Nine Weeks Exit Test 1

Question 1

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Answer 1

a landmark civil rights and US labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Question 2

14th (XIV) Amendment

Answer 2

Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States (prior to the XIV Amendment, enslaved persons were not granted citizens’ rights outlined in the Constitution).

Question 3

8th (VIII) Amendment

Answer 3

Prevents courts from setting excessive bail

Question 4

Jim Crow Laws

Answer 4

Laws of segregation upheld in the post-Reconstruction South (1877-1960s).

Question 5

NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) and National Urban League

Answer 5

Organizations founded in response to segregationist Jim Crow laws.

Question 6

Voting Rights in the U.S.

Answer 6

In the present day U.S., voting rights are restricted to citizens 18 years of age and older (prohibited if convicted of felony offense)

Formerly this right has been based on characteristics such as land ownership, race, and gender.

Question 7

Ida B. Wells

Answer 7

Civil rights advocate and one of the founders of the NAACP who spoke out against racial injustice

Question 8

1st (I) Amendment

Answer 8

Protects freedom of religion, speech, the press, and assembly (organized protests) and establishes principle of separation of church and state,

Question 9

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 9

America’s third president, a Virginian, the principal (main) author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of Democratic-Republican Party which opposed the Federalists

Question 10

James Madison

Answer 10

America’s fourth president, a Virginian, considered the “Father of the Constitution”, co-authored the Federalists papers, argued for separation of powers and the Bill of Rights

Question 11

John Locke

Answer 11

Enlightenment Era Philosopher who first asserted (stated) in the early 1600s that “all men are created equal and endowed by their creator certain inalienable rights. Among these, life, liberty, and the pursuit of property. He also believed that government should operate according to the consent (permission) of the people it governs.

Question 12

Benjamin Franklin

Answer 12

Founding Father who never served as President but had a number of other jobs, included as a diplomat, scientist, inventor, and politician.

Question 13

Separation of Powers

Answer 13

A system of distinct powers built into the Constitution to prevent an accumulation of power in one branch.

Question 14

Articles of Confederation

Answer 14

America’s first national government, in effect from 1781 until 1789. There was only one branch, a unicameral (single-house) legislative (law-making) body. The Articles formed a loose federation (alliance) of states. The national government could not collect taxes or raise an army.

Question 15

Checks and Balances

Answer 15

The system of authorities that branches have over other branches. Meant to keep one branch from becoming too powerful.

Question 16

Presidential Authorities (Executive Branch)

Answer 16

Vetoes or signs bills into law, enforces laws, appoints heads of federal agencies, nominates vacant judgeships.

Serves four year terms. May be elected to 2 terms (but serve part of a 3rd if a sitting president is impeached or dies in office)

Question 17

Judicial Branch Authorities

Answer 17

Reviews laws and decides if the abide by they Constitution or not. Consists of district and appellate (appeal) courts, and the Supreme Court - the highest court in the U.S.

Question 18

Rule of Law

Answer 18

The idea that everyone must abide by the law and that no one is above the law, including political leaders.

Question 19

Legislative Branch

Answer 19

Bicameral (two-house) branch of the U.S. government that is responsible for making laws/writing bills.

Consists of the Senate (50 members; 2 from each state), and the House of Representatives (435 members; number in each state according to population).

Senators are elected to 6-year terms

Representatives are elected to 2-year terms

Question 20

Speaker of the House

Answer 20

Leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives and second in line (after the Vice President) of Presidential Succession (who takes office if the person in office can no longer serve),

Question 21

10th (X) Amendment

Answer 21

The powers not DELEGATED to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are RESERVED to the States respectively, or to the people.

Delegated: powers claimed by the branches of the national government in the Constitution

Reserved Powers: powers reserved by the states (all of those NOT mentioned as delegated powers)

Concurrent Powers: powers shared by state governments and the national government

Question 22

Municipality

Answer 22

An incorporated city or town that has a local government and services

Question 23

Reconstructions Amendments

Answer 23

13th (XIII) Amendment: Abolishes slavery

14th (XIV) Amendment: grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves who had been denied rights.

15th (XV) Amendment: prevents (in theory) discrimination in voting based on race, though discrimination would continue, especially across the South, in the form of poll taxes and difficult tests.

Question 24

Federalism

Answer 24

The division of government between state and national levels, such as outlined in the U.S. Constitution

Question 25

Bill of Rights

Answer 25

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, ratified shortly after its approval in 1791.

Added to preserve civil liberties while also creating a government powerful enough to be effective.

Bill of Rights was added as a compromise to gain support for the Constitution from the anti-Federalists

Question 26

Nullification Crisis

Answer 26

Event in the 1830s where the South Carolina state government attempted to NULLIFY (declare invalid) federal laws.

President Andrew Jackson asserted that the federal government held supreme power of the states in this regard, and that the states COULD NOT declare a law invalid or unconstitutional (only the Supreme Court could)

Question 27

George Washington

Answer 27

A Virginia planter, considered the “Father of the Nation”, the first President under the U.S. Constitution. Served 2, 4-year terms from 1789.

Warned against the development of political parties.

Question 28

Brown v Board of Education

Answer 28

Landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision overturning Jim Crow segregation laws upheld by the 1896 Plessy v Ferguson Supreme court decision which established the discriminatory “separate but equal” interpretation of the 14th Amendment (equal protection under the law)