Unit 1

Which statement best describes the two main functions of US government? It creates laws and provides leadership. It pays for services and controls the prices of goods. It provides loans and responds to emergencies. It organizes public works and helps businesses.

It creates laws and provides leadership.

Why did colonists feel the Articles of Confederation were necessary even though the Declaration of Independence was already written? The Declaration of Independence outlined a system of government but did not specify how much power that government could have. The Declaration of Independence determined individual rights but did not discuss how those rights influenced others. The Declaration of Independence called for a federal system of government but did not plan for the role of individual states. The Declaration of Independence outlined a relationship between individuals and the government but did not detail the power and control of that government.

The Declaration of Independence outlined a relationship between individuals and the government but did not detail the power and control of that government.

If leaders wanted to create a government that is more effective than the government under the Articles of Confederation, which is the most important idea that should be embraced? The federal and state governments should be equal. The federal government cannot be weak. The federal government must have an elected leader. The state governments should be weak.

The federal government cannot be weak.

What was the result of administrative weaknesses under the Articles of Confederation? The national government could not maintain order. The national government overruled many state laws. The national government courts found people guilty without a trial. The national government taxes were too high.

The national government could not maintain order.

What was the national government's biggest concern if facing a war, under the Articles of Confederation? The national government had no national military. The country had grown too large to defend with a small army. The states would not back the federal government. There was no way the states would pay for fighting a war.

The national government had no national military.

Which statement best represents an economic weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation? The national government was unable to collect taxes. National and state taxes combined were too high for most citizens to pay. Congress set different tax rates for each state, leading to conflict. States refused to collect taxes on behalf of the national government.

The national government was unable to collect taxes.

Thomas Hobbes/John Locke/Baron de Montesquieu supported the Enlightenment idea that people are naturally selfish.

Thomas Hobbes

The preamble to the Declaration of Independence outlines the principles upon which the new government would be based. Which of these best describes one of those principles? a government based on a social contract the end of taxation without representation the removal of the British military a need for equality regardless of race or gender

a government based on a social contract

What is the best definition of unicameral? a representative of the people an agreement by which each party gives up something a government with one legislative body a government with no legislative body

a government with one legislative body

When leaders use religious laws to govern, they most likely represent a democracy. an autocracy. a monarchy. a theocracy.

a theocracy.

A delegate proposes amending the Articles of Confederation. How many states would have to agree in order for the amendment to pass? a simple majority all of them three-fourths two-thirds

all of them

How did the philosophers of the Enlightenment view the relationship between government and the governed? as mutually beneficial as more beneficial to the government as more beneficial to the governed as balanced

as mutually beneficial

Which type of governmental power does a unitary system hold? centralized power state power shared power local power

centralized power

The Magna Carta established the rights of citizens. neighboring countries. non-Christian believers. military officers.

citizens

John Locke believed that natural rights should be given only to the majority. should be limited for all people. do not come from the government. do not pertain to economic issues.

do not come from the government.

In the US government, citizens play a key role in foreign policy. business. economic policy. elections.

elections.

The Magna Carta placed clear limits on the power of the citizens. army. king. Church.

king.

Common law refers to laws determined through due process. precedent. the rule of law. the separation of powers.

precedent.

Key privileges included in both the English Bill of Rights and the US Bill of Rights include protection against unusual punishment and the right to trial by jury. the rights to bear arms and to enact legislation after debate. the rights to equal taxation and to trial by jury. protection against unusual punishment and the right to suspend laws.

protection against unusual punishment and the right to trial by jury.

Which rights were granted to many citizens in the English Bill of Rights? Check all that apply. right to trial by jury right to suspend laws protection and equal rights for all religions protection from cruel and unusual punishment right to bear arms

right to trial by jury protection from cruel and unusual punishment right to bear arms

A charter is a written document that states the conditions of an agreement. describes the separation of powers in diagram form. lists the items for sale in a shop. describes, in Latin, which laws should be followed.

states the conditions of an agreement.

