though some private enterprise and reforms exist.
- Mexico:
- Government: Federal presidential republic (representative democracy).
- Economy: Mixed market economy (market-oriented with state involvement in some sectors and social programs).
9) What are the three basic questions that all economic systems have to answer?
- What goods and services should be produced?
- How should they be produced (which methods and resource allocation)?
- For whom should they be produced (who gets the output)?
10) What is a traditional economy?
- An economy based on customs, traditions, and subsistence activities (farming, hunting, bartering). Production methods and distribution follow long-standing practices and roles passed down through generations. Common historically and in some rural/indigenous communities today.
11) What is a pure free market economy?
- A system with private ownership of resources and minimal/no government interference. Prices, production, and distribution are determined by supply and demand in markets (laissez-faire capitalism). In reality, pure free markets don’t really exist; most economies are mixed.
12) What is a pure command economy?
- The government or central planners own resources and decide what to produce, how to produce it, and who receives it. Prices and output are set by the state. Classic examples include the Soviet Union historically and Maoist China; modern countries are usually mixed rather than purely command.
13) What type of economic system do most Latin American countries have?
- Most Latin American countries have mixed-market economies: market-driven with significant private enterprise but also considerable government regulation, public services, and sometimes state-owned enterprises. The balance of market vs. state varies by country.
Help to remember for a test (quick study tools)
- Short definitions to memorize:
- Unitary = One central power.
- Confederation = Loose union of independent states.
- Federal = Power shared between national and local governments.
- Autocracy = One ruler.
- Oligarchy = Few rulers.
- Democracy = Rule by people/elected reps.
- Quick mnemonic for the three economic questions:
- “What? How? Who?” — What to make, how to make it, who gets it.
- Or remember W-H-F (What, How, For whom).
- Difference between parliamentary and presidential (one-liner):
- Parliamentary = executive comes from the legislature and depends on it.
- Presidential = executive elected separately and has fixed terms.
- Country flashcards (one-line each):
- Brazil: federal presidential democracy + mixed economy.
- Cuba: one-party authoritarian (communist) state + mostly command economy.
- Mexico: federal presidential democracy + mixed economy.
- Quick practice quiz (try to answer before checking):
1) Which system gives most power to a central government? (Unitary)
2) Who selects the prime minister in a parliamentary system? (Parliament/legislature)
3) What are the 3 economic questions? (What, How, For whom)
4) What type of economy is based on customs and bartering? (Traditional)
5) Is Brazil federal or unitary? (Federal)
If you want, I can make printable flashcards, a 10-question quiz with answers, or a one-page study sheet you can print and use the night before the test. Which would help most?
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