CIVIC LITERACY REVIEW MOST RECENT
Electoral College - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER-is the breaking of the gov't into Federal and state levels,
each having certain powers
Checks and Balances - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER-headed by the President and carries out the laws; also
includes the Vice President and the Cabinet members
, Engel v. Vitale (1962) - CORRECT 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)
Miranda vs. Arizona, 1961 - CORRECT 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) - CORRECT 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) - CORRECT ANSWER-14th amendment Due Process Clause allows
requirements for state delinquency proceedings. established the principle that young
persons have constitutional rights
Bill - CORRECT ANSWER-a statute in draft before it becomes law
Chief Justice - CORRECT ANSWER-the judge who presides over the supreme court
Commander-in-Chief - CORRECT ANSWER-The role of the president as the supreme
commander of the armed forces of the United States.
Governor - CORRECT ANSWER-highest ranking member of a state's executive branch
Reserved powers - CORRECT ANSWER-powers reserved for the states; examples: creating
and maintaining an education system, creating local governments
Veto power - CORRECT ANSWER-presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by
rejecting it
impeachment - CORRECT ANSWER-a formal document charging a public official with
misconduct in office
Electoral College - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER-is the breaking of the gov't into Federal and state levels,
each having certain powers
Checks and Balances - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER-headed by the President and carries out the laws; also
includes the Vice President and the Cabinet members
, Engel v. Vitale (1962) - CORRECT 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)
Miranda vs. Arizona, 1961 - CORRECT 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) - CORRECT 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) - CORRECT ANSWER-14th amendment Due Process Clause allows
requirements for state delinquency proceedings. established the principle that young
persons have constitutional rights
Bill - CORRECT ANSWER-a statute in draft before it becomes law
Chief Justice - CORRECT ANSWER-the judge who presides over the supreme court
Commander-in-Chief - CORRECT ANSWER-The role of the president as the supreme
commander of the armed forces of the United States.
Governor - CORRECT ANSWER-highest ranking member of a state's executive branch
Reserved powers - CORRECT ANSWER-powers reserved for the states; examples: creating
and maintaining an education system, creating local governments
Veto power - CORRECT ANSWER-presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by
rejecting it
impeachment - CORRECT ANSWER-a formal document charging a public official with
misconduct in office