In what part of the Great Compromise are the ideas of the Virginia Plan represented? the Senate the House of Representatives the Office of the President the Unicameral Legislature

the House of Representatives

In which section of the Declaration of Independence is the purpose of government described? the Preamble the body the conclusion the grievances

the Preamble

Once the delegates settled the Great Compromise, what issue did they tackle next? the New Jersey Plan the Virginia Plan the Electoral process for the presidency the Three-Fifths Compromise

the Three-Fifths Compromise

Why did Montesquieu advocate the separation of powers? to stop political parties from gaining too much power to ensure power divisions along party lines to eliminate conflict between branches of government to limit the power of any single group or person

to limit the power of any single group or person

Which best describes an important civic responsibility? legislating voting taxing teaching

voting

The English document that laid the groundwork for judges in the US to rule based on precedent is known as the

Commentaries on the Laws of England

Which statement best describes a similarity between voting in the US and in other democratic countries? In some countries, citizens do not have the right to vote. In some countries, citizens have the right to vote but choose not to. In some countries, citizens vote for communist leaders. In some countries, citizens vote for monarchs.

In some countries, citizens have the right to vote but choose not to.

Legal/Natural/Divine rights are basic rights to which all humans are entitled.

Natural

According to the English Bill of Rights, who makes laws regarding taxation? monarchs Parliament the judiciary the military

Parliament

State governments must follow which type of laws? local federal regional judicial

federal

Which had the greatest influence in prompting the Second Continental Congress to declare independence? the battles of Lexington and Concord King George III's rejection of peaceful reconciliation financial support from France and Spain increased open public support for independence

increased open public support for independence

In a parliamentary system of representative democracy, the prime minister is appointed by the monarch. is elected by representatives chosen by the people. is the leader of the party that won the most seats in parliament. is elected directly by the people.

is the leader of the party that won the most seats in parliament.

The Magna Carta led to the creation of Parliament, England's executive branch. legislative branch. royal branch. judicial branch.

legislative branch.

According to John Locke, rulers/philosophers/enemies must respect the rights of the citizens.

rulers

What event prompted the formation of the First Continental Congress? the Boston Massacre the Boston Tea Party the battles of Lexington and Concord the publication of Thomas Paine's Common Sense

the Boston Tea Party

That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal. This passage from the English Bill of Rights led to the protection of which right? the freedom to bear arms the right to pass taxes the freedom of speech the right to vote

the freedom of speech

Which scenario is not guaranteed under the Articles of Confederation? State militias could provide for the nation's defense. The national government could pass a law to make theft illegal. A merchant could always use the same currency in Connecticut and Georgia. The government wants to settle a dispute with France by signing a treaty.

A merchant could always use the same currency in Connecticut and Georgia.

What is the main way a representative democracy differs from a direct democracy? Citizens elect leaders who vote on the issues in a representative democracy, and citizens vote on the issues in a direct democracy. A representative democracy is modern, and a direct democracy is ancient. A representative democracy works better in small groups, and a direct democracy works better in large groups. Citizens' desires are ignored in a representative democracy, and citizens' desires have a better chance of being heard in a direct democracy.

Citizens elect leaders who vote on the issues in a representative democracy, and citizens vote on the issues in a direct democracy.

John Locke, an Enlightenment-era philosopher, influenced the American movement for independence. Locke believed that all people were entitled to natural rights. Which quotation from the preamble to the Declaration of Independence refers to natural rights? "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." "[I]t is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." "[T]hey are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

"[T]hey are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Why did Thomas Paine question British authority to rule the colonies in Common Sense? He believed the king would only approve laws that benefited Britain. He believed Parliament did not understand the needs of the American people. He believed British laws could not be enforced from a distance. He believed the size of the colonies made them impossible for Britain to rule.

He believed the king would only approve laws that benefited Britain.

John Locke thought people were neither good nor bad naturally. How did Hobbes's views differ from Locke's? Hobbes thought people were naturally violent. Hobbes thought people were naturally kind. Hobbes thought people were naturally peaceful. Hobbes thought people were naturally evil.

