Social Studies Review for GHSGT American Government Powers

Social Studies Review for GHSGT American Government

Powers of Government n Legislative Power – the power to make laws n Executive Power – The power to carry out the laws n Judicial Power – The power to interpret and apply the law

The Goals of the United States Government Specific aims of our national government are made clear in two important documents: -The Declaration of Independence -The Preamble of the U. S. Constitution

Declaration of Independence n Right to Life n Right to Liberty n Right to Pursue Happiness

The U. S. Constitution n To Insure Domestic Tranquility n To Provide for the Common Defense n To Secure the Blessings of Liberty n To Establish Justice n To Promote the General Welfare n To Form a More Perfect Union

Two important things about these objectives n Language is quite broad n It is possible for some of these goals to come into conflict – In evaluating the goals of our government, some goals are given priority over others at certain times

Popular Sovereignty n The Constitution is based on the republican form of government n Popular Sovereignty – The will of the people – The people decide, by majority rule, what they want

Federalism n n Authors of the Constitution feared giving too much power to the national government Bitter experiences with the powerful British government Tried to tax without representation or consent Power is shared between the national (federal) government and local governing units (state governments)

Delegated Powers n National – Declare war – Negotiate treaties – Issue money – Regulate interstate and foreign trade – Maintain military forces

Reserved Powers n States – Regulate education – Grant licenses – Provide police and fire protection – Regulate the sale of property within the state

Concurrent Powers n National and State – Levy Taxes – Define crimes and their punishment – Determine voting qualifications – Borrow money

Implied Powers not directly granted to the national government, but implied from those powers that were expressly granted to the national government in the U. S. Constitution

Question #1 n The basic purpose of our constitutional system of checks and balances is to A. Protect the rights of states B. Prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful C. Enable the federal government to run as efficiently as possible D. Provide a written guarantee of the rights of each citizen

Answer #1 n B. Prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful

Question #2 n The U. S. government is considered a federal system because a. National laws must be passed by both houses of Congress b. Powers are divided between its national and state governments c. The states are guaranteed a republican form of government d. The President is selected by the electoral college.

Answer #2 n B. Powers are divided between its national and state governments

Bill of Rights #3 n Which of the following is not protected by the Bill of Rights? n A. Speech n B. Quartering of troops n C. Freedom to immigrate n D. Cruel and unusual punishment

Answer! n C. Freedom to immigrate

Judicial Review #4 n What Supreme Court case established the power of judicial review? n A. Brown vs. Board of Education n B. Plessy vs. Ferguson n C. Marbury vs. Madison n D. Mc. Cullouch vs. Maryland

Answer n C. Marbury vs. Madison

Checks and Balances #5 n Which of the following is not an example of the ability of Congress to check the President? n A. Senate must approve a treaty n B. Congress approves the budget n C. Congress can override a veto n D. Congress declares bills unconstitutional

Answer n D. Congress declares bills unconstitutional

Electoral College #6 n How do you determine how many Electoral Votes each state can cast? n A. Total number of Senators n B. Supreme Court does this n C. Sum of number of representatives and senators that a state has. n D. Population

Answer n C. Sum of number of representatives and senators that a state has.

Terms of Office #7 n Which of the following is the correct match between the position and the term of office? n A. President – 2 years n B. Senator – 6 years n C. House of Representatives - 4 years n D. Supreme Court – 10 years

Answer n B. Senator – 6 years

Due Process #8 n The concept of “due process” refers to n A. How states tax individuals n B. Segregation laws n C. Procedures to ensure a fair trial n D. The right to life liberty and property

Answer n C. Procedures to ensure a fair trial

Natural Rights #9 n From whom did the authors of the Declaration of Independence get their idea of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”? n A. George Washington n B. John Locke n C. Plato n D. Abraham Lincoln

Answer n B. John Locke

Articles of Confederation #10 n Which of the following was a key weakness of the Articles of Confederation? n A. A strong president n B. An effective executive and judiciary n C. Too much power at the state level n D. No legislative branch

Answer n C. Too much power at the state level

Federalism #11 n Which of the following powers is primarily exercised by states in our Federal system of government? n A. Defense n B. Granting titles and nobility n C. Education n D. Coining money

Answer n C. Education

Constitutional Amendments #12 n Which of the following is the correct method for changing the Constitution? n A. Congress proposes and states ratify n B. The people vote n C. The President approves and states ratify n D. None of the above

Answer n Congress proposes and states ratify

Impeachment #13 n Which body of government holds the impeachment trial of the President? n A. House of Representatives n B. Supreme Court n C. Electoral College n D. Senate

Answer n D. Senate