Forms of Government
In this type of democracy, citizens vote directly on every proposed law, just like in ancient Athens.
What is a direct democracy?
This 1215 English document established the principle that no one, not even a king, is above the law.
What is the Magna Carta?
The colonial rally cry protesting taxes passed by a British Parliament with no colonial members.
What is "No taxation without representation"?
The level of government responsible for day-to-day community services like fire, police, and trash pickup.
What is local (or municipal/county) government?
Francis Scott Key wrote this national anthem during the War of 1812.
What is "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
A government ruled by a single leader who holds absolute control, often without a meaningful citizen vote.
What is a dictatorship?
Ancient Rome contributed to modern civic systems by introducing this form of government with elected representatives.
What is a republic (or representative democracy)?
Primary author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776
Who was Thomas Jefferson?
The power to print national currency belongs strictly to this level of government.
What is the federal (or national) government?
The official legal process through which foreign-born individuals become U.S. citizens.
What is naturalization?
In a constitutional monarchy, this leader typically runs the government alongside an elected parliament.
Who is the Prime Minister?
This Native American alliance demonstrated self-rule and unified governance, influencing the U.S. Founders.
What is the Haudenosaunee Confederacy?
According to the Declaration, these three basic natural rights belong to all people
What are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
This constitutional principle divides power between national and state governments.
What is federalism?
The national bird and a key symbol of American identity.
What is the bald eagle?
An alliance of independent states joined together by a formal agreement while retaining their own self-rule.
What is a confederation?
Early New England settlers used this form of direct democracy to make local community decisions.
What are town meetings?
The idea that governments get their power from the "consent of the governed" is known as this type of "contract."
What is the social contract?
Driver's licenses and traffic laws fall under the jurisdiction of this level of government.
What is state government?
The two primary ways a person becomes a U.S. citizen at birth.
What are being born on U.S. soil OR born to U.S. citizen parents?
This term refers to government policies and decisions that deal with relations and agreements with foreign nations.
What is foreign policy?
Established in Virginia, this was the earliest elected assembly of representatives in the American colonies.
What is the House of Burgesses?
Colonial protest event where colonists dumped British cargo into the harbor to oppose tax laws.
What is the Boston Tea Party?
Powers shared by both the federal and state governments, such as collecting taxes and building roads.
What are concurrent powers?
Name two of the core values that unite Americans despite individual differences.
What are freedom, liberty, equality, or democracy? (Any two)