Hobbes thought people were naturally violent.

What is the main difference between federal and confederal systems of government? In a federal system there is no centralized authority, while in a confederal system power is distributed equally among the states. In a federal system there is no centralized authority, while in a confederal system local offices give advice to a centralized authority. In a federal system there is centralized authority, while in a confederal system power is distributed equally among the states. In a federal system power is distributed equally, while in a confederal system the states have less authority than the central government.

In a federal system there is centralized authority, while in a confederal system power is distributed equally among the states.

Which statement about the Great Compromise is accurate? It included all of Edmund Randolph's ideas. It was a completely new and different plan. It overlooked the issue of state representation. It merged the ideas of multiple delegates' plans.

It merged the ideas of multiple delegates' plans.

Was the Declaration of Independence intended to be a formal declaration of war? Why or why not? Yes. Though fighting preceded the writing, it was intended to be a formal declaration of war. No. The war started a year before the Declaration of Independence was written. Yes. The Declaration of Independence formally united the militias of the individual colonies. No. There was no need to declare war, as this power had yet to be established.

No. The war started a year before the Declaration of Independence was written.

Which statement is true of government in England before the English Bill of Rights? The king had complete power. The king had no authority at all. Parliament advised the king, who made all decisions. Parliament made all the laws, with the advice of the king.

Parliament advised the king, who made all decisions.

Read the quotation from the Declaration of Independence. "For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world." Which reason best explains why this grievance was included in the Declaration? The colonists could not get goods without the Crown's permission. The colonists could export goods only to Britain. The British closed ports to punish the colonies. Trade focused on generating income for the Crown only.

The British closed ports to punish the colonies.

Which statement best characterizes a dictatorship? The leader shares power, if necessary. The leader maintains power through force. The leader inherits power through birth. The leader is blessed by the church.

The leader maintains power through force.

Under the Articles of Confederation, why was the national government unable to raise revenue? Check all that apply. The national government was not given the power to regulate trade. The national government needed approval from the states to collect taxes. The states voted to allow the national bank to go bankrupt. The state and national currencies competed with each other. The national government could not create national money.

The national government was not given the power to regulate trade. The national government needed approval from the states to collect taxes. The state and national currencies competed with each other.

Which statement about the northern states in the 1780s is accurate? Their economy was based on agriculture. They had far fewer large cities than the southern states. They generally had less enslaved labor than the southern states. They had very large farms called plantations.

They generally had less enslaved labor than the southern states.

Why were taxes an ongoing source of conflict for the American colonists? They did not get sufficient government services. They paid a higher tax rate than those living in England. They were taxed without having representation in Parliament. They felt the taxes should be invested in colonial infrastructure.

They were taxed without having representation in Parliament.

Under the Articles of Confederation, if Virginia had ten thousand citizens and Delaware had five thousand citizens, how many votes would each state have in the legislature? Virginia would have ten, and Delaware would have five. Virginia would have one, and Delaware would have five. Virginia would have one, and Delaware would have one. Virginia would have three, and Delaware would have two.

Virginia would have one, and Delaware would have one.

Which of these was not a key difference between Northern and Southern states at the Constitutional Convention? Wanting to protect states' interests vs. a government with strict rules Having more, larger cities vs. having fewer, smaller cities Wanting to protect agriculture vs. protect industries Having many enslaved people vs. using less enslaved labor

Wanting to protect states' interests vs. a government with strict rules

Citizens would most likely state their views about issues affecting their community during a Supreme Court hearing. a congressional hearing. a state senate meeting. a city council meeting.

a city council meeting.

Central and state governments influence each other in a unitary system. a federal system. a confederal system. a democratic system.

a federal system.

The fact that there was no national military was a weakness in which area of government? legislative judicial administrative economic

administrative

In a direct democracy, who votes on government policy? senators all citizens representatives only democrats

all citizens

How did the Enlightenment's theories of government view the role of government? as benevolent as absolute as transparent as useful

as useful

In the United States, who elects the legislature? the Senate the House citizens political parties

citizens

The Constitution was a result of multiple legislations. democracies. compromises. populations.

compromises.

