Foundations of Government
What document explains how the U.S. government works and protects people’s rights?
Hint: It is the main set of rules for the country and is often called the rulebook of government.
Answer: Constitution
What idea says that government power comes from the people?
Hint: This belief explains why citizens matter in a democracy.
Answer: Popular sovereignty
Before the U.S. Constitution, what did each state write to guide its government?
Hint: These were written right after independence.
State constitutions
Which law explained how western land would be divided and sold?
Hint: It focused on surveying land into squares.
Land Ordinance of 1785
Which leader believed a strong federal government was needed for stability and trade?
Hint: He supported a national bank.
Answer: Hamilton
Which branch of government makes the laws?
Hint: This branch includes Congress and is listed first when learning the three branches.
Answer: Legislative Branch
Question:
What type of government depends on citizens being involved to work properly?
Hint: In this system, people have power through participation.
Answer: Democracy
What principle divides government power among different branches with different jobs?
Hint: No branch gets all the power.
Separation of powers
What is a square unit of land used to organize western land called?
Hint: Surveyors used this system to measure land.
Township
Question:
Which leader believed states should have more power to protect freedom?
Hint: He believed farming was the nation’s foundation.
Answer: Jefferson
What system keeps one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Hint: Each branch can limit or check the others.
Answer: Checks and balances
What do we call a person chosen by citizens to speak and act for them in government?
Hint: This person votes and makes decisions on behalf of others.
Answer: Representative
What idea says leaders can only do what the law allows them to do?
Hint: This limits government power.
Limited government
Which law explained how territories could become states?
Hint: It was passed in 1787.
Northwest Ordinance
What political group supported Hamilton’s ideas?
Hint: This group favored a strong federal government.
Answer: Federalists
What word describes people who legally belong to a country and have rights and responsibilities?
Hint: These are the people who can vote and participate in government.
Answer: Citizens
What can happen if many citizens choose not to participate in government?
Hint: Power may shift to a small group instead of the majority.
Government becomes unfair
(Accept: power becomes uneven)
Why did Americans want written rules in their state constitutions?
Hint: They wanted clear limits on leaders’ power.
To limit power
What do we call land that is owned by individuals instead of the government?
Hint: Farmers bought this land from the government.
Private property
What political group supported Jefferson’s ideas?
Hint: This group favored strong state governments.
Answer: Democratic-Republicans
What is it called when citizens take action in government, such as voting or speaking out?
Hint: Democracy does not work without this.
Answer: Participation
What word describes changes made to improve a system that is not working fairly?
Hint: These changes usually happen because people demand them.
Answer: Reform
How did state constitutions help influence the U.S. Constitution?
Hint: They showed which ideas worked and which did not.
They shaped the Constitution
(Accept: influenced the Constitution)
Why were the Land and Northwest Ordinances important for U.S. growth?
Hint: Think about order, settlement, and new states.
Answer: Organized expansion
(Accept: orderly growth)
What formed when citizens organized around shared political beliefs?
Hint: These groups supported leaders and ideas.
Answer: Political parties