CIVIC LITERACY REVIEW EXAM KEY TERMS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
Electoral College - (ANSWER)The president is elected by a majority of electoral votes. After an election a
group of electors chosen by each state officially cast the electoral votes for their state to choose the
President.
Articles of Confederation - (ANSWER)This document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in
1781 during the Revolutionary War to create a national government. The new government was weak
because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control
the coining of money. It was later replaced with the U.S. Constitution.
Great Compromise - (ANSWER)introduced by Roger Sherman; set up a bicameral Congress - upper house
called Senate with each state getting 2 votes & a lower house called the House of Representatives
with each state's representation based on its population--satisfied both the large and small states
3/5 Compromise - (ANSWER)compromise made when writing the Constitution to sastify both free and
slave states; said for every 5 slaves, 3 would count in a state's population for both representation and
tax purposes
Federalism - (ANSWER)is the breaking of the gov't into Federal and state levels, each having certain
powers
Checks and Balances - (ANSWER)system of each branch of gov't having a power to check the power of
the other to make sure no one branch becomes too powerful
Executive Branch - (ANSWER)headed by the President and carries out the laws; also includes the Vice
President and the Cabinet members
Engel v. Vitale (1962) - (ANSWER)separation between Church and State in schools. S.C. prayer in public
schools is unconstitutional, violates separation of church and state and freedom of religion (First
Amendment)
, CIVIC LITERACY REVIEW EXAM KEY TERMS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
Miranda vs. Arizona, 1961 - (ANSWER)This case proves that the 5th Amendment requires that
individuals arrested for a crime must be advised of their right to remain silent and to have counsel
present.
Mapp v. Ohio (1961) - (ANSWER)Evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which
protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures," may not be used in criminal prosecutions in
state courts, as well as federal courts.
In Re Gault (1967) - (ANSWER)14th amendment Due Process Clause allows requirements for state
delinquency proceedings. established the principle that young persons have constitutional rights
Bill - (ANSWER)a statute in draft before it becomes law
Chief Justice - (ANSWER)the judge who presides over the supreme court
Commander-in-Chief - (ANSWER)The role of the president as the supreme commander of the armed
forces of the United States.
Governor - (ANSWER)highest ranking member of a state's executive branch
Reserved powers - (ANSWER)powers reserved for the states; examples: creating and maintaining an
education system, creating local governments
Veto power - (ANSWER)presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it
impeachment - (ANSWER)a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
presidential succession - (ANSWER)the order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a
vacancy-1. Vice President, 2. Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3. President of the Senate Pro
Tempore, ...
Electoral College - (ANSWER)The president is elected by a majority of electoral votes. After an election a
group of electors chosen by each state officially cast the electoral votes for their state to choose the
President.
Articles of Confederation - (ANSWER)This document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in
1781 during the Revolutionary War to create a national government. The new government was weak
because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control
the coining of money. It was later replaced with the U.S. Constitution.
Great Compromise - (ANSWER)introduced by Roger Sherman; set up a bicameral Congress - upper house
called Senate with each state getting 2 votes & a lower house called the House of Representatives
with each state's representation based on its population--satisfied both the large and small states
3/5 Compromise - (ANSWER)compromise made when writing the Constitution to sastify both free and
slave states; said for every 5 slaves, 3 would count in a state's population for both representation and
tax purposes
Federalism - (ANSWER)is the breaking of the gov't into Federal and state levels, each having certain
powers
Checks and Balances - (ANSWER)system of each branch of gov't having a power to check the power of
the other to make sure no one branch becomes too powerful
Executive Branch - (ANSWER)headed by the President and carries out the laws; also includes the Vice
President and the Cabinet members
Engel v. Vitale (1962) - (ANSWER)separation between Church and State in schools. S.C. prayer in public
schools is unconstitutional, violates separation of church and state and freedom of religion (First
Amendment)
, CIVIC LITERACY REVIEW EXAM KEY TERMS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
Miranda vs. Arizona, 1961 - (ANSWER)This case proves that the 5th Amendment requires that
individuals arrested for a crime must be advised of their right to remain silent and to have counsel
present.
Mapp v. Ohio (1961) - (ANSWER)Evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which
protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures," may not be used in criminal prosecutions in
state courts, as well as federal courts.
In Re Gault (1967) - (ANSWER)14th amendment Due Process Clause allows requirements for state
delinquency proceedings. established the principle that young persons have constitutional rights
Bill - (ANSWER)a statute in draft before it becomes law
Chief Justice - (ANSWER)the judge who presides over the supreme court
Commander-in-Chief - (ANSWER)The role of the president as the supreme commander of the armed
forces of the United States.
Governor - (ANSWER)highest ranking member of a state's executive branch
Reserved powers - (ANSWER)powers reserved for the states; examples: creating and maintaining an
education system, creating local governments
Veto power - (ANSWER)presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it
impeachment - (ANSWER)a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
presidential succession - (ANSWER)the order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a
vacancy-1. Vice President, 2. Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3. President of the Senate Pro
Tempore, ...