The two forms of democracy are national and state. republican and democrat. local and national. direct and representative.

direct and representative.

Which practice is not an effective way for people to influence government policies? voting for or against the president of the United States discussing a policy with peers who share the same view voting for or against public safety and welfare services campaigning for a representative who is a policy expert

discussing a policy with peers who share the same view

In a federal system of government, power is divided between the national government and the states. held by one person who makes all the decisions. held by a central government that makes decisions. divided equally between all state governments.

divided between the national government and the states.

Which responsibilities were assigned to the central government under the Articles of Confederation? taxing goods and services maintaining a militia drawing up treaties publishing a newspaper

drawing up treaties

The concept of checks and balances ensures that each branch of government does not have power over the others. only one branch of government maintains power over the others. each branch of government has the ability to limit the power of the others. no branch of government has a separate power from the others.

each branch of government has the ability to limit the power of the others.

A public welfare service that the US government provides is firefighting. education. hospitals. electricity.

education.

The part of the US government that carries out laws is the legislative branch. judicial branch. executive branch. congressional branch.

executive branch.

In a unitary system of government, power is held by state governments. held by a central government. held by a single person. held by a group of people.

held by a central government.

The part of the US government that interprets laws is the executive branch. vice president. Senate. judicial branch.

judicial branch.

Which was an area of weakness in the federal government under the Articles of Confederation? regulatory power authoritative power democratic power legislative power

legislative power

What are the three branches of federal government set up by the Constitution? legislative, executive, and judicial congressional, executive, and legislative legislative, executive, and provisional constitutional, executive, and provisional

legislative, executive, and judicial

According to the 1790 census, where did most enslaved people live? only in the North mostly in the South mostly in the Mid-West only in the far West

mostly in the South

In a unitary system of government, local offices have equal power with the central government. elect representatives to the central government. can veto decisions made by the central government. must follow decisions made by the central government.

must follow decisions made by the central government.

How many of the thirteen states needed to approve a law before it could be passed, under the Articles of Confederation? three seven nine thirteen

nine

Which act could be considered an acceptance of the social contract? paying the electric bill in exchange for using electricity viewing commercials in exchange for watching network news broadcasts observing traffic laws in exchange for driving on the highway paying the water bill in exchange for taking a shower

observing traffic laws in exchange for driving on the highway

The US Constitution structures the government by creating a system that divides power equally between the states. organizes power on state and local levels. organizes power on federal, state, and local levels. divides power between executive and judicial branches.

organizes power on federal, state, and local levels.

What was the subject of the most debate between large and small states at the Constitutional Convention? taxes slavery representation delegation

representation

The issue of slavery at the Constitutional Convention was actually an issue about representation. taxes. population. legislature.

representation.

The English Bill of Rights declared that each member of Parliament had the right to speak freely. refuse to pay taxes. disobey laws. serve as king.

speak freely.

Which factors contributed to the beginning of the Enlightenment movement? Check all that apply. the age of science and scientific inquiry the revival of religious belief and study the age of reason-based inquiry the advancement in all areas of human interest the resurgence of past ideas and principles

the age of science and scientific inquiry the age of reason-based inquiry the advancement in all areas of human interest

What does the US government help regulate? the economy national elections the judiciary local government

the economy

The Declaration of Independence intended to end British rule in the colonies, and grant citizens the right to freedom of speech the right to self-govern the ability to live without a government the ability to vote for a president

the right to self-govern

If a power was not specified under the Articles of Confederation, who would be responsible for it? the federal government the legislature the states the delegates

the states

What is the main reason voters choose political candidates? to represent their interests in the economy to create policies that favor them to get rid of policies they do not like to represent their interests in government

to represent their interests in government

Which term is synonymous with "natural rights," according to Enlightenment philosophers? legal rights divine rights positive rights universal rights

universal rights