Civic Literacy Review study test guide
with 100% complete solutions
Electoral College - ANS 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 - ANS 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 - ANS 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 - ANS 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 - ANS is the breaking of the gov't into Federal and state levels, each having certain
powers
Checks and Balances - ANS 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 - ANS headed by the President and carries out the laws; also includes the
Vice President and the Cabinet members
Engel v. Vitale (1962) - ANS 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)
Miranda vs. Arizona, 1961 - ANS 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) - ANS 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) - ANS 14th amendment Due Process Clause allows requirements for state
delinquency proceedings. established the principle that young persons have constitutional rights
Bill - ANS a statute in draft before it becomes law
Chief Justice - ANS the judge who presides over the supreme court
Commander-in-Chief - ANS The role of the president as the supreme commander of the armed
forces of the United States.
Governor - ANS highest ranking member of a state's executive branch
Reserved powers - ANS powers reserved for the states; examples: creating and maintaining an
education system, creating local governments
Veto power - ANS presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it
impeachment - ANS a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
presidential succession - ANS 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, ...
U.S. Supreme Court - ANS 9 justices nominated by President, confirmed by Senate; highest
court in the nation; hears only appeals; interprets Constitutional law
Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts - ANS A series of acts passed by the government in response to
the Boston Tea Party. They caused outrage, as the colonists viewed the acts as a violation of
their rights. This led to the creation of the First Continental Congress and the Revolutionary War.
Boston Tea Party - ANS demonstration (1773) by citizens of Boston who raided three British
ships in Boston harbor and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor; organized as a
protest against taxes on tea.
Amendment 9 - ANS People's rights are not limited to those in the Constitution.
Amendment 10 - ANS Amendment that states some powers reserved to the states
with 100% complete solutions
Electoral College - ANS 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 - ANS 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 - ANS 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 - ANS 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 - ANS is the breaking of the gov't into Federal and state levels, each having certain
powers
Checks and Balances - ANS 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 - ANS headed by the President and carries out the laws; also includes the
Vice President and the Cabinet members
Engel v. Vitale (1962) - ANS 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)
Miranda vs. Arizona, 1961 - ANS 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) - ANS 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) - ANS 14th amendment Due Process Clause allows requirements for state
delinquency proceedings. established the principle that young persons have constitutional rights
Bill - ANS a statute in draft before it becomes law
Chief Justice - ANS the judge who presides over the supreme court
Commander-in-Chief - ANS The role of the president as the supreme commander of the armed
forces of the United States.
Governor - ANS highest ranking member of a state's executive branch
Reserved powers - ANS powers reserved for the states; examples: creating and maintaining an
education system, creating local governments
Veto power - ANS presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it
impeachment - ANS a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
presidential succession - ANS 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, ...
U.S. Supreme Court - ANS 9 justices nominated by President, confirmed by Senate; highest
court in the nation; hears only appeals; interprets Constitutional law
Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts - ANS A series of acts passed by the government in response to
the Boston Tea Party. They caused outrage, as the colonists viewed the acts as a violation of
their rights. This led to the creation of the First Continental Congress and the Revolutionary War.
Boston Tea Party - ANS demonstration (1773) by citizens of Boston who raided three British
ships in Boston harbor and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor; organized as a
protest against taxes on tea.
Amendment 9 - ANS People's rights are not limited to those in the Constitution.
Amendment 10 - ANS Amendment that states some powers reserved to the states
