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Civics
Midterm
152
Other
10th Grade
01/03/2008
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Term
Why do state governments resemble the federal government?
 Definition
because they were modeled on or were models for the Constitution
Term
The Governor of a state acts as what?
 Definition
State's chief executive and legislator
Term
What does the lieutenant governor do?
 Definition
He presides over the state senate
Term
What happens if a state law conflicts with a federal law?
 Definition
the federal law has the greater authority
Term
What are often known as ordinances?
 Definition
laws passed by a local government, such as a county board
Term
What happens when a city is granted home rule?
 Definition
it is given the right to choose its own type of government
Term
What is the role of the judicial branch
 Definition
it is to interpret laws and protect rights
Term
How many terms are house members elected for?
 Definition
for two-year terms
Term
Who gives the right for the federal government to use taxes as a reliable source of revenue?
 Definition
United States Constitution
Term
Which state does not have bicameral legislatures?
 Definition
Nebraska
Term
What is the system of checks and balances designed to prevent?
 Definition
from one branch of government from becoming too powerful
Term
What does the principle of equal protection of the laws made it possible to do?
 Definition
protect the rights of minority
Term
The right to liberty involves protection from what?
 Definition
unfair treatment by government
Term
All of the following are rights to security
 Definition
right to free press, protection from unreasonable searches, right to fair payment for property taken by government
Term
The difference between duties and responsibilities is what?
 Definition
we are required by law to fulfill duties
Term
Community volunteers improve the quality of life in a ___?
 Definition
Community
Term
What are some advantages of a two party system?
 Definition
Both parties have experience in running government.
If voters are dissatisfied with one party, they can vote for the other.
Party policies are designed to appeal to many different groups
Term
In a one-party system, all candidates are from:
 Definition
the same party
Term
The ________ are more likely than the ___________ to favor government involvement in providing jobs and housing
 Definition
Democrats, Republicans
Term
In some American ________ _________, a third party has affected the outcome by influencing government and social policy
 Definition
presidential elections
Term
A political party's national committee:
 Definition
organizes the party's national convention.
raises funds for the presidential election.
is headed by a national chairsperson
Term
The purpose of a PAC is:
 Definition
to raise money for particular candidates.
Term
In the US, accused persons are presumed ___________ until proven guilty in court
 Definition
innocent
Term
Protection against self-incrimination means that a person does not have to answer questions that:
 Definition
show their involvement in a crime
Term
The following would provide a convicted person with a reason to appeal a verdict:
 Definition
the judge made an error in conducting the trial.
the jury did not have sufficient evidence to reach a guilty verdict.
new evidence would result in a different verdict
Term
The part of the Constitution that lists the 6 goals of the US government is the ______________
 Definition
Preamble
Term
____________ _____________ is known as the father of the Constitution
 Definition
James Madison
Term
The following is a part of the 14th amendment:
 Definition
US citizens defined.
States grant citizens equal protection of the laws.
State laws may not interfere with rights granted by the US government.
Term
The ______ amendment gives Congress the power to collect taxes on income
 Definition
16th
Term
All of the following rights are protected by the First Amendment.
 Definition
The freedom to broadcast a speech criticizing the government.
The freedom to practice one's religous beliefs.
The freedom to state controversial opinions in public.
Term
All of the following are examples of the rights of assembly and petition.
 Definition
An antiwar protest, a parade honoring a public figure, a gathering in support of equal rights for minorities
Term
Congress is a ____________ legislature
 Definition
bicameral
Term
The executive branch consists of
 Definition
The president, vice president, and various executive departments
Term
____________ is an important way of preventing the concentration and abuse of power
 Definition
Separation of Powers
Term
Federal judges must be nominated by the _________ and approved by the _______
 Definition
president, senate
Term
Under the ___________ in Article VI of the constitution, the power of the national government is superior to that of the state government
 Definition
"Supremecy Clause"
Term
The Constitution gives Congress the power to expand and change the system of:
 Definition
lower-level federal courts
Term
What are the executive powers of the federal government?
