UNIT 1

Question 1

Natural Rights

Answer 1

inherent rights that are believed to be necessary for all humans and include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are protected by the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, which enshrines individual freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.

Question 2

Checks and Balances

Answer 2

a balancing system to make sure that the branches of government are all being treating fairly and equally

Question 3

Social Contract

Answer 3

implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for mutual benefits. It often involves individuals giving up some personal freedoms and submitting to authority in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

Question 4

Federalism

Answer 4

A system of government in which power is divided between a national (federal) government and various regional governments

Question 5

Judicial Review

Answer 5

review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative act

Question 6

Supremacy Clause

Answer 6

all laws made furthering the Constitution and all treaties made under the authority of the United States are the “supreme law of the land.”

Question 7

Factions

Answer 7

a small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one

Question 8

consent of the governed

Answer 8

the authority of a government should depend on the consent of the people, as expressed by votes in elections.

Question 9

Republicanism

Answer 9

the principles or theory of republican government.

Question 10

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 10

the principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives

Question 11

writ of habeas corpus

Answer 11

a court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody

Question 12

federalists

Answer 12

supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption

Question 13

anti-federalists

Answer 13

opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating adopting it

Question 14

Bill of Rights

Answer 14

the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti-Federalist concerns; basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and press and guarantee defendant’s rights

Question 15

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 15

states that Congress has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government

Question 15

Electoral College

Answer 15

a group selected by the states to elect the president and the vice-president, in which each state’s number of electors is equal to the number of its senators and representatives in Congress

Question 16

Bill of Attainder

Answer 16

A law that declares a person, without trial, to be guilty of a crime

Question 17

Super Majorities

Answer 17

requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level or type of support which exceeds a simple majority

Question 18

Ex Post Facto Law

Answer 18

a law which makes criminal an act that was legal when in was committed, or that increases the penalty for a crime after it has been committed

Question 19

Concurrent Powers

Answer 19

powers that both the National Government and the States possess and exercise