Ch 25: Introduction to Government
About This Chapter
Introduction to Government - Chapter Summary
This chapter's video lessons explain what government is and its function in society. You'll learn in detail about the characteristics of the U.S. government and its role in the lives of citizens. The lessons also explore the many different forms of government, including democracy, monarchy, autocracy and oligarchy. Our professional instructors teach you about the styles of constitutional government as well. Once you complete all of the video lessons in this chapter, you should be able to:
- Understand multiple definitions of government
- List the functions of the U.S. government according to the Constitution
- Differentiate between authoritarian and totalitarian autocracies
- Compare and contrast forms of government
- Distinguish between the federal and unitary styles of constitutional government
- Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S.'s Articles of Confederation
We offer a variety of tools to help make learning about government an efficient and fun experience. The lively instructors use several examples to explain key terminology and concepts in videos that are typically less than 10 minutes long. Each lesson contains a transcript, and certain terms are linked to text lessons that provide more information. If you want to review particular concepts without watching entire videos again, you can use video tags to do so. Self-assessment quizzes accompany each lesson as well, which allows you to assess your understanding of the functions and forms of government.
1. What is Government? - Definition, Role & Functions
In this lesson, we will examine the various definitions of government. Then we will take a close look at the functions of the U.S. government and the role it plays in citizens' everyday lives.
2. What is Autocracy? - Totalitarianism vs. Authoritarianism
In this lesson, you'll imagine living in an autocracy. You will consider what would change if you went from an authoritarian society to a more totalitarian approach to government.
3. Forms of Government: Monarchy, Democracy, Oligarchy & More
The governance of nations differs significantly based on who has power. This lesson will differentiate five forms of government: monarchy, democracy, oligarchy, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism.
4. Types of Constitutional Government
Learn about constitutional governments through the eyes of a citizen of a fictional country undergoing change. Gain insight into what each of these styles means as you weigh the benefits of unitary and federal types.
5. Articles of Confederation: Strengths & Weaknesses
We pay federal taxes and give more power to the federal government than we do the state because the Articles of Confederation failed miserably as the first constitution. Learn the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation here.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the GACE Middle Grades Social Science (015): Practice & Study Guide course
- European Colonies in North America (1497-1732)
- Important Events Leading to the American Revolution
- Events & Leaders of the American Revolution
- The Making of a Nation after the American Revolution
- The Virginia Dynasty
- Manifest Destiny & American Expansion
- Everyday Life in Antebellum America
- Jacksonian Democracy
- Buildup to the American Civil War
- The American Civil War
- After the Civil War: Reconstruction
- Westward Expansion, Industrialization & Urbanization (1870-1900)
- American Imperialism & World War I
- The Progressive Era of the Early 20th Century
- 1920s America
- America and the Great Depression
- U.S. Involvement in World War ll (1941-1945)
- Post-World War ll America (1946-1959)
- The Cold War in America (1950-1973)
- Civil Rights & Other Movements in the US (1954-1973)
- America in the 1970s
- America in the 1980s
- Recent American History (1992-2013)
- The History of Georgia
- Introduction to Economics
- The Judicial Branch of the U.S.
- The U.S.'s Legislative Branch
- Presidential Elections, Powers & Processes
- History of Political Parties in the U.S.
- Latin American History
- Canadian History
- European History: Geography, Colonization, WWI & Russia
- European History: The 1920s & 1930s
- European History: The Rise of Fascism
- European History: World War II
- European History: Post-War Europe
- European History: Cold War Europe
- European History: Integration in Europe after the Soviet Union
- Australian History
- Overview of African History
- Asian History
- GACE Middle Grades Social Science Flashcards
