SOL REVIEW GOVERNMENT
What agreement signed by the male settlers at Plymouth helped establish the notion of self-government in the Americas? The Mayflower CompactThe Mayflower Compact
Where did the Puritans practice a form of direct democracy? At Town MeetingsAt Town Meetings
What was the first elected assembly (lawmaking body) in the New World? The House of BurgessesThe House of Burgesses
What did the Proclamation of 1763 do? Forbid American colonists to move west of the Appalachian MountainsForbid American colonists to move west of the Appalachian Mountains
What is the name of Great Britain’s lawmaking body? ParliamentParliament
Who issued the Proclamation of 1763? The British governmentThe British government or King George IIIor King George III
Who wrote Common Sense? Thomas PaineThomas Paine
What did Common Sense say? Challenged the rule of the American colonies by the King of EnglandChallenged the rule of the American colonies by the King of England
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
Who was John Locke? English political philosopherEnglish political philosopher Locke’s ideas influenced Thomas JeffersonLocke’s ideas influenced Thomas Jefferson
Who wrote that government should protect “Life, Liberty, and Property”? John LockeJohn Locke
Who wrote that all men have the right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”? Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
Whose ideas did Thomas Jefferson borrow when he wrote the Declaration of Independence? John LockeJohn Locke Thomas PaineThomas Paine
What is a republic? A representative democracy
What is the basic principle of republican government? The people elect representatives who make the laws.
What was the first attempt at workable government in the United States? The Articles of Confederation
What was wrong with the government under the Articles of Confederation? It was too weak!
What does the legislative branch of a government do? Makes the laws
What does the judicial branch of a government do? Interprets or explains the meaning of the laws
What does the executive branch do? Enforces the laws
What was the Virginia Plan? A framework proposed by the Virginia delegation to the Constitutional Convention under which the national government would have a legislature consisting of two houses. Representation in both houses would be based on population. Big states would have more representatives.
What was the New Jersey Plan? A framework proposed by the New Jersey delegation to the Constitutional Convention under which the national government would have a legislature consisting of one house. Under the New Jersey Plan each state had one vote. This plan benefited small states.
What was the Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise? A plan providing for a two-house Congress in which the people would be represented in a House of Representatives and the states in the Senate. In other words, the House of Rep. would be based on population, while each state would have 2 U.S. senators.
Which one became part of the Constitution: the Va. Plan, the N.J. Plan, or the Great Compromise? The Great Compromise
What was the Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise? A plan providing for a two-house Congress in which the people would be represented in a House of Representatives and the states in the Senate. In other words, the House of Rep. would be based on population, while each state would have 2 U.S. senators.
What is federalism? The division of power in the United States between the national government and the state governments.
Who leads the executive branch of the federal government? The President
Who leads the judicial branch of the federal government? The Supreme Court
What is the name of the legislative branch of the federal government? Congress
What are the two houses of Congress? The House of Representatives The United States Senate
How is a state’s membership in the Senate decided? Two senators from each state
How is a state’s membership in the House of Rep. Decided? By Population; States with large populations have more representatives than states with small populations.
What is separation of powers? The division of power among different branches of government.
What is the checks and balances system? A system of government by which each branch of government can check or stop the actions of the other branches
How many of the states had to ratify or approve the Constitution before it could take effect? 9
What is the Bill of Rights? The first ten amendments to the Constitution
What was the basic idea of the Virginia Declaration of Rights? That government should not violate basic human rights.
Who wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights? George Mason
Who wrote the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom? Thomas Jefferson
What two documents did Madison consult when he was working on the Bill of Rights? The Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom
What did the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom do? Outlawed the established church in Virginia Supported the idea of freedom of religion
What rights does the First Amendment guarantee? Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and the right of petition
What does the term ratify mean? ApproveApprove
To what did the phrase “ratification of the Constitution” refer? 9 of the states approving the Constitution so that it would take effect9 of the states approving the Constitution so that it would take effect
What First Amendment freedom allows people to gather at public meetings? Freedom of AssemblyFreedom of Assembly
What First Amendment freedom allows Americans to make written requests to make changes in the government? Freedom of PetitionFreedom of Petition
On what document was the Bill of Rights based? The Virginia Declaration of RightsThe Virginia Declaration of Rights
What is a constitutional amendment? An addition to the ConstitutionAn addition to the Constitution
Define political party. A group of people with similar beliefs about how to run the government.
