Enlightenment & Foundations
The name of the philosopher who identified natural rights: life, liberty, property.
Who is John Locke?
Government led by a king or queen.
What is a monarchy?
Meeting in 1787 that created the Constitution.
What is the Constitutional Convention?
Senate confirmation of presidential appointments is an example of this.
What is checks and balances?
Article I establishes this branch.
What is the Legislative Branch?
In which system are executive and legislative branches often controlled by the same party?
What is a parliamentary system?
This document states government derives power from the consent of the governed.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
Government controlled by military leaders.
What is a junta?
Compromise that created a bicameral legislature.
What is the Great Compromise?
Which principle is demonstrated in Articles I, II, and III?
What is separation of powers?
Which branch interprets laws?
What is the Judicial Branch?
Why did Anti-Federalists demand a Bill of Rights?
To protect individual liberties from the government.
This pamphlet persuaded colonists to support independence.
What is Common Sense?
Government where citizens elect representatives.
What is a republic?
The Three-Fifths Compromise dealt with this issue.
What is slavery?
Power shared between national and state governments.
What is federalism?
This branch is given taxing and borrowing powers in Article I.
What is Congress?
The phrase “consent of the governed” is most closely associated with which theory?
What is Social Contract Theory?
This 1215 document limited the power of the English king.
What is the Magna Carta?
Government where one ruler holds total power.
What is an autocracy?
Under the Articles of Confederation, passing a law required how many states?
What is 9 of 13 states?
Principle where branches limit one another.
What is checks and balances?
Why did the framers divide the government into three branches?
To prevent one person or group from having too much power.
Which conflict did the Great Compromise attempt to resolve?
Representation between large and small states.
Explain how Locke’s ideas influenced the Declaration of Independence.
Natural rights → life, liberty, pursuit of happiness; consent of the governed; right to replace government.
Explain the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy.
Direct = vote on laws; Representative = elect officials.
Compromise counting enslaved persons as 3/5 for representation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
The principle that no one — not even government officials — is above the law.
What is rule of law?
“The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court…”
Which Article is this?
What is Article III?
In which system is the executive chosen by the legislature?
What is a parliamentary system?
According to John Locke, if government fails to protect rights, citizens may do this.
What is overthrow/replace the government?
In a parliamentary system, who chooses the executive?
What is the legislature?
Group that supported a strong national government.
Who are the Federalists?
The Supreme Court declares a federal law unconstitutional. Which principle is being exercised?
What is judicial review?
The Commerce Clause allows Congress to regulate what type of trade?
What is interstate commerce?
Congress passes a law, the President signs it, and the Supreme Court later reviews it. What constitutional principle(s) allows this interaction?
What is separation of powers (and checks and balances)?
The idea that government gets its power from the consent of the governed.
What is Social Contract Theory?
System where governing power is centralized.
What is a unitary system?
Why was the Bill of Rights added?
To satisfy Anti-Federalists and secure ratification.
The idea that government must obey the Constitution.
What is limited government?
“The executive power shall be vested in a President…”
Which Article is this?
What is Article II?
Loose association of independent states.
What is a confederal system?