U.S. Government

Question 1

A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch

Answer 1

Republic

Question 2

A document, ratified in 1788, outlining the overarching laws and division of powers among governmental organizations

Answer 2

The United States Constitution

Question 3

refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another. The intent is to prevent the concentration of power and provide for checks and balances.

Answer 3

Separation of Power

Question 4

refers to a system that ensures that one branch does not exceed its bounds

Answer 4

checks and balances

Question 5

refers to a type of government where powers are divided between two levels of government; like in the U.S. where power is divided between federal and state.

Answer 5

federalism

Question 6

political powers held for state governments rather than the federal government (examples: issuing licenses, creating local governments, regulating industry)

Answer 6

states’ rights

Question 7

refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another. The intent is to prevent the concentration of power and provide for checks and balances.

Answer 7

Separation of Powers

Question 8

The Legislative Branch includes these two branches of Congress

Answer 8

the House of Representatives and the Senate

Question 9

Lower part of Congress responsible for making and passing federal laws. The number of those able to vote is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states.

With four times the membership of the Senate, the House follows procedures closely and limits
debate.

Answer 9

The House of Representatives

Question 10

Upper part of Congress that includes 100 members.
Takes action on bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, nominations, and treaties by voting. Has the sole power to confirm those of the President’s appointments that require consent, and to provide advice and consent to ratify treaties.

With a smaller number of members, they can take their time to carefully consider and debate issues.

Answer 10

Senate

Question 11

The head of state of the United States, the chief executive of the federal government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Answer 11

President of the United States (POTUS)

Question 12

The highest federal court in the country and the head of the judicial branch of government. Made up of nine justices and has the power to check the actions of the other two branches of government.

The justices are nominated by the president and confirmed/denied by the Senate.

Answer 12

Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)

Question 13

The Supreme Court’s ability to declare a legislative or executive act to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The best-known Supreme Court power.

Answer 13

Judicial Review

Question 14

What are the five steps of the U.S. Presidential Electoral Process?

Answer 14

1) Primary and Caucus
2) National Conventions
3) Election Campaigning
4) General Election
5) Electoral College

Question 15

Electors, appointed by the states, that formally elect the president and vice president of the United States. Total of 538 electors.

Answer 15

Electoral College

Question 16

State government is modeled after what?

Answer 16

the federal government’s three branches

Question 17

The public administration of towns, cities, counties, and districts. This type of government includes both county and municipal government structures. (i.e., libraries, parks & rec, public works)

Answer 17

Local Government

Question 18

A group of voters in a specified area who elect representatives to legislative bodies.

Answer 18

Constituency

Question 19

Drawing political boundaries to gain advantage over opponents

Answer 19

Gerrymandering

Question 20

Also known as “pure democracy.” In this system, the people decide on policies directly. Example: ancient Athens.

Answer 20

Direct Democracy

Question 21

In this system, people elect representatives to decide on policies on their behalf.

Answer 21

Representative Democracy

Question 22

A government with a chief of state who is usually a president, not a monarch. Power ultimately resides with the citizens, who elect representatives to govern on their behalf and according to rule of law.

Answer 22

Republic

Question 23

Undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person. They come to power by marriage or offspring. Example: Saudi Arabia.

Answer 23

Absolute Monarchy

Question 24

This type of monarchy is known as the “limited monarchy” because the monarch’s power is limited, and the power to alter legislation resides with the Parliament. Example: Britain.

Answer 24

Constitutional Monarchy

Question 25

Single political party, based on the ideology of Marxism-Leninism. These systems call themselves "socialist states" because they aimed to establish a socialist society.

Answer 25

Communist State

Question 26

An authoritarian form of government that has a single leader or group of leaders. It is the opposite of a democracy.

Answer 26

Dictatorship

Question 27

A situation where there is no government. (Can happen after a civil war in a country).

Answer 27

Anarchy

Question 28

A form of government where the rulers claim to be ruling based on religious beliefs and ideals.

Answer 28

Theocracy

Question 29

A form of government that consists of rule by an elite group who rules in its own interests.

Answer 29

Oligarchy/Plutocracy

Question 30

When dictators use propaganda to present themselves as saviors and heroes to be admired and loved by the people of their country

Answer 30

Cult of Personality

Question 31

What does the Declaration of Independence (1776) outline?

Answer 31

That government is no more powerful than man. If government is tyrannical, people have the right to rebel and start over.

