Civic Literacy Exam Study Guide Notes

American Democracy

  • Form of US Government: What form does the US government have?
  • Reasons for Colonization: What was one of the main reasons the English colonists came to the New World?
  • Rights in Declaration of Independence: What rights are stated in the Declaration of Independence?
  • Reasons for Separation from England: What were the reasons the colonists separated from England?
  • French and Indian War (1763): How did the French and Indian War (1763) affect the colonists?
  • Virginia House of Burgesses: What was the Virginia House of Burgesses?
  • Three Branches of US Government: What are the three branches of the US government?
  • Checks and Balances: What is the system of checks and balance of the US government?
  • Levels of US Government: What are the three levels of the US government?
  • Powers of Congress: What are the powers of Congress?
  • Powers of the President: What are the powers of the President?
  • Powers of the Supreme Court: What are the powers of the Supreme Court?
  • “Great Compromise”: What was the “Great Compromise”?
  • Selection of House and Senate Members: How are the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate chosen?
  • Allocation of House and Senate Members: How are the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate allocated?
  • Presidential Succession: What is the process of Presidential succession?
  • Electoral College: What is the Electoral College?
  • “Gerrymandering”: What is “gerrymandering”?
  • Separation of Church and State: What is the “separation and church doctrine”?
  • Shays’ Rebellion: What was “Shays’ Rebellion about?
  • Holidays Honoring Armed Forces: What are two holidays that honor the members of the armed forces?
  • Source of US Government Power: From where does the US government get its power?
  • Original Capital of the US: Where was the original capital of the US?
  • “Common Law”: What is “common law”?
  • Basis of US Judicial System: What is the US judicial system based on?

The US Constitution

  • Supreme Law: Which is the supreme law of the United States?
  • Number of Amendments: How many amendments does the US Constitution have?
  • First Ten Amendments: What are the first ten amendments called?
  • Rights Protected by Amendments:
    • First Amendment
    • Second Amendment
    • Fourth Amendment
    • Fifth Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Eighth Amendment
    • Ninth Amendment
    • Tenth Amendment
    • Thirteenth Amendment (significance)
    • Fourteenth Amendment (significance, protections)
    • Fifteenth Amendment
    • Nineteenth Amendment
    • Twenty-sixth Amendment
  • Changing the Constitution: How can the Constitution be changed?
  • Repealed Amendment: Which amendment has been repealed?
  • Purpose of the Preamble: What is the purpose of the Preamble of the US constitution?
  • “Full Faith and Credit”: What does “full faith and credit” mean?
  • Signing Location: Where was the Constriction signed?
  • “Common Clause”: What is the “common clause”?
  • “Elastic Clause”: What is the “elastic clause”?

Founding Documents

  • Magna Carta: Explain the significance/importance of the Magna Carta.
  • English Bill of Rights: Explain the significance/importance of the English Bill of Rights.
  • Mayflower Compact: Explain the significance/importance of the Mayflower Compact.
  • “Common Sense”: Explain the significance/importance of “Common Sense”.
  • Abigail Adams Letter to John Adams: Explain the significance/importance of Abigail Adams' letter to John Adams.
  • Virginia Declaration of Rights: Explain the significance/importance of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
  • Declaration of Independence: Explain the significance/importance of the Declaration of Independence.
  • The Federalist Papers: Explain the significance/importance of The Federalist Papers.
  • Federalist Paper 10: Explain the significance/importance of Federalist Paper 10.
  • Federalist Paper 51: Explain the significance/importance of Federalist Paper 51.
  • Federalist Paper 58: Explain the significance/importance of Federalist Paper 58.
  • Articles of Confederation: Explain the significance/importance of the Articles of Confederation.
  • Bill of Rights: Explain the significance/importance of the Bill of Rights.
  • US Constitution: Explain the significance/importance of the US Constitution.
  • The Treaty of Paris (1783): Explain the significance/importance of The Treaty of Paris (1783).
  • The Northwest Ordinances (1787): Explain the significance/importance of The Northwest Ordinances (1787).
  • John Locke’s “Two Treatises of Government”: Explain the significance/importance of John Locke’s “Two Treatises of Government”.
  • Emancipation Proclamation: Explain the significance/importance of the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • “I Have A Dream Speech” (Dr. Martin Luther King): Explain the significance/importance of “I Have A Dream Speech” (Dr. Martin Luther King).
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964: Explain the significance/importance of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
  • Civil Rights Act of 1965: Explain the significance/importance of the Civil Rights Act of 1965.

Landmark Cases Impact on Law and Society

  • Engel v. Vitale: Explain the significance of Engel v. Vitale.
  • D.C. v. Heller: Explain the significance of D.C. v. Heller.
  • Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier: Explain the significance of Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier.
  • Mapp v. Ohio: Explain the significance of Mapp v. Ohio.
  • Marbury v. Madison: Explain the significance of Marbury v. Madison.
  • McCulloch v. Maryland: Explain the significance of McCulloch v. Maryland.
  • Miranda v. Arizona: Explain the significance of Miranda v. Arizona.
  • Tinker v. Des Moines: Explain the significance of Tinker v. Des Moines.
  • U.S. v. Nixon: Explain the significance of U.S. v. Nixon.
  • Regents of the U. of California v. Bakke: Explain the significance of Regents of the U. of California v. Bakke.
  • Schenck v. US: Explain the significance of Schenck v. US.
  • Texas v. Johnson: Explain the significance of Texas v. Johnson.
  • Gibbons v. Ogden Commerce Clause: Explain the significance of Gibbons v. Ogden Commerce Clause.
  • Dred Scott v. Sandford: Explain the significance of Dred Scott v. Sandford.
  • Plessy v. Ferguson: Explain the significance of Plessy v. Ferguson.
  • Brown v. Board of Education: Explain the significance of Brown v. Board of Education.
  • Baker v. Carr: Explain the significance of Baker v. Carr.
  • Roe v. Wade: Explain the significance of Roe v. Wade.
  • Gideon v. Wainwright: Explain the significance of Gideon v. Wainwright.