U.S. GOVERNMENT STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
Fifthteenth Amendment - Right to Vote
Seventeenth Amendment - Direct election of senators
Nineteenth Amendment - Women's sufferage
Twenty-First Amendment - Repeal of prohibition
Twenty-Fourth Amendment - Abolition of poll taxes
Twenty-Sixth Amendment - 18-year-old right to vote
Original Method of Electing House Members - Originally, members of the Senate were
selected by the state legislatures for staggered 6 year terms, in accordance with Article
1, Section 3 of the Constitution.
Reserved Powers - The powers that the constitution sets aside for the state
governments.
Powers Denied to the States (Delegated powers) - The powers, also called enumerated
or expressed powers, that are specifically granted to the federal government by the
constitution.
Sovereignty - The authority of a nation-state's right to rule itself.
Federalists - Supporters of a strong central government, as described in the
constitution.
Anti-Federalists - Those who opposed the adoption of the constitution.
Due Process - The principle, guaranteed in the constitution, that the state and federal
governments must not deprive an individual of life, liberty, or property by unfair or
unreasonable actions.
American Disabilities Act - passed in 1990, extends many of the protections established
for racial minorities and women to disabled persons. Disabled described as having a
physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major activities of life.
Bill of Rights (Limiting Government Power) - Added to the constitution in 1791, this
keeps the national government from limiting personal freedoms.
Vietnam War (Influence on the Constitution) - ...
, Recall - The process by which voters can vote to remove the public official from office.
Referendum - The process by which a proposed public measure is voted upon.
Initiative - the process by which citizens can propose a law or state constitutional
amendment to be voted upon in an election.
Eminent Domain - The governments right to take control of private property for public
use.
Double Jeopardy - The act of bringing a person to trial a second time for the same
crime.
Total Number of Amendments - 27
Representative Government - A system in which policies are made by officials
accountable to the people who elected them.
Concurrent Powers - The powers that both national and state governments have.
Great Compromise - Congress is bicameral, there are two senators per state and
representatives by population in the House of representatives.
Republic - A democracy in which the Supreme power lies with the citizens to vote for
officials and representatives responsible to them.
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation - The balance between liberty and order
tilted too far to the side of Liberty and as a result the country sink into turmoil and chaos.
State Constitution - Organize a militia in a time of need, elections of all public officials,
set up voting procedures and polling places.
Property Taxes - A tax on land and buildings, usually levied by local government.
State Taxes - Taxes set by local and state governments on purchased items, annual
income, and licenses.
Jim Crow Laws - Stat and local laws that discriminated against African-Americans and
supported segregation.
Privatization - ...
Weak Mayor Council Plan - Few budgetary, veto, or appointment powers. Mayor must
often share executive authority with boards and commission. Little influence on city
council.
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
Fifthteenth Amendment - Right to Vote
Seventeenth Amendment - Direct election of senators
Nineteenth Amendment - Women's sufferage
Twenty-First Amendment - Repeal of prohibition
Twenty-Fourth Amendment - Abolition of poll taxes
Twenty-Sixth Amendment - 18-year-old right to vote
Original Method of Electing House Members - Originally, members of the Senate were
selected by the state legislatures for staggered 6 year terms, in accordance with Article
1, Section 3 of the Constitution.
Reserved Powers - The powers that the constitution sets aside for the state
governments.
Powers Denied to the States (Delegated powers) - The powers, also called enumerated
or expressed powers, that are specifically granted to the federal government by the
constitution.
Sovereignty - The authority of a nation-state's right to rule itself.
Federalists - Supporters of a strong central government, as described in the
constitution.
Anti-Federalists - Those who opposed the adoption of the constitution.
Due Process - The principle, guaranteed in the constitution, that the state and federal
governments must not deprive an individual of life, liberty, or property by unfair or
unreasonable actions.
American Disabilities Act - passed in 1990, extends many of the protections established
for racial minorities and women to disabled persons. Disabled described as having a
physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major activities of life.
Bill of Rights (Limiting Government Power) - Added to the constitution in 1791, this
keeps the national government from limiting personal freedoms.
Vietnam War (Influence on the Constitution) - ...
, Recall - The process by which voters can vote to remove the public official from office.
Referendum - The process by which a proposed public measure is voted upon.
Initiative - the process by which citizens can propose a law or state constitutional
amendment to be voted upon in an election.
Eminent Domain - The governments right to take control of private property for public
use.
Double Jeopardy - The act of bringing a person to trial a second time for the same
crime.
Total Number of Amendments - 27
Representative Government - A system in which policies are made by officials
accountable to the people who elected them.
Concurrent Powers - The powers that both national and state governments have.
Great Compromise - Congress is bicameral, there are two senators per state and
representatives by population in the House of representatives.
Republic - A democracy in which the Supreme power lies with the citizens to vote for
officials and representatives responsible to them.
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation - The balance between liberty and order
tilted too far to the side of Liberty and as a result the country sink into turmoil and chaos.
State Constitution - Organize a militia in a time of need, elections of all public officials,
set up voting procedures and polling places.
Property Taxes - A tax on land and buildings, usually levied by local government.
State Taxes - Taxes set by local and state governments on purchased items, annual
income, and licenses.
Jim Crow Laws - Stat and local laws that discriminated against African-Americans and
supported segregation.
Privatization - ...
Weak Mayor Council Plan - Few budgetary, veto, or appointment powers. Mayor must
often share executive authority with boards and commission. Little influence on city
council.
