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Social Studies 30-1

Social Studies 30-1 · Worksheets

Political and economic systems · Set A

Ten questions of mixed difficulty, covering Political and economic systems. Print it, or work through it on screen — the answer key starts on its own page.

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Political and economic systems · Set A

Social Studies 30-1 · maddyhelps.com

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Circle the best answer for each question. Use the space to note the reasoning or the source detail that decided it.

  1. Which best describes an authoritarian government?

    1. a) Citizens vote on every major decision
    2. b) Leaders are chosen by consensus of all citizens
    3. c) Power is concentrated in a leader or small group, with limited political freedom and little accountability
    4. d) Power is divided between independent branches

  2. Which policy would move a mixed economy toward the market end of the spectrum?

    1. a) creating a new public healthcare program
    2. b) raising taxes on high incomes
    3. c) privatizing a government-owned company
    4. d) nationalizing an oil company

  3. Why do some political scientists use a two-axis chart instead of a single left–right line?

    1. a) Two axes are needed to show population size
    2. b) A single line cannot show political parties
    3. c) The left–right line only works for Canada
    4. d) One line cannot show both economic views and how much freedom or authority a government allows

  4. Canada's economy is best described as:

    1. a) a traditional economy
    2. b) a pure command economy
    3. c) a pure market economy
    4. d) a mixed economy

  5. Holding a referendum is an example of:

    1. a) a parliamentary election
    2. b) direct democracy within a representative system
    3. c) consensus government
    4. d) authoritarian decision-making

  6. A market economy relies mainly on:

    1. a) equal distribution of all goods
    2. b) tradition and custom
    3. c) government planning
    4. d) supply and demand, with private ownership

  7. In a representative democracy:

    1. a) citizens vote directly on every law
    2. b) laws are decided by religious leaders
    3. c) citizens elect people to make laws on their behalf
    4. d) one leader makes all decisions

  8. In a command economy, decisions about what to produce are mainly made by:

    1. a) consumers and businesses
    2. b) labour unions
    3. c) the government
    4. d) foreign trading partners

  9. What is a common criticism of first-past-the-post elections?

    1. a) They require citizens to vote on every law
    2. b) They give every party the same number of seats
    3. c) A party can win a majority of seats with less than half of the votes
    4. d) They take too long to count

  10. On the left–right spectrum, fascism is usually placed on the:

    1. a) centre
    2. b) centre left
    3. c) far left
    4. d) far right

Answer key · Political and economic systems · Set A

Social Studies 30-1 · maddyhelps.com

  1. c) Power is concentrated in a leader or small group, with limited political freedom and little accountability — Authoritarian rule removes the checks that let citizens hold leaders to account — free elections, a free press, independent courts.
  2. c) privatizing a government-owned company — Selling a public company to private owners shrinks the government's role. The other three expand it, moving toward the command end.
  3. d) One line cannot show both economic views and how much freedom or authority a government allows — Two governments can share economic goals but differ hugely on personal freedom. A second axis, from libertarian to authoritarian, captures that difference.
  4. d) a mixed economy — Most businesses are private, but government runs or funds healthcare, education and other services and regulates markets — a blend of both.
  5. b) direct democracy within a representative system — Citizens decide one question themselves instead of leaving it to their representatives — like Quebec's sovereignty referendums.
  6. d) supply and demand, with private ownership — Prices and production are set by buyers and sellers making their own choices — the economic side of individualism.
  7. c) citizens elect people to make laws on their behalf — Canadians elect Members of Parliament, who pass laws for them. Voting on every law yourself would be direct democracy.
  8. c) the government — Central planners set production targets and prices. In a market economy, those decisions come from supply and demand.
  9. c) A party can win a majority of seats with less than half of the votes — Winning many close ridings can turn well under 50% of the popular vote into over half the seats. Supporters of proportional representation point to this.
  10. d) far right — Fascism's ultranationalism and emphasis on hierarchy and tradition place it on the far right. Communism sits on the far left.