Introduction to American Government (Unit 1: Civics)

What type of government involves the people voting on all decisions, with no elected representatives?

• Direct Democracy

• Representative Democracy

• Monarchy

• Anarchy

Who did the framers of the Constitution intend to have sovereignty (power) in our democracy?

• The legislature

• The people

• The president

• The judiciary (courts)

The "We the People" in the Preamble of the Constitution establishes its authority based on:

• checks and balances

• federalism

• popular sovereignty

• separation of powers

It is citizens' responsibility to vote in elections in what type of government?

• Autocracy

• Dictatorship

• Democracy

• Monarchy

Why is compromise desirable when making laws (producing legislation)?

• So we can limit the power of the majority, so that the minority can rule.

• So we can reach a majority agreement, because there are often more than 2 sides to every issue.

• So we can promote the value of life, because we fear that the majority will take advantage of the minority and abuse it.

• So we can eliminate potential discrimination by the majority group.

The counting of slaves as only part of a person when the U.S. Constitution was written defines what constitutional compromise?

• The Slave Trade and Commerce Compromise

• The Great Compromise

• The Connecticut Compromise

• The 3/5 Compromise

The phrase "in order to form a more perfect union" from the Preamble to the United States Constitution refers to:

• failed policies by foreign leaders in dealing with the U.S.

• specific complaints from the Declaration of Independence.

• weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

• problems caused by outdated laws.

Which branch of government has the power to veto laws passed by Congress, an example of checks and balances?

• The executive (the president)

• The judicial (the courts)

• The legislative (congress)

• all of the above

In what type of government do states share power with the national government, in an almost equal way?

• federal

• confederacy

• unitary

If the legislative branch passes laws, the executive branch (the president) enforces them, and the judicial branch (the courts) judges the laws, what do we call that principle?

• checks and balances

• separation of powers

• federalism

• judicial review