q('~What do we call the system (or group of people) that makes the political decisions in a country? ~government~The answer comes from the word <em>to govern</em>; i.e. <em>to rule</em>.~In a democracy the government is elected by the people.~');
q('~What do we call the system of ruling a country in which there is a king or queen who leads by right of birth? ~monarchy~Some countries in Europe, England and the Netherlands for example, still have a king or a queen.~Although the monarch in some European countries is the head of state, these countries are run by an elected government.~');
q('~What noun describes the state of a country that is free to make its own laws and is not controlled by another country? ~independence~The American Revolution was a war fought by Americans to gain this state of freedom from control by England.~Many countries in Africa and Asia have gained their independence from the colonial powers only in the last 20-30 years.~');
q('~What is the name for system of government in which the people can vote for their leaders and elect the government? ~democracy~Most countries in the western world have this system of government.~In most democratic countries elections are held every 4 or 5 years..~');
q('~What is another name for the middle class in a society; i.e. for people who are educated and have a fair amount of wealth? ~bourgeoisie~The English word is taken directly from the equivalent French word.~The bourgeoisie consists of lawyers, bankers, doctors etc.~');
q('~What is the name for the events that happen when the existing government or rulers are overthrown and replaced with another system of leadership? ~revolution~The most famous of these uprisings happened in France and Russia.~Revolutions are often times of great violence and civil war, but the revolution that overthrew communism in 1989 was largely peaceful.~');
q('~What do we call the meeting time and place of the group of people whose job it is to discuss the running of the country? ~parliament~In most European countries these consist of groups of people who call themselves either conservatives or socialists.~The word <em>parliament</em> comes from the French word <em>parler</em> that means <em>to talk</em>.~');
q('~In the last century in Europe a process started in which people moved from working on the land to working in factories in towns. What is the name for this process? ~industrialization~This particular revolution started in England in the first half of the 19th century.~Some countries in the poorer parts of the world have not yet experienced the process of industrialization.~');
q('~In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries powerful European countries conquered and controlled weaker countries (usually in S. America, Africa or Asia). What is the name for this process? ~colonialism~The name of people who went from the European country to settle in a different part of the world is <em>colonist</em>.~The European countries lost almost all of their colonies over the course of the 20th century.~');
q('~What is the name for the government policy of not interfering with individual or industrial affairs? ~laissez faire~This two-word answer is taken from the French language.~This policy believes that natural competition is a way to increase the wealth of all the population of a country.~');
q('~What name is given to the process or movement in which peoples of one culture and language unite politically and geographically? ~nationalism~The word is based on the synonym for <em>country</em> or <em>state</em>.~Nationalism has been the cause of many wars around the world; the latest ones being those that have happened in the former Yugoslavia over the last few years.~');
q('~What expression is used for the situation where one person in a country has complete control and power? ~absolute power~It is often claimed that this power has been given to the ruler by God.~King Louis XVI at the time shortly before the French Revolution had absolute power over what happened in his country.~');
q('~What is the name for the system in which one person has or takes complete control of a country? (This is similar to absolute power, but it is not usually claimed that such power is given by God!) ~dictatorship~The leader in such a system is called a dictator.~Stalin in Russia was an example of a dictator in the 20th century.~');
q('~What is the name for the counterpart to capitalism; i.e. the system in which the state owns all the factories and the economy is centrally planned by experts? ~communism~Russia and China are the biggest countries where this system was in place in the last century.~Communism all but disappeared from Europe during the revolutions that took place in Eastern Europe in 1989.~');
q('~What is the word for the illustration or piece of writing that tries to persuade people to act or think in a certain way? ~propaganda~This is used to put people in the mood to fight against the enemy.~Propaganda material is often exaggerated and sometimes untrue.~');