Forms of Government + U.S. Government
What form of government gives political power to the people?
Democracy
What is a citizen?
A legal member of a country.
What ancient civilization is associated with direct democracy?
Ancient Greece
What document from 1215 helped establish the idea that rulers are not above the law?
Magna Carta
What was the first national government of the United States?
Articles of Confederation
What document declared the colonies independent from Great Britain?
Declaration of Independence
In what form of democracy do citizens elect representatives to make government decisions?
Representative democracy
What is the process by which a person can become a U.S. citizen after meeting legal requirements?
Naturalization
What ancient civilization influenced the United States through republicanism and written laws?
Ancient Rome
What document established an agreement among settlers to govern themselves?
Mayflower Compact
Under the Articles, where did most political power remain?
With the states
What is one example of a citizen responsibility?
Voting, staying informed, volunteering, community participation, or respecting others' rights.
What is a government ruled by a king or queen called?
Monarchy
What amendment is important because it establishes citizenship for people born or naturalized in the United States and subject to U.S. jurisdiction?
Fourteenth Amendment
What principle means that no one, including government officials, is above the law?
Rule of law
What English document limited the power of the monarchy and protected rights?
English Bill of Rights
What was one major weakness of the Articles?
Congress could not directly tax citizens.
What is one example of a citizen obligation?
Obeying laws, paying taxes, or serving on a jury when summoned.
What form of government gives most political power to one ruler or a very small group?
Dictatorship
Is a permanent resident automatically a U.S. citizen?
No
What are rights people possess simply because they are human?
Natural rights
Who wrote Common Sense?
Thomas Paine
What event demonstrated concerns about the national government's ability to respond to internal problems?
Shays' Rebellion
Which principle says government power should be restricted by law and constitutional rules?
Limited government
What is the difference between an autocracy and an oligarchy?
An autocracy has one person with most power; an oligarchy has a small group with power.
Name one requirement associated with the naturalization process.
Examples: residency requirements, good moral character, English/civics requirements, or Oath of Allegiance.
What principle says government must follow fair legal procedures before depriving someone of life, liberty, or property?
Due process
What did Thomas Paine's Common Sense support?
Representative self-government and independence.
What meeting was called to address problems with the Articles?
Constitutional Convention
Which document listed grievances against King George III?
Declaration of Independence
What form of government is controlled significantly by religious leaders or religious beliefs?
Theocracy
What is the difference between a permanent resident and a citizen?
A permanent resident can legally live and work in the U.S. but is not automatically a citizen.
What does “consent of the governed” mean?
Government gets its legitimate authority from the people.
Which document is most closely connected to self-government and consent of the governed?
Mayflower Compact
What did the Constitution create that the Articles lacked?
A stronger national government with three branches.
What best completes this connection:
Articles → weaknesses → ______ → ______ → Constitution?
Shays' Rebellion → Constitutional Convention
A government attempts to control political, social, economic, and even private life. What type of government is this?
Totalitarianism
A person completes the required naturalization process and takes the Oath of Allegiance. What has that person become?
A U.S. citizen.
John Locke argued that government exists through what agreement between government and the people?
Social contract
Which document is connected to due process and trial by jury?
Magna Carta
What are the three branches created by the Constitution?
Legislative, executive, judicial
A diagram shows legislative, executive, and judicial branches. What major principle should you recognize?
Separation of powers
The United States is described as a constitutional federal republic and a representative democracy. What does federal mean?
Power is divided between the national and state governments.
Name two ways citizens can participate in government or their communities.
Examples: vote, serve on juries, communicate with officials, volunteer, participate in government/community.
Which Enlightenment thinker is most closely associated with separation of powers?
Montesquieu
Which Enlightenment thinker argued that people possess natural rights?
John Locke
Which branch
1. makes laws,
2. carries them out
3. interprets them
Legislative;
executive;
judicial
A branch uses its authority to stop another branch from taking an action. What concept is being tested?
Checks and balances
Citizens vote directly on whether a law should be passed rather than electing representatives to make the decision. What form of democracy is this?
Direct democracy
Why is voting considered an important form of civic participation?
Citizens use elections to choose representatives and influence government.
A government divides authority among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Which idea does this demonstrate?
Separation of powers
Which thinker argued that government power should be divided among different branches?
Montesquieu
How did the Constitution address the Articles' lack of taxing power?
Congress was given the power to collect taxes.
Which answer is correct:
“The Declaration created the three branches”
or
“The Constitution created the three branches”
The Constitution created the three branches.
A country has a king, but a written constitution limits the king's power. What type of monarchy is this?
Constitutional monarchy
A student says, “Anyone who legally lives in the United States is automatically a citizen.” What is wrong with this statement?
Permanent residents may legally live and work in the U.S. but are not automatically citizens.
A branch of government uses its authority to limit another branch. Is this separation of powers or checks and balances?
Checks and balances
Match the thinker to the idea:
Locke → ?;
Montesquieu → ?
Locke → natural rights/social contract; Montesquieu → separation of powers.
A government has three branches, divides authority among them, allows branches to limit one another, and divides power between national and state governments.
Name the three principles being described.
Separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism.
Put these in the correct historical sequence: