PSC 101 STUDY GUIDE EXAM 2026/2027 QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Laissez-faire capitalism - ✔✔An economic system in which the means of production
and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no
governmental interference.
✔✔Equality of Opportunity - ✔✔A widely shared American ideal that all people should
have the freedom to use whatever talent and wealth they have to reach their full
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, Minority Rights - ✔✔The democratic principle that a government
follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests o the minority
✔✔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 except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government.
✔✔Virginia Plan - ✔✔A framework for 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
✔✔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.
✔✔Three-Fifths Comprimise - ✔✔The agreement reached at the Constitutional
convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of
congressional seats, every slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person
✔✔Checks and Balances - ✔✔Mechanisms through which each branch of the
government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches;
, major examples include the 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 US Constitution, ratified in 1791:
they ensure certain tights 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, between a central government and regional governments
✔✔Expressed Powers - ✔✔Specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress
and to the president
✔✔Elastic Clause - ✔✔Enumerates the powers of Congress with the authority to make
all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out
✔✔Bicameral - ✔✔Having 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
✔✔Supremacy clause - ✔✔Laws passed by the national government and all treaties
are supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any
subdivision
✔✔Federalists - ✔✔Those who favored a strong national government and supported
the Constitution proposed at eh American Constitutional Convention of 1787
✔✔Antifederalist - ✔✔Those who favored strong state governments and weak national
government, and who were opponents of the Constitution
✔✔Federalist Papers - ✔✔A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison, and John Jay supporting the ratification of the Constitution
✔✔Tyranny - ✔✔Oppressive government that employs cruel and unjust use of power
✔✔Amendment - ✔✔A change added to a bill, law, or constitution
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Laissez-faire capitalism - ✔✔An economic system in which the means of production
and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no
governmental interference.
✔✔Equality of Opportunity - ✔✔A widely shared American ideal that all people should
have the freedom to use whatever talent and wealth they have to reach their full
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, Minority Rights - ✔✔The democratic principle that a government
follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests o the minority
✔✔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 except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government.
✔✔Virginia Plan - ✔✔A framework for 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
✔✔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.
✔✔Three-Fifths Comprimise - ✔✔The agreement reached at the Constitutional
convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of
congressional seats, every slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person
✔✔Checks and Balances - ✔✔Mechanisms through which each branch of the
government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches;
, major examples include the 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 US Constitution, ratified in 1791:
they ensure certain tights 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, between a central government and regional governments
✔✔Expressed Powers - ✔✔Specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress
and to the president
✔✔Elastic Clause - ✔✔Enumerates the powers of Congress with the authority to make
all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out
✔✔Bicameral - ✔✔Having 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
✔✔Supremacy clause - ✔✔Laws passed by the national government and all treaties
are supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any
subdivision
✔✔Federalists - ✔✔Those who favored a strong national government and supported
the Constitution proposed at eh American Constitutional Convention of 1787
✔✔Antifederalist - ✔✔Those who favored strong state governments and weak national
government, and who were opponents of the Constitution
✔✔Federalist Papers - ✔✔A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison, and John Jay supporting the ratification of the Constitution
✔✔Tyranny - ✔✔Oppressive government that employs cruel and unjust use of power
✔✔Amendment - ✔✔A change added to a bill, law, or constitution
