U.S. Government Principles

What is civil discourse?

• A form of intense debate focused on winning arguments

• Respectful, constructive conversation aimed at finding solutions, even when people disagree

• An agreement to avoid any disagreements in discussions

• A government rule that mandates everyone agree on issues

Which philosopher’s theory of natural rights influenced the U.S. government, asserting that people have inherent rights like life, liberty, and property?

• Thomas Hobbes

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• John Locke

• Montesquieu

The social contract theory, which suggests people give up some freedoms for government protection, was developed by which philosopher?

• John Locke

• Voltaire

• Thomas Jefferson

• Montesquieu

The idea that government should have separate branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful was proposed by:

• John Locke

• Montesquieu

• Rousseau

• Thomas Hobbes

Popular sovereignty is the principle that:

• The government has all the power over the people

• The government is derived from the will of the people and can be changed by them

• Only the wealthy should influence government policies

• The government should have absolute power to enforce laws

Which historical document inspired the U.S. government’s principle of limited government, designed to protect individual freedoms?

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Magna Carta

• The English Bill of Rights

• The Articles of Confederation

What is the purpose of the checks and balances system in the U.S. government?

• To give the president control over Congress

• To prevent any one branch of government from dominating the others

• To ensure the Supreme Court has final authority

• To create a faster process for passing laws

What was the United States’ first national government, adopted in 1777?

• The U.S. Constitution

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Bill of Rights

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress lacked the power to:

• Declare war

• Regulate trade or impose taxes

• Establish treaties with other countries

• Set up a postal service

Under the Articles of Confederation, most powers were retained by:

• The central government

• The military

• Individual states

• The Supreme Court