Principles Of American Democracy

Question 1

What is the form of government of the United States

Answer 1

• Republic
• Constitution-based federal republic
• Representative democracy

Question 2

What is the supreme law of the land?

Answer 2

The Constitution

Question 3

Name one thing the US Constitution does / What the Constitution do?

Answer 3

• forms the government
• defines the powers of the government
• defines the parts of the government
• protects the rights of the people

Question 4

The US Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We The People” mean?

Answer 4

• self-government
• popular sovereignty
• consent of the governed
• people should govern themselves
• (Example of) social contract

Question 5

How are changes made to the US Constitution?

Answer 5

• Amendments
• The amendment process

Question 6

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

Answer 6

• (The basic) rights of Americans
• (The basic) rights of people living in the United States

Question 7

How many amendments does the Constitution have?

Answer 7

27

Question 8

Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

Answer 8

• It says America is free from British control
• It says all people are created equal
• It identified inherent rights
• It identifies individual freedoms

Question 9

What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

Answer 9

Declaration of Independence

Question 10

Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution

Answer 10

• Equality
• Liberty
• Social contract
• Natural rights
• Limited government
• Self-government

Question 11

The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?

Answer 11

Declaration of Independence

Question 12

What is the economic system of the United States?

Answer 12

• Capitalism
• Free market economy

Question 13

What is the rule of law?

Answer 13

• Everyone must follow the law
• Leaders must obey the law
• Government must obey the law
• No one is above the law

Question 14

Many documents influenced the US Constitution. Name one :

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

There are three branches of government. Why?

Answer 15

• So one part does not become too powerful
• Checks and balances
• Separation of powers

Question 16

The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

Answer 16

We the People

Question 17

What is an amendment?

Answer 17

• a change to the Constitution
• an addition to the Constitution

Question 18

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

Answer 18

the Bill of Rights

Question 19

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

Answer 19

• speech
• religion
• assembly
• press
• petition the government

Question 20

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

Answer 20

• announced our independence from Great Britain
• declared our independence from Great Britain
• said that the United States is free from Great Britain

Question 21

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 21

• life
• liberty
• pursuit of happiness

Question 22

What is the freedom of religion?

Answer 22

You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion