Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE)

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popular sovereignty

the principle that a government's power comes from the consent of its people, meaning citizens hold ultimate authority, expressed through voting, electing representatives, and participating in law-making, famously a core idea in the U.S.

due process of law

the government must give people a chance to defend themselves in a fair hearing before infringing on their rights. balances the power of law of the land and protects the individual person from it.

social contract theory

individuals implicitly agree to give up some absolute freedoms for societal benefits like security, order, and rights, forming a foundational idea in political philosophy where government legitimacy stems from the consent of the governed.

Republican

known as the Grand Old Party, is a conservative and right-wing political party in the United States.

Separation of powers

a fundamental principle in many governments, notably the U.S., dividing governmental authority into three distinct branches—Legislative (makes laws), Executive (enforces laws), and Judicial (interprets laws)—to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and to protect individual liberty through a system of checks and balances

Republicanism

a fundamental principle in many governments, notably the U.S., dividing governmental authority into three distinct branches—Legislative (makes laws), Executive (enforces laws), and Judicial (interprets laws)—to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and to protect individual liberty through a system of checks and balances

Legislative Branch

the law-making part of government, primarily Congress in the U.S., composed of the House of Representatives

Executive Branch

responsible for implementing, enforcing, and administering the laws written by Congress, led by the President, Vice President, Cabinet, and various federal agencies, ensuring effective governance while being subject to checks

democratic

a liberal political party in the United States. Sitting on the center to center-left of the political spectrum, it is the world's oldest active political party, having been founded in 1828.

Judicial Branch

interprets laws, applies them to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution, led by the Supreme Court and supported by lower federal courts. It ensures justice by resolving disputes, protecting rights, and overseeing the fair application of federal laws, operating independently to uphold the rule of law.  

Rule of Law

is a principle where everyone, including rulers, is subject to and accountable under publicly known, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated laws, ensuring fairness, predictability, and protection of rights, not arbitrary rule

Second Amendment

protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms, and connects this right to the need for a "well-regulated militia."

Third Amendment

the government cannot force people to house or feed soldiers in their homes during peacetime.

Fourth Amendment

protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.

Fifth Amendment

protects the rights of people accused of crimes and in legal proceedings. In simple terms: It includes the right to remain silent, protection from being tried twice for the same crime, and that the government can't take your property without paying for it.

Tenth Amendment

says that any powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution, and not forbidden to the states, belong to the states or the people. In simple terms: It keeps power local by stating that if a power isn't listed for the national government, it belongs to the states.

Supremacy Clause

establishes that the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the highest form of law in the land. When state and federal laws conflict, the federal law wins.

Article I

creates the legislative branch, known as Congress, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In simple terms: It sets up Congress, gives it its powers (like making laws and declaring war), and explains how it works.

Article II

creates the executive branch, led by the President of the United States, In simple terms: It establishes the presidency, defines how the President is elected, and outlines the powers and duties of the office, such as enforcing laws and serving as Commander-in-Chief.

Article III

U.S. Constitution creates the judicial branch, which is the federal court system, with the Supreme Court at the top. It sets up the Supreme Court, gives Congress the power to create lower courts, and defines the types of cases they can hear.

Article IV

Constitution governs the relationships between the states, and between the states and the federal government. It requires states to respect each other's laws and citizens, and guarantees a republican form of government for every state.

habeas corpus

a legal order that requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court. In simple terms: It prevents unlawful imprisonment by allowing a person to challenge why they are being held.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966) Miranda rights.

It ruled that police must inform arrested persons of their rights, like the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, before questioning.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

ruled that racial segregation in public facilities was legal as long as the facilities were equal, a decision later overturned by Brown v. Board of Education.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

It ruled that the federal government has implied powers under the Constitution (like creating a national bank) and that states cannot tax federal institutions. This strengthened national power.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

It ruled that the state must provide a lawyer to criminal defendants who cannot afford one, ensuring a fair trial for everyone.

