The Three Branches
The Enlightenment & Philosophers
Federalism
Limiting Government
Civic Numbers
100

Article II of the Constitution establishes this branch, which contains executive departments.

What is the Executive Branch?

100

This philosopher argued that all individuals possess natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

Who is John Locke?

100

Powers not directly written in the Constitution, but carried out by the federal government under the Necessary and Proper Clause to help execute its national duties.

What are Implied Powers?

100

The legal principle that no person, including elected leaders, is above the law.

What is the Rule of Law?

100

There are this many members of Congress.

What is 535 Members?

200

The constitutional action taken by the President to reject a bill passed by Congress.

What is a Veto?

200

Philosophers defined this hypothetical condition as a society where no government, rules, or laws exist.

What is the State of Nature?

200

Also known as the Elastic Clause, this gives Congress authority to pass laws required to carry out its listed duties.

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

200

A key requirement of limited government that protects smaller or non-majority groups from tyrannical rule.

What are Rights of the Minority?

200

A person must be of this age to run for the House of Representatives.

What is 25 years old?

300

The structure in the U.S. where state courts and federal courts operate alongside each other.

What is a Dual Court System?

300

The principle that protects the rights of small or unpopular groups, regardless of majority opinion.

What are the Rights of the Minority?

300

Powers shared simultaneously by both national and state governments, such as taxation.

What are Concurrent Powers?

300

The constitutional arrangement that separates government responsibilities into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

What is Separation of Powers?

300

Court of Appeals cases are normally heard and decided by panels of this many judges.

What are three?

400

The power of courts to review laws or executive actions and declare them unconstitutional.

What is Judicial Review?

400

The political idea that government derives its legitimacy only from the approval and agreement of its citizens.

What is Consent of the Governed (or Social Contract)?

400

Powers that are kept exclusively by state governments under the federal system.

What are Reserved Powers?

400

Provisions that empower each government branch to limit or block the actions of the other branches.

What is Separation of Powers?

400

A Simple Majority is this percentage of Congress; while a Super Majority is this fraction/percentage of Congress.

What is 51% and 2/3 or 66.67?

500

Powers explicitly written out in the Constitution for Congress are called this, unlike implied powers.

What are Expressed Powers?

500

This Enlightenment thinker proposed dividing government power into separate branches.

Who is Montesquieu?

500

A city or town government that manages local services and collects municipal revenue.

What is a Municipality?

500

This Peruvian leader dissolved parliament and seized absolute executive authority, serving as a historical example of unconstrained government power.

 Who is (Alberto) Fujimori?

500

Name as many executive cabinet departments as possible, with a brief description.

Or 

Name all 8 types of governments with an example for each.

  • Department of Agriculture (USDA): Oversees farming, forestry, and food safety 
  • Department of Commerce: Promotes economic growth and job creation 
  • Department of Defense: Manages the nation's military and armed forces 
  • Department of Education: Handles national education policy and student aid 
  • Department of Energy: Manages national energy policies, nuclear infrastructure, and science 
  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Oversees public health, medicine, and social services 
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Protects U.S. borders, security, and disaster response 
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Deals with national housing needs and community development 
  • Department of the Interior (DOI): Manages federal lands, natural resources, and wildlife 
  • Department of Justice (DOJ): Enforces federal laws and operates the legal system 
  • Department of Labor: Protects worker rights, wages, and safe working conditions.
  • Department of State: Handles foreign policy, diplomacy, and international relations 
  • Department of Transportation (DOT): Oversees aviation, highways, railways, and transit 
  • Department of the Treasury: Manages federal finances, currency, and taxes 
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Provides healthcare and benefits to military veterans.

Or

  • Democracy (Ancient Greece)
  • Representative Democracy / Republic (United States, South Korea, etc.)
  • Constitutional Monarchy (United Kingdom)
  • Absolute Monarchy (Saudi Arabia)
  • Dictatorship (North Korea)
  • Oligarchy (Russie/Greece)
  • Theocracy (Vatican City, Iran, etc.)
  • Anarchy (South Sudan, pre- and post-government formation, etc.)