Types of Government
Which system of government divides power between national and state governments?
Federal system
Which Enlightenment thinker argued that separation of powers was essential to liberty?
Montesquieu
This Latin term, meaning “law of the soil,” is another name for birthright citizenship in the United States.
What is jus soli?
Which amendment abolished slavery?
13th Amendment
Which case established “separate but equal”?
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Which system of government gives most authority to the states, as seen under the Articles of Confederation?
Confederation
Explain how both the Mayflower Compact and the English Bill of Rights influenced the U.S. Constitution.
The Mayflower Compact established self‑government and rule by consent, while the English Bill of Rights limited monarchy and protected rights like free speech and banning cruel punishments, both shaping principles later included in the Constitution.
What principle grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil?
Jus soli (birthright citizenship)
Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?
26th Amendment
Which case overturned “separate but equal”?
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Which system of government concentrates all power in the central authority? Answer: Unitary system
Unitary system
Which Enlightenment philosopher argued in Leviathan that humans are naturally selfish and violent, requiring a strong central authority to maintain order, and how did this idea contrast with the principles later adopted in the U.S. Constitution?
Thomas Hobbes; he believed in absolute authority to prevent chaos, while the U.S. Constitution limited government power through checks and balances and protection of individual rights.
Name two responsibilities of U.S. citizens.
Paying taxes, serving on juries, defending the Constitution, voting
Which amendment guarantees equal protection under the law?
14th Amendment
Which case affirmed student free speech rights in schools?
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
Why did the United States abandon the Articles of Confederation’s confederation model in favor of a federal system in 1787?
Because the confederation gave too much power to the states, leaving the national government weak and unable to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws effectively.
How did the Magna Carta (1215) influence the development of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights?
The Magna Carta established the principle that the king’s power was not absolute, guaranteeing rights such as trial by jury and due process. These ideas carried forward into the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, shaping protections against arbitrary government power.
Daily Double
Question: This muckraking novel by Upton Sinclair exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, leading to public outrage and the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act in 1906.
What is The Jungle?
How did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 expand protections beyond those guaranteed in the 15th Amendment?
It banned discriminatory practices like literacy tests and gave federal oversight to ensure minority voting rights were enforced, especially in the South.
Explain how Brown v. Board of Education and Tinker v. Des Moines both expanded civil liberties in schools.
Brown ended segregation, affirming equal educational opportunity; Tinker protected student free speech, affirming constitutional rights apply within schools.
Which system of government concentrates all power in the central authority?
Unitary system
Which Enlightenment thinker argued that governments exist to protect natural rights, and that citizens may resist unjust authority, and how did this idea influence the U.S. Constitution?
John Locke; his philosophy shaped the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution by emphasizing limited government and the protection of life, liberty, and property (later “pursuit of happiness”).
How many years must a person reside in the U.S. before applying for naturalization?
Five years
Which amendment banned poll taxes in federal elections?
24th Amendment
Which case ruled school prayer unconstitutional?
Engel v. Vitale (1962)