STATE AND LOCAL GOV EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, 100% GUARANTEE
Limited government - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - the constitutional allocation of powers among the three branches
of government: legislative, executive, and judicial
Bicameral - a legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses
Legislative proposal - the state legislature places a constitutional amendment on the ballot
for voter approval
popular initiative - registered voters sign a petition to place a constitutional amendment on
the ballot for voter approval.
, representative democracy - 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 - popular participation in government through direct voter initiation of
policy and voter approval or rejection of policy decisions by popular vote.
initiative - 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 - 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 - an election to allow voters to decide whether to remove an elected official before
his or her term expires.
special interests - specific groups bound together by their common preferences on key
policy issues
Federalism - a constitutional arrangement whereby power is divided between national and
sub-national governments, each of which enforces its own laws directly on its citizens and
neither of which can alter the arrangement without the consent of the other.
Unitary system - constitutional arrangement whereby authority rests with the national
government; sub-national governments have only those powers given to them by the national
government
confederation - constitutional arrangement whereby the national government is created by
and relies on sub-national governments for its authority.
ANSWERS, 100% GUARANTEE
Limited government - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - the constitutional allocation of powers among the three branches
of government: legislative, executive, and judicial
Bicameral - a legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses
Legislative proposal - the state legislature places a constitutional amendment on the ballot
for voter approval
popular initiative - registered voters sign a petition to place a constitutional amendment on
the ballot for voter approval.
, representative democracy - 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 - popular participation in government through direct voter initiation of
policy and voter approval or rejection of policy decisions by popular vote.
initiative - 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 - 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 - an election to allow voters to decide whether to remove an elected official before
his or her term expires.
special interests - specific groups bound together by their common preferences on key
policy issues
Federalism - a constitutional arrangement whereby power is divided between national and
sub-national governments, each of which enforces its own laws directly on its citizens and
neither of which can alter the arrangement without the consent of the other.
Unitary system - constitutional arrangement whereby authority rests with the national
government; sub-national governments have only those powers given to them by the national
government
confederation - constitutional arrangement whereby the national government is created by
and relies on sub-national governments for its authority.
