BYU Final Exam GOVT-041-S003: American Government
and Citizenship Questions & Answers
Which leading political thinker is given credit for his influence on the separation of powers?
- -Charles-Louis Montesquieu
"we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." In which document are these words written by
Thomas Jefferson? - -the Declaration of Independence
Why is Tocqueville still relevant today? - -Citizens should beware of being too self-
absorbed and not participating in the political process.
How did Alexis de Tocqueville describe the 1830s in America? - -It was a time when
Americans worked together for the common good of others.
After studying and reading examples about liberty and order consider the following: After
the terrorist attack on September 11, President Bush and Congress passed the PATRIOT
Act, which expanded the power of law enforcement to secretly investigate potential
terrorists. What does this suggest? - -The president believed Americans had too
much liberty and too little security.
What is a statement that Hobbes and Locke would both agree on? - -Government is
necessary to protect life and property.
What term is best used to describe our government? - -representative republic
How long is the term for a member in the House of Representative before they face re-
election? - -2 years
Which of the following is true of the Bill of Rights? - -It was included in the
Constitution as a concession to the Anti-federalists who opposed ratification of the
Constitution.
,BYU Final Exam GOVT-041-S003: American Government
and Citizenship Questions & Answers
A prominent political scientist famously described American government as separate
institutions sharing powers; Which two constitutional principles are embodied in this
statement? - -separation of powers and checks and balances
According to Tocqueville, civic virtue means simply that individuals have interests and
desires that are not solely focused on themselves. Rather, they are willing to give up some
of the things they want in order to promote the common good. What did he mean by this? -
-People should help one another because the welfare of others affects individual
welfare.
If you were to read about a country whose government allows their president to declare war
on another country, and individually coin money to fight the war without the consent of any
other government official. Which of the following would best describe this system as
compared with the government in the United States? - -In the United States the
president can neither declare nor fund a war without the vote of Congress.
Which of the following best describes separation of powers? - -executive, legislative,
and judicial branches
What does civilian control of the military mean? - -Military leaders do not have any
independent authority, but are the servants of the elected representatives of the people.
According to Hobbes, what would life be like without limits on an individual's behavior or if
living in a state of nature? - -Perilous
What does unit 1 say is perhaps the most complex form of human interaction? - -
politics
How can the principle of federalism promote the protection of civil rights in the American
federal system? - -It provides both state and national governments with the ability to
protect citizens from abuses of power by the other.
Which of the following would Tocqueville most likely endorse? - -encouraging civic
groups to help the poor
If a country has a political system where some decisions are made in local legislatures and
others are made in the national legislature. Whose government would this most likely be
compared to? - -the U.S. system of government created in Philadelphia
How does the Constitution divide power between the three branches? - -Power is not
completely separated, allowing each branch to limit the other branches' exercise of power.
Who was considered to be the inventor of philosophy? - -Plato
, BYU Final Exam GOVT-041-S003: American Government
and Citizenship Questions & Answers
The Founders established a republican form of government. Why did they do this? - -
They believed elected officials could represent citizens and could be kept in check through
elections.
Classical republicanism is principally concerned with ____________ while classical
liberalism is concerned with _______________. - -liberty; order
Which political thinker wrote The Prince, where he justified popular sovereignty, revolution,
and a separation of religious and secular government? - -Machiavelli
You are writing a speech for school about the need for citizens to participate in their
political system. Who would you quote as the earliest proponent of this notion? - -
Aristotle
Which of the following IS NOT an example of checks and balances in the United States
Constitution? - -The president can veto a Supreme Court decision, but only with the
support of a two-thirds majority vote in Congress.
Examples:
- The Supreme Court can review laws passed by congress and declare them
unconstitutional if they deem them inconsistent with the Constitution.
- The president can veto laws passed by Congress, but Congress can override a veto by a
two-thirds majority vote in both houses.
- If the House believes the president is guilty of "high crimes or misdemeanors," it can
formally charge or impeach the president. A trial to decide whether to remove the president
from office is held in the Senate.
