Unit 1: Foundations of Government
According to the Declaration of Independence, which are examples of natural rights?
a. right to free speech and expression
b. right to due process of law and education
c. right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness
d. right to self-government, representation, and separation of powers
c. right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness
The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution contains the principle of popular sovereignty. Which phrases demonstrates this principle?
a. "We the People"
b. "More perfect Union"
c. "Ensures domestic tranquility"
d. To promote the general welfare"
a. "We the People"
What is the role of juries in the administration of justice?
a. to decide which law to apply to a criminal case
b. to decide which evidence to admit in the appellate court
c. to determine the verdict of a case after hearing the evidence
d. to determine whether a decision should be overturned on appeal
c. to determine the verdict of a case after hearing the evidence
Which of the following is the name of the beginning to the Constitution?
a. the Preamble
b. the Article
c. The Preview
d. The Introduction
a. The Preamble
What document was written to inform the King of England of the colonists grievances against him?
a. The Bill of Rights
b. The Preamble
c. The Constitution
d. The Declaration of Independence
d. The Declaration of Independence
When a country's constitution requires the branches of government to remain independent of each other, it is adhering to the principle of...
a. Federalism
b. Direct Democracy
c. Popular Sovereignty
d. Separation of Powers
d. Separation of Powers
Which of the following identifies the purpose of a constitution?
a. To take away the individual liberties of citizens
b. To promote an executive to having full authority
c. To provide a framework for government
d. To build a national army to defend against foreign threats
c. To provide a framework for government
Which type of law is used to help solve disputes between people or organizations?
a. Civil
b. Military
c. Criminal
d. Constitutional
a. Civil
"The government agrees to protect the citizens rights, and the citizens agree to follow the rules of the government." What is being described?
a. Natural rights
b. Separation of Powers
c. Social Contract
d. John Locke
c. Social Contract
Which idea tells us that the government gets its power from the people?
a. Separation of Powers
b. Individual Rights
c. Popular Sovereignty
d. Checks and Balances
c. Popular Sovereignty
What is a characteristic of a society under the rule of law?
a. Citizens are at liberty to act without any restraint
b. All citizens and officials are subject to the same rules
c. Officials are free to follow their own private judgement
d. The ruler can take whatever steps they feel are necessary
b. All citizens and officials are subject to the same rules
Which statement describes one of the two ways that constitutional amendments can be proposed?
a. they can be proposed by a 2/3's vote of the Senate
b. they can be proposed by a 2/3's vote of the Supreme Court
c. they can be proposed by 2/3's vote of each house of Congress (Senate and House of Reps)
d. they can be proposed by 2/3's vote of the House of Representatives
c. they can be proposed by 2/3's vote of each house of Congress (Senate and House of Reps)
Which power does the U.S. Constitution grant to the legislative branch (Congress) of government?
a. Declaring war
b. Enforcing laws
c. Making treaties
d. Interpreting laws
a. Declaring war
What are our natural rights according to John Locke?
a. life, liberty, pursuit of happiness
b. life, liberty, education
c. life, liberty, property
d. life, liberty, speech
c. life, liberty, property
What is the name of the first government in the United States?
a. Bill of Rights
b. Articles of Confederation
c. Declaration of Independence
d. Constitution
b. Articles of Confederation
Below are a list of British policies imposed on American colonists.
Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Act, Tea Act
Why did the American colonists demonstrate opposition to the British policies listed above?
a. They no longer respected rule of law in colonial America
b. They objected to taxes and policies that were imposed without their consent
c. They understood that the tax revenue would go to King George III
d. They knew they were taxed more heavily than people living in Britain
b. They objected to taxes and policies that were imposed without their consent
Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation that was revealed by Shay's Rebellion?
a. The state governments had too little power compared to the power of the federal government
b. The federal government was unchecked in their taxing power on the individual states and people
c. The federal government was unprepared to control violent protests without a national military force
d. The state governments needed a way to punish the people responsible for the rebellion in a federal court
c. The federal government was unprepared to control violent protests without a national military force
What is one responsibility of the executive branch (President/Cabinet) of government?
a. To manage the national budget
b. To appoint members of the cabinet
c. To confirm nominations made to the Senate
d. To interpret laws created by Congress
b. To appoint members of the cabinet
The Magna Carta influenced the founders to include what two ideas in America's government?
a. Limited Government and Social Contract
b. Limited Government and Right to fair trial
c. Self-Government and Right to fair trial
d. Right to free speech and social contract
b. Limited Government and Right to fair trial
a. individual rights
b. social contract
c. separation of powers
d. rule of law
d. rule of law
The excerpt is from the Magna Carta.
"No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, stripped of rights or possessions, outlawed or exiled, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by law of the land. "
Which founding idea is reflected in this excerpt?
a. Rule of law
b. Due process
c. Self government
d. Separation of powers
b. Due process
Which statement accurately describes the viewpoints held by the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists concerning ratification of the U.S. Constitution?
a. Anti-Federalists supported ratifying the Constitution; Federalists opposed ratifying, claiming the Constitution did not limit the power of the federal government
b. Anti-Federalists supported ratifying the Constitution because they did not want states to have any rights; Federalists opposed ratifying.
c. Federalists supported ratifying the Constitution because they did not want states to have any rights; Anti-Federalists opposed ratifying.
d. Federalists supported ratifying the Constitution; Anti-Federalists opposed ratifying, claiming the Constitution did not limit the power of the federal government
a. Anti-Federalists supported ratifying the Constitution; Federalists opposed ratifying, claiming the Constitution did not limit the power of the federal government
What is a difference between a trial and an appellate court?
a. Trial courts do not include a jury, while appellate courts do
b. Trial courts are where cases are introduced, appellate courts are where cases are appealed
c. Trial courts are where cases are appealed, appellate courts are where cases are introduced
d. Trial courts are only composed of judges, appellate courts are composed of both judges and a jury
b. Trial courts are where cases are introduced, appellate courts are where cases are appealed
What was the purpose of Common Sense by Thomas Paine?
a. to encourage the colonists to remain loyal to England
b. to encourage the colonists to become independent from England
c. to encourage the colonists to leave America and go back to living in England
d. to encourage the colonists to partner with the Native Americans
b. to encourage the colonists to become independent from England
Which of the following processes was created from the court case Marbury v. Madison?
a. Right to Vote
b. Judicial Review
c. Checks and Balances
d. Separation of Powers
b. Judicial Review