Foundations and Origins of American Government
Which document, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, officially broke ties with Great Britain?
The Declaration of Independence (1776)
What is Federalism?
Power shared between national and state governments.
Who is the leader of this branch?
The President
What is the Legislative Branch?
It is the part of government responsible for making, amending, and passing laws, as well as overseeing the executive branch
What economic systems are influenced the most by the US Government?
Mixed, Command, Federal Reserve - in the Federal Reserve (the "Fed"), the government influences the entire banking system.
What are the 5 different types of government?
Democracy, Monarchy, Oligarchy, Authoritarian (Dictatorship), Theocracy
Why would the Constitution divide power this way between federal and state?
To ensure no single entity could grab too much control. For practicality and efficiency.
What are the 3 parts of the Executive Branch?
Office of the President, Cabinet and Independent Agencies
What was the name of the representation based on each state's population, and how many members does it have?
House of Representatives, 435 voting members
How does a bill become a law?
A bill becomes law by passing both chambers of Congress (House of Representatives and Senate) with a simple majority, followed by presidential approval. It begins with a sponsor, goes through committee reviews, floor debate, amendments, voting, and a conference committee to align versions, ultimately requiring the President's signature or a veto override.
The U.S. government’s system of "Checks and Balances" and "Separation of Powers" was heavily influenced by the writings of which French Enlightenment philosopher?
Montesquieu. In his work The Spirit of the Laws, he argued that to prevent tyranny, the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of government must be kept separate and independent.
According to the Constitution, what are delegated, reserved and concurrent powers?
Delegated (national government), Reserved (states), Concurrent (shared)
What is the purpose of an executive order?
To direct government agencies to pursue a certain course of action
Who is considered the President of the Senate?
The Vice-President
What was the name of the representation based on each state's population, with 435 voting members?
House of Representatives
What were the 4 enlightenment theories that influenced the creation of the US Government?
Evolutionary Theory, Force Theory, Divine Right Theory, Social Contract Theory
Collecting taxes and establishing courts is an example of what kind of power?
Concurrent power (shared)
How many cabinet departments are there?
15
To be eligible for this, a candidate must be at least 30 years old and have been a U.S. citizen for 9 years. What is it for?
Be part of the Senate
During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, how did the "Connecticut Compromise" (also known as the Great Compromise) resolve the conflict between large states and small states regarding legislative representation?
It created a bicameral (two-house) legislature. Representation in the House of Representatives would be based on a state's population (favoring large states), while representation in the Senate would be equal—two per state (favoring small states).
What was the magna carta and why was it important to the creation of the US Government?
The Magna Carta (1215) is often called a “seed” of American government because it introduced ideas that later shaped the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Here’s why it mattered:
Rule of Law: Established the principle that even kings must obey the law. This influenced the American idea that government leaders are not above the law.
Due Process: Introduced protections against unlawful imprisonment—later echoed in the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of due process and habeas corpus.
Trial by Jury: Early recognition of the right to a fair trial, which became central in American courts.
Limits on Power: Restricted the king’s ability to tax without consent, inspiring the American demand for “no taxation without representation.”
Rights of Englishmen: Colonists saw themselves as inheritors of these rights, which fueled resistance to British rule and shaped the Declaration of Independence.
The Magna Carta wasn’t a democratic document in 1215—it mainly protected nobles—but over centuries it became a symbol of liberty and constitutional government.
Declaring war and making treaties is an example of what kind of power?
Delegated power (national government)
What is the electoral college and how many votes are needed to win?
The Electoral College is a system used in the United States to elect the President and Vice President. Instead of voting directly for a candidate, voters choose electors—representatives who pledge to vote for a specific candidate. Each state is assigned a certain number of electors based on its population (equal to its number of Senators and Representatives in Congress). There are 538 electors in total, and a candidate needs at least 270 votes to win.
What is the Senate tactic that involves a member speaking for an extended period to delay or block a vote; it can only be ended by a "cloture" vote of 60 members called?
Filibuster
Name the 5 main principles outlined in the US Constitution
Popular Sovereignty, Federalism, Rule of law, Limited Government, Checks and Balances