12 Questions
What is the foundational legal structure of the United States?
The US Constitution
Under a bicameral legislature, what does each chamber represent?
Two distinct parts of the legislative branch
What was affirmed by the Supreme Court in the McCulloch v. Maryland case?
National law prevails over conflicting state law
Which concept in the US Constitution refers to the sharing of power between national and state governments?
Dual Sovereignty
'Fiscal Federalism' involves which kind of relationship due to federal grants to state governments?
Collaborative Relationship
'Intergovernmental Relations' is a term used to refer to the collaborative effort of how many levels of government?
Two or more levels of government
What is one of the actions practiced by individuals engaged in civic life and public experience?
Accumulation of knowledge about private issues
According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, what concept is dependent on the authority of the people to rule?
Popular sovereignty
What was a central principle of the Declaration of Independence?
All men are equal.
In what sequence did American colonists experience different types of governments?
Unitary system, federal system, confederal system
Under the Articles of Confederation, where did the most power primarily rest?
State governments
How many affirmative votes were required for the approval of policies and treaty ratification under the Articles of Confederation?
Nine votes
Study Notes
Foundational Legal Structure of the United States
- The foundational legal structure of the United States is based on a bicameral legislature, consisting of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Representation in Each Chamber
- The House of Representatives represents the people, with members elected by the population of each state.
- The Senate represents the states, with each state having two senators.
McCulloch v. Maryland Case
- The Supreme Court affirmed in the McCulloch v. Maryland case that the federal government has implied powers, not explicitly stated in the Constitution, under the necessary and proper clause.
Concept of Power Sharing
- Federalism is the concept in the US Constitution that refers to the sharing of power between national and state governments.
Fiscal Federalism
- Fiscal Federalism involves a relationship of dependency between the federal government and state governments, where the federal government provides grants to state governments.
Intergovernmental Relations
- Intergovernmental Relations refers to the collaborative effort of three levels of government: federal, state, and local governments.
Civic Life and Public Experience
- Engaging in voting is one of the actions practiced by individuals engaged in civic life and public experience.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Concept
- According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the concept of sovereignty is dependent on the authority of the people to rule.
Declaration of Independence
- A central principle of the Declaration of Independence is the idea that all men are created equal and are endowed with certain unalienable rights.
Sequence of Governments Experienced by American Colonists
- American colonists experienced different types of governments in the following sequence: royal colonies, proprietary colonies, and charter colonies.
Power Under the Articles of Confederation
- Under the Articles of Confederation, the most power primarily rested with the states.
Approval of Policies and Treaty Ratification
- Under the Articles of Confederation, nine affirmative votes (out of 13 states) were required for the approval of policies and treaty ratification.
Test your knowledge on civic engagement, public issues, political accountability, advocacy, and political ideology. Explore the concepts of holding public officials accountable, advocating for self-interest, and understanding the role of government in society.
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