Government Test Questions – Flashcards
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Having a local government, Legislative government, Limited government
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How did England infuence our government?
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Virginia House of Burgesses
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What was the first representative body in the New World?
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When colonies were asked to pay war debt and King George became king
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When do Adams and others believe the revolution really started?
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First continental congress, Second continental congress, and the Declaration of independence
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What was the colonial response to England's tightening grip on the colonies?
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Issued a Declaration of Grievances to King George; they wanted complete independence
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What was the purpose of the First Continental Congress? Second Continental Congress?
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John Hancock
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Who was president of the Continental Congress?
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Thomas Jefferson
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Who primarily wrote the Declaration of Independence?
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English philosopher who believed that the natural law and God's law were the same
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Who is John Locke?
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Firm league of friendship; was for a unicameral legislative branch and one state equals one vote
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Describe the Articles of Confederation.
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1. All men are created equal 2. endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights 3. governments are instituted to secure these rights 4. If the government fails, people can dissolve it
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What four principles did Jefferson include in the Declaration of Independence?
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Inability to enforce policies
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Why were the Articles of Confederation ineffective as a government?
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Because it had to have unanimous consent
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Why were the Articles of Confederation difficult to get ratified?
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Philadelphia, May 1787; George Washington
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Where and when was the Constitutional Convention? Who was the president?
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Rule of secrecy and be a committee as a whole; to allow for informal discussion and to keep people from trying to change their minds
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What two procedural rules were established at the Constiutional Convention? Why?
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Slavery, Representation, Commerce
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What were the three primary area of compromise?
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A bicameral Congress was wanted and so was representation based on state population
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Describe the Virginia plan.
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Unicameral Congress was wanted and so was one state equals one vote
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Describe the New Jersey plan.
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Roger Sherman wanted a bicameral Congress; wanted the lower House of Representatives and the Senate to be based on population; representation is based on 2 votes per state
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Describe the Great Compromise.
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James Madison
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Who is known as the Father of the Constitution?
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Wanted constitution ratified, Did not want constitution ratified because they wanted some things changed
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What is a Federalist? Anti-Federalist?
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Newspaper editorials, counter to Anti-Federalist writings. James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton
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What are the Federalist Papers and who wrote them?
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Wanted bill of rights and afraid of a large central government
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What were two concerns the anti-federalists had?
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1789
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When did the Constitution go into effect?
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That we are flawed
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What did our founding fathers recognize about our human nature?
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Strict constructionist - constitution should be taken as written. Loose constructionist -Room for interpretation
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There are two ways of interpreting the Constitution. What are they and describe each. (NOT SURE IF THIS IS RIGHT)
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Article 1 Section 8 Clause 18
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Where, in the Constitution, do loose constructionists "hang their hat"?
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Elastic clause, Because it can be stretched
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What other name is given to the necessary and proper clause? Why?
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Proposal and Ratification
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What are the steps to the amendment process?
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Limited gov, Separation of power, Checks and balances, Federalism, Popular sovereignty, Judicial review
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What are the 6 principles of our Constitution?
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Limited Government
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What principle establishes boundaries of power?
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Legislative - make laws, Executive - enforces laws, Judicial - Interprets laws
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What are the three branches of government and what is the primary function of each?
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Checks and Balances
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What principle ensures one branch does not become too strong and powerful?
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Separation or division of power between state and federal governments
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What is federalism?
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10
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Which amendment most clearly expresses the idea of a two tiered government?
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Reserved powers
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Powers reserved to the people.
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enumerated/delegated powers
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Specifically written out powers that belong to the federal government.
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People are the source of the government's authority. In the Preamble, "We The People"
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What is popular sovereignty? Where, in the Constitution, do we get the idea for popular sovereignty?
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judicial review
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It gives part of the power to the judicial branch to review laws passed by Congress.
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1803, John Marshall. Legisaltive branch
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When was judicial review established and who established it? Who does it have check over
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Marbury vs. Madison
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What court case caused this establishment of judicial review?
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Preamble, Articles, Amendments
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What are the three parts to the Constitution?
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Form a more perfect union, Establish justice, Ensure domestic tranquility, Provide for common defense, Promote the general welfare, Secure blessings for ourselves and our posterity
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What is the nature and purpose of the Constitution as stated in the Preamble?
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7
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How many Articles make up the Constitution?
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27
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How many amendments does the Constitution have?
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First 10 Amendments
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Where is the Bill of Rights located?
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freedom of religion, press, speech, assembly, petition
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What are your first amendment rights?
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Amendment 2
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Which amendment gives citizens the right to have weapons?
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10
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Which amendment is known as the "state's rights" amendment?
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Women's Suffrage
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What is the 19th amendment?
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implied powers
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These powers are not specifically mentioned but necessary to carry out enumerated powers.
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Each state respects the laws, official records, and judicial rulings in other states. Article IV Section 1
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What is Full Faith and Credit? Where is this phrase found in the constitution?
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1. Limited to only enforcing laws on their own books 2. Divorce may not be granted by moving to another state with leniant divorce laws
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What are two exceptions to Full Faith and Credit?
