1. Social Studies Review for GHSGT
American Government

2. Powers of Government Legislative Power Executive Power Judicial Power
the power to make laws
Executive Power
The power to carry out the laws
Judicial Power
The power to interpret and apply the law

3. The Goals of the United States Government
Specific aims of our national government are made clear in two important documents:
-The Declaration of Independence
-The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution

4. Declaration of Independence
Right to Life
Right to Liberty
Right to Pursue Happiness

5. The U.S. Constitution To Insure Domestic Tranquility
To Provide for the Common Defense
To Secure the Blessings of Liberty
To Establish Justice
To Promote the General Welfare
To Form a More Perfect Union

6. Two important things about these objectives
Language is quite broad
It is possible for some of these goals to come into conflict
In evaluating the goals of our government, some goals are given priority over others at certain times

7. Popular Sovereignty
The Constitution is based on the republican form of government
Popular Sovereignty
The will of the people
The people decide, by majority rule, what they want

8. Federalism
Authors of the Constitution feared giving too much power to the national government
Bitter experiences with the powerful British government
Tried to tax without representation or consent
Power is shared between the national (federal) government and local governing units (state governments)

9. Delegated Powers National Declare war Negotiate treaties Issue money
Regulate interstate and foreign trade
Maintain military forces

10. Reserved Powers States Regulate education Grant licenses
Provide police and fire protection
Regulate the sale of property within the state

11. Concurrent Powers National and State Levy Taxes
Define crimes and their punishment
Determine voting qualifications
Borrow money

12. Implied Powers
Powers not directly granted to the national government, but implied from those powers that were expressly granted to the national government in the U.S. Constitution

13. Question #1
The basic purpose of our constitutional system of checks and balances is to
A. Protect the rights of states
B. Prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful
C. Enable the federal government to run as efficiently as possible
D. Provide a written guarantee of the rights of each citizen

14. Answer #1
B. Prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful

15. Question #2 The U.S. government is considered a federal system because
National laws must be passed by both houses of Congress
Powers are divided between its national and state governments
The states are guaranteed a republican form of government
The President is selected by the electoral college.

16. Answer #2
B. Powers are divided between its national and state governments

17. Bill of Rights #3
Which of the following is not protected by the Bill of Rights?
A. Speech
B. Quartering of troops
C. Freedom to immigrate
D. Cruel and unusual punishment

18. Answer!
C. Freedom to immigrate

19. Judicial Review #4
What Supreme Court case established the power of judicial review?
A. Brown vs. Board of Education
B. Plessy vs. Ferguson
C. Marbury vs. Madison
D. McCullouch vs. Maryland

20. Answer
C. Marbury vs. Madison

21. Checks and Balances #5
Which of the following is not an example of the ability of Congress to check the President?
A. Senate must approve a treaty
B. Congress approves the budget
C. Congress can override a veto
D. Congress declares bills unconstitutional

22. Answer
D. Congress declares bills unconstitutional

23. Electoral College #6
How do you determine how many Electoral Votes each state can cast?
A. Total number of Senators
B. Supreme Court does this
C. Sum of number of representatives and senators that a state has.
D. Population

24. Answer
C. Sum of number of representatives and senators that a state has.

25. Terms of Office #7
Which of the following is the correct match between the position and the term of office?
A. President – 2 years
B. Senator – 6 years
C. House of Representatives - 4 years
D. Supreme Court – 10 years

26. Answer
B. Senator – 6 years

27. Due Process #8 The concept of “due process” refers to
A. How states tax individuals
B. Segregation laws
C. Procedures to ensure a fair trial
D. The right to life liberty and property

28. Answer
C. Procedures to ensure a fair trial

29. Natural Rights #9
From whom did the authors of the Declaration of Independence get their idea of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”?
A. George Washington
B. John Locke
C. Plato
D. Abraham Lincoln

30. Answer
B. John Locke

31. Articles of Confederation #10
Which of the following was a key weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
A. A strong president
B. An effective executive and judiciary
C. Too much power at the state level
D. No legislative branch

32. Answer
C. Too much power at the state level

33. Federalism #11
Which of the following powers is primarily exercised by states in our Federal system of government?
A. Defense
B. Granting titles and nobility
C. Education
D. Coining money

34. Answer
C. Education

35. Constitutional Amendments #12
Which of the following is the correct method for changing the Constitution?
A. Congress proposes and states ratify
B. The people vote
C. The President approves and states ratify
D. None of the above

36. Answer
Congress proposes and states ratify

37. Impeachment #13
Which body of government holds the impeachment trial of the President?
A. House of Representatives
B. Supreme Court
C. Electoral College
D. Senate

38. Answer
D. Senate