GOVERNMENT UNIT 1 STUDY GUIDE example #34326

1 February 2023
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question
What is the most widely held ideal of the U.S. Political Culture?
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The Constitution is the most widely held ideal of the US political culture.
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Which description is least likely to be true of a Totalitarian state?
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A totalitarian government is least likely to give authority to the people. A totalitarian government is least likely to give people religious freedom.
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Which factor most greatly limits the power of the U.S. government?
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Checks and balances.
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Which of these political systems would have a 'supreme leader'?
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Dictatorships and monarchies.
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What type of government combines both unitary and federal systems?
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Confederal governments.
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Which political system is run by a group of noble families or wealthy members of society?
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Oligarchy.
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Which of the following is a characteristic of a nation?
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A group of people who share some sort of background such as a culture, religion, or ethnicity. They may not possess a strong political power such as a government that rules over the people. Compared to a state, a nation may be a larger but looser collection of people.
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What feature of a confederal government did the Confederate States of America most want?
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The Southern states wanted to join together and cede a small part of their power to a central government. They wanted that central government to have VERY limited power.
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In which form of government do delegates speak on behalf of citizens?
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Republic (Representative Democracy).
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Which of these is a form of authoritarian government in which government is handed down through family lines and rulers stay in power for life?
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Monarchy.
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Which of these is defined by population, territory, government and sovereignty?
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A state.
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What is a union of independent sovereign states?
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A confederal government.
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What is the primary purpose of most constitutions?
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To limit the government power.
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Under which type of government would provincial or state governments have the most sovereignty?
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A confederal government.
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Which of the following most inspired the inclusion in the Declaration of Independence of the right of the people to revolt against a tyrannical government?
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John Locke.
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Which ideal is not an essential element of the English political tradition?
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Divine Right.
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Which Enlightenment philosopher introduced the idea that people enter a social contract with the purpose of maintaining order in society?
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Thomas Hobbes.
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What was the purpose of Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England?
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To advocate for the traditional definition of common law.
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What kind of government was enacted by the Athenian Assembly?
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A direct democracy.
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Under feudalism, which group was responsible for ruling different regions of a country?
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Nobles.
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What effect did the Mayflower Compact have on American Government?
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It signified that America had the right to govern themselves and create their own laws.
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Which feature of government does Montesquieu argue for in his book De l'Esprit des Lois (Spirit of Laws)?
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Checks and balances.
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Why did the Crown pass the so-called Intolerable acts?
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They wanted the Colonists to pay debts for the war.
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Which Roman contribution to political theory was adapted by the Founding Fathers?
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Enlightenment.
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What right did the English nobles gain when King John signed the Magna Carta?
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They gained the right to a speedy trial and the right of the Great Council (which represented the nobility) to approve taxes passed by the monarchy.
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What was the Mayflower Compact?
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A document signed by the Pilgrims in which the Pilgrims would govern themselves, establishing the concept of consent of the governed.
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Whose political philosophy is most clearly reflected in the Declaration of Independence?
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People are born with natural rights.
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What does this definition describe?: the implied agreement between the people and the government, in which the people give up some of their power and freedom in exchange for protection of their rights.
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Social contract.
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Imagine you are preparing a speech on social contract theory ... you need to focus on the idea that people have the authority to overthrow a government that has become tyrannical. Which Enlightenment text would be good source material?
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John Locke.
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What is considered an important Roman contribution to American government?
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The Enlightenment.
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Which event occurred directly after the Boston Tea Party?
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The Intolerable Acts were passed.
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What was a major problem with the central government under the Articles of Confederation?
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The central government was weak, because it ensured that it would not produce tyranny, but also made it difficult for the confederation to become more than a league of friendship.
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According to the Declaration of Independence, which situation justifies open rebellion against the government?
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If the government fails to protect the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and the right that all men are created equal. This was very similar to the quotes of Enlightenment philosopher, John Locke.
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What form of government did the Articles of Confederation create?
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Confederal government.
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Which idea had a major influence on the authors of the Articles of Confederation?
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The idea that a strong central government leads to tyranny was a major influence on the Articles.
