US Gov Unit 1 Test Questions

What is government?

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

Why do governments exist?

To create rules, To provide law and order, To protect people from conflicts

What do governments do for people?

They keep order (laws and courts), provide security and services (prevent crimes and provide schools, parks, etc.), and guide the public/community (manage economy and foreign relations)

How do governments make, enforce, and interpret the law?

Through three distinct but interconnected branches: the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial

What is the legislative branch?

the branch of government that makes the laws

What is the executive branch?

the branch of the United States government that is responsible for enforcing out the laws to the public

What is the judicial branch?

the branch of government that interprets the laws and applies them to the public

Where do different governments get their power?

Primarily through elections and constitutions (the people), but also from divine right, tradition, military force, or specific legal frameworks like federal/state division of powers

How do people give government authority?

Voting for representatives

How does the divine right of kings theory work?

a monarch's authority to rule comes directly from God, making them accountable only to God

Why do governments not have unlimited power?

to prevent tyranny, protect individual rights, and ensure stability

Why did the American people decide to declare independence?

taxation without representation

What were some ideas used to justify our independence?

Enlightenment ideals like natural rights (life, liberty, property/happiness) and consent of the governed

How was American independence declared?

through the Second Continental Congress's adoption of the Declaration of Independence, drafted mainly by Thomas Jefferson

What is the importance of the date July 4, 1776?

When the american people declared independence and seperated themselves from British rule.

How did we try to unite the colonies, and what happened?

Albany Plan of Union (1754), each individual colony rejected the idea and instead decided to keep them separate.

What was the US's first attempt at a working government?

the Articles of Confederation, a loose alliance of independent states that established a weak central government

What did the Articles of Confederation lead to?

Shays' Rebellion, by creating a weak national government unable to solve the economic crisis, leaving states like Massachusetts to impose heavy taxes and debt collection that crushed indebted farmers

What were the goals of the articles of confederation?

to unite the newly independent states, provide a framework for a common defense, and establish a "firm league of friendship" while explicitly preserving the sovereignty

How was power divided with the Articles of Confederation?

heavily skewed toward the states, creating a weak central government

What makes a state?

has to be a political unit with population, territory, sovereignty, and a government

What were some problems with the Articles of Confederation?

created a weak central government that couldn't levy taxes, regulate commerce, or enforce laws, leading to economic disorganization