Principles of American Government

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

(U.S.) Constitution

Question 3

Nameonething the U.S. Constitution does.

What does the Constitution do?

Answer 3

Forms the government
Defines powers of government
Defines the parts of government
Protects the rights of the people

sets up the government
defines the government
protects basic rights of Americans

Question 4

The U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Constitution have?

Answer 7

Twenty-seven (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 identifies 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

Nametwoimportant ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. 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 U.S. Constitution. Nameone.

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 freedom of religion?

Answer 22

You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

Question 23

What is the economic system in the United States?

Answer 23

capitalist economy

market economy