SOL CE.2b – Significance of historic documents on the Constitution
American constitutional government is founded on concepts contained in earlier
documents. Match the document to the statement that tells what each document
guaranteed citizens.
___1. Charters of the Virginia Company
___2. The VA Declaration of Rights
___3. Declaration of Independence
___4. Articles of Confederation
___5. VA Statute for Religious Freedom
___6. US Constitution
___7. Bill of Rights
A. “Certain unalienable rights”, all people
are equal under the law
B. First form of national gov’t; weak central
gov’t, states had power
C. Rights of Englishmen guaranteed to
colonists
D. Freedom of religious beliefs and opinions
E. Establishes structure of the US gov’t;
guarantees equality under the law
with majority rule and rights of
minority protected
F. Protects the fundamental freedoms of
religion, speech, press, assembly
and petition
G. Served as a model for the Bill of Rights
In the paragraph below, fill in the name of the document that belongs in the blank.
When the first colonists came to Virginia to settle, they were protected under the
law because they were guaranteed the same rights as the citizens in England by the
_______________________________________________. As the colonies grew, they
became more and more independent from England, which alarmed Parliament. When
England tried to tighten the control over the colonists and began to tax them, the
colonists rebelled and wrote a list of grievances and sent them to King George. The
______________________________________________ also declared that the colonies
were independent of Great Britain. Since all countries need a government, the United
States wrote its first form of government, the
______________________________________________.
This government was not very effective because the national government had very
little power and each state was basically doing what it wanted to do. So a meeting was
called in Philadelphia, and each state was to send representatives to fix the document.
These people soon realized that they needed to throw out the original plan and start
again, and that is exactly what they did. They wrote the
___________________________. While they were writing the document, they looked to
the various state constitutions for guidance.
Several states were not satisfied with the new form of government because they
felt individual rights needed to be protected. Virginia in particular guaranteed her citizens
individual rights in ______________________________________________ and religious
freedom in the ______________________________________________. These two
documents served as a basis for our _____________________________. When the
writers of the new form of government promised to add amendments to protect individual
rights and fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition, the
states agreed to ratify the new form of government. This great document that affirms the
individual worth and dignity of all people has guided our country since 1787 and has been
a model for other governments around the world.
SOL CE.3b – First Amendment Rights & Due Process
The First Amendment to the US Constitution guaranteed five basic freedoms. List the
freedom next to its description below.
1. ___________________________ Individuals may gather peacefully.
2. ___________________________ Individuals are free to express their opinions and
beliefs.
3. ___________________________ The press has the right to gather and publish
information.
4. ___________________________ Individuals have the right to make their views
known to public officials.
5. ___________________________ Government may not establish an official religion,
nor endorse, nor unduly interfere with the free exercise of religion.
Which constitutional amendment extends the due process protection to actions of the
state?
Summarize the rest of the Bill of Rights below:
2nd – _________________________________________________________________
3rd – _________________________________________________________________
4th – _________________________________________________________________
5th – _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6th – _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7th – _________________________________________________________________
8th – _________________________________________________________________
9th – _________________________________________________________________
10th –_________________________________________________________________
*Other important amendments to know:
13th – _________________________________________________________________
14th – _________________________________________________________________
19th – _________________________________________________________________
26th – _________________________________________________________________
SOL CE.3a,c,d – Citizenship
SOL CE.5a – Functions of Political Parties
Political parties pay a key role in government and provide opportunities for citizens to
participate in the political process. Write YES on the line if it is a function of political
parties; leave it blank if it is not.
_____ 1.Passing laws for the nation
_____ 2.Recruiting and nominating candidates
_____ 3.Educating the electorate about campaign issues
_____ 4.Deciding if laws are in agreement with the Constitution
_____ 5.Registering people to vote in general elections
_____ 6.Spreading rumors about opponents
_____ 7.Helping candidates win elections
_____ 8.Appointing people to the president’s cabinet
_____ 9.Monitoring actions of officeholders
_____ 10.Writing editorials in major newspapers
Write a short paragraph below explaining which of the functions of political parties
you think is most important and why.
