Civics Unit 3: Foundations of American Democracy

What do an absolute monarch and autocracy have in common?

• A single ruler

• A written Constitution

• A national court system

• A single legislative house

Which form of government gives the most power to ordinary citizens?

• Autocracy

• Oligarchy

• Absolute Monarchy

• Representative Democracy

Which statement best describes a socialist government?

• Primary political power rests with local government

• Taxes are low, but government services are extremely limited

• The government owns several basic industries and provides many services at no cost

• Private property is abolished and all goods and services are provided to citizens by the government

Which might be considered an advantage of the type of monarchy shown on the right (Absolute Monarchy)?

• It can negotiate peace treaties

• It can act more quickly in a crisis

• It provides stronger guarantees of individual rights

• It representatives can meet with foreign dignitaries

The statement is an excerpt from the Magna Carta (1215).

What right was guaranteed in this excerpt?

• no taxation without representation

• freedom of the press

• freedom of religion

• trial by jury

According to John Locke, which agreements did individuals enter into to form their own society?

• English Bill of Rights

• Mayflower Compact

• Social Contract

• U.S. Constitution

How was Locke's Social Contract theory related to his belief in "Natural Law"?

• He argued subjects had the right to rebel against a ruler who acted against natural law.

• He argued that whatever the king did was according to natural law.

• He argued that natural law required the colonists to be given their independence.

• He argued that God had especially chosen kings to rule over their subjects as part of natural law.

The statements are from three of the fist amendents to the U.S. Constituion. Which earlier document contained similar rights?

• Magna Carta (1215)

• The Mayflower Compact (1620)

• The English Bill of rights (1689)

• Montesquier's Spirit of the Laws (1784)

The diagram indicates that the colonists based someof their political views on historic documents. Which phrase completes the diagram?

• Natural law

• Separation of powers

• Divine Right of Kings

• Guarantees of individual rights

Which grievance contributed to the American colonists' desire for independence?

• British policies had made frontier lands too expensive

• The King had denied the colonists their freedom of religion

• The British government had been too generous to the indian tribes

• The British government had taxed the colonists without their consent