American Government

American Government Final

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?