AM GOV IA study guide Part 1

Front

What is the role of the central government in a confederal system?

Back

The central government has limited power, with most authority resting with the member states.

Answer explanation

In a confederal system, the central government has limited power, as most authority is retained by the member states. This structure emphasizes state sovereignty over centralized control.

Front

The Prime Minister is the leader in what type of government?

Back

Parliamentary

Answer explanation

The Prime Minister is the head of government in a parliamentary system, where they are typically elected by the legislature. In contrast, a presidential system has a president as the head, while monarchies and dictatorships have different leadership structures.

Front

Which historical documents influenced the idea of limited government?

Back

Magna Carta

Answer explanation

The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, is a foundational document that established the principle of limited government by asserting that the monarch's power was not absolute and that certain rights were guaranteed to the nobility.

Front

Who proposed the idea of separation of powers?

Back

Baron de Montesquieu

Answer explanation

The idea of separation of powers was proposed by Baron de Montesquieu in his work 'The Spirit of the Laws'. He argued that government should be divided into distinct branches to prevent any one from gaining too much power.

Front

The primary author of the Declaration of Independence is known as?

Back

Thomas Jefferson

Answer explanation

The primary author of the Declaration of Independence is Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the document in 1776. His eloquent expression of the colonies' desire for independence is a cornerstone of American history.

Front

The Three-Fifths Compromise was a historical agreement during the Constitutional Convention that determined how slaves would be counted for representation and taxation purposes. What fraction of the slave population was counted?

Back

Three-fifths

Answer explanation

The Three-Fifths Compromise established that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for both representation in Congress and taxation. Therefore, the correct fraction is three-fifths.

Front

Who opposed the ratification of the Constitution and argued for greater protection of individual rights?

Back

Anti-Federalists

Answer explanation

The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the Constitution, fearing it gave too much power to the federal government and lacked sufficient protections for individual rights.