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Questions and Answers
What principle allows for government leaders to be created and sustained by the consent of the people?
What principle allows for government leaders to be created and sustained by the consent of the people?
Which term describes the system that ensures each branch of government can limit the powers of the others?
Which term describes the system that ensures each branch of government can limit the powers of the others?
What is the term for the situation where two levels of government control the same territory?
What is the term for the situation where two levels of government control the same territory?
Which concept indicates that all individuals and institutions are bound by the same laws?
Which concept indicates that all individuals and institutions are bound by the same laws?
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What does the term 'judicial review' refer to?
What does the term 'judicial review' refer to?
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What distinguishes a formal amendment from an informal amendment?
What distinguishes a formal amendment from an informal amendment?
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Which of the following describes the Bill of Rights?
Which of the following describes the Bill of Rights?
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What does 'unconstitutional' refer to in a governmental context?
What does 'unconstitutional' refer to in a governmental context?
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What is the primary purpose of judicial review?
What is the primary purpose of judicial review?
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Which two principles are the basis for popular sovereignty in the U.S. government?
Which two principles are the basis for popular sovereignty in the U.S. government?
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What is meant by the principle of limited government?
What is meant by the principle of limited government?
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How many times has the formal amendment process of the Constitution occurred?
How many times has the formal amendment process of the Constitution occurred?
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What was the reason for adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution?
What was the reason for adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution?
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Which principle involves distributing powers among three branches of government?
Which principle involves distributing powers among three branches of government?
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What distinguishes a formal amendment from an informal amendment?
What distinguishes a formal amendment from an informal amendment?
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In over 200 years, how many amendments have contributed to the evolution of the Constitution?
In over 200 years, how many amendments have contributed to the evolution of the Constitution?
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Study Notes
Popular Sovereignty
- Principle that state and government leaders are created by people's consent.
Checks and Balances
- Power balance between branches of government.
Federalism
- Government system where power is shared between two levels of government.
Rule of Law
- Ideal that everyone (people and institutions) is accountable to the same laws.
Limited Government
- Political system where government actions are restricted.
Judicial Review
- Court power to examine government actions.
Informal Amendment
- Changes to Constitution without formal amendments.
Bill of Rights
- First ten amendments to the US Constitution.
Constitutionalism
- Government operates according to constitutional principles.
Unconstitutional
- Not in accordance with the constitution or legal rules.
Executive Agreement
- Pact between President and foreign head of state.
Separation of Powers
- Division of powers among distinct governmental branches.
Amendment
- Change or addition to a document (e.g., Constitution).
Formal Amendment
- Change formally added to the Constitution.
Limited Government vs. Popular Sovereignty
- Popular sovereignty is the idea that a community governs itself with limited federal input.
- Limited government is the formal concept of this idea.
Checks and Balances vs. Separation of Powers
- Separation of powers divides governmental powers among branches (legislative, executive, judicial).
- Checks and balances specifies the process of branches checking each other.
Judicial Review
- Declaring government actions illegal, null, or void if unconstitutional.
Rule of Law vs. Bill of Rights
- Rule of law encompasses all aspects of justice system and legislation.
- Bill of Rights is the specific collection of amendments to US Constitution.
Constitution Strength
- Concise structure provides framework for basic government principles.
Ultimate Power
- Ultimate power in US system rests with the people.
Guiding Principles
- Principles for people's ultimate power: Checks & Balances, Popular Sovereignty.
Core Constitution Principles
- Popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, republicanism, and judicial review.
US Government operation
- Government operates according to Constitutional principles.
- Powers distributed among three branches (executive, legislative, and judicial).
Republicanism
- Representatives make decisions for the people.
Constitutional Amendment
- Reasons: Peaceful change, alternatives avoided.
- Frequency of formal amendment: 27 times.
Bill of Rights Addition
- Added for anti-federalist support of Constitution.
Informal Amendment vs. Formal Amendment
- Informal amendments are easier, less formal than formal amendments.
- Informal amendments are more common.
Informal Amendment Process
- Necessary to amend without significant commitment, easier to pass.
Methods of Informal Amendment
- Legislation and judicial interpretations; expanding/defining existing powers.
Executive Agreement vs. Treaty
- Executive agreement is a pact directly between President and foreign head.
- Treaty is an agreement with a foreign country approved by Congress.
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Description
Test your knowledge of key principles of the U.S. government. This quiz covers concepts such as federalism, checks and balances, and the rule of law. Learn how these principles shape the foundation of American democracy.
