Act 1: Foundations of Government
Unit Study Guide: Answer these questions on your own. This will help you prepare for quizzes/tests!
1. How did the founding documents influence the US Constitution?
Charters of the
Virginia
Company of
London
Important
Details:
* The charters of
the Virginia
Company of
London
guaranteed
the rights of
Englishmen
to the
colonists.
Virginia
Declaration of
Rights
Important
Details:
*Served as a
model for the
Bill OF
RIGHTS.
Virginia
Statute for
Religious
Freedom
Important
Details:
*Stated
freedom of
religious
beliefs and
freedoms.
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
Important Details:
Important Details:
*Affirmed certain unalienable rights
such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness. (L.L.P.’s)
* Established the first form of
*Declared independence from Great
Britain
*Maintained that major
powers resided with
individual states
*Stated all men are created equal.
*Stated grievances (complaints)
against the King of Great Britain
national government for the
independent states
Created weak central
government (e.g., no power
to tax or enforce laws)
Led to the writing of the
Constitution of the United
States of America.
US Constitution - 1787
2. What is a preamble?
3. What are the SIX main reasons the Constitution of the United States was written, as stated in the
Preamble.
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4. The US Constitution:
a. establishes the ____________________________ of the US government
b. guarantees _________________ under the law with ______________ rule and the rights of the
_________________ protected
c. affirms the individual ____________ and ____________ of all people
d. protects the fundamental freedoms of _____________, ______________, _____________,
_____________, and ______________
5. Define the following terms:
a. Amendment means to __________________________
b. Proposal means to _________________________
c. Ratification means to __________________________
6. How many times has the Constitution been amended? ________
7. Process for amending the Constitution of the United States:
First Step: ______________________ by Congress
Second Step: ______________________ by States
8. What is the Bill of Rights? ______________________________________________
9. Are the liberties and rights in the Bill of Rights absolute? ________ Why or why not?
__________________________________________________________________
First Amendment freedoms
Freedom of
Freedom of
Freedom of
Freedom of
Freedom of
___________
___________
___________
__________
____________
Definition:
Definition:
Definition:
Definition:
Definition:
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
10. Identify each of the FIVE fundamental principles that shaped the United States’ government. Describe
the meaning of each principle.
Principle - ________________________________ means ___________________________________________________
Principle - ________________________________ means ___________________________________________________
Principle - ________________________________ means ___________________________________________________
Principle - ________________________________ means ___________________________________________________
Principle - ________________________________ means ___________________________________________________