Which term describes the political unit defined by people, territory, and government?

• A. Government
• B. Nation
• C. State
• D. Society

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is identifying the political unit that includes people, territory, and a government functioning within and over that area. A state is the entity that combines a population living in a defined territory with a government that exercises authority and conducts relations with other states. This framing—defined borders, a settled population, and organized governance with sovereign power—is what distinguishes a state from other terms. A government refers to the body that rules, not the whole political unit with its borders. A nation emphasizes a people’s identity or culture, which may exist without a formal state. A society is a broader social group and doesn’t by itself imply political sovereignty. So the term that best fits the description is the state.