U.S. Government Exam Review QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
RATED A+
Presidential Government - A form of government in which the legeslative and executive brances
are seperate and function independently.
Democracy - A sytem of government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected
representatives.
Direct Democracy - A democratic system of government in which all citizens participate in
politics and desicion-making.
Representative Democracy - A democratic system of government in which policies are made by
officials accountable to the people who elected them.
Dictatorship - A form of government in which an absolute ruler controls the power, often
through fear or force, and ignores the will of the people.
Monarchy - A government in which the ruler's power is hereditary.
Popular Sovereignty - The fundemental principle that the power to govern belongs to the people
and that the government must be based on the consent of the governed.
Second Treasties of Government - Written by John Locke, and expresses enlightenment
philosophy and the principles of the consent of the governed and natural rights.
Checks and Balances - A system in which the political power is divided among the three
branches of government, each having some control over the others.
Preamble - Lists the six goals of government: form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure
domestic peace, provide for common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure liberty.
First Amendment - Freedom of speech and press including pure speech, speech plus, symbolic
speech, and flag burning.
Second Amendment - Right to bear arms
Tenth Amendment - Powers of states and people
Fourteenth Amendment - Citizenship and Civil Rights
Fifthteenth Amendment - Right to Vote
Seventeenth Amendment - Direct election of senators
, Nineteenth Amendment - Women's sufferage
Twenty-First Amendment - Repeal of prohibition
Twenty-Fourth Amendment - Abolition of poll taxes
Twenty-Sixth Amendment - 18-year-old right to vote
Original Method of Electing House Members - Originally, members of the Senate were selected
by the state legislatures for staggered 6 year terms, in accordance with Article 1, Section 3 of the
Constitution.
Reserved Powers - The powers that the constitution sets aside for the state governments.
Powers Denied to the States (Delegated powers) - The powers, also called enumerated or
expressed powers, that are specifically granted to the federal government by the constitution.
Sovereignty - The authority of a nation-state's right to rule itself.
Federalists - Supporters of a strong central government, as described in the constitution.
Anti-Federalists - Those who opposed the adoption of the constitution.
Due Process - The principle, guaranteed in the constitution, that the state and federal
governments must not deprive an individual of life, liberty, or property by unfair or unreasonable
actions.
American Disabilities Act - passed in 1990, extends many of the protections established for
racial minorities and women to disabled persons. Disabled described as having a physical or
mental impairment that limits one or more major activities of life.
Bill of Rights (Limiting Government Power) - Added to the constitution in 1791, this keeps the
national government from limiting personal freedoms.
Vietnam War (Influence on the Constitution) - ...
Recall - The process by which voters can vote to remove the public official from office.
Referendum - The process by which a proposed public measure is voted upon.
Initiative - the process by which citizens can propose a law or state constitutional amendment to
be voted upon in an election.
Eminent Domain - The governments right to take control of private property for public use.
RATED A+
Presidential Government - A form of government in which the legeslative and executive brances
are seperate and function independently.
Democracy - A sytem of government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected
representatives.
Direct Democracy - A democratic system of government in which all citizens participate in
politics and desicion-making.
Representative Democracy - A democratic system of government in which policies are made by
officials accountable to the people who elected them.
Dictatorship - A form of government in which an absolute ruler controls the power, often
through fear or force, and ignores the will of the people.
Monarchy - A government in which the ruler's power is hereditary.
Popular Sovereignty - The fundemental principle that the power to govern belongs to the people
and that the government must be based on the consent of the governed.
Second Treasties of Government - Written by John Locke, and expresses enlightenment
philosophy and the principles of the consent of the governed and natural rights.
Checks and Balances - A system in which the political power is divided among the three
branches of government, each having some control over the others.
Preamble - Lists the six goals of government: form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure
domestic peace, provide for common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure liberty.
First Amendment - Freedom of speech and press including pure speech, speech plus, symbolic
speech, and flag burning.
Second Amendment - Right to bear arms
Tenth Amendment - Powers of states and people
Fourteenth Amendment - Citizenship and Civil Rights
Fifthteenth Amendment - Right to Vote
Seventeenth Amendment - Direct election of senators
, Nineteenth Amendment - Women's sufferage
Twenty-First Amendment - Repeal of prohibition
Twenty-Fourth Amendment - Abolition of poll taxes
Twenty-Sixth Amendment - 18-year-old right to vote
Original Method of Electing House Members - Originally, members of the Senate were selected
by the state legislatures for staggered 6 year terms, in accordance with Article 1, Section 3 of the
Constitution.
Reserved Powers - The powers that the constitution sets aside for the state governments.
Powers Denied to the States (Delegated powers) - The powers, also called enumerated or
expressed powers, that are specifically granted to the federal government by the constitution.
Sovereignty - The authority of a nation-state's right to rule itself.
Federalists - Supporters of a strong central government, as described in the constitution.
Anti-Federalists - Those who opposed the adoption of the constitution.
Due Process - The principle, guaranteed in the constitution, that the state and federal
governments must not deprive an individual of life, liberty, or property by unfair or unreasonable
actions.
American Disabilities Act - passed in 1990, extends many of the protections established for
racial minorities and women to disabled persons. Disabled described as having a physical or
mental impairment that limits one or more major activities of life.
Bill of Rights (Limiting Government Power) - Added to the constitution in 1791, this keeps the
national government from limiting personal freedoms.
Vietnam War (Influence on the Constitution) - ...
Recall - The process by which voters can vote to remove the public official from office.
Referendum - The process by which a proposed public measure is voted upon.
Initiative - the process by which citizens can propose a law or state constitutional amendment to
be voted upon in an election.
Eminent Domain - The governments right to take control of private property for public use.
