Question 1

Sovereign

Accepted Answer

having supreme power

Question 2

government

Accepted Answer

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

Question 3

public policy

Accepted Answer

the course of action the government takes in response to an issue or problem

Question 4

confederation

Accepted Answer

a joining of several groups for a common purpose

Question 5

dictatorship

Accepted Answer

form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority

Question 6

parliamentary government

Accepted Answer

system where legislative and executive functions are combined in a legislature called a parliament

Question 7

unitary government

Accepted Answer

A centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single central agency

Question 8

constitution

Accepted Answer

law determining the fundamental political principles of a government

Question 9

legislative power

Accepted Answer

The power to make a law and to frame public policies.

Question 10

mixed economy

Accepted Answer

market-based economic system with limited government involvement

Question 11

Magna Carta

Accepted Answer

This document, signed by King John of Endland in 1215, is the cornerstone of English justice and law. It declared that the king and government were bound by the same laws as other citizens of England. It contained the antecedents of the ideas of due process and the right to a fair and speedy trial that are included in the protection offered by the U.S. Bill of Rights

Question 12

bicameral

Accepted Answer

composed of two legislative bodies

Question 13

boycott

Accepted Answer

refuse to buy

Question 14

compromise

Accepted Answer

an accommodation in which both sides make concessions

Question 15

Framers

Accepted Answer

group of delegates who drafted the United States Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787

Question 16

Federalists

Accepted Answer

Supporters of the Constitution that were led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. They firmly believed the national government should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt citizens' rights were already well protected by the Constitution.

Question 17

quorum

Accepted Answer

The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action

Question 18

proprietary

Accepted Answer

an unincorporated business owned by a single person who is responsible for its liabilities and entitled to its profits

Question 19

limited government

Accepted Answer

basic principle of American government which states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away

Question 20

delegate

Accepted Answer

a person appointed or elected to represent others

Question 21

block grant

Accepted Answer

a grant of federal money to state and local governments to support social welfare programs

Question 22

act of admission

Accepted Answer

a congressional act admitting a new state to the union

Question 23

catagorical grant

Accepted Answer

This is a grant ($) given to the states by the federal government for a specific purpose or program. The federal government tells the states exactly how to spend the money (no state discretion unlike block grants). Example = Medicaid. This is the most common type of federal grant because it gives Congress the most control over the states.

Question 24

federalism

Accepted Answer

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Question 25

interstate compact

Accepted Answer

An agreement among two or more states. Congress must approve most such agreements.

Question 26

reserved powers

Accepted Answer

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people

Question 27

exclusive powers

Accepted Answer

Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone

Question 28

revenue sharing

Accepted Answer

distribution of part of the federal tax income to states and municipalities

Question 29

extradition

Accepted Answer

A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

Question 30

enabling act

Accepted Answer

a provision in a law that confers on appropriate officials the power to implement or enforce the law

Question 31

informal amendment

Accepted Answer

A change in meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution.

Question 32

electoral college

Accepted Answer

the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president

Question 33

judicial review

Accepted Answer

the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional

Question 34

checks and balances

Accepted Answer

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Question 35

amendment

Accepted Answer

a change in, or addition to, a constitution or law

Question 36

Bill of Rights

Accepted Answer

The first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, containing a list of individual rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.

Question 37

formal amendment

Accepted Answer

change or addition that becomes part of the written language of the Constitution itself through one of four methods set forth in the Constitution

Question 38

rule of law

Accepted Answer

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Question 39

treaty

Accepted Answer

a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries

Question 40

Briefly describe the four theories that attempt to explain the origin of the state.

Accepted Answer

The Force Theory: controlling an area and the people using force

Evolutionary theory: governments evolved from the family, clan, tribes, etc.

Divine Right: the right to rule is given by God

Social contract theory: people give power to the government and have rights

Question 41

What three questions can be used to classify governments?

Accepted Answer

1.Who can participate in the governing process, 2. What is the geographic distribution of governmental power within the state 3. What is the relationship between the legislative and the executive branches of the government.

Question 42

Name and briefly describe the three forms of government that can result depending on how government power is distributed.

Accepted Answer

A centralized power, as in a monarchy, dictatorship, or unitary government. A confederation where individual states remain autonomous and have most of the power. A republic that shares power between the central (federal) and state governments,

Question 43

What are four basic concepts of democracy?

Accepted Answer

Necessity of compromise, Equality of all persons, Majority rule with minority rights, Individual Liberty

Question 44

Identify and describe the three types of government in the English Colonies.

Accepted Answer

Royal Colonies: is were subject to the direct control of the Crown. Proprietary Colonies: a proprietor was a person to whom the king had made a grant of land. Charter Colonies: was largely self-governed

Question 45

What were the Articles of Confederation? Identify at least 3 weaknesses of the government under the Articles of Confederation.

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation was the original binding document of the United States and served as the supreme law of the land until the ratification of the United States Constitution. Congress could not raise taxes, it was dependent on the states for revenues. The national government could not raise an army. Congress could not properly regulate interstate commerce.

Question 46

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? When and Where? What rights are outlined in the document?

Accepted Answer

1776-Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. However, five men from the Constitutional Convention were delegated as a committee to write it. The Declaration of Independence states all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Question 47

What is the role of the Supreme Court in the federal system?

Accepted Answer

It gives them the power to check the actions of the president and congress, if necessary.

Question 48

According to the Constitution... What are the National Government's obligations to the States?

Accepted Answer

According to the Constitution, the national government is obligated to (a) guarantee each state a republican form of government, (b) protect each state from invasion, and (c) when asked by the state legislature - or executive if the legislature is not in session - to protect the state against "domestic violence."

Question 49

How can the Supreme Court check the legislative branch? How can the President check the legislative branch?

Accepted Answer

It can interpret whether if the laws passed by the legislative branch and approved by the executive branch are constitutional or not. If the president does not agree with the legislative branch, he can veto the legislation, but the legislative branch can override the veto by vetoing on it again and passing the bill by a 2/3 majority.

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