American Government Chapter 1 Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is Chapter 1: The Study of American Government?

The introductory chapter covering foundational concepts of American government.

What is Legitimacy?

Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution.

What is Authority?

The power or right to give orders or make decisions.

What is Democracy?

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them. Signup and view all the answers

What is Political Elite?

An identifiable group of persons who possess a disproportional share of some valued resource, such as money or political power. Signup and view all the answers

What is Direct Democracy?

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives. Signup and view all the answers

What is Representative Democracy?

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions about laws for all the people. Signup and view all the answers

What is Bureaucratic Theory?

The hierarchical structure and standardized procedures of government allow bureaucrats to hold the real power over public policy, proposed by Max Weber. Signup and view all the answers

What is Power Elite Theory?

The theory that a small number of very wealthy individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas. Signup and view all the answers

What is Pluralist Theory?

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies. Signup and view all the answers

What is Marxist Theory?

The ideology espoused by Karl Marx which holds that government is a reflection of economic forces, primarily ownership of the means of production. Signup and view all the answers

What does Unalienable mean?

Incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another; natural rights that belong to everyone and cannot be taken away. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Federalists?

Supporters of the Constitution that were led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. Signup and view all the answers

What are the Articles of Confederation?

The nation's first constitution adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781, which had limitations as states held most of the power. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Anti-Federalists?

They opposed the ratification of the Constitution because it gave more power to the federal government and less to the states. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Declaration of Independence?

The document recording the proclamation of the Second Continental Congress asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain. Signup and view all the answers

What are The Federalist Papers?

A collection of essays by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison that explained the importance of a strong central government. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Constitutional Convention?

The meeting of state delegates in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Separation of Powers?

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Signup and view all the answers

What was Shays's Rebellion?

A rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts protesting mortgage foreclosures. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 1: The Study of American Government

Legitimacy refers to political authority derived from law or a constitution.
Authority is the power to give orders or make decisions within a political system.
Democracy is a political system where citizens hold supreme power and elect representatives.
Political elite consists of a disproportionately powerful group, often activists, who wield significant political influence.
Direct democracy allows citizens to rule directly without intermediaries; representative democracy involves electing leaders to make decisions.

Political Theories

Bureaucratic theory emphasizes the real power held by bureaucrats due to government structures and procedures, as proposed by Max Weber.
Power elite theory posits that a small group of wealthy individuals, corporate interests, and large financial institutions control major policy areas.
Pluralist theory suggests that politics is a competition among diverse groups that advocate for their preferred policies.
Marxist theory, advocated by Karl Marx, argues that government reflects economic forces, notably the ownership of production.

Chapter 2: The Constitution

Unalienable rights are natural rights that cannot be surrendered or transferred and belong to every individual.
Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, supported a strong national government and opposed the inclusion of a Bill of Rights.
The Articles of Confederation were America's first constitution, adopted in 1781, which gave most power to the states, limiting Congress's authority significantly.
Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution due to the centralization of power and the absence of guaranteed individual rights, ultimately leading to the Bill of Rights' passage.
The Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on July 4, 1776, declaring the colonies' independence from Great Britain.
The Federalist Papers, authored by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, were essays that advocated for a strong central government and aimed to persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention in 1787 was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation but resulted in creating the US Constitution.
The separation of powers is a constitutional principle that divides government responsibilities among legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each with distinct functions.

Shays's Rebellion

Shays's Rebellion, led by Daniel Shays, was a protest by farmers in Massachusetts (1786-1787) against mortgage foreclosures and illustrated the necessity for a stronger national government, prompting calls for the Constitutional Convention.

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Description

Test your understanding of the foundational concepts of American government in Chapter 1. Explore the definitions and distinctions between legitimacy, authority, and various forms of democracy, as well as political theories that explain governance and power dynamics. This quiz reinforces key terms and theories crucial for grasping the structure of American political systems.