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Chapter 1 Study Guide – Principles & Foundations of Government

Total questions: 37

Worksheet time: 19mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A person who holds rights and responsibilities in a state is called a _____________.

a)

citizen

b)

resident

c)

visitor

d)

immigrant

2.

Which power of government interperates of laws?

a)

Legislative

b)

Executive

c)

Judicial

3.

Which are the three basic powers of government?

a)

Legislative, Executive, Judicial

b)

Legislative, Economic, Social

c)

Executive, Economic, Judicial

d)

Judicial, Social, Legislative

4.

What are the four characteristics of a state?

a)

Population, Territory, Sovereignty, Government

b)

Population, Language, Religion, Culture

c)

Government, Economy, Language, Borders

d)

Territory, Economy, Culture, Religion

5.

“To establish justice” means the government’s job is to ___________.

a)

make laws that are fair

b)

collect taxes from citizens

c)

build roads and bridges

d)

provide entertainment for the public

6.

The idea that government can exist only with the consent of the governed is called ___________.

a)

popular sovereignty

b)

judicial review

c)

federalism

d)

separation of powers

7.

In a unitary system of government, power is held mostly by:

a)

A. Central gov

b)

B. Local gov

c)

C. Both equally

8.

When no government exists at all, this is called ___________.

a)

anarchy

b)

democracy

c)

monarchy

d)

oligarchy

9.

According to the Social Contract Theory, governments are formed because…

a)

people agree to give up some freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of their rights

b)

governments naturally arise from chaos without any agreement

c)

leaders are born with the divine right to rule over others

d)

governments are imposed by force without the consent of the people

10.

One real-world example of how the U.S. government promotes the general welfare is:

a)

providing Social Security benefits

b)

increasing sales taxes

c)

restricting access to public parks

d)

eliminating public schools

11.

Who supported the Constitution? Who wanted a Bill of Rights?

a)

Federalists supported the Constitution; Anti-Federalists wanted a Bill of Rights.

b)

Anti-Federalists supported the Constitution; Federalists wanted a Bill of Rights.

c)

Both Federalists and Anti-Federalists supported the Constitution and wanted a Bill of Rights.

d)

Neither Federalists nor Anti-Federalists supported the Constitution or wanted a Bill of Rights.

12.

Which three English documents influenced American government?

a)

Magna Carta, Petition of Right, English Bill of Rights

b)

Domesday Book, Habeas Corpus Act, Act of Settlement

c)

English Common Law, Mayflower Compact, Federalist Papers

d)

Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Paris, English Civil Code

13.

One reason the Articles of Confederation failed was:

a)

It created a weak central government

b)

It established a strong executive branch

c)

It allowed the federal government to tax citizens directly

d)

It gave the president too much power

14.

The main difference between the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution is:

a)

The Declaration announced independence, while the Constitution set up the government.

b)

The Declaration created the first laws, while the Constitution declared war.

c)

The Declaration established the presidency, while the Constitution ended slavery.

d)

The Declaration was written after the Constitution to explain its rules.

15.

Define the term: Government

a)

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

b)

A group of people who only organize social events.

c)

A business that sells goods and services for profit.

d)

A club formed for recreational activities.

16.

Define the term: Public Policy

a)

All the things a government decides to do.

b)

A set of private company rules.

c)

A type of international treaty.

d)

A personal belief system.

17.

Define the term: Politics

a)

The process by which a society decides how power and resources will be distributed within that society.

b)

A form of entertainment involving acting and stage performances.

c)

A branch of mathematics dealing with shapes and their properties.

d)

A type of cuisine originating from Italy.

18.

Define the term: Sovereignty

a)

Supreme and absolute power within its own territory; neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority.

b)

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent units.

c)

A form of government where the executive branch is chosen by the legislature.

d)

A political system in which a single party controls the government and opposition is not permitted.

19.

Define the term 'Citizen'.

a)

A citizen is a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized.

b)

A citizen is a temporary visitor to a country for tourism purposes.

c)

A citizen is a person who only pays taxes but has no rights in a country.

d)

A citizen is someone who lives in a country without any legal status.

20.

What are the three branches of government?

a)

Legislative, Executive, Judicial power.

b)

Federal, State, Local power.

c)

Democratic, Republican, Independent power.

d)

Civil, Military, Religious power.

e)

Administrative, Financial, Educational power.

21.

List the four characteristics of a state.

a)

Population, territory, sovereignty, government.

b)

Population, language, culture, economy.

c)

Territory, religion, language, government.

d)

Sovereignty, economy, culture, population.

