Question

understanding how a government operates can be broken down into three main perspectives: who holds the power, how that power is geographically distributed, and how the different branches of government interact with one another.

1. according to the number of people who hold power

this classification looks at the \who\ of governance.

• autocracy: power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual. this includes absolute monarchies (like the tsars of old) or dictatorships. the ruler has supreme authority, and citizen participation is minimal or non - existent.
• oligarchy: power rests with a small, elite group of people. this group might be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, education, or military control.
• democracy: power is vested in the people.
• direct democracy: citizens vote on laws and policies directly.
• representative democracy (republic): citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf.

check for understanding

1. in which system does a small group of wealthy elites hold all the political power?

a) autocracy
b) oligarchy
c) direct democracy
d) monarchy

1. if a king has total control over a nations laws and military without any constitutional limits, the government is a/an:

a) absolute monarchy
b) representative democracy
c) aristocracy
d) republic

1. what is the primary difference between a direct democracy and a representative democracy?

a) the number of branches of government
b) whether citizens vote for laws themselves or for people to make laws
c) the presence of a king or queen
d) the amount of taxes collected

Explanation:

Question 1

To solve this, we refer to the definitions: Autocracy has power in one individual, Oligarchy has power in a small elite group (which can include wealthy elites), Direct Democracy has citizens vote directly, and Monarchy is a type of Autocracy. So a small group of wealthy elites holding power matches Oligarchy.

An Absolute Monarchy is when a king/queen has total control without constitutional limits. Representative Democracy is a type of democracy with elected officials, Aristocracy is a form of Oligarchy with nobility, and Republic is a Representative Democracy. So a king with total control is an Absolute Monarchy.

Direct Democracy: citizens vote on laws directly. Representative Democracy: citizens elect officials to make laws. The other options (number of branches, presence of king/queen, tax amount) are not the primary difference. So the difference is about who votes for laws.

Answer:

b) Oligarchy

Question 2