Korematsu v. United States (1944)

The Court ruled that the government's forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans was constitutional based on military necessity, a decision now widely condemned as a civil rights failure.

District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

It ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm for self-defense within the home, independent of service in a militia.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Landmark Supreme Court case that ended legal racial segregation in public schools. It unanimously ruled that "separate but equal" schools were inherently unequal and violated the Constitution, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

Supreme Court case on affirmative action in university admissions. It ruled that racial quotas were unconstitutional, but that race could be used as one of several factors to promote diversity in higher education.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

The infamous Supreme Court case that deepened divisions over slavery before the Civil War. The Court ruled that Black Americans, whether enslaved or free, were not U.S. citizens and had no right to sue in federal court. It also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, holding that Congress could not ban slavery in U.S. territories.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

It gave the Supreme Court the power to declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional, making it the final interpreter of the Constitution.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

It created the Miranda warning, ensuring that people in custody know they have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

decided the outcome of the 2000 presidential election. The Court ruled to stop a recount of Florida's disputed votes, effectively awarding the state's electoral votes and the presidency to George W. Bush.

New Deal

series of programs and reforms created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression in the 1930s. It aimed to provide Relief for the unemployed, Recovery for the economy, and Reform of the financial system to prevent another depression.

26th Amendment (constitutional amendment)

ratified in 1971, lowered the national voting age from 21 to 18. It required a change to the Constitution, making it the law of the land and guaranteeing the right for all citizens 18 and older.

Monroe Doctrine (1823) made by President James Monroe

It warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere (the Americas), stating that the U.S. would view any new colonization or interference as a threat.

Interstate Commerce Act (1877)

It was passed to regulate the railroad industry, particularly to prevent unfair rates and discriminatory practices.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)

It aimed to promote fair competition in business by making it illegal to form trusts or conspiracies that restrained trade or created monopolies.

Bland-Allison Act (1878)

It required the U.S. Treasury to buy a certain amount of silver each month and mint it into silver dollars, partially backing the currency with silver to appease farmers and miners who wanted to expand the money supply.

Pendleton Act (1883)

It ended the spoils system (where jobs were given as political favors) and created a merit-based system where many federal jobs were filled through competitive exams.

Mayflower Compact (1620)

It was the first self-government agreement in the American colonies, where the settlers agreed to create and obey laws for the general good of the colony.

Bill of Rights (1791)

It lists the fundamental individual rights and liberties that the government cannot take away, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to a fair trial.

Northwest Ordinances

They established a process for new states to join the Union, banned slavery in the territory, and guaranteed basic rights like freedom of religion and trial by jury.

The principal author of the U.S. Constitution?

James Madison

Magna Carta (1215)

It established the principle that everyone, including the king, is subject to the law, and it protected certain rights of free men, laying a foundation for later constitutional limits on government power. was a charter of liberties agreed to by King John of England under pressure from rebellious barons.

A man is walking down a public street window-shopping.  A robbery is reported in that same area.  Police officers stop and search the man who is shopping.  On what Constitutional grounds could this man contest this search as a violation of his rights?

Fourth Amendment

Which modern process would be supported by the ancient Greeks? 

Electing governors

Which phrase best describes the power of impeachment?

The ability of the U.S House to charge federal officers with a crime or violation

Use the passage below, from an exchange between former president Nixon and a television interviewer, to answer the question that follows.

“Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal”-Richard M. Nixon Source: The Washington Post, June 5, 1977 

Which constitutional principle does the statement from President Nixon contradict? 

Rule of Law (bc no one is above the law)

During the 6th century B.C.E., the ancient Athenians divided the powers of their government between two assemblies and guaranteed certain political rights to all male citizens. How do these political reforms best illustrate how societies develop? 

By limiting government authority

Which form of government is based on popular sovereignty?

Republic

Government by the people and the separation of powers are the main principles of which founding document?

