Principles of American Government Flashcards
What is the form of government of the United States?
Republic
Constitution-based federal republic
Representative democracy
What is the supreme law of the land?
(U.S.) Constitution
Nameonething the U.S. Constitution does.
What does the Constitution do?
Forms the government
Defines powers of government
Defines the parts of government
Protects the rights of the people
sets up the government
defines the government
protects basic rights of Americans
The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?
Self-government
Popular sovereignty
Consent of the governed
People should govern themselves
(Example of) social contract
How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
Amendments
The amendment process
What does the Bill of Rights protect?
(The basic) rights of Americans
(The basic) rights of people living in the United States
How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
Twenty-seven (27)
Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
It says America is free from British control.
It says all people are created equal.
It identifies inherent rights.
It identifies individual freedoms.
What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
Declaration of Independence
Nametwoimportant ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Equality
Liberty
Social contract
Natural rights
Limited government
Self-government
The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?
Declaration of Independence
What is the economic system of the United States?
Capitalism
Free market economy
What is the rule of law?
Everyone must follow the law.
Leaders must obey the law.
Government must obey the law.
No one is above the law.
Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Nameone.
Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation Federalist Papers Anti-Federalist Papers Virginia Declaration of Rights Fundamental Orders of Connecticut Mayflower Compact Iroquois Great Law of Peace
There are three branches of government. Why?
So one part does not become too powerful
Checks and balances
Separation of powers
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
What is an amendment?
a change (to the Constitution) an addition (to the Constitution)
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
the Bill of Rights
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
speech religion assembly press petition the government
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
announced our independence (from Great Britain)
declared our independence (from Great Britain)
said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
life
liberty
pursuit of happiness
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
What is the economic system in the United States?
capitalist economy
market economy
