STAAR Review

Which political idea was influenced by this provision of the Magna Carta?

• Federalism

• Due Process

• A bicameral legislature

• A social contract

Which of the following should replace the question mark in this diagram?

• Direct Democracy

• Great Compromise

• Checks and Balances

• Missouri Compromise

Which phrase best represents the U.S. principle of republicanism?

• The creation of a congress to carry out the will of the people

• The establishment of courts to interpret laws

• The division of power between state and federal government

• The power of the court to declare a law unconstitutional

Why were the southern delegates willing to accept the three fifths compromise?

• It increased political influence in the south

• It allowed indentured servant to become citizens

• It decreased the federal tax on property in the south

• It allowed the south to expand its industrial output

Which U.S document guarantees protections against these injustices?

• The Constitution

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Mayflower Compact

That all Men are . . . equally free & independent, & have certain . . . Rights, of which they cannot by any Compact, deprive or divest [remove] their Posterity [future generations]; among which are the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety.—Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776

In this excerpt, the authors of the Virginia Declaration of Rights are describing rights they consider —

• granted to citizens by their government 


• natural and possessed at birth

• protected under religious doctrine

• defined by the courts

Which speaker is in favor of ratifying the Constitution?

Speaker 1: A strong central government will provide order and stability.

Speaker 2: We have just left the control of one tyrant; let us avoid an American tyrant.

Speaker 3: The strength of our union lies in the independence of our states. We were led into a war by a minority who desired independence.

Speaker 4: We were led into a war by a minority who desired independence.

• Speaker 1

• Speaker 2

• Speaker 3

• Speaker 4

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States—U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 1

This provision is a response to which grievance from the Declaration of Independence?

• “For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever”

• “For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government”

• "He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records”

• “He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners”

And excessive bail hath been required of persons committed in criminal cases to elude the benefit of the laws made for the liberty of the subjects; And excessive fines have been imposed;
And illegal and cruel punishments inflicted —English Bill of Rights, 1689

Which U.S. document guarantees protection against these injustices?

• The Constitution 


• The Declaration of Independence

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Mayflower Compact

Which of the following correctly describes the Three-Fifths Compromise?

• A portion of the slave population was counted for legislative representation

• federal law enforcing A the return of fugitive slaves was passed.

• The census bureau was established to help apportion representation

• The election of senators was delegated to state legislatures