Early America STAAR Review

Which three unalienable rights are listed in the Declaration of Independence?

• Life, liberty, and property

• Life, freedom, and justice

• Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

• Life, equality, and fraternity

According to the Declaration of Independence, from whom should a government derive its power?

• The ruling monarch

• The consent of the governed

• The divine right

• The military forces

What did the Declaration of Independence proclaim about the United States?

• It was now a colony of France

• It was now under new management

• It was now an independent country

• It was now a commonwealth realm

What does the U.S. Constitution outline?

• The history of the United States

• The functions of the U.S. government

• The biographies of the Founding Fathers

• The state laws of each U.S. state

What is the purpose of the principle of "separation of powers" in the U.S. Constitution?

• To ensure all power is held by a single branch

• To divide power between the 3 branches of government

• To grant all powers to the President

• To abolish the legislative branch

What is the purpose of the principle of "checks and balances" in the U.S. Constitution?

• To ensure that one branch becomes too powerful

• To eliminate the need for a judicial system

• To ensure that no one branch becomes too powerful

• To concentrate power in the legislative branch

What does the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protect?

• The right to bear arms

• The right to due process

• The right to freedom of religion, assembly, press, petition, and speech

• The right to a jury trial

What is prohibited by the 4th Amendment?

• Double jeopardy

• Cruel and unusual punishment

• Unreasonable search and seizure

• Discrimination based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude

What does the 6th Amendment guarantee?

• The right to bear arms

• The right to freedom of speech

• The right to a jury in criminal cases

• The right to vote for all citizens

What does the term "Liberty" refer to according to Tocqueville's observed American values?

• A) A society of equals

• B) Participation of the common people in political life

• C) Protection against an oppressive government

• D) Government took a hands-off approach to the economy