Term
In the 1780s, many Americans distrusted a strong central government. This distrust is best shown by the
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Definition
plan of government set up by the Articles of Confederation
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Term
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; . . ."
This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of Independence were |
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Definition
| reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment. |
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Term
| The authors of the United States Constitution believed that the voice of the people should be heard frequently. Which part of the Government was instituted to respond most directly to the will of the people? |
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Definition
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Term
| In the United States, the use of implied powers, the amending process, and Supreme Court interpretations have resulted in |
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Definition
| the Constitution being adapted to fit changing times |
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Term
| Which quotation from the United States Constitution provides for a Federal system of government? |
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Definition
| The powers not delegated to the United States . . . are reserved to the states . . |
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Term
| The system of checks and balances is best illustrated by the power of |
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Definition
| the President to veto a bill passed by Congress |
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Term
| Which Presidential action is an example of the unwritten constitution? |
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Definition
| consulting with the Cabinet |
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Term
| A lasting impact of the United States Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall is that the Court's decisions |
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Definition
| expanded the power of the Federal Government |
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Term
| The major role of political parties in the United States is to |
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Definition
| nominate candidates for public office and conduct campaigns |
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Term
| Adherence to a strict interpretation of the Constitution would have prevented President Thomas Jefferson from |
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Definition
| making the Louisiana Purchase |
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Term
| Which factor has made the strongest contribution to the development of religious freedom in the United States? |
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Definition
| Guarantees in the Constitution have encouraged religious expression and toleration. |
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Term
| Which phrase from the Declaration of Independence most clearly reflects the idea that the people are the source of government? |
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Definition
| . . . deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . . |
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Term
| One way in which the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution |
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Definition
| created a national government having three branches |
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Term
| At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from the small states most strongly supported the idea of |
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Definition
| equal representation for the states in the national legislature |
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Term
| Which argument did the authors of the United States Constitution use when they insisted that revenue bills originate in the House of Representatives? |
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Definition
| Frequent elections would make members of the House more responsive to the wishes of the voters. |
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Term
| One way in which the authors of the Constitution tried to create "limited government" was by providing for |
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Definition
| a division of power between the national and state governments |
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Term
| Which action is an example of the unwritten constitution? |
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Definition
| selection of a Presidential candidate by a nominating convention |
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Term
The elastic clause, the amending process, and judicial review are all methods by which
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Definition
| the Constitution may be adapted to meet changing conditions |
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Term
"The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic."
-Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
Which interpretation of the Bill of Rights does this statement illustrate? |
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Definition
| Constitutional protections of liberty are not absolute. |
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Term
| Which action was necessary to change from the indirect to the direct election of United States Senators? |
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Definition
| ratification of a constitutional amendment |
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Term
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
This quotation reflects beliefs mainly derived from |
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Definition
John Locke's theory of natural rights
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Term
| The United States Government is considered a federal system because |
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Definition
| both national and state governments exist within the nation |
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Term
| The flexibility of the original United States Constitution is due mainly to |
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Definition
| its provision for the amending process and judicial interpretation |
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Term
| Antifederalists criticized the United States Constitution primarily because governing power was concentrated in the |
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Definition
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Term
�In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this, you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.�
This passage from the Federalist Papers refers to the need for |
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Definition
| a system of checks and balances |
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Term
| A member of the United States Congress must resign from Congress if elected or appointed to a position in the executive or judicial branch. This requirement is an example of |
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Definition
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Term
| An example of the unwritten constitution in the United States is the |
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Definition
| rise of the two-party political system |
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Term
| The main purpose of lobbying is to |
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Definition
| influence legislation on behalf of special interest groups |
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Term
| The two major political parties make their final selection of a Presidential candidate through |
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Definition
| delegates' votes at a national party convention |
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Term
| Which document is best described as a statement of democratic principles rather than a framework for government? |
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Definition
| Declaration of Independence |
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Term
| The United States Government is considered a federal system because |
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Definition
powers are divided between the State and National Governments
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Term
| The United States Constitution grants certain powers only to the Federal Government. For example, only Congress can declare war. These powers are called |
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Definition
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Term
| Which action would be necessary before the government could deny a person a public trial by an impartial jury? |
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Definition
| ratification of a constitutional amendment |
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Term
| Which feature of the Presidency is a result of a constitutional amendment? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which aspect of lawmaking is a result of the unwritten constitution? |
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Definition
special-interest groups lobbying to try to influence legislation
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Term
| In the United States Government, members of the Cabinet are directly responsible to the |
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Definition
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Term
| The Supreme Court�s power of judicial review is a result of |
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Definition
| the Court�s own interpretation of the Constitution |
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Term
| The equal protection clause of the 14th amendment has been used to challenge the death penalty on the grounds that |
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Definition
| tremendous differences exist from state to state in the application of capital punishment laws |
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Term
| Constitutional amendments have been proposed to ban forced busing, forbid abortion, and prohibit burning the United States flag. These proposals indicate that |
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Definition
| some people disagree with certain Supreme Court decisions |
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Term
| Which historical event best demonstrates the operation of checks and balances? |
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Definition
| The Senate approved the appointment of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. |
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Term
| During the debates over the ratification of the United States Constitution, Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed most strongly over the |
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Definition
| division of powers between the national and state governments |
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Term
| Which constitutional provision was intended to give the people the most influence over the Federal Government? |
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Definition
| direct election of members of the House of Representatives for two-year terms |
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Term
| One similarity between the United States Constitution and the New York State Constitution is that both |
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Definition
| separate the branches of government |
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Term
An example of the unwritten constitution in the United States is the
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Definition
development of the political party system
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Term
| The major political parties in the United States obtain most of their national campaign funds from |
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Definition
the contributions of individuals and special-interest groups
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Term
The Articles of Confederation are best described as a
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Definition
plan of union for the original thirteen states
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Term
| When the United States Constitution was written, which compromise was reached by the authors to gain the support of the states with small populations? |
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Definition
Congress would consist of both a House of Representatives and a Senate.