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Which of the following was a major grievance of the colonists against Great Britain?
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Taxing the colonists without their consent.
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How did Shay's Rebellion highlight the major problems with the Articles of Confederation?
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It was caused by a lack of national currency.
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Which document does the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence echo?
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John Locke's Treatises.
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Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
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Thomas Jefferson.
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Great Britain justified raising taxes on colonists because of which event?
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The French and Indian War.
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Which philosopher had the most profound influence on Thomas Jefferson's political thought?
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John Locke.
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Which phrase best describes the form of government created by the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
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It had a stronger central government, and had a system that separated powers, and made sure that no branch got too much power.
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Which flaw in the government created by the Articles of Confederation did Shay's Rebellion make apparent?
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Lack of a national economy.
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According to the Declaration of Independence, what is the power of the government based on?
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The consent of the governed.
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According to the Declaration of Independence, when do the people have the right to overthrow their government?
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When the government is not protecting their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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What was an important concern for the Founding Fathers when drafting the Articles of Confederation?
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Protecting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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Which agreement solved the disagreement over whether slaves should be counted for the purpose for representation?
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The 3/5 Compromise.
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Which commitment of the framers is most clearly reflected in the Constitution as ratified in 1787?
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Principle of limited government.
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Which element of government does the Constitution give full sovereignty to?
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Federal government and the people.
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Which action is most closely associated with the Anti-Federalists' goals?
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A weak central government.
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Which issue did the Great Compromise resolve?
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Representation.
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Although the Anti-Federalists lost their main goal, what important task did they accomplish?
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Having the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution.
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Which issue was at the heart of one of the compromises made between northern and southern states during the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
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Slavery.
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Which system of government did the Constitution create in the United States?
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Federal.
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Which idea did most of the Founding Fathers, despite their differences, agree with?
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The Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced.
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Which belief was generally held by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
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The central government should be stronger.
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Which states' delegates most strongly opposed the Virginia Plan?
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Smaller states.
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Which system did the new government created under the Constitution use?
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Federal.
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The Federalists and Anti-Federalists argued primarily over which issue?
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Strength of central government.
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Shay's Rebellion in western Massachusetts showed that the national government needed additional powers to address some urgent issues. Which issues were they?
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They needed to find a balance between liberty, order, and democracy.
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The Constitution created a federal system in the United States. Which of the following best describes a federal government?
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A federal government is a system that divides power between a central government, state governments, and local governments.
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Which of the four "progressive amendments" gave women the right to vote?
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The 19th Amendment.
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According to the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution, what do the "enumerated rights" in the Bill of Rights not do?
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The enumerated rights are not the only rights that exist. Human rights are not limited to the Bill of Rights.
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Who can propose an amendment to the Constitution?
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Congress, by a 2/3 vote.
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What does a strict constructionist believe?
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The original intent or meaning of the Framers should guide the interpretation of the Constitution.
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Which statement best expresses the purpose of the opening words of the US Constitution, "We the people"?
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To represent that all the citizens are speaking. However, when the Framers were developing the Constitution, they did not think about the minorities.
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Which of the following is the best example of a check on presidential power?
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Guarding the civil liberties of the citizens.
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How many articles does the Constitution have?
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7
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Why did the Founding Fathers include the Bill of Rights with the Constitution?
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It describes the freedoms and rights of Americans. This would help the public see that the government is keeping its word about not having too much power.
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Which statement best describes federalism?
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Shared powers between federal, local, and state governments.
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What concept is illustrated by the fact that Congress has the power to introduce and pass laws, and the president has the responsibility to enforce all federal laws?
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Separation of powers.
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Which is the best description of civil liberties?
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Protections of rights from the government.
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Which three amendments were passed shortly after the Civil War?
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Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth.
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Which document begins with the words "We the people of the United States"?
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The Constitution.
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What is the defining right of a representative democracy?
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It has the people vote to elect a government representative.
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What were the Founding Fathers trying to create when they divided powers between the judicial, legislative, and executive branches?
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Checks and balances.
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Which sentence in the US Constitution provides for limiting the power of government?
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The sentence that states about checks and balances.