SOL CE.5b - Similarities and Differences of Political Parties
A two-party system characterizes the American political process. Although third parties
rarely win elections, they play an important role in public politics. Decide whether each
statement below is true or false. Write YES if it is true and NO if it is false.
_____1.
Political parties organize to win elections.
_____2.
Differences between parties are stated in the party’s platform.
_____3.
Political parties believe in a strong central government.
_____4.
Third parties introduce new ideas or press for a particular issue.
_____5.
Political parties all believe the same thing about helping poor people.
_____6.
Party differences are reflected in campaigning.
_____7.
Political parties elect the president and vice president after the general
election.
_____8.
Political parties require a membership application to join.
_____9.
Political parties reflect both liberal and conservative views.
_____10.
_____11.
Third parties often revolve around a political personality such as Theodore
Roosevelt.
Political parties influence public policies.
_____12.
Political parties define themselves in a way that wins majority support by
appealing to the political center.
_____13.
Third parties have never won a presidential election, but have affected the
outcome of elections.
Draw a Venn Diagram below, complete the central portion that shows how the Democrats
and Republicans are alike. You should list four items found above.
Democrats
Republicans
SOL CE.5c - Analyzing Campaigns for Elective Office & the Role of the Media
Voters evaluate information presented in political campaigns, including speeches,
literature, and advertisements, to make reasoned choices among candidates. The media
also plays an important role in the political process. Read each statement below and
indicate with a C if it’s a role of citizens and indicate with an M if it’s role of the media.
___ 1.Identifying candidates
___ 2.Writing editorials
___ 3.Separationg fact from fiction
___ 4.Creating political cartoons
___ 5.Publishing op-ed pieces
___ 6.Detecting bias
___ 7.Evaluating sources
___ 8.Emphasizing selected issues
___ 9.Identifying propaganda
___10.Broadcasting different points of view
In a short paragraph, explain why it is important for voters to evaluate the information
presented in political campaigns and the media.
SOL CE.5e – Voter Registration and Participation
Use the word bank to complete the paragraphs below. Some words are used more than
once.
Voting is a basic _________________of citizenship. However, voters must
___________ before they may vote. In Virginia there are three qualifications for voters.
First, they must be ___________of the United States. They must also be residents of both
the ___________and the voting______________. And finally, they must be at least
____years old by the day of the general election. Citizens can either register by
_______application or in __________at the ___________ office, at the
________________________________or at other designated sites. Registration closes
__________ days before elections.
The number of citizens who register and vote is usually related to how ________
election issues are to citizens. Studies have shown that there are three major factors
which predict which citizens will vote. Those factors
are_______________,_____________ and ______________. In general, people with
_______ education are more likely to vote.__________ people are more likely to vote
than ________ people. And people with __________ incomes are more likely to vote than
people with _______ incomes.
People give a variety of reasons for not voting. Two of the most common are a
lack of ____________ in elections and failure to_______________. It is also true that the
percentage of votes is higher in ______________________ elections than in
________________ and ___________________ elections.
All citizens need to keep in mind that every vote is______________________.
SOL CE.6,7 - Relationship of State Gov’t to the National Government in the
Federal system.
The Constitution of the United States of America outlines powers divided and shared
among the national, state, and local levels of government.
A. Fill in the blanks below using terms from the word bank.
The Constitution of the United States of America establishes the principle of
__________________, which is the division of the power between the states and the
national government. The Constitution states that in this federal form of government the
________________________ is supreme. The powers of the national government are
_________________, and ______________________ or ____________________ in the
Constitution. The powers not given to the national government by the Constitution are
reserved for the _______________. The Constitution _____________ powers to both the
national and state governments, like taxing exports or punishing someone for breaking a
law before it went into effect. The powers of the local governments in Virginia are derived
from the _____________. There are three levels of government, national, state, and local.
Among other responsibilities, the national government
____________________________________
and __________________________________________. The primary responsibilities of
the state government are to promote
______________________________________________.
The primary responsibilities of the local government are to_________________________,
provide _______________________, _________________________,
____________________ and ________________________________.
SOL CE.6,7 - Relationship of State Gov’t to the National Government in the
Federal system.
