Foundations (Multiple Choice Practice Set 1)

Government

System that makes and enforces laws.

Politics

Process of making government decisions.

Public policy

What government decides to do.

Limited government

Government can only do what the Constitution allows.

Representative government

People elect leaders to make decisions.

Republic

Democracy with elected representatives.

Constitution

Basic law that sets up government structure.

Sovereign

Supreme power within its territory.

Political state

Geographic area with a government.

Legislative branch

Makes laws.

Executive branch

Enforces laws.

Judicial branch

Interprets laws.

Unconstitutional

Violates the Constitution.

Separation of powers

Split government into 3 branches.

Checks and balances

Each branch limits others.

Federalism

Power shared between national and state governments.

Unitary system

Strong central government.

Confederacy

Strong state governments, weak national government.

Parliamentary system

Legislature chooses executive.

Presidential system

Executive is separate from legislature.

Democracy

Rule by the people.

Dictatorship

One leader has total power.

Autocracy

One person has absolute power.

Oligarchy

Small group rules.

Compromise

Agreement where each side gives up something.

Preamble

Introduction to Constitution.

Rule of law

Everyone follows the law equally.

Veto

President rejects a bill.

Judicial review

Courts decide if laws are constitutional.

Amendment

Change/addition to Constitution.

Slander

Spoken false statement.

Libel

Written false statement.

Sedition

Encouraging rebellion against government.

Seditious speech

Speech against government authority.

Obscenity

Offensive sexual/material speech not protected.

Delegated powers

Powers given to federal government.

Expressed powers

Clearly written in Constitution.

Implied powers

Not written, but necessary to carry out expressed powers.

Inherent powers

Powers a government has by being a government.

Reserved powers

Powers only for states.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by state and federal governments.

Exclusive powers

Only federal government can do.

Population

One of the 4 characteristics of a state.

Territory

One of the 4 characteristics of a state.

Sovereignty

One of the 4 characteristics of a state.

Government

One of the 4 characteristics of a state.

Form a more perfect union

One of the 6 purposes of U.S. Government.

Establish justice

One of the 6 purposes of U.S. Government.

Ensure domestic tranquility

One of the 6 purposes of U.S. Government.

Provide for common defense

One of the 6 purposes of U.S. Government.

Promote general welfare

One of the 6 purposes of U.S. Government.

Secure liberty

One of the 6 purposes of U.S. Government.

Worth of every person

One of the 5 foundations of democracy.

Equality

One of the 5 foundations of democracy.

Majority rule + minority rights

One of the 5 foundations of democracy.

Compromise

One of the 5 foundations of democracy.

Individual freedom

One of the 5 foundations of democracy.

Popular sovereignty

One of the 6 principles of the Constitution.

Limited government

One of the 6 principles of the Constitution.

Separation of powers

One of the 6 principles of the Constitution.

Checks and balances

One of the 6 principles of the Constitution.

Judicial review

One of the 6 principles of the Constitution.

Federalism

One of the 6 principles of the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments protecting rights.

1st Amendment

Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition.

3rd Amendment

No quartering soldiers.

5th Amendment

No self-incrimination, no double jeopardy.

6th Amendment

Right to speedy trial, jury trial.

7th Amendment

Civil court jury trial.

8th Amendment

No cruel/unusual punishment.

9th Amendment

People have more rights than listed.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery.

14th Amendment

Citizenship + equal protection.

15th Amendment

Voting rights regardless of race.

16th Amendment

Federal income tax.

19th Amendment

Women’s voting rights.

22nd Amendment

Presidential term limits.

25th Amendment

Presidential succession/disability.

26th Amendment

Voting age = 18.

Limits on 1st Amendment

Includes libel, slander, sedition, obscenity.

Force theory

State formed by force.

Evolutionary theory

Developed naturally from families/tribes.

Divine right theory

God chooses rulers.

Social contract theory

People agree to form government.

Democracy

People rule.

Republic

Elected representatives rule.

Dictatorship

One leader rules.

Autocracy

One person has total power.

Oligarchy

Small group rules.

Expressed powers

Written in Constitution.

Implied powers

Necessary and proper.

Reserved powers

States only.

Concurrent powers

Shared.

Exclusive powers

Federal only.

Amendment definition

Change/addition to Constitution.

Bill of Rights has how many amendments?

10.

Right to civil trial

7th.

Speedy trial

6th.

No cruel punishment

8th.

People have extra rights not listed

9th.