American Government and Constitutional Founding

Question 1

the ability to act or get another person (or people) to act based on intentions or influence

Answer 1

power

Question 2

the right to use power

Answer 2

authority

Question 3

government in which all, or most, of the citizens directly participate by either holding public office or making policy

Answer 3

direct (participatory) democracy

Question 4

government in which public representatives make political decisions after winning elections

Answer 4

representative (republican) democracy

Question 5

a system of governance in which a central government’s powers and limits are determined by a union/association of sovereign states

Answer 5

confederation

Question 6

a system of governance in which at least two levels of government (ex: central government and state governments) each possess significant levels of independent and supreme authority (sovereignty)

Answer 6

federalism

Question 7

approach asserting that only a small group of top elites in politics, business, and military govern and influence political affairs

Answer 7

elitism

Question 8

approach asserting that there are many competing groups seeking to influence government and political affairs

Answer 8

pluralism

Question 9

approach focusing on the importance of appointed bureaucrats and civil servants

Answer 9

bureaucratic perspective

Question 10

approach focusing on economic/financial factors, only two groups competing for political influence (i.e. bourgeoisie vs. proletariat)

Answer 10

new left (neo-marxist) perspective

Question 11

political ideology supporting a strong central government, traditional political/social institutions, hierarchial structures and a class- based system, and continuity instead of change

Answer 11

classical conservatism

Question 12

political ideology supporting individual liberty, a social contract, greater equality and social mobility, limited government, and free market capitalism

Answer 12

classical liberalism

Question 13

document that outlined the system of governance in the U.S. from 1781 to 1789; it established a weak central government lacking effective institutions

Answer 13

articles of confederation

Question 14

1787 convention held in Philadelphia originally to reform the articles of confederation, the delegates present decided to draft a new constitutional system of governance instead (U.S. constitution)

Answer 14

U.S. constitutional convention

Question 15

representation proposal for a bicameral (two chambers) legislature in which both chambers’ size would be determined by the state population

Answer 15

virginia plan

Question 16

representation proposal for unicameral (single chamber) legislature with one vote per state

Answer 16

new Jersey plan

Question 17

adopted compromise for representation for a bicameral legislature House of Representatives determined by state population; senate composed of two representative from each state

Answer 17

Connecticut compromise

Question 18

essays written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton to persuade the delegates from New York to ratify the U.S. constitution

Answer 18

federalist papers

Question 19

article 1 of the U.S. constitution

Answer 19

legislative branch

Question 20

article 2 of the U.S. constitution

Answer 20

executive branch

Question 21

article 3 of the U.S. constitution

Answer 21

judicial branch

Question 22

powers explicitly stated within the constitution specific to the federal government (ex: foreign affairs, printing money, interstate commerce)

Answer 22

enumerated (expressed) powers

Question 23

powers left to (or reserved for) the states (ex: licensing)

Answer 23

reserved powers

Question 24

shared powers that both the federal government and state governments can exercise (ex: taxes, infrastructure, borrowing money, courts)

Answer 24

concurrent powers

Question 25

first ten amendments to the constitution enumerating public rights and liberties

Answer 25

bill of rights