PS - STUDY GUIDE - Unit test: Foundations of Government

The United States Constitution establishes a federal system of government. Which statement BEST described a federal system of government?

• Power is divided between national & state govts
• The people elect the president & members of Congress
• State laws are the highest authority in the nation.
• A Bill of Rights protects individual liberties

France, the United Kingdom, and Spain are three examples of unitary states.

• The country is governed by a small committee of elite planners.
• The country is governed by a President and a Legislative Branch.
• The country is governed as an autocracy, with a single leader creating all of the laws of the country.
• The country is governed constitutionally as one single entity, with one constitutionally created legislature.

Which of these is a power of the Legislative branch?

• declare war
• enforce laws
• interpret laws
• negotiate treaties

Enumerated or “expressed” powers could BEST be defined as which of the following?

• Powers Congress has interpreted as being given to them.
• Powers that the Supreme Court has taken away from Congress.
• Powers Congress is given explicitly in the United States Constitution.
• Power the President is given explicitly in the United States Constitution.

In order for an amendment to be added to the U.S. Constitution, what must happen to the proposed amendment?

• Be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President.
• Be approved by Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court.
• Pass with 2/3 vote in each house of Congress and be approved by the state legislature of 3/4 of the states.
• Pass both houses of Congress, be approved by a simple majority of the states, and be signed by the President.

Which European philosopher proposed that dividing the government into three branches would prevent any one person or group from gaining total control?

• Hobbes
• Voltaire
• Rousseau
• Montesquieu

A government principle by which the legislative, judicial, and executive powers are essentially held by different groups and people is called what?

• reserved powers
• expressed powers
• checks & balances
• separation of powers

All of the following are examples of checks and balances EXCEPT?

• The President vetoes a bill.
• The Congress exercise its power to declare war.
• The Senate approves the President’s nominee for Supreme Court justice.
• The Supreme Court declares a law passed by Congress to be unconstitutional

Which person is considered to be the leader of the national executive branch?

• Speaker
• President
• Chief Justice
• President Pro Tempore

Which of these would be an example of an implied power of Congress?

• raise an army
• regulate commerce
• coin & print money
• establish a minimum wage