Government
Name: ______________________________ Per. _____ Date: _____________
Reality Check: Foundations of American Democracy
Checking for Understanding
Directions: Answer the following questions below. Please use complete
sentences.
1.) What is a democracy?
2.) What does a Constitution do?
3.) Describe Federalism?
4.) What does the “separation of powers” mean?
5.) What is a social contract?
6.) How many branches of government are there in the U.S.? Please identify the branches.
7.) Who was John Locke and why was he important?
8.) What is a bicameral legislature? Can you give a specific example of one?
9.) What is the primary difference between a parliamentary and a presidential system?
10.)
What is a unitary or centrist form of government?
11.)
Three authors wrote The Federalist Papers. Name at least one of them.
12.)
What was the name of the document that was used before the U.S. Constitution replaced it?