Civics Test #1 (lessons 1, 2, 3, & 5)

A constitution can be described as what?

A plan that sets forth the structure and powers of government

Voting, serving on a jury, and obeying laws are examples of what?

Citizens' civic duties

Society divided into different classes, social relationships thought of as permanent/hereditary, and rights/duties being tied to group membership or to particular grants of land were essential ideas of what?

Feudalism

Identify a law of action from current times that illustrates the ideals of either classical republicanism OR natural rights philosophy.

Freedom of speech clearly illustrates the ideals of the natural rights philosophy. It is serving the individual and their natural right of liberty. It allows the individual to be an individual and say what they want to.

What conclusion can be drawn from the quote: "The only representatives of the people of these colonies are persons chosen therein by themselves; and that no taxes ever have been, or can be constitutionally imposed on them but by their respective legislatures."

Only the colonists' elected representatives should have the power to levy taxes

Who was allowed to vote in the U.S. first?

Only white, property-owning men were allowed to vote at the beginning of democracy

What settlement is often regarded as marking the beginning of the modern system of nation-states?

Peace of Westphalia

Where did the Mayflower actually land?

Plymouth, Massachusetts

In the 1500s, why did secular rulers support Martin Luther and the Reformation?

Secular rulers saw the Reformation as an opportunity to free themselves from the Catholic Church's political influence

Is the government servant to the people or the master?

The people

How did the Reformation and/or the Judeo-Christian morality led to the idea of natural rights philosophy?

The reformation led to the idea of natural rights philosophy because it said that every individual could have a relationship with God. Therefore creating private and individual acts of morality. When people no longer needed the church to communicate with God, they questioned other acts, thus leading to the creation of the natural rights philosophy.

Where was the Mayflower supposed to land?

Virginia

What source did the Founders derive legal ideas concerning rights of persons, rights of things, torts, and crimes?

William Blackstone

To say the rights to life, liberty, and property are inalienable mean that they

cannot be given up or taken away

What theory of government that focuses on the whole group or community rather than the individual? With this theory, everyone is to participate in society and promote the general welfare and common good. Civic virtue and public mortality acts are also valued.

classic republicanism

What economic system is most closely ties with a country's government?

communism

According to Aristotle, what is the corrupt form of polity (mixed constitution)?

democracy

What form of government offers individual's the most freedom

democracy

What are some of the roots of American Government?

direct democracy of Greece, Rome's republic, and John Locke's theory of the protection of natural rights

The Enlightenment inspired America's Founders by..

emphasizing what could be achieved through the exersize of human reason

What system/structure of government divides power between the national and state governments?

federal

The ideas of the Athenian State, Roman Law, and the Mayflower Compact contributed most significantly to the growth of the principles of..

government under law and the consent of the governed

A major difference between American colonial society and European society of the same period was...

greater emphasis in America on wealth rather than family background

This philosophy states that everyone is born with certain inalienable rights (life, liberty and property) that the government can't take away. It promotes the individual over a group goal, but everyone must provide for themselves. They value private mortality and faith.

natural rights philosophy

An idea that political power is derived from the people is called..

popular sovereignty

The founders believed in separation of power was important to..

prevent the misuse of power

According to the natural rights philosophy, the main purpose of government is to..

protect individual rights

Civic virtue is best defined as..

putting the common good to above individual interests

The United States has what form of government?

representative democracy

How is the feudal system associated with classical republicanism?

rigid social structures community provides for everyone no shifting social positions promoted common good community provides together rather than every man for themselves.

What were the two important incentives the British Crown offered to entice settlers to go to America?

royal proprietorships and joint-stock companies

What ancient British legal principle holds that all people are equal before the law, all are subject to it, and no one is above it?

rule of law

What does "The individual can be free only when the power of one government branch is balanced by the other two" illustrate?

separation of powers

In the Colonial Era, developments such as the New England town meetings and the establishment of the Virginia House of Burgesses represented..

steps in the growth of representative democracy

In comparison with Greek and Roman ideals of civic virtue, the Judeo-Christian tradition did what?

stressed the dignity and worth of each individual

The basic principle underlying the United States Constitution is that..

the people are the ultimate source of power