U.S. Government 2026 Midterm FLPS

U.S. Government January 2026 Midterm for FLPS

Explain the significance of the Mayflower Compact in the development of self-government in the American colonies.

The Mayflower Compact was very important because it helped start the idea of self-government in America. More specifically, it showed that the colonists could decide for themselves and together, they could create their own rules before any official government was put in place.

Explain the historical context in which the Mayflower Compact was written.

In 1620, the Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower, planning to land in Virginia, which was under the rule of the English government. Instead, they landed in Plymouth. Because they were outside of Virginia’s borders, some people proposed that they did not have to follow any laws. In order to keep order, the Pilgrims wrote the Mayflower Compact in order to work together and create order in the new settlement.

Explain the main idea and purpose of the Mayflower Compact.

The main idea of the Mayflower Compact was an agreement for the people to form a government and follow their own rules. The three purposes of the Mayflower Compact were to create a government for the new colony, to make fair laws for the good of society, and to promise cooperation and obedience to these laws. Both the purpose and main idea were a big step towards self-government.

Explain how the Mayflower Compact reflected early democratic principles.

The Mayflower Compact showed early democratic principles because it was based on people consenting to follow the laws, it supported majority rule and decisions determined by the people, and it showed shared power of the people. Despite not everyone being allowed to vote, the Mayflower Compact was democratic for its time.

Explain the Mayflower Compact’s long-term development on later American political thought and constitutional development.

The Mayflower Compact influenced later American government in four ways. First, it helped establish the tradition of written agreements for how people should be governed. Second, it established the idea that the government gets its power from the people, which later appeared in the Declaration of Independence. Third, it promoted majority rule and self-government, which influenced the colonies and the U.S. Constitution. Fourth, it was one of the earliest examples of Americans choosing to govern themselves rather than be ruled by a monarch. That is how the Mayflower Compact influenced American politics and the Constitution through freedom and self-rule.

Constitution

a plan for government; the supreme law of the U.S.

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution

Federalism

a government system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

separation of powers

government power is divided between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches

checks and balances

a plan to keep any part of government from becoming too powerful

legislative branch

the branch with the power to make laws; includes Congress

executive branch

the branch with the power to enforce laws; includes the president, Cabinet, and executive departments

judicial branch

the branch with the power to interpret laws; includes the Supreme Court and the national court system

impeachment

a charge of wrongful conduct of a public official

veto

the power of a person or group of people to reject or forbid a rule or law

amendment

a change or correction made by a certain process

popular sovereignty

the principle that government authority comes from the people; people elect their leaders

due process

right to a fair trial according to rules and procedures; government respects all legal rights owed to a person

habeas corpus

a court order requiring that an accused person is to be brought to court without delay to determine if there is enough evidence to put the person on trial

natural rights

rights of people such as life, liberty, and property

sovereignty

the authority of a state to govern itself without interference; shared between federal and state governments

republic

a government in which citizens elect people to speak and act for them

checks

the powers each branch of government has to control or limit the operations of other branches, such as presidential vetoes or judicial review

balances

the mechanisms that ensure power is shared fairly among branches so that no one branch dominates, maintaining a balance government

judicial review

the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, and national governments unconstitutional

Congress

the legislative branch of the United States government; includes the Senate and the House of Representatives

House of Representatives

the lower chamber of Congress with members appointed by state population; representatives serve 2-year terms and initiate revenue bills

Senate

the higher chamber of Congress with 2 members equally representing each state elected by popular vote; senators serve 6 year terms; confirms presidential appointments and ratifies treaties

lobbyist

someone who is paid to represent an interest group’s viewpoint

spoils system

a practice where political supporters are rewarded with government jobs; often seen during Andrew Jackson’s presidency

federal court

a court that hears cases involving federal laws and constitutional issues with the Supreme Court being the highest

pardon

to release or excuse someone from jail or prison; executive forgiveness

appellate court

a court that reviews decisions of lower courts for legal errors

executive order

a directive issued by the President to manage operations of the federal government

Cabinet

a group of advisers to head of state

popular vote

the votes by citizens in a (usually presidential) election

Electoral College

a group of people chosen by political parties to vote for the president and vice president

implied powers

powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are assumed to exist

reserved powers

powers not given to the federal government and are reserved for the states

concurrent powers

powers shared by federal and state governments

bill

a suggested new law

quorum

a minimum number of members required to conduct official business

treaty

an agreement between two or more countries or states about trade, peace, or other matters

A form of government where all power is in one person or a small group of persons is a ___.

dictatorship