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CIVIC LITERACY REVIEW QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
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
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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, ...
CIVIC LITERACY REVIEW QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
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
, Page | 2
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, ...
