gov exam

Question 1

What were the weaknesses of the Article of Confederation?

Answer 1

• No central leadership (executive branch)
• Congress had no power to enforce its laws.
• Congress had no power to tax.
• Congress had no power to regulate trade.
• No national court system (judicial branch)
• Changes to the Articles required unanimous.

Question 2

What does rule of law mean?

Answer 2

states that ALL citizens are required to follow the law

Question 3

What is the social contract theory? Who is credited for endorsing it first?

Answer 3

• the unspoken agreement between individuals to give up certain natural rights in order to enjoy the benefits of society
• Thomas Hobbes’

Question 4

What are the 6 key principles of the US Constitution? What do they mean?

Answer 4

• popular sovereignty
• federalism
• separation of powers
• checks and balances
• judicial review
• limited government

Question 5

What is the difference between an expressed and implied power?

Answer 5

• Expressed powers are directly from the Constitution
• Implied powers elaborate and give Congress power to carry them out.

Question 6

What are the 2 chambers of Congress? How many of each? How are they elected?

Answer 6

• the House of Representatives: 435 seats - the Senate: 100

they both are elected by the public every 2 years

Question 7

What are the 2 chambers of the General Assembly? How many of each? How are they elected?

Answer 7

• the House of Representatives: 435 seats - the Senate: 100

they both are elected by the public every 2 years

Question 8

Who presides over the House of Representatives?

Answer 8

Speaker of the House

Question 9

What are the primary powers of Congress?

Answer 9

• enact legislation and declare war
• the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments,
• substantial investigative powers

Question 10

Where must a revenue bill begin?

Answer 10

the house of representatives

Question 11

What is an example of how the executive branch can check Congress? How can Congress check the President?

Answer 11

• The president can veto legislation created by Congress
• Congress confirms or rejects the president’s nominees

Question 12

Which branch controls the US military?

Answer 12

Presidential command

Question 13

Which branch can declare war?

Answer 13

Legislative branch

Question 14

What is an executive order?

Answer 14

official documents … through which the President of the United States manages the operations of the Federal Government

Question 15

What is the official duty of the Vice President?

Answer 15

to preside over the Senate, and to help decide if the President is disabled

Question 16

The President’s executive power primarily rests in clause …… (see Article II section 3).

Answer 16

Article II

Question 17

What are some of the expressed powers of the President?

Answer 17

• veto bills and sign bills. -represent our nation in talks with foreign countries.
• enforce the laws that Congress passes.
• act as Commander-in-Chief during a war

Question 18

Where is the difference between a primary and a caucus? What is a closed primary? Open primary?

Answer 18

• Primaries are run by state and local governments
• Caucuses are private meetings run by political parties
• In an open primary, voters of any affiliation may vote in the primary of any party
• In a closed primary, only voters registered with a given party can vote in that party’s primary

Question 19

What is the Bill of Rights and why was it added to our Constitution?

Answer 19

• The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution
• It spells out Americans’ rights in relation to their government

Question 20

Where is the 1st caucus held? It kicks off the primary season.

Answer 20

Iowa

Question 21

How does the Electoral College work? (winner takes all)

Answer 21

The Electoral College is how we refer to the process by which the United States elects the President

Question 22

What is the difference between a PAC and a SuperPAC?

Answer 22

PACs can contribute directly to candidates, but super PACs cannot

Question 23

Campaign financing is a form of ___________.

Answer 23

Campaign finance, also known as election finance or political donations, refers to the funds raised to promote candidates, political parties, or policy initiatives and referendums

Question 24

What is the purpose of a jury? Which of the 6 Constitutional principles does it reflect?

Question 25

How are judges appointed?

Question 26

What is judicial review?

Question 27

What kinds of cases does the SC hear?

Question 28

Which political ideology is associated with the Democratic party? The Republican party?

Question 28

What does it mean to be an Independent?

Question 28

What is prior restraint? Can the government do it? Under what circumstances?

Question 28

Why do many Americans not vote?

Question 28

What are shield laws?

Question 28

What does the 4th and 5th Amendments say?

Question 29

How long can a person serve as President of the United States?

Question 30

What does the 11th Amendment say?

Question 31

What does the 17 and 27 Amendment say?

Question 32

What does the 12, 20, 22, 23, 25 Amendments say?

Question 33

What does the 15th Amendment say?

Question 34

What does the 19th Amendment say?

Question 35

What does the 24th Amendment say?

Question 36

What does the 26th Amendment say?

Question 37

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 do?

Question 38

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1960 do?

Question 39

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 do?

Question 40

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 do?