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Term
Which action could eliminate the electoral college?
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Definition
ratification of a constitutional amendment
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Term
"President Delivers State of the Union Address to Congress."
"President Mobilizes the National Guard To Quell Riots."
"President�s Appointee Will Enforce Federal Guidelines."
These headlines are evidence that the President of the United States |
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Definition
has specific executive, legislative, and military powers
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Term
| The authors of the Articles of Confederation established a decentralized political system mainly to |
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Definition
prevent the abuses of power that had existed under British rule
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Term
| Senate ratification of treaties negotiated by the President is required by the United States Constitution as a way of |
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Definition
| implementing the principle of checks and balances |
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Term
| The United States Constitution requires that a census be taken every ten years to reapportion |
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Definition
| membership in the House of Representatives |
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Term
| In the United States Congress, differences between Senate and House of Representatives versions of a bill are usually resolved by accepting the version that is |
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Definition
agreed to by a joint conference committee of both Houses
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Term
"The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it."
This provision is evidence that the writers of the United States Constitution |
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Definition
| wanted to balance individual liberty with the needs of the nation |
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Term
| In the United States, activities such as Cabinet meetings and political party conventions are best described as |
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Definition
| features of the unwritten constitution |
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Term
| Which idea had a major influence on the authors of the Articles of Confederation? |
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Definition
| A strong central government threatens the rights of the people and the states. |
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Term
| Which United States governmental principle includes the concepts of reserved powers, delegated powers, and concurrent powers? |
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Definition
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Term
| The majority of cases heard by the United States Supreme Court come to the Court because of its constitutional power to |
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Definition
| act on decisions appealed from lower courts |
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Term
The major reason the Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution was to
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Definition
protect individual liberties against abuse by the Federal Government
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Term
| Once an amendment has been added to the United States Constitution, which process must be used to change that amendment? |
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Definition
ratifying a new amendment
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Term
| Which governmental practice established under the unwritten constitution was later included in the written Constitution by an amendment? |
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Definition
limiting the President�s time in office to two terms
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Term
| Which statement best explains why critics have called for a change in the electoral college system? |
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Definition
| A person who did not receive the largest percentage of popular votes can be elected President. |
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Term
| In United States history, the phrase "a government of laws, not of men" has been used to express the idea that |
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Definition
all laws should apply equally to all persons
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Term
| John Locke's theory of the social contract, as developed in the United States Declaration of Independence, stated that |
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Definition
the people should revolt against a government that did not protect their rights
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Term
| Which statement best explains why the Articles of Confederation established a weak rather than a strong central government? |
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Definition
Colonial experiences under Great Britain had created a fear of unlimited government.
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Term
| Which action in the process of electing a President of the United States is provided for in the Federal Constitution? |
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Definition
the electoral college casting ballots
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Term
After the President has proposed the Federal budget, the next step in the process of adopting the budget is to submit it to the
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Definition
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Term
Which method resulted in both "separate but equal" public facilities (1896) and Miranda warnings against self-incrimination (1966)?