Who led the Federalists? Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton John AdamsJohn Adams
What were the beliefs of the Federalists? Strong national governmentStrong national government Industrial economy (factories or manufacturing)Industrial economy (factories or manufacturing)
Who led the Republicans? Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson James MadisonJames Madison
What were the beliefs of the Democratic- Republicans? Weak national governmentWeak national government Strong state governmentsStrong state governments Agricultural economy (farming)Agricultural economy (farming)
Who served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the first 30 years of the 19th century? John MarshallJohn Marshall
Why were the Marshall court’s decisions important? Made the federal courts a co-equal branch of the United States governmentMade the federal courts a co-equal branch of the United States government
How did the Supreme Court rule in Marbury v. Madison? Declared a federal law unconstitutionalDeclared a federal law unconstitutional
What is the power of judicial review? A court’s power to declare a law unconstitutionalA court’s power to declare a law unconstitutional
What is the Supreme Court’s main check on the power of Congress? Judicial ReviewJudicial Review
How did the Marshall court rule in McCulloch v. Maryland? Forbid the states from taxing agencies of the federal governmentForbid the states from taxing agencies of the federal government Declared a Maryland state law unconstitutionalDeclared a Maryland state law unconstitutional
Who said “the power to tax is the power to destroy”? John MarshallJohn Marshall
Why was McCulloch v. Maryland important? Established the power of the federal government over the statesEstablished the power of the federal government over the states Strengthened the federal courts’ power of judicial reviewStrengthened the federal courts’ power of judicial review
What is a republic? A Representative DemocracyA Representative Democracy The People elect representatives to make the lawsThe People elect representatives to make the laws
What is a bill? A proposed lawA proposed law
What is an act? A Law
What political party was formed in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act? The Republican Party
What was the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dred Scott case?
Since Dred Scott was a slave, he could not sue in federal court African-Americans were not citizens of the United States Since Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in the territories, the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional
What did the Dred Scott decision say about the Missouri Compromise? The Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.
In Dred Scott v. Sandford did the Supreme Court rule that Scott should remain a slave or gain his freedom? Remain a slave
What power did the Supreme Court use in Dred Scott v. Sandford? The power of judicial review
By the end of the 1850s, what did Southerners argue states could do? States could nullify laws passed by Congress States could secede from the Union
What did it mean for a state to nullify a law? Void it Do Away with it
What did it mean for a state to secede? Leave the UnionLeave the Union
What did several Southern states do, when Lincoln won the 1860 presidential election? Seceded from the UnionSeceded from the Union
What constitutional debate did the Civil War involve? Federal Power vs. States’ RightsFederal Power vs. States’ Rights
What country did the seceded Southern states form in 1861? The Confederate States of America orThe Confederate States of America or The ConfederacyThe Confederacy
What did it mean for a state to secede from the Union? Leave the Union, orLeave the Union, or Withdraw from the UnionWithdraw from the Union
What was the period when the federal government tried to rebuild the South and restore the Union after the Civil War? Reconstruction
Define impeachment. Bringing an official to trial for misconduct in office
Under the Constitution, which house of Congress can impeach the President? The House of Representatives
Under the Constitution, which house of Congress sits as the jury at a President’s impeachment trial? The Senate
Under the Constitution, which house of Congress can remove the President from office? The Senate
What proportion of senators must vote to convict the President in order to remove him from office? 2/3
Which constitutional amendments are the Reconstruction amendments? 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments
Identify the 13th Amendment. Freed the Slaves
Identify 14th Amendment. Granted citizenship to African-Americans Forbid the states from denying any American “equal protection of the laws”
Identify the 15th Amendment. Gave African- American males the right to vote
What are the key words to remember the Reconstruction Amendments? 13th = Freedom 14th = Citizenship 15th = Vote
What does one call the group of people who cast the official votes for president and vice president? The Electoral College
How many electoral votes does each state have? 2 for senators + # of representatives in House
Identify the Compromise of A political deal between Southern Democrats and northern Republicans Democrats supported Rutherford Hayes’ election as President and Republicans ended the military occupation of the South
What was the 1862 Homestead Act? Law that gave free public land to settlers in the western territories Settlers promised to live on and farm this land for five years
What type of reforms were the 17 th Amendment and anti-trust laws?What type of reforms were the 17 th Amendment and anti-trust laws? Progressive reforms on the national level.Progressive reforms on the national level.
What was the 17 th Amendment?What was the 17 th Amendment? Direct election of United States senatorsDirect election of United States senators
Name a leader of the Women’s Suffrage Movement.Name a leader of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Susan B. AnthonySusan B. Anthony
WhichWhich constitutional amendment gave women the right to vote? 19th19th Amendment
How did the Supreme Court rule in 1896 in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson?How did the Supreme Court rule in 1896 in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson? Racial segregation was constitutional (legal).Racial segregation was constitutional (legal).
What doctrine was established by the Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson?What doctrine was established by the Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson? The “Separate But Equal” DoctrineThe “Separate But Equal” Doctrine
What is another word for the right to vote?What is another word for the right to vote? SuffrageSuffrage
Who were the Muckrakers?Who were the Muckrakers? Progressive writers who wrote about social and political evils in late 19th and early 20th century America.Progressive writers who wrote about social and political evils in late 19th and early 20th century America.
What legislative body ratifies treaties? United States Senate
What vote is needed in the Senate to ratify a treaty? 2/3
What political scandal forced President Nixon to resign from office? Watergate