State and Local Gov Exam 1 2025
Questions and Answers
Limited government - ANSWER✔✔-the principle that government power over the individual is
limited, that there are some personal liberties that even a majority cannot regulate, and that
government itself is restrained by law.
Constitutionalism - ANSWER✔✔-a government of laws, not people, operating on the principle that
governmental power must be limited, that government officials should be restrained in their exercise
of power over individuals.
Constitution - ANSWER✔✔-the legal structure establishing governmental bodies, granting their
powers, determining how their members are selected, and prescribing the rules by which they make
their decisions. Considered basic or fundamental, a constitution cannot be changed by ordinary acts
of government bodies
Bill of Rights - ANSWER✔✔-in state constitutions, written protections for basic freedoms; most
resemble the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution but some extend these rights.
Separation of Powers - ANSWER✔✔-the constitutional allocation of powers among the three
branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial
Bicameral - ANSWER✔✔-a legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, Legislative proposal - ANSWER✔✔-the state legislature places a constitutional amendment on the
ballot for voter approval
popular initiative - ANSWER✔✔-registered voters sign a petition to place a constitutional
amendment on the ballot for voter approval.
representative democracy - ANSWER✔✔-popular participation in government through the
selection of public officials by a vote of the people in periodic, competitive elections in which
candidates and voters can freely express themselves.
direct democracy - ANSWER✔✔-popular participation in government through direct voter
initiation of policy and voter approval or rejection of policy decisions by popular vote.
initiative - ANSWER✔✔-a device by which a specific number or percentage of the voters may
petition to have a constitutional amendment or law placed on the ballot for adoption or rejection by
the electorate; found in some state constitutions but in the U.S. Constitution.
referenda - ANSWER✔✔-proposed laws or constitutional amendments submitted to the voters for
their direct approval or rejection; found in some state constitutions but in the U.S. Constitution.
recall - ANSWER✔✔-an election to allow voters to decide whether to remove an elected official
before his or her term expires.
special interests - ANSWER✔✔-specific groups bound together by their common preferences on
key policy issues
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
Questions and Answers
Limited government - ANSWER✔✔-the principle that government power over the individual is
limited, that there are some personal liberties that even a majority cannot regulate, and that
government itself is restrained by law.
Constitutionalism - ANSWER✔✔-a government of laws, not people, operating on the principle that
governmental power must be limited, that government officials should be restrained in their exercise
of power over individuals.
Constitution - ANSWER✔✔-the legal structure establishing governmental bodies, granting their
powers, determining how their members are selected, and prescribing the rules by which they make
their decisions. Considered basic or fundamental, a constitution cannot be changed by ordinary acts
of government bodies
Bill of Rights - ANSWER✔✔-in state constitutions, written protections for basic freedoms; most
resemble the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution but some extend these rights.
Separation of Powers - ANSWER✔✔-the constitutional allocation of powers among the three
branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial
Bicameral - ANSWER✔✔-a legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, Legislative proposal - ANSWER✔✔-the state legislature places a constitutional amendment on the
ballot for voter approval
popular initiative - ANSWER✔✔-registered voters sign a petition to place a constitutional
amendment on the ballot for voter approval.
representative democracy - ANSWER✔✔-popular participation in government through the
selection of public officials by a vote of the people in periodic, competitive elections in which
candidates and voters can freely express themselves.
direct democracy - ANSWER✔✔-popular participation in government through direct voter
initiation of policy and voter approval or rejection of policy decisions by popular vote.
initiative - ANSWER✔✔-a device by which a specific number or percentage of the voters may
petition to have a constitutional amendment or law placed on the ballot for adoption or rejection by
the electorate; found in some state constitutions but in the U.S. Constitution.
referenda - ANSWER✔✔-proposed laws or constitutional amendments submitted to the voters for
their direct approval or rejection; found in some state constitutions but in the U.S. Constitution.
recall - ANSWER✔✔-an election to allow voters to decide whether to remove an elected official
before his or her term expires.
special interests - ANSWER✔✔-specific groups bound together by their common preferences on
key policy issues
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