 Definition
executing laws, appointing officials, and using executive privilege
Term
Congress passed the ______________ Amendment in order to limit presidents to two terms in office
 Definition
22nd
Term
An accused person cannot be jailed unless he or she has been read the complete __________
 Definition
Miranda
Term
An important element of due process of law is:
 Definition
the right to trial by a jury that is impartial
Term
The courts have defended ________ _______bail that is more that is needed to ensure that a person will appear in court
 Definition
excessive bail
Term
States are allowed to limit the rights of persons who:
 Definition
have beenconvicted of felonies
Term
In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the supreme court ruled that segregationwas legal if:
 Definition
facilities reserved for different reserved for different races were the same
Term
The requirement that presidential appointments to the supreme court be approved by the senate is an example of what
 Definition
checks and balances
Term
Members of the Senate and members of the House of Representatives are voted directly by whom?
 Definition
Registered voters.
Term
The most important source of the Supreme Court's caseload is its:
 Definition
appellate jurisdiction
Term
All of the following powers are granted to the President by the Constitution
 Definition
granting pardons, addressing the Congress on the state of the union, receiving ambassadors
Term
Congress can try to amend the Constitution if the Supreme Court finds a federal law __________
 Definition
unconstitutional
Term
Most of the individual protections of the Bill of Rights now applyu to the states because of the Supreme Court;s interpretation of the Constitution's ______
 Definition
10th amendment
Term
To remove the president from office, what process must be done?
 Definition
the House votes for impeachment, and the Senate conducts a trial and reaches a guilty verdict
Term
The ______ ________ protects an attempt to protect criminal suspects against unfair police interrogation
 Definition
miranda warning
Term
The reserved powers of the state governments can best be described as what?
 Definition
those powers not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states
Term
What are the powers granted to the Congress in the original Constitution?
 Definition
to tax, to declare war, and to maintain a navy
Term
What are the powers denied to Congress in the original Constitution?
 Definition
to pass a capitation tax, a bill of attainder, and an expo facto law
Term
What are the three requirements of becoming a president?
 Definition
must be 35 years of age, 14 years of residency, and a natural born citizen
Term
What are the three requirements to become a senator?
 Definition
must be a citizen of at least 9 years, be at least 30 years of age, and reside in the state you represent
Term
What are the three requirements to become a Representative?
 Definition
must be a citizen of at least 7 years, be at least 25 years of age, and reside in the state you represent
Term
__ of Congress is required to pass an amendment and __ proportion of the states is required to ratify an amendment according to the Constitution
 Definition
2/3, 3/4
Term
What are three powers of the President?
 Definition
to serve as chief diplomat, commander in chief, and the chief legislative official
Term
What is the most important duty of the Supreme Court?
 Definition
to determine the constitutionality of laws
Term
What did the court cas Marbury v. Madison establish?
 Definition
judicial review
Term
What are the three purposes for the Constitution as set out in the Preamble?
 Definition
to insure domestic tranquility, to promote general welfare, and to establish justice.
Term
According to Madison in the Federalist papers, the serparation of powers can only be maintained if each branch of government is kept entirely separate from what?
 Definition
coordinate branches
Term
In the Consitution, Article 1 is about _________, Article 2 is about ________, and Article 3 is about __________
 Definition
Legislative, executive, judicial
Term
Who wrote the Federalist papers?
 Definition
Madison, Jay, and Hamilton
Term
The Constitution establishes what?
 Definition
the right to freedom of speech and press, the process for an impeachment hearing and trial, and du process
Term
What were the influences on the foundding father'sbeliefs about what was and was not importan in government?
 Definition
the English Bill of Rigghts, the Magna Carta, andd the Parliament
Term
Public debate over governmental policies would pose a threa to what?
 Definition
most dictatorships
Term
The following statements about the socialcontract theory art true:
 Definition
the state was created coluntarily by a free people, governmental powers are granted by the people, and governmental powers are limited by the people
Term
What are the basics to the American concept of democracy?
 Definition
respect for the worh and dignity of every person, faith in majority rule, limited by minority rights, insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom
Term
The social contract theory was based mainly on the ideas of: (4)
 Definition
John Locke, James Harrington, Thomas Hobbes, Jean Jacques Rousseau
Term
The power of the British Crown was first limited by?