Question 32

What do the Federalist Papers outline?

Answer 32

Made the case for checks and balances and separation of powers.

Question 33

What do the Articles of Confederation outline?

Answer 33

Functioned as the first constitution of the United States. Officially established the government that united the 13 colonies as one union.

Question 34

What does the Constitution outline?

Answer 34

Articles I-III outlined: I. Legislative Branch II. Executive Branch III. Judicial Branch (in that order!)

Question 35

What does the Bill of Rights outline?

Answer 35

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Provides unalienable rights of citizens.

Question 36

First Amendment

Answer 36

Freedom of Religion/assembly, Speech, and the Press

Question 37

Second Amendment

Answer 37

The Right to Bear Arms (to own a firearm)

Question 38

Third Amendment

Answer 38

The Housing of Soldiers (prevents government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers to use their homes)

Question 39

Fourth Amendment

Answer 39

Protection from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures (states that the govt. cannot search or seize a person or their property without just cause)

Question 40

Fifth Amendment

Answer 40

Protection of Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property provides several protections for people accused of crimes. (States that serious criminal charges must be started by a grand jury; a person cannot be tried twice for the same offense (double jeopardy) or have property taken away without just compensation.) People have the right against self-incrimination and cannot be imprisoned without due process of law. (I plead the fifth!)

Question 41

Sixth Amendment

Answer 41

Rights of Accused Persons in Criminal Cases (additional protections to people accused of crimes, such as the right to a speedy and public trial, trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases, and to be informed of criminal charges.

Question 42

Seventh Amendment

Answer 42

Rights in Civil Cases (extends the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases)

Question 43

Eighth Amendment

Answer 43

Excessive Bail, Fines, and Punishments (bars excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment)

Question 44

Ninth Amendment

Answer 44

Other Rights kept by the people (states that listing specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have other rights that have not been spelled out)

Question 45

Tenth Amendment

Answer 45

States' Rights (says that the Federal Government only has those powers delegated in the Constitution. If it is not listed, it belongs to the states or to the people)

Question 46

Thirteenth Amendment (ratified 1865)

Answer 46

constitutional amendment to abolish slavery

Question 47

Fourteenth Amendment

Answer 47

reversed the Supreme Court’s decision in 1857’s Dred Scott v. Sandford by stating that anyone born in the United States is a citizen. repealed the three-fifths clause of the original Constitution, which held that each enslaved person counted for three-fifths of a person.

Question 48

Fifteenth Amendment

Answer 48

this Amendment outlaws discrimination in voting rights on the basis of race, color or previous condition of servitude

Question 49

Nineteenth Amendment

Answer 49

forbidding the United States or any state from denying or abridging the right to vote to any citizen “on account of sex"

Question 50

An isolation policy that stated in order for America to develop, Europe and the US must stay out of each other's affairs. This policy of isolationism would last until WWI.

Answer 50

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

Question 51

Reoriented US foreign policy by establishing that the US would provide political, military, and economic assistance to all democratic nations.

Answer 51

Truman Doctrine (1947)

Question 52

Officially called the European Recovery Program, this was an American initiative to help Western Europe to rebuild the European economic system after WWII.

Answer 52

Marshall Plan (1949)

Question 53

A military alliance, also called the Washington Treaty. Sought to create a counterweight to Soviet armies atationed in Central and Eastern Europe. In response to this alliance, the Soviet Union created the Warsaw Pact.

Answer 53

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), (1949)

Question 54

Foreign policy to counter the expansionist policy of the Soviet Union

Answer 54

Containment (1940s and early 1950s)

Question 55

A theory or position in the US foreign policy that if one state goes communist, there is a threat that communism will spread. (authored by President Dwight D. Eisenhower).

Answer 55

Domino Theory (1954)

Question 56

Policy of implementing diplomacy through foreign aid, authored by President John F. Kennedy

Answer 56

Foreign Assistance Act and USAID

Question 57

Which president gave a speech in West Berlin in 1987 with a message to Mikhail Gorbachev to open the Berlin Wall.

Answer 57

President Ronald Raegan

Question 58

Which President's inauguration speech in 1961 addressed the importance of civic action and public service: "ask not what your country can do for you"

Answer 58

President John F. Kennedy

Question 59

Which President's inauguration speech in 1933 addressed the economic crisis and described the plan to declare war on the Great Depression. He says "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Answer 59

President Franklin D. Roosevelt