MCAP Review 4: Constitutional Principles

Which newspaper headline provides the best example of limited government?

• Military Dictator Refuses to Give Up Power

• Senator Indicted (charged with a crime) for Accepting a Bribe

• Individual Donates Money to Political Campaign

• Supreme Court Justice Retires (steps down) after Ten Years on Bench

Answer explanation

Government leaders have limited power — if they break the law, they face consequences just like anyone else.

Match the branch to its role.

• Interprets the meaning of laws.

• 
• Enforces and carries out the laws.

• 
• Makes the laws.

• 

Which of these is an example of checks and balances?

• The Supreme Court upholds (supports) the conviction of a federal prisoner.

• Voters elect a President from the minority party in Congress.

• The Senate rejects a presidential nominee to the Supreme Court.

• Congress passes legislation to reduce industrial pollution.

Answer explanation

Checks and balances always involve at least 2 of the 3 branches.

Which of these is an example of separation of powers?

• Representatives rewrite a bill in a committee meeting.

• Representatives hold hearing to understand public opinion.

• The president enforces a law passed by Congress.

• The president fires a cabinet member who is performing poorly.

Answer explanation

Look for an answer that involves at least two different "branches" of government.

Which of these excerpts from the Constitution best reflects the principle of checks and balances?

• "The Constitution shall be the supreme law of the land."

• "All persons born in the United States are citizens."

• "Every bill passed by Congress must be signed by the president before becoming law."

Answer explanation

An example of checks and balances always involves at least 2 different branches of government.

Which principle of U.S. government does the political cartoonist imply the President is destroying?

• federalism

• individual rights

• checks and balances

• consent of the governed

“In creating a government, the great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to control the people; and then make it control itself.”

This quote shows the concept of

• due process

• limited government

• majority rule

• popular sovereignty

Answer explanation

The government controlling itself shows the idea of limited government.

Match the quote from the Constitution to the principle.

• Separation of Powers

• "The president, with the consent of the Senate, shall appoint judges to the Supreme Court."

• Popular Sovereignty

• “We the people... establish this Constitution.”

• Checks and Balances

• "All legislative (lawmaking) powers shall be given to Congress."

Answer explanation

Separation of powers is the way powers are divided among the 3 branches.

Checks and balances are ways the 3 branches can limit each other.

Popular sovereignty means the people have power over the government.