Source: Kaplan GED Test Prep 2022–2023 by Caren Van Slyke Authority Tier: Commercial Preparation (
TIER_3_COMMERCIAL) | License: Restricted Reference (RESTRICTED) Coverage: Chapter 3: Civics and Government (Pages 999–1019) Curriculum Standard: High School Equivalency Preparation
Kaplan Reference: Chapter 3: Civics and Government
Lesson 1: Historic Basis for U.S. System
(Page 999)
CHAPTER 3 Civics and Government Lesson 1: Historic Basis for U.S. System Key Ideas The idea of democracy originated with the Ancient Greeks who spoke of the “rule of the people.” The historic basis of the U.S. government came from the British system that limited the king’s powers and protected individual rights. The U.S. system evolved from the British idea of a parliamentary democracy to a representative democracy. The system of government in the United States is known as representative democracy . In this form of government, the citizens vote to elect represen- tatives who make and execute laws. To understand this form of democracy, it is helpful to first distinguish democracy from other types of government. Then, you can trace the historical development of democracy and see how representative democracy differs from other types of democracy employed over time and around the globe.