Civics Unit 1 Test Study Guide

Knowt based off of the outline of the Civics Unit 1 test, includes acts, events, ideas, and people.

Limited Government

Government power restricted by individual’s rights and freedoms.

e.g. Constitution.

Popular Sovereignty

The leaders and power of the nation are put up by the consent of the people to serve the people.

e.g. Elections.

Social Contract

A philosophical contract that to give up certain natural rights for the benefit of society.

e.g. Not screaming your head off in a peaceful area even if you have free speech.

Republicanism

The political belief of citizens choosing their representatives through free elections.

e.g. Presidential election.

Representative Democracy

A form of government where leaders are elected by the people.

e.g. The United States.

Constitution

Fundamental principles of a state or nation.

e.g. United States Constitution.

Article of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States establishing the national government.

Declaration of Independence

An article that severed ties with Great Britain, listing reasons why and declaring America as an independent nation.

Magna Carta

A document that established the king and his government is subject to law.

Mayflower Compact

A set of rules for self-governance established by the settlers of the Mayflower to create a civilized society.

Democracy

A form of government in which power is vested in the people, typically to vote for representatives and laws.

Quartering Act

A British law that required colonists to provide food, shelter, and transportation to British soldiers stationed in their towns.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting held for the purpose of creating a constitution for the United States.

Checks and Balances

The regulation of systems and branches of government to ensure power isn’t overabundant by one branch.

Common Good

The benefit or interests of all.

Civic Virtue

The habits and duty of a good citizen for a good society.

The Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments of the Constitution.

Habeas Corpus

The right for a judge to assess the legality of a person’s detainment.

Proclamation Act

American settlers may not settle on land claimed by the French from the French and Indian War.

Stamp Act

A British law the taxed all printed materials.

Great Compromise

A political agreement that states have equal representation in the Senate and representation in the House of Representatives proportional to state population.

John Locke

Created the philosophy that all citizens have natural rights with the government having limited power and obligation to the citizens.

Thomas Hobbes

A philosopher who justified that government powers should be based off of the consent of it’s citizens.

Baron de Montesquieu

The philosopher of checks and balances, to separate the government to branches to prevent one from being too powerful.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Philosopher of the social contract, that citizens may forfeit certain natural rights for the benefit of society at a given time.

James Madison

Contributed to the ratification of the Constitution by assisting in the writing of The Federalist Papers. Overall creating the basic outline of the constitution.

Alexander Hamilton

First U.S. Secretary of Treasury and a delegate of New York for the constitutional convention, writing a bulk of The Federalist Papers.

John Jay

First chief justice in the United States, contributed to The Federalist Papers.