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Definition
decisions of the United States Supreme Court
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Term
The clash between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the United States Supreme Court over New Deal laws best illustrates the operation of
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Definition
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Term
"President Nixon Plans Trip to China To Meet with Chairman Mao"
"President Carter Signs New Panama Canal Treaty"
"President Clinton Concludes Trade Agreement with Japan"
Each headline illustrates an action of a President fulfilling his role as |
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Definition
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Term
The 14th Amendment provides that no "state [shall] deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." A direct result of this amendment was that
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Definition
the guarantees in the Bill of Rights were applied to state actions
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Term
| The "clear and present danger" ruling in the Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States (1919) confirmed the idea that |
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Definition
constitutional rights are not absolute
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Term
Under Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Supreme Court was considered "activist" because of its
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Definition
expansion of individual rights in criminal cases
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Term
Which fundamental political idea is expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
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Definition
| If the government denies its people certain basic rights, that government can be overthrown. |
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Term
| In stating the principle of a "clear and present danger" in Schenck v. United States, the Supreme Court established that |
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Definition
constitutional rights are not absolute
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Term
When President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent Federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, during the 1957 school integration crisis, he was exercising his constitutional power as
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Definition
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Term
The significance of the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison is that the decision
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Definition
established the power of judicial review
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Term
One similarity between the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution is that both documents provide for
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Definition
a national legislature to make laws
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Term
The amendment process was included in the United States Constitution in order to
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Definition
allow government to meet the changing needs of society
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Term
Which concept from the European Enlightenment was included in the United States Constitution?
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Definition
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Term
| Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 adopted the Great Compromise to settle differences over |
|
Definition
representation in Congress
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Term
A system of checks and balances was included in the United States Constitution because the authors were concerned about
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Definition
one branch of government becoming too strong
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Term
The Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution to
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Definition
protect individuals' civil liberties
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Term
| The writers of the United States Constitution created a federal form of government primarily to |
|
Definition
divide power between levels of government
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Term
"Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in a court of law."
This statement is based on a person's constitutional right to
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Definition
protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
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Term
The Declaration of Independence was based on the ideas of the
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Definition
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Term
What was an important accomplishment of the central government under the Articles of Confederation?
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Definition
development of guidelines for the admission of new states into the Union
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Term
Which feature of the unwritten constitution is part of the system of checks and balances?
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Definition
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Term
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 agreed to the Three-Fifths Compromise as a solution to the problem of how to determine the
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Definition
number of representatives in the House from each state
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Term
Soon after the Constitution of the United States was ratified, the first ten amendments were added because many citizens felt the need for
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Definition
protecting their liberties from abuses by the federal government
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Term
The Federalist Papers were a series of newspaper articles published in 1787 and 1788 to win support for the
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Definition
ratification of the United States Constitution
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Term
Which statement from the United States Constitution is referred to as the elastic clause?
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Definition
| Congress shall have power . . . to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. . . . |
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Term
Which action illustrates the president's power as commander in chief ?
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Definition
ordering American troops into a foreign country
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Term
| ". . . no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, . . . and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." This section of the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution addresses the issue of |
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Definition
limits on governmental power
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Term
A major objection to many lobbying groups is that they
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Definition
have too much influence on government
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Term
The lack of a national executive and judiciary under the Articles of Confederation suggests that the founders of the American republic
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Definition
feared a strong central government
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Term
The Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are similar in that both
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Definition
support limitations on governmental power
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Term
Which statement describes a characteristic of democracy that is provided for in the United States Constitution?
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Definition
Citizens choose their congressional representatives.
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Term
The implied powers suggested by the United States Constitution show that the writers recognized the
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Definition
powers of government needed to be able to adapt to change
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Term
Delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 agreed to create a bicameral legislature as a way to
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Definition
address the issue of population differences among the states
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Term
Under the United States Constitution, state governments have the power to
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Definition
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Term
The Constitution assigns the power to ratify treaties exclusively to the
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Definition
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Term
Which feature of the federal government is specifically described in the United States Constitution?
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Definition
Senate approval of nominations to the Supreme Court
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Term
| ". . . Congress shall have power . . . to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States. . . ." This statement from the United States Constitution is the source of |
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Definition
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Term
The basic purpose of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution is to
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Definition
guarantee the rights of individuals
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Term
The United States Constitution corrected a weakness of the Articles of Confederation by
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Definition
creating three branches of government
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Term
A significant compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was the agreement to
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Definition
establish a bicameral legislature
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Term
Which group had the most influence on the ideas stated in the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution?
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Definition
philosophers of the Enlightenment
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Term
The writers of the United States Constitution included the requirement for a census every ten years primarily to
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Definition
determine representation in Congress
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Term
Which newspaper headline shows the operation of the system of checks and balances?