Which of the following is not one of the three types of government outlined by
Montesquieu? - -Democracy
The 3 types:
- Despotism
- Republican government
- Monarchy
and Citizenship Questions & Answers
Which leading political thinker is given credit for his influence on the separation of powers?
- -Charles-Louis Montesquieu
"we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." In which document are these words written by
Thomas Jefferson? - -the Declaration of Independence
Why is Tocqueville still relevant today? - -Citizens should beware of being too self-
absorbed and not participating in the political process.
How did Alexis de Tocqueville describe the 1830s in America? - -It was a time when
Americans worked together for the common good of others.
After studying and reading examples about liberty and order consider the following: After
the terrorist attack on September 11, President Bush and Congress passed the PATRIOT
Act, which expanded the power of law enforcement to secretly investigate potential
terrorists. What does this suggest? - -The president believed Americans had too
much liberty and too little security.
What is a statement that Hobbes and Locke would both agree on? - -Government is
necessary to protect life and property.
What term is best used to describe our government? - -representative republic
How long is the term for a member in the House of Representative before they face re-
election? - -2 years
Which of the following is true of the Bill of Rights? - -It was included in the
Constitution as a concession to the Anti-federalists who opposed ratification of the
Constitution.
,BYU Final Exam GOVT-041-S003: American Government
and Citizenship Questions & Answers
A prominent political scientist famously described American government as separate
institutions sharing powers; Which two constitutional principles are embodied in this
statement? - -separation of powers and checks and balances
According to Tocqueville, civic virtue means simply that individuals have interests and
desires that are not solely focused on themselves. Rather, they are willing to give up some
of the things they want in order to promote the common good. What did he mean by this? -
-People should help one another because the welfare of others affects individual
welfare.
If you were to read about a country whose government allows their president to declare war
on another country, and individually coin money to fight the war without the consent of any
other government official. Which of the following would best describe this system as
compared with the government in the United States? - -In the United States the
president can neither declare nor fund a war without the vote of Congress.
Which of the following best describes separation of powers? - -executive, legislative,
and judicial branches
What does civilian control of the military mean? - -Military leaders do not have any
independent authority, but are the servants of the elected representatives of the people.
According to Hobbes, what would life be like without limits on an individual's behavior or if
living in a state of nature? - -Perilous
What does unit 1 say is perhaps the most complex form of human interaction? - -
politics
How can the principle of federalism promote the protection of civil rights in the American
federal system? - -It provides both state and national governments with the ability to
protect citizens from abuses of power by the other.
Which of the following would Tocqueville most likely endorse? - -encouraging civic
groups to help the poor
If a country has a political system where some decisions are made in local legislatures and
others are made in the national legislature. Whose government would this most likely be
compared to? - -the U.S. system of government created in Philadelphia
How does the Constitution divide power between the three branches? - -Power is not
completely separated, allowing each branch to limit the other branches' exercise of power.
Who was considered to be the inventor of philosophy? - -Plato
, BYU Final Exam GOVT-041-S003: American Government
and Citizenship Questions & Answers
The Founders established a republican form of government. Why did they do this? - -
They believed elected officials could represent citizens and could be kept in check through
elections.
Classical republicanism is principally concerned with ____________ while classical
liberalism is concerned with _______________. - -liberty; order
Which political thinker wrote The Prince, where he justified popular sovereignty, revolution,
and a separation of religious and secular government? - -Machiavelli
You are writing a speech for school about the need for citizens to participate in their
political system. Who would you quote as the earliest proponent of this notion? - -
Aristotle
Which of the following IS NOT an example of checks and balances in the United States
Constitution? - -The president can veto a Supreme Court decision, but only with the
support of a two-thirds majority vote in Congress.
Examples:
- The Supreme Court can review laws passed by congress and declare them
unconstitutional if they deem them inconsistent with the Constitution.
- The president can veto laws passed by Congress, but Congress can override a veto by a
two-thirds majority vote in both houses.
- If the House believes the president is guilty of "high crimes or misdemeanors," it can
formally charge or impeach the president. A trial to decide whether to remove the president
from office is held in the Senate.
Which of the following is not one of the three types of government outlined by
Montesquieu? - -Democracy
The 3 types:
- Despotism
- Republican government
- Monarchy
