AMERICAN POLITICS EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS WITH ALL CORRECT & VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Articles of Confederation Correct answer-the original constitution of the US, ratified in 1781, which
was replaced by the US Constitution in 1789
checks and balances Correct answer-A system that allows each branch of government to limit the
powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
federalism Correct answer-a structure of government that places the peoples authority in two or
more levels of government
representative v direct democracy Correct answer-representative: a political system in which
voters select representatives who then vote on matters of public policy
direct: a political system in which citizens vote directly on public policies
Necessary and Proper Clause Correct answer-a part of the constitution that grants the federal
government the authority to pass laws required to carry out its enumerated powers
Supremacy Clause Correct answer-a part of the constitution that establishes the constitution and
the laws of the nation passed under its authority as the highest laws of the nation
categorical v block grants Correct answer-categorical: grants in aid provide to states with specific
provisions on their use
block: a type of grant in aid that gives state officials more authority in the disbursement of the
federal funds
Mandates (unfunded) Correct answer-Requirements that are imposed by the national government
on the state and local governments for programs such as Americans with Disabilities Act which
requires all building to accommodate the disabled. Many of these are unfunded and must be paid for
by local governments
Connecticut Compromise Correct answer-an agreement that large and small states reached during
the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and
representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Correct answer-outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex,
or national origin
civil liberties v civil rights Correct answer-Liberties- Individual freedoms guaranteed to the people,
mostly by the bill of rights
Rights-Equal treatment under law
selective incorporation Correct answer-the piecemeal process through which the supreme court
has affirmed that almost all of the protections within the bill of rights also apply to state
governments
, Three-Fifths Compromise Correct answer-Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a
person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation purposes
(negated by the 13th amendment)
faction Correct answer-A group with a distinct political interested people who use the government
to get what they want, trampling the rights of others in the process
Bill of Rights Correct answer-The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Snyder v. Phelps (2011) Correct answer-involving inflammatory protest signs at the funeral of a
slain American soldier. Decisions like this one test our commitment to the protection of free speech
guaranteed by the First Amendment.
slander Correct answer-expression in spoken form that defames a persons character
Miranda Rights Correct answer-The right not to speak and to have an attorney present during
questioning; these rights must be given by police to individuals suspected of criminal activity
Plessy v. Ferguson Correct answer-a supreme court case in 1896 that upheld racial segregation
Voting Rights Act of 1965 Correct answer-a law designed to help end formal and informal barriers
to African-American suffrage
initiatives and referendums Correct answer-processes that allow citizens of many states to vote
directly on particular pieces of legislation. An initiative process allows citizens to propose or initiate a
statute or constitutional amendment.
Separation of Powers Correct answer-a design of government that distributes powers across
institutions in order to avoid making one branch too powerful on its own
the federalist papers Correct answer-A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton,
John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.
Full Faith and Credit Clause Correct answer-a portion of the constitution that generally requires
states to honor licenses and judicial outcomes of other states
Dual v. Cooperative Federalism Correct answer-dual federalism: the federal system under which
the national and state governments are responsible for separate policy areas
cooperative federalism: the federal system under which the national and state governments share
responsibilities for most domestic policy areas
bicameral legislature Correct answer-a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
VA and NJ Plans Correct answer-Both proposed 3 Branches of Government.
Legislative (Congress - Law making)
Executive (President - Enforces laws)
Judicial (interprets laws)
QUESTIONS WITH ALL CORRECT & VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Articles of Confederation Correct answer-the original constitution of the US, ratified in 1781, which
was replaced by the US Constitution in 1789
checks and balances Correct answer-A system that allows each branch of government to limit the
powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
federalism Correct answer-a structure of government that places the peoples authority in two or
more levels of government
representative v direct democracy Correct answer-representative: a political system in which
voters select representatives who then vote on matters of public policy
direct: a political system in which citizens vote directly on public policies
Necessary and Proper Clause Correct answer-a part of the constitution that grants the federal
government the authority to pass laws required to carry out its enumerated powers
Supremacy Clause Correct answer-a part of the constitution that establishes the constitution and
the laws of the nation passed under its authority as the highest laws of the nation
categorical v block grants Correct answer-categorical: grants in aid provide to states with specific
provisions on their use
block: a type of grant in aid that gives state officials more authority in the disbursement of the
federal funds
Mandates (unfunded) Correct answer-Requirements that are imposed by the national government
on the state and local governments for programs such as Americans with Disabilities Act which
requires all building to accommodate the disabled. Many of these are unfunded and must be paid for
by local governments
Connecticut Compromise Correct answer-an agreement that large and small states reached during
the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and
representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Correct answer-outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex,
or national origin
civil liberties v civil rights Correct answer-Liberties- Individual freedoms guaranteed to the people,
mostly by the bill of rights
Rights-Equal treatment under law
selective incorporation Correct answer-the piecemeal process through which the supreme court
has affirmed that almost all of the protections within the bill of rights also apply to state
governments
, Three-Fifths Compromise Correct answer-Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a
person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation purposes
(negated by the 13th amendment)
faction Correct answer-A group with a distinct political interested people who use the government
to get what they want, trampling the rights of others in the process
Bill of Rights Correct answer-The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Snyder v. Phelps (2011) Correct answer-involving inflammatory protest signs at the funeral of a
slain American soldier. Decisions like this one test our commitment to the protection of free speech
guaranteed by the First Amendment.
slander Correct answer-expression in spoken form that defames a persons character
Miranda Rights Correct answer-The right not to speak and to have an attorney present during
questioning; these rights must be given by police to individuals suspected of criminal activity
Plessy v. Ferguson Correct answer-a supreme court case in 1896 that upheld racial segregation
Voting Rights Act of 1965 Correct answer-a law designed to help end formal and informal barriers
to African-American suffrage
initiatives and referendums Correct answer-processes that allow citizens of many states to vote
directly on particular pieces of legislation. An initiative process allows citizens to propose or initiate a
statute or constitutional amendment.
Separation of Powers Correct answer-a design of government that distributes powers across
institutions in order to avoid making one branch too powerful on its own
the federalist papers Correct answer-A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton,
John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.
Full Faith and Credit Clause Correct answer-a portion of the constitution that generally requires
states to honor licenses and judicial outcomes of other states
Dual v. Cooperative Federalism Correct answer-dual federalism: the federal system under which
the national and state governments are responsible for separate policy areas
cooperative federalism: the federal system under which the national and state governments share
responsibilities for most domestic policy areas
bicameral legislature Correct answer-a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
VA and NJ Plans Correct answer-Both proposed 3 Branches of Government.
Legislative (Congress - Law making)
Executive (President - Enforces laws)
Judicial (interprets laws)
