School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Item: Public Release items have appeared on HSA forms and then are released for public viewing and use. Releasing items is one step to ensuring that schools, districts, and other stakeholders understand how the core learning goals are assessed on the HSA.

Goal 2 Peoples Of The Nation And World

Expectation 2.2 The student will compare and evaluate the effectiveness of the United States system of government and various other political systems.

Indicator 2.2.1 The student will analyze advantages and disadvantages of various types of governments throughout the world.

Assessment Limits:

  • Types of political systems including: democratic (parliamentary, presidential) and authoritarian (monarchy, oligarchy, dictatorship and totalitarian).
  • Forms of government: confederation, federal, unitary.

Selected Response Item - Released in 2001

Which of these is a characteristic of an authoritarian system of government?

  1. popular sovereignty
  2. equal protection under the law
  3. restrictions of personal freedoms
  4. majority rules with minority rights
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2001_221_gov16.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2001

All the citizens in a community take an equal role in local government by meeting to debate and vote on every law and political issue.

This form of government is best described as

  1. a direct democracy
  2. a presidential democracy
  3. a parliamentary democracy
  4. a representative democracy
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2001_221_gov17.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2001

Which of these is important to a successful democracy?

  1. discouraging criticism of elected officials
  2. ensuring that only the most capable citizens receive an education
  3. producing policies that address a variety of citizens' concerns
  4. refusing to allow presidents to meet with leaders of hostile countries
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2001_221_gov34.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item - Released in 2001

  • Explain how confederate and unitary forms of government differ.
  • State which form you think is better.
  • Include details and examples to support your answer.

Write your answer in the answer box below.

/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2001_221_gov37.xml

View Scoring Information

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

Which of these types of government allows citizens to have the greatest amount of political influence?

  1. dictatorship
  2. direct democracy
  3. absolute monarchy
  4. oligarchy
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2003_221_gov19.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

In an authoritarian government, freedom of speech is usually

  1. protected by the government as a civil right
  2. guaranteed in the government's constitution
  3. censored and controlled by the government
  4. regulated only when it presents a clear and present danger
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2003_221_gov24.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

In which form of government do states, cities, and counties have the least political power?

  1. federal
  2. unitary
  3. confederate
  4. democratic
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2003_221_gov55.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2004

Which of these is most associated with an authoritarian government?

  1. The legislative process is slow.
  2. Freedom of expression is valued.
  3. Government leaders have absolute power.
  4. Elections for government offices are conducted fairly.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2004_221_gov16.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2004

Which of these is an advantage of a representative democracy?

  1. Political parties have similar platforms.
  2. Citizens are able to vote on all issues.
  3. Government agencies make decisions quickly.
  4. Legislators are elected by the people.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2004_221_gov50.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2005

Great Britain and Japan are examples of democratic countries with a strong, central government that makes laws for the entire nation and limits the power of local governments.

What form of government do these countries have?

  1. authoritarian
  2. confederation
  3. federal
  4. unitary
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2005_221_gov17.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2005

Look at the flowchart below. Then answer the following:

Based on the information in the diagram, which of these controls does Mexico's National Congress have over the President?

  1. vetoing laws
  2. rejecting judicial appointments
  3. electing the President
  4. selecting presidential candidates
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2005_221_gov41.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2005

Look at the flowchart below. Then answer the following:

Based on the information in the diagram, which of these best describes the system of government of Mexico?

  1. monarchy
  2. democracy
  3. dictatorship
  4. confederation
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2005_221_gov42.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Read the quote below.

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Lord Acton, 1887

Based on the quotation, Lord Acton would probably be most opposed to which system of government?

  1. authoritarian
  2. democratic
  3. federal
  4. unitary
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2002_221_gov07.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

A group of nation states formed a government in which each state retained control over its internal matters and gave almost no powers to the central government.

Which system of government was formed?

  1. unitary
  2. federal
  3. confederate
  4. authoritarian
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2002_221_gov52.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

In the United States, the central government and the state governments share power.

Which of these terms best describes this type of government?

  1. representative democracy
  2. federal system
  3. confederate system
  4. direct democracy
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2006_221_gov43.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

Which of these statements is true of a representative democracy?

  1. Citizens have unlimited individual rights.
  2. Citizens vote directly on all laws and government actions.
  3. Government leaders rule by force.
  4. The people elect government leaders.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2006_221_gov56.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item - Released in 2006

Study the flow chart below and use it to answer the BRIEF CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE that follows.

  • Compare the system of government shown in the diagram to the system of government in the United States.
  • Which system of government is more efficient? Explain your answer.
  • Use details and examples to support your answer.

Write your answer on the lines in your Answer Book.

/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2006_221_gov13.xml

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Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

Which of these would not take place in an authoritarian system of government?

  1. Government leaders decide what jobs people may have.
  2. Government leaders dictate what will be taught in schools.
  3. Political parties compete in elections for control of the government.
  4. Local political officials take orders from national officials.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2006_221_gov18.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2007

Which of these statements is usually true about the people who pass laws in a representative democracy?

  1. They inherit their power.
  2. They seize power by force.
  3. They are elected by citizens.
  4. They are appointed by government leaders.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2007_221_gov17.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2007

Which of these acts is least likely to take place in a totalitarian system?

  1. The government makes rules about what jobs people may
  2. Leaders dictate what will be taught in schools.
  3. Political parties compete for control of the government.
  4. Local officials take orders from national officials.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2007_221_gov20.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2007

Which of these describes an authoritarian government?

  1. The people grant the government its power.
  2. The lives of citizens are controlled by the government.
  3. Government leaders are limited by established laws.
  4. Government leaders are elected directly by the people.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2007_221_gov39.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2008

Which of these is a characteristic of the United States system of government?

  1. State governments may choose to ignore national laws.
  2. The executive and legislative powers of government are combined into one branch.
  3. The executive branch of government can choose to dissolve the judicial branch.
  4. The powers of government are divided between the national and state governments.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2008_221_gov02.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2008

Which of these could be a disadvantage of living under an authoritarian government?

  1. a slow legislative process
  2. a weak executive branch
  3. a lack of national laws
  4. a lack of individual freedoms
/share/clg/xml/public_release/government/2008_221_gov52.xml

Correct Answer:
D