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This branch of government holds the power to make laws and frame public policies:
What is the Legislative Branch
This ancient Greek city-state is credited with being the "first democracy," where adult male citizens voted directly on laws.
What is Athens
This 1776 document, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, famously stated that "all men are created equal" and have rights to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
What is the Declaration of Independece
This was the United States' first official government, described as a "firm league of friendship" that allowed states to keep their own sovereignty.
What are the Articles of Confederations
What do we call the opening of the Constitution that begins with the phrase "We the People" and outlines the six goals of the new government?
What is the Preamble
This term refers to a state having supreme and absolute power within its own territory, making it neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority:
What is Sovereignty
This economic system, which often coexists with democracy, is characterized by private ownership, competition, and the laws of supply and demand.
What is the Free Enterprise System
In response to the "Intolerable Acts," this 1774 meeting in Philadelphia saw delegates from 12 colonies gather to plan a boycott of English goods:
What is the First Continental Congress
Because the Articles of Confederation lacked these two branches of government, there was no one to enforce laws or settle legal disputes between states.
What are the Executive and Judicial Branches
In the "built-in" update system of the Constitution, this fraction of both houses of Congress must vote "yes" to officially propose an amendment.
What is two-thirds (⅔)
According to John Locke, people join together to form a limited government specifically to protect these three "natural rights":
What are Life, Liberty, and Property
In this loosely organized medieval system, powerful lords divided their lands among lesser lords in exchange for loyalty and military service.
What is Feudalism
This 1628 document, signed by Charles I, was significant because it challenged the "Divine Right of Kings" by declaring that even the monarch must obey the law of the land.
What is the Petition of Right
This 1786 uprising of Massachusetts farmers over debt and taxes proved that the central government was too weak to maintain order, leading to the Constitutional Convention.
What is Shay’s Rebellion
Found in Article VI, this clause establishes that the Constitution and national laws are the "supreme Law of the Land," outranking state laws.
What is the Supremacy Clause
Under this specific origin theory, people give up some freedom in exchange for protection, order, or benefits from a government:
What is the Social Contract theory
This term refers to independent organizations and voluntary groups acting outside government to represent citizen interests.
What is Civil Society
This 1689 document was signed by William and Mary of Orange to prevent the abuse of power and influenced the American Bill of Rights.
What is the English Bill of Rights
This proposal called for a bicameral legislature where a state's representation would be based entirely on its population:
What is the Virginia Plan
This Article of the Constitution creates the Presidency and names the President as the "Commander in Chief" of the armed forces.
Article II
In this type of democratic system, the executive is chosen directly from the legislature and only stays in power as long as it has that legislature's support:
What is Parlimentary System
This 18th-century intellectual movement, featuring thinkers like Locke and Montesquieu, used reason to examine the nature of government and influenced the American Revolution.
What is the Enlightenment
This term, found in all the first State constitutions, asserts that government can exist only with the consent of the governed, meaning the people hold the ultimate power.
What is Popular Soverignty
This "Great" agreement settled the dispute between large and small states by creating a bicameral Congress with one house based on population and the other based on equal representation.
What is the Connecticut Compromise (or the Great Compromise)
Found primarily in Article I, Section 8, these are the specific powers granted to Congress that are "spelled out" directly in the Constitution, such as the power to coin money, collect taxes, and declare war.
What are Expressed Powers (or Enumerated Powers)