 Definition
Parliament under the Magna Carta
Term
The lack of a bill of right in the Constitution most angered who?
 Definition
Anti-Federalists
Term
Both ____ & ______ could be amended
 Definition
Articles of Confederation & Constitution
Term
These issues involved a major compromise at the constitutional Convention
 Definition
what trade congress should regulate, how to determine State representation in Congress and whether to count slaves in determining a State's population
Term
The Great Compromise used the idea of what?
 Definition
of equal state representation from the New Jersey Plan
Term
The idea that the people have a right to abolish an abusive and unresponsive government was first formally expressed by who?
 Definition
Americans in the Declaration of Independence
Term
According to the Connecticut Compromise each state would be represented equally?
 Definition
in one house of Congress and on the basis of population in the other house
Term
Bill of Rights guarantees all of the following:
 Definition
the right to a speedy trial by jury, freedom of speech, the right to bear arms
Term
Government must operate within certain bounds set by the people describes what?
 Definition
the concept of limited government
Term
The supremacy Clause establishes what?
 Definition
The constitution as the nation"s highest law
Term
Women secured the right to vote with what?
 Definition
19th amendment
Term
the following are civic responsibilities:
 Definition
voting, serving on jury duty, obeying the law
Term
propaganda techniques
 Definition
aim to be persuasive
Term
The number of House members representing each state is recalculated every __ years?
 Definition
10 years
Term
Gerrymandering was unfair because?
 Definition
it set district limits to decrease one group's voting strength
Term
A federal government is one in which power is divided between ___ & ____
 Definition
central government & local governments
Term
George Washington's Farewell Address in 1796 stressed what?
 Definition
isolationism as a foreign policy for the US
Term
Containment became foreign policy when ___ &____ were threatened by a Communist takeover
 Definition
Greece & Turkey
Term
The following are facts about the Monroe Doctrine
 Definition
it is the avoidance of political involvement with other nations, it included the provision that American continents should no longer be considered for future European colonization, it stated that the US wouldn't interfere with European colonies
Term
the Open Door policy involved the __, ___, & _____ and attempted to preserve equal trading _____ for the world's most powerful nations
 Definition
US, Great Britain, China opportunities
Term
The following are in chronological order as foreign policies of the US
 Definition
isolationism, imperialism, internationalism
Term
Internationalism is the foreign policy that commits the US to what?
 Definition
finding a peaceful solution to international problems
Term
What was the goal of NATO
 Definition
helping Western Europe recover from the devastation from World War II
Term
What was the purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
 Definition
to defend Western allies from communist agression
Term
A nations foreign policy is made up of
 Definition
many different policies on many different topics
Term
During the Cold War, American relations with the Soviet Union were dominated by?
 Definition
Containment
Term
the main reason for the formation of the United Nations was to save future generations from what?
 Definition
wars
Term
The 24th amendment abolished what?
 Definition
the poll tax
Term
The federal government receives nearly all of its revenue from what?
 Definition
taxes
Term
Critics say that open primaries undermine what?
 Definition
party loyality
Term
Interest groups use direct mail to
 Definition
recruit new members
Term
A political party's formal statement of basic principles, stands on major issues, and objectives
 Definition
Platform
Term
A tax levied at a flat rae, without regard to the level of a taxpayers income of ability to pay them
 Definition
Regressive tax
Term
an official who assists a judge or magistrate, one that assesses, an official that assesses property for taxation
 Definition
Assessor
Term
A city's basic law, its constitution; a written grant of authority from the king
 Definition
charter
Term
A type of tax proportionate to income
 Definition
progressive tax
Term
A legislative act that inflicts punishment without a court trial
 Definition
Bill of attainder
Term
The art and practice of conducting negotations between nations
 Definition
diplomacy
Term
the legal process by which a fugative from justice in one State is returned to that State
 Definition
extradition
Term
A tax laid on the manufacture, sale, or consumption of goods and/or performance of services
 Definition
excise tax
Term
The Framers reconciled the need for an effective central government with a respect for State governments by:
 Definition
creating a system of federalism
Term
Examples of the checks and balances system include:
 Definition
the Supreme Court declares a law passed by Congress to be unconstitutional, the president vetoes a bill, the Senate approves the President's nominee for Supreme Court justice
Term
for the first part of our history, American foreign policy was basically
 Definition
noninvolvement
Term
The establishment clause in the First Amendment prohibits what?
