American gov't Topic 1 Test Review

Front

In what way was the government of ancient Athens different from that of the United States?

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Athens was a direct democracy in which citizens voted on laws themselves.

Front

Which one of these explanations about the origins of states best applies to the type of political system created by the U.S. Constitution? Options: evolutionary theory, social contract theory, force theory, divine right of kings theory

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social contract theory

Front

What principle of government presented by the U.S. Constitution is Montesquieu describing? “In every government there are three sorts of power; the legislative; the executive, in respect to things dependent on the law of nations; and the executive, in regard to things that depend on the civil law.”

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separation of power

Front

Some people insist the United States is more properly called a republic rather than a democracy. The people who support this statement argue that the United States is a republic because in its government,

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political power is used indirectly by elected officials, not directly by the citizens themselves.

Front

Which of the following ideas shows Locke’s influence on the Declaration of Independence?
- The king of England has a divine right to rule the colonists, so only God can remove his authority.
- Without a king, the colonists will be able to return to a state of nature in which all men are free.
- By violating the social contract with the colonists, the king has lost his authority to rule.
- The king rules by right of force, so it is just for the colonists to overthrow the king using force.

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By violating the social contract with the colonists, the king has lost his authority to rule.

Front

If you know that a nation uses a parliamentary system of government, but have no other information, what do you know for certain about the structure of that government?

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the relationship between the executive and legislative branches

Front

Which of the following examples shows a government exercising its executive powers?
Options:
making a law that alters voting requirements,
settling a dispute between two branches of government,
deciding whether or not a law is constitutional,
enforcing a new tax law

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enforcing a new tax law

Front

Which of the following actions is one example of how the American government establishes justice?
- establishing safety regulations to protect the public
- creating a set of laws and a court system
- protecting the United States from foreign threats
- keeping the peace within the borders of the United States

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creating a set of laws and a court system

Front

Which of the following explanations best explains why people support parliamentary systems? A parliamentary system allows the people to choose who will be the chief executive. Parliamentary systems are not democracies, so rulers can keep more power for themselves. In a parliamentary system, there are checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches. Parliamentary governments are better able to prevent conflict between the executive and legislative branches.

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Parliamentary governments are better able to prevent conflict between the executive and legislative branches.

Front

Which of the following statements is an accurate rephrasing of Blackstone’s argument?
The common law is based upon the will of the people who decide what is just and what is not.
Only laws that are written down can be considered by the courts.
Courts should interpret each new case based mainly on the judge’s personal opinions.
Judges have a duty to look at previous legal decisions when deciding new cases.

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Judges have a duty to look at previous legal decisions when deciding new cases.