Government test outline

Question 1

What is the first most important constitutional idea

Answer 1

separation of powers

Question 2

What is the second most important constitutional idea

Answer 2

Federalism

Question 3

What is the third most important constitutional idea

Answer 3

Individual rights

Question 4

Separation of powers prevents…

Answer 4

any one branch from having too much power

Question 5

What Supreme Court case backed up the separation of powers

Answer 5

Marbury v Madison (1803)

Question 6

What did Marbury vs Madison establish a precedent for

Answer 6

Judicial review

Question 7

What is judicial review

Answer 7

The supreme court has the power to strike down a legislative or executive act that it deems unconstitutional

Question 8

What is Federalism

Answer 8

The principle that power should be divided between the national government and the states

Question 9

Federalism has become a hot topic in recent years with issues like…

Answer 9

Marijuana legalization and immigration

Question 10

Which Supreme court case backed up the principle of Federalism

Answer 10

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Question 11

What did United States v. Lopez reinforce

Answer 11

The idea that there are limits to the federal government’s power. It ruled that the Gun-free School Zones Act was unconstitutional

Question 12

Why was the Gun-Free school zones act unconstitutional

Answer 12

Because it exceeded Congress’s authority under the Commerce Clause

Question 13

Individual rights are the fundamental liberties and freedoms that are guarenteed….

Answer 13

To all Americans

Question 14

What document enumerates individual rights?

Answer 14

The bill of rights

Question 15

What are some liberties enumerated in the bill of rights

Answer 15

Freedom of speech, religion, and the press, as well as the right to bear arms and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question 16

What Supreme Court case backed individual liberties

Answer 16

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Question 17

What did Brown v. Board of Education accomplish

Answer 17

It struck down segregation in public schools

Question 18

Communitarians believe that people are…

Answer 18

inherently social and that communities play a crucial role in shaping people’s identities.

Question 19

Communitarians emphasize _________ responsibility and _________ duty

Answer 19

collective responsibility and civic duty

Question 20

Communitarians believe that society should prioritize the common good over

Answer 20

individual rights

Question 21

Communitarians might support

Answer 21

universal healthcare or policies that support local businesses and workers

Question 22

Conservatives prioritize

Answer 22

tradition, order, and stability

Question 23

Conservatives believe in limited ________ and individual ____________

Answer 23

government, liberty

Question 24

Conservatives are wary of _______ social change

Answer 24

Rapid

Question 25

Conservatives might support

Answer 25

policies that promote personal responsibility and self-reliance, such as tax cuts and deregulation

Question 26

Liberals emphasize ___________ rights and __________

Answer 26

Individual rights and freedom

Question 27

Liberals think that the government should play an active role in

Answer 27

Promoting equality and social justice

Question 28

Liberals are more accepting of _________ change

Answer 28

Social

Question 29

Because liberals are more accepting of social change, they may support progressive policies like

Answer 29

Marriage equality and social justice

Question 30

Libertarians believe in __________ government intervention in __________ and ____________ economic spheres

Answer 30

Limited government intervention in social and economic spheres

Question 31

Libertarians prioritize individual ____________ and personal __________

Answer 31

individual liberty and personal responsibility

Question 32

Libertarians are skeptical of government ________________

Answer 32

Government regulation

Question 33

With respect to foreign policy, libertarians tend to be _______________ and may oppose interventionist policies like ____________________ and __________________

Answer 33

isolationist in foreign policy and may oppose interventionist policies like military intervention and international trade agreements

Question 34

Libertarians may support policies like

Answer 34

Lower taxes and a free-market healthcare system

Question 35

What is the first tension of human government

Answer 35

The balance between individual liberty and collective responsibility

Question 36

What is the second tension of human government

Answer 36

the balance between centralization and decentralization of power

Question 37

What is the third tension of human government

Answer 37

the balance between stability and flexibility

Question 38

How did founders address the balance between individual liberty and collective responsibility

Answer 38

the declaration of independence

Question 39

What was one of the few unifying philosophical positions that the founders shared

Answer 39

the social compact theory

Question 40

What is the social compact theory

Answer 40

the idea that government must be based on an agreement between those who govern and those who consent to be governed

Question 41

What document manifested the tension between centralization and decentralization of power

Answer 41

the Articles of Confederation, which established a weak central government with limited authority

Question 42

How did the founders fix the problems created by the articles of confederation

Answer 42

by creating a stronger, more centralized government in the Constitution.

Question 43

How did the Constitution address the tension between centralization and decentralization of power

Answer 43

The Constitution established a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful and also allowed for the decentralization of power through the principle of federalism.

Question 44

Why did the founders recognize that there is a balance between stability and flexibility

Answer 44

they recognized that a government must be stable enough to provide order and security but also flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances

Question 45

How did the Founders address the balance between stability and flexibility

Answer 45

Through the amendment process