U.S. Government Final Review
Foundations
1. Explain Locke and his contribution to Social Contract theory.
The Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation
2. What are the unalienable rights?
3. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Who influenced him?
4. What was the United State’s first social contract/constitution?
5. What was the main problem with the first constitution?
The Constitution
6. Who is known as ‘The Father of the Constitution’ based on his contributions made during the Constitutional
Convention?
7. What does it mean to refer to the Constitution as a living document?
8. Explain and provide examples of each of the six principles of government
Principle
Explanation
Example/citation
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Federalism
Judicial Review
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Final Review
December 2011
9. What were the Federalist Papers?
Federalism
10. Define the three types of powers exercised by the national government
Expressed
Implied
Inherent
11. What is the Constitutional basis for implied powers? (I’m looking for a clause here)
12. What is the significance of McCulloch v. Maryland?
13. Why is the Necessary and Proper Clause also known as the elastic clause?
14. Below are three important clauses that relate to the federal nature of our system. Explain each.
Supremacy Clause
Privileges and
Immunities Clause
Full Faith and Credit
Clause
15. What type of powers do states exercise? What amendment applies here?
Public Opinion, Ideology, Party
16. Why is public opinion important?
17. What are polls and what do they try to measure?
18. Define ideology.
19. Voter coalitions: Complete the chart on how certain groups vote.
Group
Democrats
Age
Gender
Region
Income
Education
Republican
20. What is the most significant influence on the development of an individual’s ideology? (Hint: it is the earliest
and sets all the foundations)
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Final Review
December 2011
21. What are the two dominant ideologies in the U.S. and how does each feel about the role of government?
22. What is partisanship?
Elections
23. Define suffrage.
24. Define nomination
25. What is the difference between and open and closed primary?
26. Why is money important in elections?
27. What is the most expensive campaign item?
28. Why would the Supreme Court uphold restrictions on the amount of money and individual can give to a
candidate?
29. What did the following Amendments do?
15th Amendment
19th Amendment
24th Amendment
26th Amendment
Congress
30. What two groups make up the legislative branch?
31. Complete the table over the differences between the House and Senate
House
Total number of members
Senate
Number of members per
state
Rules for debate
Length of term
Number of terms limited
to
Special duties
Method of Selection per
original Constitution
32. How did the 17th Amendment change how Senators were elected?
U.S. Government
Final Review
December 2011
33. Is Congress descriptively representative of the people? EXPLAIN! (who gets elected)
34. Define filibuster
35. What is the purpose of committees?
36. Where do most bills die along the process of becoming a law?
37. Congress’ powers are listed in Article I, Section 8. List five that you feel are the most important (but read them
all).
Executive – Article II of the Constitution
38. What are the formal qualifications for President? (3)
39. What are the President’s options when he receives a bill? (4)
40. Who elects the President?
41. How are the number of electors per state determined?
42. What is the major flaw of the electoral college? In what years did this happen?
43. What is the purpose of the President’s cabinet?
Judicial Branch
44. Define Judicial Review
Civil Rights/Liberties
45. Citizens fundamental rights/freedoms are outlined in what document?
46. List all the protections for each of the following Amendments
Amend Protections
Amend Protections
1
6
2
7
3
8
4
9
5
10
U.S. Government
Final Review
December 2011
U.S. Government
Final Review
December 2011