Common Assessment Basic Principles of US Government

Which best describes a characteristic of the federal government established by the authors of the US Constitution?

• The powers of the national government are limited

• The federal courts have less authority than state courts

• In a conflict, state laws are supreme over federal laws

• A belief that the government must be all-powerful over the people

Which would a supporter of limited government be most likely to favor?

• Putting all governmental power in the hands of one branch of government

• Eliminating some of the freedoms provided in the US Constitution

• Removing the list of powers specifically given to the federal government in the US Constitution

• Creating a federal form of government where power is divided between a national and state governments

Federalism is a term used to define the division of power between the

• President and the Vice President

• US Senate and the US House of Representatives

• national and state level government

• three branches of the federal government

Which statement would be made by a person who supported popular sovereignty in the federal government?

• "The executive power is under the control of the Chief Executive."

• "Government at all levels needs to be doing many more things."

• "The powers of government come from the consent of the governed."

• "We can trust our government not to abuse the rights of individuals."

What makes the government of the US a federal system (federalism)?

• The President is selected by the Electoral College

• National laws must be passed by both houses of Congress

• Powers are divided between state and national governments

• The states are guaranteed a republican form of government

Which Presidential action is an example of a principle of the US Constitution?

• vetoing a law passed by Congress

• calling a meeting of the Cabinet

• ordering the navy to patrol the Persian Gulf

• meeting with a foreign leader

Which principle of the US Constitution includes the ideas of reserved powers, delegated powers, and concurrent powers?

• popular sovereignty

• checks and balances

• federalism

• separation of powers

Each branch of government has certain powers over the other branches to prevent one branch from gaining too much power. This is the definition of...

• checks and balances

• limited government

• popular sovereignty

• separation of powers

A key feature of the US Constitution is that all governmental authority is derived from the people. This is the definition of...

• checks and balances

• limited government

• popular sovereignty

• separation of powers

Which newspaper headline reflects the Constitutional principle of checks and balances?

• "Senate Rejects President's Choice of Supreme Court Justice"

• "Ohio to Gain Two Seats in the New US House of Representatives"

• "Toledo Gets $4 Million from Congress to Build a New Highway"

• "Ohio Rejects Federal Regulation on Drug Testing"