Civics-Unit 1

What is government?

• the services provided a community, such as police protection, fire protection, and public health programs

• e laws that protect peoples’ rights and ensure the safety of a state's citizens

• the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

• the process by which public officials are elected to and removed from office

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." —U.S. Constitution, Preamble

Which statement BEST expresses the concerns of the founders of the American government?

• Their focus was to create a government that protected the nation from foreign enemies

• Their focus was to create a government that protected the nation from domestic threats.

• Their focus was to create a nation that protected national interests over individual rights.

• Their focus was to create a government that protected all aspects of the nation and its people.

A newspaper headline that reads "President Rejects Tax Increase Bill" is an example of which of the following?

• The President has powers but they are subject to direct control by the legislature.

• The legislative and executive branches must always act together

• The legislature can act on its own and can never be blocked by the President.

• The President has power to block actions of the legislature

According to John Locke and his social contract theory, power from the government comes from where?

• The consent of the people

• common law

• absolute monarchy

What is the relationship between democracy and the free enterprise system?

• The government determines what is produced, how much of an item is produced, and how much an item will sell for.

• The government does not decide what is produced, but often reviews the level of production to make sure there are enough products available to the public.

• The government controls the economy by placing orders with private companies for goods and services the government needs to serve the citizens' needs

• The government does not decide what is produced or what items cost, but does play a role in the economy by protecting the public and preserving private enterprise.

A third difference between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey plan was concerned with which topic?

• the way States would be represented in Congress

• the way a judiciary would be formed

• the way the government would raise money

• the way Congress would legislate power

One feature of the Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

• In the Senate, the States would be represented equally. In the House, the States would be represented based on size of territory.

• In the Senate, the States would be represented based on territory. In the House, the States would be represented equally.

• In the Senate, the States would be represented equally. In the House, the States would be represented based on population

• In the Senate, the States would be represented based on population. In the House, the States would be represented based on the size of their economies.

What specific constitutional principle was Alexander Hamilton referring to in this quotation?

“It therefore belongs to [the courts] to ascertain . . . the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body.”—Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 78, 1788

• the power to veto acts of Congress

• Judicial Review

• Federalism

• Checks and balances

Which of the constitutional principles listed was Madison describing and defending in the quotation below?

“In the compound republic of America, the power . . . is first divided between two distinct governments. . . . The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.”

—James Madison, Federalist No. 51, 1788

• popular sovereignty

• checks and balances

• federalism

• judicial review

The principle of popular sovereignty is based on the belief that

• the government must be run by officials who are appointed to office by their predecessors.

• the government gets its power from the people and can exist only with their consent.

• the people have the authority to declare any federal or State law unconstitutional by voting on it

• the people do not have to obey any laws with which they disagree