Unit One – The Why And Context Of Government

Question 0

Public policy

Answer 0

All those things a government decides to do

Question 1

Government

Answer 1

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policy

Question 2

Constitution

Answer 2

The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government

Question 3

Politics

Answer 3

Activities that regulate to influencing the actions and policies of a government or getting and keeping power in the government

Question 4

Three kinds of governmental power

Answer 4

Legislative (Makes the laws)
Executive (enforces the laws)
Judicial (interprets the laws)

Question 5

Purposes of the U.S. Government (Found in the preamble of the U.S.Constitution)

Answer 5

Form a more perfect union
Establish justice
Ensure domestic tranquility
Provide for the common defense
Promote general welfare
Secure the blessings of liberty

Question 6

Democracy

Answer 6

Supreme political power rest in the people

People must be well informed

Question 7

Direct democracy

Answer 7

Exist where the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves

Question 8

Indirect democracy

Answer 8

A small group of persons chosen by the people to act as their representatives express the popular will

Question 9

Dictatorship

Answer 9

Those who rule can’t be held responsible to the will of the people

Question 10

What governmental power does the US use based on geographic distribution? (Define the word also)

Answer 10

Federal government – powers of government are divided between a central government and several local

Question 11

Types of government based on relationship between legislative and executive branches (what are the two types)

Answer 11

Presidential and parliamentary government

Question 12

Presidential government

Answer 12

Legislative and executive branches are independent of each other

Question 13

Parliamentary government

Answer 13

The chief executive is a member of the legislature or Parliament

Question 14

Principles of American democracy

Answer 14

Worth of the individual
Equality of all persons
Majority rule, minority rights
Need for compromise 
individual freedom

Question 15

Citizen

Answer 15

One who hold certain rights and responsibilities with in a state (country)

Question 16

Three types of colonies and their governments

Answer 16

Royal colonies (king had Direct rule)
Proprietary colonies (a person whom the king appointed had rule)
Charter colonies (group ruled itself)

Question 17

Purposes of the Declaration of Independence

Answer 17

Announces US independence

Gives reasons why the colonist want their freedom

Question 18

Liberty

Answer 18

The state or condition of people who are able to act and speak freely

Question 19

Security

Answer 19

Things done to make people or places safe

Question 20

Common good

Answer 20

The advantage or benefit of all people in a society or in a group

Question 21

Justice

Answer 21

Process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals

Question 22

Equality

Answer 22

The quality or state of having the same rights, social status, etc.

Question 23

Law and order

Answer 23

Relating in characterized by or advocating strict laws in their environment

Question 24

What is the articles of Confederation and what were two major problems?

Answer 24

United states first constitution
Too weak to solve the nations problems
Confederation, “ league of friendship,” with no real national power

Question 25

Virginia plan

Answer 25

Bicameral legislature
Representation based on population
National law is supreme

Question 26

New Jersey plan

Answer 26

Unicameral legislature
One state, one vote
State law is supreme

Question 27

Federalist

Answer 27

Believed the Constitution was strong enough to solve the country’s problems

Question 28

Anti-Federalist

Answer 28

They feared a strong central government

Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect the states and people

Question 29

What does the U.S. Constitution do for America?

Answer 29

Through separation of powers and checks and balances, the document safeguards America from tyranny
It sets up powers for the national government and some of the state powers. What is not listed is left to the states to do

Question 30

Popular sovereignty

Answer 30

Government can exist and function ONLY with the consent of the people

Question 31

Limited government

Answer 31

Government only has the people give it (obey the Constitution)

Question 32

Separation of powers

Answer 32

The executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government

Question 33

Checks and balances

Answer 33

System of overlapping the powers of the three branches to check the action of the others

Question 34

Judicial review

Answer 34

power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of the of the actions of the legislative and executive branches

Question 35

Federalism

Answer 35

The division of power among the central government and several regional governments

Question 36

Rule of law

Answer 36

Government and its officers are always subject to – never above – the law

Question 37

Amendment

Answer 37

A change in, or addition to, a constitution or law

Question 38

How many amendments of the U.S. Constitution have?

Answer 38

27

Question 39

Formal amendment process

Answer 39

National government (Congress) has to propose and the states most approve

Question 40

Supremacy clause

Answer 40

The constitution stands above all other forms of law in the US

Question 41

Ladder of the law (supremacy clause)

Answer 41

US Constitution
National law (what Congress creates)
State constitutions
State law
local law

Question 42

National governments obligations to the states

Answer 42

Republican (representative) form of government
Invision an internal disorder
Respect for territorial integrity (state will always be a state)