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Definition
�Senate Rejects President�s Choice of Supreme Court Justice�
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Term
The change to the direct election of senators, the lowering of the voting age to eighteen, and the establishment of a two-term limit for presidents are all examples of the use of
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Definition
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Term
One reason the United States Constitution is considered a flexible document is that it
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Definition
includes the elastic clause
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Term
Which statement best describes governmental power under the Articles of Confederation?
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Definition
The states had much greater power than the central government.
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Term
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was important because it
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Definition
provided a process for admission of new states to the Union
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Term
At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Great Compromise resolved the issue of
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Definition
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Term
The Federalist Papers were published in 1787 and 1788 to help gain support for
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Definition
the ratification of the Constitution
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Term
A republican form of government is described as one in which
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Definition
representatives are elected by the people
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Term
The due process clause in the 5th Amendment and the right to an attorney in the 6th Amendment were designed to
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Definition
ensure fair treatment for those accused of crimes
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Term
| "Congress proposes an amendment legalizing an income tax." The Supreme Court rules that the income tax is unconstitutional. These events illustrate the use of |
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Definition
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Term
The main criticism of the Articles of Confederation was that they failed to
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Definition
provide adequate powers for the central government
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Term
Which information on the writing of the Constitution is considered a primary source?
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Definition
notes from the Constitutional Convention taken by James Madison
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Term
To avoid having too much power concentrated in one branch of government, the framers of the Constitution established
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Definition
the system of checks and balances
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Term
Congress established a minimum wage for workers and regulations on radio broadcasts by combining its delegated power to regulate interstate commerce with the
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Definition
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Term
Which concept found in the United States Constitution was a belief held by the social contract philosophers of the Enlightenment period?
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Definition
sovereignty of the people
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Term
�New Congress to Have Two Houses� �Slaves to Count as Three-Fifths of a Person� �President to be Chosen by Electoral Vote� Which conclusion about the Constitutional Convention is best supported by these headlines?
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Definition
The framers of the Constitution were able to compromise on important issues.
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Term
Which power is shared by the federal government and the New York State government?
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Definition
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Term
The unwritten constitution is best defined as the
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Definition
practices of the government that are based on custom and tradition
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Term
�The Congress shall have Power . . . To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested [granted] by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. . . .� This section of the United States Constitution was frequently used during the 20th century to
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Definition
expand federal control of interstate commerce
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Term
New York State and the United States have republican forms of government because both have
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Definition
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Term
In writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson was influenced most by John Locke�s idea of
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Definition
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Term
During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the plans for Congress proposed by delegates from New Jersey and Virginia differed mainly over the issue of
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Definition
equal state representation or proportionate state representation
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Term
Which governmental action illustrates the system of checks and balances?
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Definition
the Senate ratifying a peace treaty
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Term
A major criticism of the electoral college system has been that
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Definition
a president may be elected without receiving the majority of the popular vote
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Term
Which feature must a nation have to be considered a democracy?
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Definition
citizen participation in government
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Term
The Supreme Court has the power to
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|
Definition
interpret the Constitution
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Term
The principles of government that Thomas Jefferson included in the Declaration of Independence were most influenced by
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|
Definition
John Locke�s social contract theory
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Term
The necessary and proper clause, the amendment process, and the unwritten constitution are evidence that our constitutional system of government provides for
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Definition
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Term
One similarity between the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights is that both documents
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Definition
stress the importance of individual liberty
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Term
French Enlightenment philosopher Baron De Montesquieu praised the British political system because it divided the power of government between the monarch and the two houses of Parliament. Which principle included in the United States Constitution shows that the framers agreed with Montesquieu?
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Definition
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Term
Which statement is an example of the system of federalism?
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Definition
The national government coins money, but states cannot.
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Term
The first amendment of the Constitution deals primarily with
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Definition
rights of self-expression
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Term
At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which problem was solved by the Great Compromise?
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Definition
establishing the formula for representation in Congress
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Term
In the United States Constitution, the power to impeach a federal government official is given to the
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Definition
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Term
In order to win ratification of the United States Constitution, supporters agreed to
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Definition
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Term
One accomplishment of the national government under the Articles of Confederation was the passage of legislation establishing
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Definition
a process for admitting new states to the Union
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Term
Disagreement at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 over the Virginia and New Jersey plans was resolved by a compromise that
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Definition
created a Congress made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives
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Term
"Presidential Candidates Skip Campaigning in Low- Population States�; �Winner Of Popular Vote Loses Election� These headlines refer to controversial issues most directly related to
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Definition
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Term
�The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened), against domestic violence.� � United States Constitution, Article IV, Section 4 According to this excerpt, a goal of the framers of the Constitution was to ensure that the United States
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Definition
provided for the common defense of every state
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Term
An example of the use of the unwritten constitution is the creation of the
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Definition
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|
