US Government Exam 1 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS RATED
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Political Culture - Broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should
function. Emphasizes Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Liberty - Freedom from government control
Limited Government - A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are
defined and limited by a constitution
Laissez-Faire Capitalism - An economic system in which the means of production and
distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or not government
interference
Equality of Opportunity - A widely shared American ideal that all people should have freedom to
use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential
Political Equality - The right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one
person, one vote"
Popular Sovereignty - A principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in
the hands of the people
Majority Rule with Minority Rights - The democratic principle that a government follows the
preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interest of the minority
Thomas Hobbes - Contract Theory
Montesquieu - Separation of Powers
Articles of Confederation - America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's
national government until 1789
Confederation - A system of government in which states retain sovereign authority expect for the
powers expressly delegated to the national government
Shay' Rebellion - Prevent the court from repossessing debt-ridden lands held by poor farmers in
Western Massachusetts; Revealed the weakness of the new central government which lacked the
power to tax and also a national army; served as a focal point for the new constitution
Virginia Plan - A framework for the constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that called
for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state
, New Jersey Plan - A framework for the constitution, introduced by William Paterson, that called
for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population
Three-fifths Compromise - The agreement reached at the constitutional convention of 1787 that
stipulated that for the purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be
countered as three-fifths of a person
Great Compromise - The agreement reached at the constitutional convention of 1787 that gave
each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in
the House of Representatives to population
Checks and Balances - Mechanism through which each branch of government is able to
participate in and influence the activities of other branches; examples include presidential veto
power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential
appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments
Electoral College - The electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast
ballots for president and vice president
Bill of Rights - The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain
rights and liberties to the people
Separation of Powers - The division of governmental power among several institutions that must
cooperate in decision making
Federalism - A system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, by the central
national government, and regional state governments
Expressed Powers - Specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article 1, Section
8) and to the president (Article II)
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause) - Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which
enumerates the powers of congress and provides congress with the authority to make all laws
"necessary and proper" to carry them out
Bicameral - Having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses; distinguished
from unicameral
Judicial Review - The power of the courts to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the
legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional; the Supreme Court asserted this
power in Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Supremacy Clause - Article VI of the Constitution, which states and that laws passed by the
national government and all treaties "shall the supreme law of the land" and superior to all laws
adopted by any state or nay subdivision
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Political Culture - Broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should
function. Emphasizes Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Liberty - Freedom from government control
Limited Government - A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are
defined and limited by a constitution
Laissez-Faire Capitalism - An economic system in which the means of production and
distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or not government
interference
Equality of Opportunity - A widely shared American ideal that all people should have freedom to
use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential
Political Equality - The right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one
person, one vote"
Popular Sovereignty - A principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in
the hands of the people
Majority Rule with Minority Rights - The democratic principle that a government follows the
preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interest of the minority
Thomas Hobbes - Contract Theory
Montesquieu - Separation of Powers
Articles of Confederation - America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's
national government until 1789
Confederation - A system of government in which states retain sovereign authority expect for the
powers expressly delegated to the national government
Shay' Rebellion - Prevent the court from repossessing debt-ridden lands held by poor farmers in
Western Massachusetts; Revealed the weakness of the new central government which lacked the
power to tax and also a national army; served as a focal point for the new constitution
Virginia Plan - A framework for the constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that called
for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state
, New Jersey Plan - A framework for the constitution, introduced by William Paterson, that called
for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population
Three-fifths Compromise - The agreement reached at the constitutional convention of 1787 that
stipulated that for the purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be
countered as three-fifths of a person
Great Compromise - The agreement reached at the constitutional convention of 1787 that gave
each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in
the House of Representatives to population
Checks and Balances - Mechanism through which each branch of government is able to
participate in and influence the activities of other branches; examples include presidential veto
power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential
appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments
Electoral College - The electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast
ballots for president and vice president
Bill of Rights - The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain
rights and liberties to the people
Separation of Powers - The division of governmental power among several institutions that must
cooperate in decision making
Federalism - A system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, by the central
national government, and regional state governments
Expressed Powers - Specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article 1, Section
8) and to the president (Article II)
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause) - Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which
enumerates the powers of congress and provides congress with the authority to make all laws
"necessary and proper" to carry them out
Bicameral - Having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses; distinguished
from unicameral
Judicial Review - The power of the courts to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the
legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional; the Supreme Court asserted this
power in Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Supremacy Clause - Article VI of the Constitution, which states and that laws passed by the
national government and all treaties "shall the supreme law of the land" and superior to all laws
adopted by any state or nay subdivision
