Government & Political Science- Praxis
II Exam Questions and Answers
Marbury vs. Madison - ANSWER-Case in which the supreme court first asserted the
power of Judicial review in finding that the congressional statue expanding the Court's
original jurisdiction was unconstitutional
McCulloch vs. Maryland - ANSWER-The state of Maryland taxed banknotes produced
by the Bank of the United States, claiming that the Bank was unconstitutional. Using
implied powers, Marshall countered that the Bank was constitutional and ruled that
Maryland was forbidden from taxing the Bank.
Brown vs. Board of Education - ANSWER-Decision saying, segregation in SCHOOLS is
a violation of the 14th amendment, 1954, stated that it was unconstitutional to maintain
separate black and white schools, overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). Ruled that
segregated schools are not acceptable because of the equal protection clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment.
Miranda vs. Arizona - ANSWER-Required officers to inform persons of their
constitutional rights when conducting an interrogation, The accused must be notified of
their rights before being questioned by the police.
Judicial Branch - ANSWER-The branch of the United States government responsible for
the administration of justice, the division of the federal government that is made up of
the national courts; interprets laws, punishes criminals, and settles disputes between
states
Executive Branch - ANSWER-The division of the federal government that includes the
president and the administrative departments; enforces the nation's laws.
Legislative Branch - ANSWER-The branch of the United States government that has the
power to create the laws. There are two houses in it. One is the Senators. There are
two senators per state. There is also a House of representatives. The amount of people
per state depends on how big the population is.
Bicameralism - ANSWER-A legislative body where power is shared by two separate
chambers so that neither can act without the agreement of the other.
Judicial Activism - ANSWER-An interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the
spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial
decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)
Judicial Restraint - ANSWER-Holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on
social & political questions, operation strictly w/n the limits of the Constitution
, Appeals Process - ANSWER-The process for seeking protection from the court for
violations of constitutional protections.
Electoral College - ANSWER-The group of persons chosen in each state and the
District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and
Vice President
Unitary System - ANSWER-A government that gives all key powers to the national or
central government
Federal System - ANSWER-A government that divides the powers of government
between the national government and state or provincial governments
Parliamentary System - ANSWER-A system of government in which the legislature
selects the prime minister or president, a system of government in which both executive
and legislative functions reside in an elected assembly. The head of the government
must be a current member of the legislature.
Mixed System - ANSWER-An economic system that includes both private ownership of
property and government control (or regulation) of some services and industries
Democracy - ANSWER-The political orientation of those who favor government by the
people or by their elected representatives
Autocracy - ANSWER-A system of government in which the power to rule is in the
hands of a single individual
Theocracy - ANSWER-A political unit governed by a deity (or by officials thought to be
divinely guided)
Proportional Representation - ANSWER-An election system in which each party running
receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.
Plurality system - ANSWER-An electoral system in which the winner is the person who
gets the most votes, even if he or she does not receive a majority; used in almost all
American elections
Multilateralism - ANSWER-A foreign policy that encourages the involvement of several
nation-states in coordinated action, usually in relation to a common adversary, with
terms and conditions usually specified in a multi-country treaty, such as NATO
Liberalism - ANSWER-A political or social philosophy advocating the freedom of the
individual, parliamentary systems of government, nonviolent modification of political,
social, or economic institutions to assure unrestricted development in all spheres of
human endeavor, and governmental guarantees of individual rights and civil liberties.
II Exam Questions and Answers
Marbury vs. Madison - ANSWER-Case in which the supreme court first asserted the
power of Judicial review in finding that the congressional statue expanding the Court's
original jurisdiction was unconstitutional
McCulloch vs. Maryland - ANSWER-The state of Maryland taxed banknotes produced
by the Bank of the United States, claiming that the Bank was unconstitutional. Using
implied powers, Marshall countered that the Bank was constitutional and ruled that
Maryland was forbidden from taxing the Bank.
Brown vs. Board of Education - ANSWER-Decision saying, segregation in SCHOOLS is
a violation of the 14th amendment, 1954, stated that it was unconstitutional to maintain
separate black and white schools, overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). Ruled that
segregated schools are not acceptable because of the equal protection clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment.
Miranda vs. Arizona - ANSWER-Required officers to inform persons of their
constitutional rights when conducting an interrogation, The accused must be notified of
their rights before being questioned by the police.
Judicial Branch - ANSWER-The branch of the United States government responsible for
the administration of justice, the division of the federal government that is made up of
the national courts; interprets laws, punishes criminals, and settles disputes between
states
Executive Branch - ANSWER-The division of the federal government that includes the
president and the administrative departments; enforces the nation's laws.
Legislative Branch - ANSWER-The branch of the United States government that has the
power to create the laws. There are two houses in it. One is the Senators. There are
two senators per state. There is also a House of representatives. The amount of people
per state depends on how big the population is.
Bicameralism - ANSWER-A legislative body where power is shared by two separate
chambers so that neither can act without the agreement of the other.
Judicial Activism - ANSWER-An interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the
spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial
decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)
Judicial Restraint - ANSWER-Holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on
social & political questions, operation strictly w/n the limits of the Constitution
, Appeals Process - ANSWER-The process for seeking protection from the court for
violations of constitutional protections.
Electoral College - ANSWER-The group of persons chosen in each state and the
District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and
Vice President
Unitary System - ANSWER-A government that gives all key powers to the national or
central government
Federal System - ANSWER-A government that divides the powers of government
between the national government and state or provincial governments
Parliamentary System - ANSWER-A system of government in which the legislature
selects the prime minister or president, a system of government in which both executive
and legislative functions reside in an elected assembly. The head of the government
must be a current member of the legislature.
Mixed System - ANSWER-An economic system that includes both private ownership of
property and government control (or regulation) of some services and industries
Democracy - ANSWER-The political orientation of those who favor government by the
people or by their elected representatives
Autocracy - ANSWER-A system of government in which the power to rule is in the
hands of a single individual
Theocracy - ANSWER-A political unit governed by a deity (or by officials thought to be
divinely guided)
Proportional Representation - ANSWER-An election system in which each party running
receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.
Plurality system - ANSWER-An electoral system in which the winner is the person who
gets the most votes, even if he or she does not receive a majority; used in almost all
American elections
Multilateralism - ANSWER-A foreign policy that encourages the involvement of several
nation-states in coordinated action, usually in relation to a common adversary, with
terms and conditions usually specified in a multi-country treaty, such as NATO
Liberalism - ANSWER-A political or social philosophy advocating the freedom of the
individual, parliamentary systems of government, nonviolent modification of political,
social, or economic institutions to assure unrestricted development in all spheres of
human endeavor, and governmental guarantees of individual rights and civil liberties.
