The means by which society organizes itself to make and enforce public policy.
Government can best be described as...
state
A territory organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government with control over its own affairs.
Preamble
Introduction to the Constitution
Life, Liberty, and Property
What concepts did Thomas Jefferson borrow from John Locke in writing the Declaration of Independence?
popular sovereignty
With the words, "We the People do ordain and establish", the Constitution receives its authority on the basis of...
representative democracy
The fact that Americans can vote people in and out of office reflects the ideal of...
federalism
The fact that there is division of powers between our national government and the states of the union reflects the ideal of...
limited government
Which of the following principles of the Constitution holds that government may do only those things that the people have given it the power to do?
Each branch of government is subject to a number of restraints by the other branches
The principle of checks and balances means that...
power is distributed between the three branches of government
When there is "separation of powers" within the Federal government...
Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.
concurrent powers
Constitutional powers that are granted solely to the federal government.
delegated or expressed powers
establishes a basic structure of government and defines the government's power
Which of the following is a purpose of the U.S. Constitution?
15th, 19th and 26th
Which of the following describes the amendments associated with the voting rights of a specific group of Americans?
register to vote
To prevent fraudulent voting, most states require voters to...
Majority vote in the Electoral College
Who officially elects the U.S. President?
Plurality vote within single member, winner-takes-all districts
In the majority of U.S. elections, how are winners selected?
over time, it has stretched to cover so many implied powers
The "Necessary and Proper" Clause is also called the Elastic Clause because...
drafting people into the military to raise and support an army
An example of an implied power of the federal government would be...
due process and trial rights for the accused
What rights are protected and explained in the 5th and 6th Amendments to the Constitution?
judicial review
Which term describes the court's power to overturn acts of the legislature as unconstitutional?
The right to remain silent
What constitutional right is affirmed (upheld) in the case Miranda v. Arizona?
being punished for burning a flag is a violation of your first amendment rights
According to the ruling made in Texas v. Johnson, it was determined that...
Someone can go to jail in a criminal trial, but not in a civil trial
The difference between criminal law and civil law is that...
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Who presides over impeachment trials?
power to tax
Congress exercises this power when it extracts money from an individual's pay check.
2/3 vote in each house
If a bill is vetoed by the President, then the bill can still become law. What must happen in order for the bill to become a law?
the party whose members hold the most amount of seats
In terms of members of Congress, the majority refers to...
3
Each state in the United States is guaranteed to have at least how many members in Congress (House and Senate together)?
reapportionment
What word best describes the process of using the census to recalculate the number of seats that each state receives in the House of Representatives?