 Definition
The setting up of a state church (separation of church and state)
Term
House members are elected for how long?
 Definition
for 2 year terms
Term
The basic constitutional rights of the people were first set out in what?
 Definition
Bill of Rights
Term
A technique used to persuade people to adopt a particular beleif
 Definition
Propaganda
Term
Separation of powers divide power among?
 Definition
the three branches of government
Term
The formal amendment process is based on?
 Definition
the principle of federalism
Term
A runoff primary takes place when what happens?
 Definition
when no candidate has a majority of the vote in some States
Term
One nonparty political group that works to affect public policy
 Definition
political action committee
Term
The Constitution set up a federal system of government by
 Definition
dividing power between the National Government and the States
Term
which branch can check the judicial branch by its power to remove judges through impeachment?
 Definition
Legislative Branch
Term
Average voters or people refers to?
 Definition
Grass roots
Term
Which Court is also called the High Court mainly because it is the uppermost court in the nation's judicial system
 Definition
U.S. Supreme Court
Term
What is the process by which group pressures are applied to all aspects of the public policy-making process
 Definition
Lobbying
Term
What directly limits who may decide a case?
 Definition
Jurisdiction
Term
The largest source of federal revenue from taxes comes from?
 Definition
individual income taxes
Term
The secretary of defense: (3 things)
 Definition
is head of the Defense Department, is the President's chief aide in making and carrying out defense policy, and is headquatered in the Pentagon
Term
The Secretary of State gives:
 Definition
advice on foreign affairs to the President
Term
A nation's foreign policy is made up of?
 Definition
many different policies on many different topics.
Term
Who gathers the facts upon which foreign policy decisions are made?
 Definition
The Central Intelligent Agency (CIA)
Term
The purpose of the United Nations: (3 things)
 Definition
to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations, and to promote justice and cooperation
Term
Ideas included in the Declaration of Independence: (3 things)
 Definition
people have certain natural rights, government can exist only with the people's permission, people may change or abolish the government
Term
Reasons America needs a foreign policy:
 Definition
wars anywhere in the world affect the US, economic conditions in other countries impact the US, the security of US citizens depends on a sound foreign policy
Term
The following are a part of American foreign policy:
 Definition
treaties and alliances, cultural exchange programs, disarmament negotiations
Term
The oldest and most widely used form of city government in the US is the:
 Definition
Mayor-Council Government
Term
The power of judicial review is held by:
 Definition
Federal and State courts
Term
Which agency includes agencies for specific world regions as well as function-based agencies
 Definition
The State Department
Term
Who has the major responsibility for the conduction of forign relations?
 Definition
The President
Term
The government set up by the ______ had only a legislative branch, consisting of a unicameral Congress?
 Definition
Articles of Confederation
Term
What was written to win support for the Constitution in New York?
 Definition
The Federalist
Term
Much of the work of the Framers centered around what?
 Definition
the proposals in the Virginia Plan
Term
The following were issues that involved a major compromise at the Constitutional Convention
 Definition
what trade Congress should regulate, how to determine State representation in Congress, whether to count slaves in determining a State's population
Term
At the Philadelphia Convention, the delegates agreed to:
 Definition
draft a new constitution
Term
The state ___ and the _______ had the idea of limited government
 Definition
constitution & Articles of Confederation
Term
The Great Compromise used _____ of equal State representation
 Definition
New Jersey Plan
Term
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could not ____?
 Definition
levy taxes
Term
_____ is an entire procedural event that must be carried out properly when a person is arrested
 Definition
Due process
Term
When a city is granted home rule:
 Definition
it is given the right to choose its own type of government
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