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GED Social Studies: Democratic Principles and Types of Government Concepts

Importance ★★★★★ · 25% (estimate)

Overview

This chapter covers the main types of government and the ideas that shaped American democracy. GED questions often give you a short passage, such as a line from the Declaration of Independence, and ask which principle it shows.

Governments differ in who holds power. In a direct democracy, citizens vote on laws themselves. In a representative democracy, or republic, citizens elect officials to make laws. A monarchy is led by a king or queen who usually inherits the job, and a totalitarian government controls almost every part of life. In a parliamentary system the prime minister comes from the legislature, while in a presidential system the president is elected separately.

American democracy rests on a few key principles. Natural rights are rights people are born with, such as life and liberty. Consent of the governed means government gets its power from the people. Rule of law means no one is above the law. Majority rule is balanced by minority rights, and a written constitution limits what government may do.

Key concepts

  • Direct vs. representative

    Direct democracy: citizens vote on laws. Representative democracy (republic): citizens elect officials who make laws.

    Memory tipTown meeting = direct; Congress = representative.

  • Natural rights

    Rights every person has from birth, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Government cannot rightly take them away.

    Memory tipLook for "unalienable rights" or "endowed by their Creator."

  • Consent of the governed

    Government gets its fair power from the people it governs. Also called popular sovereignty.

    Memory tip"We the People" = the people are the source of power.

  • Rule of law

    Laws apply to everyone equally, including leaders. No one is above the law.

    Memory tipA leader punished for breaking the law shows rule of law.

  • Majority rule, minority rights

    The majority decides, but it cannot take away the basic rights of smaller groups.

    Memory tipA vote cannot cancel protected rights such as freedom of religion.

  • Federalism

    Power is divided between the national government and the state governments.

    Memory tipFederalism = levels; separation of powers = branches.

  • Totalitarianism

    A government with total control: one party, controlled media, secret police, and no real limits.

    Memory tipOne party plus control of private life = totalitarian.

Often tested

  • Know which principle a famous quote shows: natural rights, consent of the governed, or limited government.
  • Federalist No. 51 argues that government must control the people and also control itself.
  • Do not mix up federalism (national vs. state) with separation of powers (three branches).
  • The Constitution creates no hereditary offices.

Easy to confuse: Types of government

TypeWho holds powerExample
Direct democracyCitizens vote on lawsAncient Athens, town meetings
Representative democracyElected officialsUnited States
MonarchyKing or queen, usually inheritedHistoric England, France
TotalitarianOne party or ruler with total controlNazi Germany, Stalin's Soviet Union

3 sample questions

Verified practice questions from this unit.

Practice questionReviewedCivics and Government › Democratic Principles and Types of Government★★★★★

Question 1. The United States is a representative democracy. What does this mean?

  1. ① A king shares power with an elected parliament
  2. ② Citizens vote directly on every law
  3. ③ The army chooses the country's leaders
  4. ④ Citizens elect officials who make laws for them
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Answer: ④ Citizens elect officials who make laws for them

Key point: Representative democracy: elected officials make the laws

In a representative democracy, voters choose people (representatives) to make laws and decisions for them. Americans elect members of Congress, a President, state lawmakers, and local officials. Another name for this system is a republic.

Wrong choices

  • A king shares power with an elected parliament: A king sharing power with a parliament is a constitutional monarchy, such as the United Kingdom.
  • Citizens vote directly on every law: Voting directly on every law is a direct democracy. In the U.S., most laws are made by elected lawmakers.
  • The army chooses the country's leaders: Leaders chosen by the army is a military government, not a democracy.
Practice questionReviewedCivics and Government › Democratic Principles and Types of Government★★★★★

Question 2. What does federalism mean in the United States?

  1. ① Citizens vote directly on all laws
  2. ② All power belongs to the national government
  3. ③ Power is divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
  4. ④ Power is divided between the national government and the state governments
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Answer: ④ Power is divided between the national government and the state governments

Key point: Federalism: power shared by national and state governments

Federalism divides power between the national (federal) government and the states. The national government handles things like printing money and foreign affairs. States handle things like driver's licenses and public schools. Some powers, such as taxing, are shared.

Wrong choices

  • Citizens vote directly on all laws: Voting directly on laws is direct democracy.
  • All power belongs to the national government: If all power belonged to the national government, it would be a unitary system, not federalism.
  • Power is divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches: Dividing power among three branches is separation of powers. Federalism is about levels of government.
Practice questionReviewedCivics and Government › Democratic Principles and Types of Government★★★★★

Question 3. Read this line from the Declaration of Independence (1776). "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Which idea does this line express most directly?

  1. ① Natural rights
  2. ② Separation of powers
  3. ③ Checks and balances
  4. ④ Federalism
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Answer: ① Natural rights

Key point: Natural rights: rights people are born with, not given by government

Natural rights are rights every person has from birth, such as life and liberty. "Unalienable" means they cannot be taken away. This idea came from thinkers such as John Locke, and the Declaration used it to argue that a government that violates these rights can be replaced.

Wrong choices

  • Separation of powers: Separation of powers divides government into branches. The line does not mention branches.
  • Checks and balances: Checks and balances are about branches limiting one another. The line is about rights people are born with.
  • Federalism: Federalism is about dividing power between national and state governments. The line does not talk about levels of government.
Practice 5 questions from this unit →

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