Loading...
United States Government
QuizĀ by Sue Hiipakka
Customize this quiz to suit your class
Instantly translate to 100+ languages
Tag the questions with any skills you have. Your dashboard will track each student's mastery of each skill.
Give this quiz to my class
United States Government VocabularyUnited States Government Pre-Test (2)Branches of the United States Government - Separation of powers and checks and balances During the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers met to develop a government that would take over as soon as the British left. By 1777, they had written the Articles of Confederation, which created the first United States government. Under the Articles, the states joined together in an alliance of separate state powers with a very weak central government. For example, the government could not collect taxes or keep a standing military. After ten years, the Founding Fathers realized the Articles created a government that was too weak to work! They decided it was time for a change. The Founding Fathers wanted a stronger government that had more authority with the states. Representatives from each state gathered in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787 to discuss possible changes. They agreed on a federalist government, where a central power would oversee and share authority with the states. To make sure the federal government did not gain too much power, they created three branches to provide for checks and balances. The legislative branch would make the laws, the judicial branch would interpret the laws, and the executive branch would enforce the laws. This solved many problems, but one large issue remained: how would the states be represented in this new federal government? At first, the bigger states wanted the population of a state to determine the amount of representation. But the smaller states called foul! The bigger states would end up deciding the laws for everyone. The smaller states suggested that each state have an equal number of representatives. But that would end up giving smaller states too much power. Finally delegates from Connecticut submitted a solution: Why not have two houses make up the legislative branch? The Senate would have an equal number of representatives from each state. Representation in the House of Representatives would be based on the stateās population. This model is called bicameral representation and helped the delegates find a compromise. Between May and September 1787, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention compromised on many issues in order to unite and build a strong national government. They decided the office of the executive would consist of one person and that the national government would have the power to tax and to create a military. These decisions determined that the new federal government would have more authority than before. Some delegates disagreed with the new system, but many of their concerns would be addressed when the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in 1789. Looking Ahead At the end of the Constitutional Convention, the delegates signed the Constitution. Many saw a bright future ahead for the United States. The document guarantees a government with three branches based on a system of checks and balances. The delegates of the Convention successfully created a government that addressed the needs of small and large states alike, while providing for a federal government that would tie them together. UNDERSTANDING THE RESOLUTION ON THE PRO SIDE: The benefits of the United States federal governmentās use of offensive cyber operations outweigh the harms.āThe United States Constitution and GovernmentPowers granted to the national government by the United States Constitution which are spelled out (written) specifically in the Constitution are called ___________ powers. Denied Concurrent Federal Enumerated This was the first plan of government for the United States. It was meant to be a league of friendship between the states. It was too weak and failed. Magna Carta Mayflower Compact Petition of Right Articles of Confederation What gave Congress the power to regulate both foreign and interstate trade? Commerce Clause Kansas-Nebaska Act Supremacy Clause Santa Clause What is the structure of the national government? a) Unitary b) Federal c) Confederal d) Autocratic What is the relationship between the three branches of government, including separation of powers? a) They have no relationship b) They work independently of each other c) They share powers and work together d) They have overlapping powers 16. What is the relationship between the state governments and national government? a) State governments have more power than the national government b) State governments have no power compared to the national government c) State governments and the national government have equal power d) State governments and the national government have separate powers 17. What powers are denied by the state governments but given to the national government? a) Reserved powers b) Concurrent powers c) Denied powers d) Implied powers 18. What powers are shared by both the state governments and national government? a) Reserved powers b) Enumerated powers c) Concurrent powers d) Implied powers 19. States had no government at all when the United States was born. a) True b) False 20. The central government of the U.S. is known as the federal government. a) True b) FalseFoundations of Government in the United States of American