Quizziz SS.8.CG.1.3 (Assessment #s)

Which idea is from the Magna Carta?

• The people should have the

  right to replace the

  government.

• The government should

  give people a fair and

  speedy trial.

• The people should support

  a strong central

  government.

• The government should

  have a separation of

  powers.

Answer explanation

The Magna Carta includes the statement that the people should have a fair and speedy trial.

A is incorrect because the idea that the people should have the right to replace the government is drawn from the idea of the social contract, which is not in the Magna Carta.

C is incorrect because the idea that the people should support a strong central government is not included in the Magna Carta.

D is incorrect because the idea that government should have a separation of powers comes from the later Enlightenment.

Which documents influenced the colonists’ views of government?

• Common Sense, Articles of Confederation, Declaration of the Rights of Man

• Virginia Declaration of Rights, Common Sense, Bill of Rights

• Magna Carta, Iroquois 

  Constitution, Common 

  Sense

• Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Common Sense

Answer explanation

These three core documents (one British document and two colonial documents) impacted the colonists’ viewpoints on the role and purpose of government.

A is incorrect because the colonists’ views of government would not have been impacted by the Articles of Confederation because they were written by the colonists after the colonists gained their independence.

B is incorrect because the Bill of Rights was written after the colonists gained their independence and drafted the U.S. Constitution.

C is incorrect because the colonists were not influenced by the Iroquois Constitution.

This conversation concerns lawmaking. 

--------------------------- 

Doug: I believe in making laws only when everyone can participate in public decision-making. 

Shena: I disagree with you; it is best for laws to be made by the people who have been elected for that purpose. 

--------------------------- 

Which political principle from the colonial era is being discussed?

• limited monarchy

• self government

• social contract

• natural rights

Answer explanation

Both statements support the concept of self-government.

A is incorrect because limited monarchy relies on an unelected element in making laws.

C is incorrect because the principle of social contract is not being discussed in these quotes (although the principle of social contract is important to the people making laws themselves or through their representatives).

D is incorrect because the concept of natural rights is not part of this discussion on lawmaking.

This diagram shows that the colonists formed some of their political views from some historical documents. 

Which phrase completes this diagram?

• Separation of powers

• Economic freedom

• Individual rights

• Self government

Answer explanation

The colonists who wrote the Mayflower Compact agreed to follow the rules that they had created.

A is incorrect because the Mayflower Compact did not establish separate branches of government.

B is incorrect because the Mayflower Compact did not address economic freedom.

C is incorrect because the Mayflower Compact did not address individual rights.

This diagram shows that the colonists formed some of their

political views from some historical documents. 

Which phrase completes this diagram?

• natural rights

• habeas corpus

• due process of law

• representative 

  self-government

Answer explanation

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense argued that the main purpose of government was to serve the people. He advocated colonial independence from Great Britain and the establishment of a constitutional democracy (republic) with representative self-government.

A is incorrect because natural rights was an important idea contained in the English Bill of Rights and not Common Sense.

B is incorrect because habeus corpus was an important idea contained in the English Bill of Rights and not Common Sense

C is incorrect because due process of law was an important idea contained in the Magna Carta and not Common Sense.

Which statement reflects an idea contained within Common Sense?

• Limited monarchy is an appropriate solution to the problems between England and the colonies.

• Power should be shared between the colonies and the central government in England.

• Checks and balances are necessary to limit the 

  power of government.

• Self-government is a right of the colonies.

Answer explanation

Common Sense promoted for 

independence of the British colonists from Great Britain.

A is incorrect because Paine viewed the existence of the limited monarchy as a significant problem.

B is incorrect because Paine opposed any power sharing between the English government and the colonies.

C is incorrect because Common Sense did address systems and forms of government but focused on a central Congress as the governing body.

These statements are from the English Bill of Rights (1689). 

That the pretended power of suspending laws … without consent of Parliament is illegal; 

That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted; 

And that for redress of all grievances, and for the amending, strengthening and preserving of the laws, Parliaments ought to be held frequently. 

Which purpose of government stated in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution can best be traced to these statements?

• provide for the common defense

• promote the general welfare

• ensure domestic tranquility

• establish justice

Answer explanation

Several themes associated with establishing justice, including protection from excessive bail or fines and preserving laws, are included in the statements.

A is incorrect because providing for the common defense involves a nation protecting itself, which is not reflected in the statements.

B is incorrect because promoting the general welfare involves securing the well-being of residents and citizens of a country, which is not reflected in the statements.

C is incorrect because domestic tranquility involves the government keeping the country safe from internal unrest, which is not reflected in the statements.

This passage was written by Thomas Paine in his 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense. 

A government of our own is our natural right: And when a man seriously reflects on … human affairs, he will become convinced, that it is infinitely wiser and safer, to form a constitution of our own in a cool deliberate manner, while we have it in our power, than to trust such an interesting event to time and chance. 

Which idea did Thomas Paine support in this passage?

• Government should be split into three equal branches.

• A set of amendments is necessary to safeguard the rights of citizens.

• The American colonists should become independent from Great Britain.

• The British Parliament 

  should represent American colonists in government.

Answer explanation

Paine was a huge proponent of self-government and the importance of 

establishing independence and a “government of our own.”

A is incorrect because Common Sense did address systems and forms of government, but not in the passage provided.

B is incorrect because Common Sense was published before the U.S. Constitution was written, so amendments were not addressed.

D is incorrect because Paine opposed any power sharing between the English government and the colonies.

This passage was written by Thomas Paine in his 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense. 

And as he hath shown himself such an … enemy to liberty, and discovered such a thirst for ... power, is he,

or is he not, a proper man to say to these colonies, "You shall make no laws but what I please?”. 

Based on this passage, how is the author’s view reflected in the U.S. political system?

• The monarchy creates 

  limited government

• The monarchy supports self-government

• Representatives are 

  appointed

• Representatives are elected

Answer explanation

Representatives are elected in the U.S. political system, which is consistent with the author’s perspective that a single person making laws is the enemy of liberty.

A is incorrect because the U.S. political system does not include a monarchy.

B is incorrect because the U.S. political system does not include a monarchy although the U.S. political system does support self-government.

C is incorrect because representatives are elected in the U.S. political system.

This excerpt is from a U.S. government document: 

The king of Bhutan…is the head of state, with executive power vested in the cabinet, headed by …Prime Minister…In July 2013, the country held its second general elections, in which the former opposition People’s Democratic Party gained a majority of the seats in the National Assembly, resulting in the country’s first democratic transfer of power to the opposition. International election observers reported the elections were generally free and fair. 

Based on the excerpt, which statement best describes

• by sharing election results with voters

• by limiting the power of the monarch

• by holding general elections 

• by allowing free speech 

Answer explanation

The English Bill of Rights, written by Parliament in 1689, further limited the power of the monarch (king) and, in turn, granted certain rights and protections to the English nobles and common people. 

The statement identifies the fact that while the king of Bhutan is the chief executive, he may not interfere with the election process, leading to a

A is incorrect because the main principle outlined in the English Bill of Rights was to further strengthen the Magna Carta and limit the power of the king; the English Bill of Rights does not specifically state whether or not election results must be shared with voters.

C is incorrect because the main principle outlined in the English Bill of Rights was to further strengthen the Magna Carta and limit the power of the king; the English Bill of Rights did not specifically provide for the hosting of general elections in Britain.

D is incorrect because while the English Bill of Rights did provide protections for certain elements of free speech, this statement is more specifically about continuing to limit the power of the monarch, which is a core principle of the English Bill of Rights.