U.S Constitution

Use the passage below, from a landmark Supreme Court case opinion, to answer the question that follows.

“So if a law be in opposition to the constitution; if both the law and the constitution apply to a particular case, so that the court must either decide that case conformably to the law, disregarding the constitution; or conformably to the constitution, disregarding the law; the court must determine which of these conflicting rules governs the case.” (Source: National Archives and Records Administration)

Which Supreme Court case established the precedent described in the opinion?

Marbury v. Madison — established the Court’s power to declare laws unconstitutional.

Laws against defamation, including libel and slander, property damage and breach of contract represent which legal concern underlying most Western nations?

Civil law

Which article of the U.S. Constitution grants the power to coin money, make treaties, and levy import duties? 

Article I

Article I

Creates the legislative branch (Congress: Senate and House of Representatives). Lists its powers, such as making laws, declaring war, and regulating commerce.

Article II

Creates the executive branch (President and Vice President). Describes election, powers (commander-in-chief, treaties, appointments), and duties.

Article III

Creates the judicial branch (Supreme Court and lower federal courts). Defines jurisdiction and the types of cases federal courts can hear.

Article IV

Addresses relations among states and with the federal government, including full faith and credit, privileges and immunities, admitting new states, and guaranteeing a republican form of government.

Use the excerpt below, from the Thirteenth Amendment, to answer the question that follows.  

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

Which of the following contains a clause that may have served as an inspiration for the above language? 

Northwest Ordinance

widely regarded as the principal author of the U.S. Constitution due to his detailed preparation, influential ideas at the Constitutional Convention, and significant contributions to drafting the document, including his early plan (the Virginia Plan) and extensive note-taking during the proceedings.

James Madison

In order to attract investment and business and reduce expenses, a state legislature proposes passing a law that removes the need for certain federal regulatory features relating to office and factory environments.

Which legislative action would most likely cause the U.S. Supreme Court to decide that this violated the Supremacy Clause?

Occupational Safety and Health act stablishes federal workplace safety standards.

Which political philosopher’s ideas are best represented in the Declaration of Independence?

John Locke

ideas of natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the social contract—where government exists by consent of the governed to protect rights and can be replaced if it fails—are directly reflected in the Declaration of Independence’s language and reasoning.

John Locke

James Madison

He’s the main author of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and a Founding Father who shaped American government.

Use the passage below, from a historical document, to answer the question that follows. 

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Source: The U.S. Constitution, National Archives and Records Administration 

Which philosophical movement best reflects the ideals in the passage?

Enlightenment

Segregating public facilities

The Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) ruling established the “separate but equal” doctrine, which allowed state and local governments to legally enforce racial segregation in public facilities (schools, trains, restaurants, etc.) as long as the facilities were deemed equal.

Third Amendment

limits the quartering of soldiers to specific circumstances.

The complaint in the Declaration of Independence about keeping “Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures” during peacetime directly influenced the Third Amendment, which prohibits quartering soldiers in private homes without the owner’s consent, especially in peacetime.

Great Compromise

Congress would have two houses, one in which state representation was based on population and one in which all states had equal representation.

Senate

Two senators per state (2) smaller

House of Representatives

representation based on state population bc its bigger

 In the United States, how are conflicts between state laws and federal laws generally resolved? 

The Supremacy Clause

Which of the following reflects the most important consequence of the Watergate break-in?

resignation of the president of the United States

Watergate break-in

led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974 to avoid almost certain impeachment and removal from office.

Which of the following objectives best describes the purpose of the system of checks and balances, as defined in the U.S. Constitution? 

Keeping any one of the three branches of government from becoming too powerful

. The U.S. Congress fulfilled which of the following purposes of government when it declared war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor?

providing for the common defense

Which of the following statements regarding the Monroe Doctrine is accurate?

The Monroe Doctrine prohibited future European colonization in the Western Hemisphere.

Which phrase best describes the power of impeachment?

the ability of the U.S. House to charge federal officers with a crime or violation