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Any person who has citizenship must be respected in all states. Article IV Section 2
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Describe privileges and immunities. Where is this found in the constitution?
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Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John C. Calhoun
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Who were great proponents of state's rights?
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Civil War
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What national event changed state's rights forever?
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Categorical, Block, Revenue sharing
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What are the three types of grants-in-aid?
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Categorical
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Which grant is designed to be used in a specific way?
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revenue sharing
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Any tax money that is in surplus is given back to the state.
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Ronald Reagan, Because there wasn't a surplus of taxes anymore
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Who stopped revenue sharing? Why?
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1. Maintaining federal distinctions 2. Give and take 3. Growing national debt 4. Competition between the states
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What are the problems associated with federalism today? (4 of them)
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Bound by regulations
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What does it mean to have "strings attached" to a federal grant?
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Delegated powers
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What defines the limits of the authority of the national government?
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16
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Which amendment established a federal income tax?
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Reserved powers, Bill of rights
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What refers to powers the Constitution withholds from the national government but not from state governents? Where in the Constitution is the directive given?
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Dual Federalism
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National and state government were sovereign within their own spheres.
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New Deal
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What was the term for FDR's programs to help get the country out of the Great Depression?
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Categorical grant
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Identify the term for federal programs that grant money for specific purposes within state and local governments.
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State interest to national domination
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How has the focus of federalism shifted from the Constitutional Convention to today?
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extradition, Article 4 Section 2 Clause 2
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What is this term: The legal process of returning an alleged criminal to the state in which he was charged. Where is it found in the constitution?
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Formula Grant and Project Grant
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What are the means of determining who gets federal aid and the amount that is to be given?
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Grants in aid
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What is a key force in implementing national policies on the local level?
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Honor territory and rights of states, must intervene to depress domestic violence, Protect from foreign invasion
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List the requirements that are placed on the national government with regard to the states.
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Block Grants
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Which type of grant was designed to streamline federal aid to states and localities?
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Tends to check tyranny it permits no single institution to hold all the reigns to authority
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What is the genius of federalism and why?
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Articles 4 and 6
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Where in the Constitution are states' responsibilites to each other and the federal government listed?
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Union provides strength, Common bond builds representative government, Division and distribution of political and economic powers allows national goals to be accomplished
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How does America benefit from federalism?
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Necessary and Proper Clause
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Was added by the Constitutional framers so that future Congresses would have the authority to meet future needs.
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Limited government
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Principle that prohibits government from having absolute power.
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Gridlock
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A situation created when one branch of the gov brings the political process to a halt.
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Franking Privilege
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Right to send official mail free of charge.
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Electoral college
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The group, composed of electors from each state, that elects the president.
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Appropriation
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Grants of money allocated by Congress to finance government programs.
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Apellate Jurisdiction
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A court's power to hear a case before it is considered by any other court.
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Supremacy Clause
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Constitutional provision that upholds the US Constitution as the highest law of the nation.
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Libel
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Defaming a person in writing.
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1. Grandfather clauses 2. White primaries 3, Literacy tests 4. Gerrymandering 5. Poll taxes
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Five instruments used to keep racial minorities from voting or to lessen their vote.
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Poll Taxes
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Enacted by several states following the Civil War as a means of keeping poor blacks from voting.
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Proposal
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The formal introduction of an amendment.
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Ratification
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The formal approval process of an amendment.
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Seperation of power and Checks and balances
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Two principles that limit government.
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Quorum
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The minimum number needed to transact business.
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Congressional Record
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Journal or record of what each house of Congress does daily.
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Naturalization
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Process by which a foreign born person gains citizenship.
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Habeas Corpus
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Court order forcing authorities to quickly charge and try an arrested person or release him.
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Pardons
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Complete forgiveness of a crime and its consequent punishment.
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Slander
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Defaming a person verbally.
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Bail
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Money deposited to guarantee a court appearance, allowing the accused freedom while awaiting trial.
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Franchise Suffrage
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Two terms for the right to vote.
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Amendment Process
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More formal means of adapting the Constitution to change.
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Impeachment
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Process of bringing up the president or other government officials on criminal charges.
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President pro tempore
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Leader elected by the Senate who serves as leader of the Senate when the vice president is absent.
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Sergeant at Arms
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An official in both houses who is responsible to bring in members who are absent and needed for a quorum.
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Pocket Veto
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Automatic veto of a bill the president leaves unsigned for ten days during a congressional adjournment.
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Bill of Attainder
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Bill permitting punishment without trial.
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Ex Post Facto Law
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Laws passed and applied to actions that were not criminal when they were committed.
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Subpoena
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A document requiring a person to appear in court as a witness.
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Lame Duck
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An official who is still in office but has not been reelected.
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Grand Jury
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A panel of citizens who consider the prosecution's case against the accused to determine whether there is enough evidence to go to trial.
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National Guard
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Modern militia under the control of the army and air force.
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Due Process
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Certain legal procedures by which the government must abide in order to protect the rights of the accused.
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Gerrymandering
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Drawing district lines so that black districts' votes have less impact.
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Grandfather Clause
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Allowed previous voters and their relatives to vote without facing a literacy test or other requirements.
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Veto
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President's power to refuse to sign a bill into law.