22.

What are the six purposes of government as stated in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

Form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, secure the blessings of liberty.

b)

Create a monarchy, establish taxes, ensure global peace, provide for the wealthy, promote individual interests, secure property rights.

c)

Form a confederation, establish military rule, insure economic prosperity, provide for the elite, promote state sovereignty, secure religious freedom.

d)

Create a parliamentary system, establish trade agreements, insure international alliances, provide for the arts, promote scientific research, secure technological advancement.

23.

Name the forms of government?

a)

Unitary, Federal, Confederation, Presidential, Parliamentary.

b)

Monarchy, Dictatorship, Oligarchy, Theocracy, Anarchy.

c)

Democracy, Aristocracy, Plutocracy, Meritocracy, Technocracy.

d)

Republic, Empire, Kingdom, Principality, Duchy.

24.

What is the difference between a dictatorship and a democracy?

a)

A dictatorship is ruled by one or a few with absolute power, while a democracy is governed by the people, either directly or through representatives.

b)

A dictatorship and a democracy both allow all citizens to vote on every law.

c)

A dictatorship is a form of government where leaders are elected by the people, while a democracy is ruled by a single individual.

d)

A dictatorship and a democracy both have no leaders and decisions are made randomly.

25.

List five principles of democracy.

a)

Popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism.

b)

Absolute monarchy, centralized power, hereditary rule, lack of elections, state religion.

c)

Military rule, absence of constitution, censorship, single-party system, no judicial review.

d)

Divine right, autocracy, suppression of dissent, no separation of powers, unlimited government.

26.

What are the four theories of state?

a)

Force, Evolutionary, Divine Right, Social Contract.

b)

Democratic, Monarchical, Federal, Unitary.

c)

Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Feudalism.

d)

Judicial, Executive, Legislative, Administrative.

27.

What are the Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and English Bill of Rights?

a)

They are historical documents that limited the power of the monarchy and established certain legal rights.

b)

They are treaties signed between England and France to end wars.

c)

They are religious texts that formed the basis of the Church of England.

d)

They are economic policies that promoted trade with the colonies.

28.

What were the Articles of Confederation?

a)

The first constitution of the United States, which created a weak central government and was later replaced by the U.S. Constitution.

b)

A set of laws passed by the British Parliament to tax the American colonies.

c)

A treaty signed between the United States and France during the Revolutionary War.

d)

The document that ended the American Civil War and abolished slavery.

29.

What was the main difference between Federalists and Anti-Federalists?

a)

Federalists supported a strong central government and the Constitution, while Anti-Federalists favored states' rights and opposed the Constitution without a Bill of Rights.

b)

Federalists wanted to abolish all state governments, while Anti-Federalists wanted a monarchy.

c)

Federalists supported independence from Britain, while Anti-Federalists wanted to remain a colony.

d)

Federalists opposed any form of government, while Anti-Federalists supported dictatorship.

30.

What is the Bill of Rights?

a)

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights and liberties.

b)

A set of laws passed by Congress in 1800.

c)

The official name for the Declaration of Independence.

d)

A treaty signed between the U.S. and Britain.

31.

Who was James Madison?

a)

James Madison was the 'Father of the Constitution' and the fourth President of the United States.

b)

James Madison was a famous inventor from France.

c)

James Madison was the first astronaut to walk on the moon.

d)

James Madison was a renowned artist from Italy.

32.

Who was Thomas Jefferson?

a)

Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States.

b)

Thomas Jefferson was a famous British scientist known for discovering gravity.

c)

Thomas Jefferson was the first man to walk on the moon.

d)

Thomas Jefferson was a renowned French artist from the 18th century.

33.

The main difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution is:

a)

The Declaration announced independence, while the Constitution set up the government.

b)

The Declaration created the first laws, while the Constitution declared war.

c)

The Declaration established the presidency, while the Constitution ended slavery.

d)

The Declaration was written after the Constitution to revise it.

34.

The theory of the state that most influenced the U.S. government is:

a)

Force Theory

b)

Evolutionary Theory

c)

Divine Right Theory

d)

Social Contract Theory

35.

Which document established the principle that everyone, including the king, was subject to the law?

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Bill of Rights

d)

Articles of Confederation

36.

Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?

a)

Administrative

b)

Judicial

c)

Legislative

d)

Executive

37.

What is the main purpose of the separation of powers in government?

a)

To eliminate the need for elections

b)

To allow the president to control all branches

c)

To prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

d)

To ensure only the judiciary can make laws