United States Government Common Assessment Review Look at the terms on the next page and identify the ones you may not know.
US Government 1 st Quarter Common Assessment Review Be able to identify the following terms, documents, principles, and people: Checks and Balances Separation of PowersFederalism Judicial ReviewLimited Government Popular SovereigntySocial ContractMagna Carta Articles of Confederation democracydictatorshipanarchy republicArticles I, II, III 10 th AmendmentReserved PowersSupremacy ClauseElastic ClauseFull Faith & Credit Clause Hierarchy of Government (local/state/national)Federalist Anti-federalistBill of Rights Federalist #10Great (Connecticut) Compromise LiberalsConservatives DemocratsRepublicansModerates John LockeJames Madison Thomas JeffersonAlexander Hamilton
Answers to the Worksheet Questions! What is government?
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.
2. What, therefore, is the purpose of government?
To make and implement the public policies of the country.
3. What are the two main classifications of governments found around the world?
Democracies and Dictatorships
4. What is a representative democracy?
A form of government in which the people choose representatives through elections to make public policy.
5. What is it also known as?
A republic.
6. What has happened to government in the United States since the beginning of the country, especially in the 20 th century?
It has grown in both size and in the scope of what it tries to do.
7. What Enlightenment thinker had the most influence on the government of the United States?
John Locke
8. What according to John Locke is perfect freedom?
Anarchy
9. What political theory of Locke’s states that individuals get there rightful authority from the consent of the governed?
Social Contract
10. What main idea of US government developed out of the Magna Carta?
Limited Government
11. What was the first official plan of government in the United States?
Articles of Confederation
12. Which principle that the US Constitution is based on involves dividing the power of government into three parts?
Separation of Powers
13. Which principle that the US Constitution is based on involves sharing power between the national and state governments?
Federalism Our government, therefore, is said to have a federal system of government.
14. Which principle that the US Constitution is based on involves giving powers to each part that enables them to keep the other branches from becoming too powerful?
Checks and Balances
15. What are some examples of checks and balances?
Senate must approve appointments of the President. President can veto laws. Supreme Court can rule laws unconstitutional.
16. What is Judicial Review?
The Power of the Supreme Court to rule laws and executive acts unconstitutional.
17. Which compromise at the Constitutional Convention settled the question of representation in Congress?
The Great or Connecticut Compromise
17. What are delegated or expressed powers?
Powers specifically stated in the Constitution.
18. What are implied powers?
Powers reasonably suggested by the elastic or necessary and proper clause.
19. What are reserved powers?
Powers not given to the national government are “reserved” for the states.
20. What part of the Constitution says that if there is a conflict between a national and state law the national law wins?
The Supremacy Clause
21. Based on the Supremacy Clause, what is the hierarchy of government in the United States?
National / State / Local governments
22. What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause?
The part of the Constitution that requires each state to honor the public acts and records of the other states.
23. What had to be promised to get the Constitution ratified?
A bill of rights
24. What part of the Constitution was designed to protect the minority from the “tyranny of the majority?
The Bill of Rights
25. What does the First Amendment guarantee?
Freedom of speech, religion, press, and the right to assembly and petition.
26. Are these freedoms and liberties absolute?
No No freedom of speech that endangers others, no right to assembly that endangers the public safety.
27. What is the difference between a liberal and a conservative?
A liberal is more willing to try something different or new, a conservative is more of a supporter of the status quo, keeping things the way they are.
28. What would be some common positions of both?
Liberal – proactive government action to solve perceived problems. Conservative – less government, no big changes like same sex marriage.
29. What two major political parties do most Americans identify with?
Republican and Democrat
30. What is the major drawback of a multi- party system.
Because it relies on coalitions, it is less stable than a two party system.
31. What are the major differences between an interest group and a political party?
Interest Groups focus on one issue, a political party focuses on many. Interest Groups do not nominate candidates for office, political parties do. Interest groups only want to affect public policy, political parties want to control government and all public policies.
32. What did James Madison warn against in Federalist #10?
The danger of factions.