Principles of American Government Quiz

Fundamental Principles

• Consent of the governed: Citizens give authority to the government.
• Limited government: Government has restricted powers.
• Rule of Law: Everyone must follow the law, including government officials.
• Democracy: People rule.
• Representative government: People elect representatives.

Earlier Documents

• Magna Carta: Established principle that everyone is subject to the law.
• Charters of the Virginia Company of London: Guaranteed rights of Englishmen.
• Virginia Declaration of Rights: Served as a model for the Bill of Rights.
• Declaration of Independence: Stated grievances against the king, declared independence, and affirmed unalienable rights.
• Articles of Confederation: First form of national government.
• Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: Stated freedom of religious beliefs and opinions.
• The Constitution of Virginia and the United States, including the Bill of Rights: Established the structure of the U.S. government, guaranteed equality under law, and protected fundamental freedoms.

Preamble to the Constitution

• Expresses the reasons for the Constitution.
• To form a more perfect union
• To establish justice
• To ensure domestic tranquility
• To provide for the common defense
• To promote the general welfare
• To secure the blessings of liberty

Amending the Constitution

• The amendment process is complex.
• To date, there are 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
• Proposal: action by Congress or convention of the states.
• Ratification: by the states.
• Amendment process for Virginia: Action by the General Assembly or constitutional convention followed by ratification by Virginia voters.

Becoming a Citizen

• Citizenship is defined by the Fourteenth Amendment.
• Means of obtaining citizenship: Birth and naturalization.
• Naturalization process: 18 years old, legal resident, good moral character, loyalty, ability to read, write and speak basic English, pass a test, and take an oath of allegiance.

Rights and Duties of Citizenship

• First Amendment freedoms: Religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
• Duties of citizenship: Obey laws, pay taxes, serve in the armed forces.
• Responsibilities of citizenship: Register and vote, communicate with officials, participate in campaigns, stay informed.

Community Needs

• Civics and social duties address community needs.
• Active citizen participation.
• Ways to participate: Express concern, volunteer.

Political Parties

• Functions of political parties: Recruit, educate, help candidates win elections.
• Similarities between political parties: Organize to win elections, influence public policies, reflect views.
• Differences between political parties: Stated in party platforms, reflected in campaign.
• Role of media: Voters evaluate information.

Campaign Costs

• Running for political office requires significant funding.
• Campaign finance reform
• Limits on individual and group contributions.

Voter Registration

• Voter registration is a prerequisite for voting.
• Qualifications: Citizen, resident, of age.
• Methods: In person, mail, online.

Electoral College

• The Electoral College elects the president.
• Number of electors per state based on representation.
• Most states use the "winner-take-all" system for electors.

National Government Structure

• The Constitution creates three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
• Executive branch: Headed by the president, executes laws, prepares the budget, and appoints officials.
• Judicial branch: Consists of federal courts, including the Supreme Court, interprets laws.
• Legislative branch: Congress, makes laws, approves the budget, and confirms appointments.

Separation of Powers

• Powers of the national government are separated among three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial.
• This prevents any one branch from abusing power.
• Checks and balances: Each branch limits the power of the other two branches.

Lawmaking Process

• National laws are made by Congress.
• Steps in the process: Introducing a bill, working in committees, debating on the floor, voting on the bill.
• Legislative powers: Expressed (specifically listed), implied (used to carry out expressed powers.)
• Collaboration and compromise are essential.

Federal System

• The relationship of state governments to the national government.
• Powers are divided between federal and state governments.
• Some powers are shared.

Local Government

• The units of local government (counties, towns, and cities) are created by the state government.
• Local powers are derived from the state and are limited.
• Local governments are responsible for providing services.

Judicial System Organization

• Organization and jurisdiction of state and federal courts.
• Dual court system: State courts and federal courts.
• Original and appellate jurisdiction.
• Role of the judicial branch: Interpretation of laws, judicial review.
• Key court cases: Marbury v. Madison (established judicial review).

Civil and Criminal Cases

• Courts handle both civil and criminal cases.
• Criminal cases: Determine guilt or innocence.
• Civil cases: Resolve disputes between parties.
• Procedures vary for each type of case.

Due Process

• Due process protections, found in the 5th and 14th amendments, prevent unfair government actions.
• Protects individuals from abuse of power by the government.

Impact of Media and Public Opinion

• Media informs policymakers and influences public policy.
• Media's role in setting the public agenda.
• Evaluating media: Source accuracy, bias, separating fact from opinion.
• Interest groups influence public policy through various means, including lobbying.
• Citizens can influence public policy by participating in political processes.

Economic Systems

• Traditional, free-market, command, and mixed economies.
• Factors influencing economic systems: Government involvement.
• Economic decisions and questions that affect all economic systems—what will be produced, how will it be produced, for whom will it be produced.
• Roles of consumers and producers in free market systems.

Supply and Demand

• Prices are determined by the interaction of supply and demand.
• Law of demand: Lower prices result in higher demand.
• Law of supply: Higher prices result in higher supply.
• Equilibrium point: Where supply and demand meet.

Business Organizations

• Different types of businesses: Proprietorship, partnership, corporation.
• Role of entrepreneurs.
• Entrepreneurs take risks and sell goods/services.
• Factors that influence business successes and failures.

Financial Institutions

• How financial institutions make loans and facilitate funds from savers to borrowers.
• Types of institutions (banks, credit unions).
• Importance of financial institutions to economic growth.

Global Economy

• Relationship of Virginia and the United States to the global economy.
• Benefits and challenges of international trade.
• Technological innovations' impact on the global economy.
• Factors that affect international trade decisions.

Marketplace Competition

• Competition in the marketplace.
• Ways government intervenes in marketplaces.
• Benefits and challenges of competition.

Public Goods and Services

• Characteristics of public goods and services.
• How governments provide services efficiently.
• Sources of government revenue: Taxes, fees.

Consumer and Property Rights

• How government policies protect consumer and property rights.
• Agencies that enforce consumer and property rights.

Money system

• What money is, its function;
• The role of the Federal Reserve System;
• The importance of property rights to a thriving economy.