NES Elementary Education
Subtest 1: Social Studies
2026 | Study Guide,
Practice Questions,
Answers, Rationales &
Exam Review | Complete
Ethics Study Guide
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,legislative branch made up of the two houses of Congress—the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The most important duty of the legislative branch is to make laws.
executive branch vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and
Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
judicial branch the power to interpret laws and settle disputes
authoritarian governments a form of government characterized by strong central power and limited political
freedoms. Individual freedoms are subordinate to the state and there is no
constitutional accountability under an authoritarian regime. EX. China, Myanmar,
Cuba and Iran
democratic government A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either
directly or through freely elected representatives.
autocracies a system of government in which supreme power is concentrated in the hands of
one person, whose decisions are subject to neither external legal restraints nor
regularized mechanisms of popular control. There are two main types of autocracy:
a monarchy and a dictatorship.
oligarchies in some authoritarian governments, a small, elite group has the power to rule whose
authority generally is based on wealth or power
direct democracy public policy is established by the people themselves, such as in New England town
meetings
indirect democracy, or representative democracy the people choose a small group to act as their representatives to carry out the
policies of government.
Article 1 of the Constitution defines the legislative branch and vests power to legislate in the Congress of the
United States. Congress is made up of two chambers, the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
Article 2 of the Constitution The executive branch of government enforces the laws of the land and the powers
of the president
Article 3 of the Constitution defines the judicial branch as the Supreme Court and such inferior courts as
Congress sees necessary to establish.
, Federalism sharing of power among the national, state, and local governments
powers reserved to the national government Print money
Regulate interstate (between states) and international trade
Make treaties and conduct foreign policy
Declare war
Provide an army and navy
Establish post offices
Make laws necessary and proper to carry out the these powers
Powers reserved to the state governments Issue licenses
Regulate intrastate (within the state) businesses
Conduct elections
Establish local governments
Ratify amendments to the Constitution
Take measures for public health and safety
Exercise powers the Constitution does not delegate to the national government or
prohibit the states from using
Powers that the state and national governments share Collect taxes
Build roads
Borrow money
Establish courts
Make and enforce laws
Charter banks and corporations
Spend money for the general welfare
Take private property for public purposes, with just compensation
Constitutional Amendment 1 Freedom of (or from) religion; freedom of speech; freedom to assemble; freedom to
petition the government.
Constitutional Amendment 2 Right to bear arms.
Constitutional Amendment 3 Freedom from quartering soldiers.
Constitutional Amendment 4 Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures; warrants must only be issued
upon probable cause, and shall be specific.
Constitutional amendment 5 Criminal indictments must be by grand jury; freedom from double jeopardy; freedom
from testifying against oneself; right to due process; right of just compensation for
takings.
Constitutional amendment 6 Right to speedy trial; right to impartial jury; right to be informed of the charges upon
which the accused is held; right to face accusers; right to produce witnesses for the
accused; right to legal counsel.
Subtest 1: Social Studies
2026 | Study Guide,
Practice Questions,
Answers, Rationales &
Exam Review | Complete
Ethics Study Guide
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,legislative branch made up of the two houses of Congress—the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The most important duty of the legislative branch is to make laws.
executive branch vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and
Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
judicial branch the power to interpret laws and settle disputes
authoritarian governments a form of government characterized by strong central power and limited political
freedoms. Individual freedoms are subordinate to the state and there is no
constitutional accountability under an authoritarian regime. EX. China, Myanmar,
Cuba and Iran
democratic government A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either
directly or through freely elected representatives.
autocracies a system of government in which supreme power is concentrated in the hands of
one person, whose decisions are subject to neither external legal restraints nor
regularized mechanisms of popular control. There are two main types of autocracy:
a monarchy and a dictatorship.
oligarchies in some authoritarian governments, a small, elite group has the power to rule whose
authority generally is based on wealth or power
direct democracy public policy is established by the people themselves, such as in New England town
meetings
indirect democracy, or representative democracy the people choose a small group to act as their representatives to carry out the
policies of government.
Article 1 of the Constitution defines the legislative branch and vests power to legislate in the Congress of the
United States. Congress is made up of two chambers, the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
Article 2 of the Constitution The executive branch of government enforces the laws of the land and the powers
of the president
Article 3 of the Constitution defines the judicial branch as the Supreme Court and such inferior courts as
Congress sees necessary to establish.
, Federalism sharing of power among the national, state, and local governments
powers reserved to the national government Print money
Regulate interstate (between states) and international trade
Make treaties and conduct foreign policy
Declare war
Provide an army and navy
Establish post offices
Make laws necessary and proper to carry out the these powers
Powers reserved to the state governments Issue licenses
Regulate intrastate (within the state) businesses
Conduct elections
Establish local governments
Ratify amendments to the Constitution
Take measures for public health and safety
Exercise powers the Constitution does not delegate to the national government or
prohibit the states from using
Powers that the state and national governments share Collect taxes
Build roads
Borrow money
Establish courts
Make and enforce laws
Charter banks and corporations
Spend money for the general welfare
Take private property for public purposes, with just compensation
Constitutional Amendment 1 Freedom of (or from) religion; freedom of speech; freedom to assemble; freedom to
petition the government.
Constitutional Amendment 2 Right to bear arms.
Constitutional Amendment 3 Freedom from quartering soldiers.
Constitutional Amendment 4 Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures; warrants must only be issued
upon probable cause, and shall be specific.
Constitutional amendment 5 Criminal indictments must be by grand jury; freedom from double jeopardy; freedom
from testifying against oneself; right to due process; right of just compensation for
takings.
Constitutional amendment 6 Right to speedy trial; right to impartial jury; right to be informed of the charges upon
which the accused is held; right to face accusers; right to produce witnesses for the
accused; right to legal counsel.