B. Use the paragraph on the previous page, as a guide. Read each statement below; write
TRUE if the statement is true and FALSE if the statement is false.
_____ 1.According to the Constitution the federal government holds all the power.
_____ 2.The national government is in charge of trade between states and countries.
_____ 3.The highest level of government is the national government.
_____ 4.There are no powers that the Constitution denies to the national and state
governments.
_____ 5.Any powers that are not listed in the Constitution for the national government are
given to the state governments.
_____ 6.The local governments get their power from the national government.
_____ 7.The state governments conduct foreign policy.
_____ 8.Your school is provided by the local government.
_____ 9.In Virginia, a county cannot pass a law that conflicts with a state law.
_____ 10.State laws overrule national laws.
SOL CE.6,7,8 - Describe the structure and powers of local, state, & national
gov’ts.
Write N if the power belongs to the national government, S if it belongs to the state
government, or, LO if it belongs to the local government. After each statement write LG if
the legislative branch has the power. Write E if the executive branch has the power. Write
J if the judicial branch has the power. The first one has been done for you.
LEVEL
BRANCH
__LO_ 1.power is limited by the state
LG, E, J
______ 2.makes laws for the nation
_________
______ 3.Virginia Supreme Court
_________
______ 4.Board of County Supervisors
_________
______ 5.approves a two year budget
_________
______ 6.governor
_________
______ 7.make local laws
_________
______ 8.tries cases involving U.S. Constitution
_________
______ 9.makes laws for Virginia
_________
______ 10.elected by Board of Supervisors
_________
______ 11.carries out laws of Virginia
_________
______ 12.appoints ambassadors
_________
______ 13.has power of judicial review for all laws
_________
______ 14.General Assembly
_________
______ 15.carries out laws of the land
_________
______ 16.president
_________
______ 17.administers state bureaucracy
_________
______ 18.appoints federal judges
_________
______ 19.approves presidential appointments
_________
______ 20.tries civil and criminal cases
_________
SOL CE.6b - Checks and balances
Decide who has the power to “check the wrong” that is being done. Write Executive
Branch, Legislative Branch, or Judicial Branch, and which type of check it is.
1. The president has been neglecting his responsibilities as President and has been
charged with organizing a break-in at the opposing party’s headquarters.
Legislative Branch - impeachment
2. Congress and the president approve a law that would require only women to pay taxes;
all men would be exempt from paying taxes.
3. A federal judge has been accused of accepting bribes from companies that received
favorable rulings from him.
4. The president is tired of the hundreds of bills that have crossed his desk for action
during the last two years. He vows in frustration to “veto all bills…regardless of their
purpose...in the future.”
5. Three days before Congress is scheduled to adjourn, its members decided to approve a
large number of bills in the hopes that the president will quickly sign them into law
without careful consideration.
6. Two members of the Supreme Court retire.
7. Another country attacks U.S. territory while Congress is not in session, and the
president wants Congress to declare war.
________________________________________________________________
8. The president has appointed one of his friends to be a federal judge. The man has a
good record as a lawyer, but there are many rumors that he has ties to organized crime.
9. The president has issued an executive order that gives him the power to make a
budget without the approval of Congress.
SOL CE.6c - Lawmaking process
Officials are elected by citizens to serve in the national and state legislatures. The
primary purpose of the legislative branch of government at both the national and state
levels is to make laws. Both Congress and the Virginia General Assembly are bicameral.
This means that each has two houses where laws are made. In Congress, they are the
House of Delegates and the Senate.
Legislative powers can be expressed or enumerated, which means they are
specifically listed in the Constitution. For instance, Article I, section 8 of the U.S.
Constitution lists 18 specific powers of Congress. Congress can borrow money, declare
war, raise an army and navy, coin money, etc.
Legislative powers can also be implied. The U.S. Constitution says Congress has the
power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” to carry out its expressed
duties. For example, the U.S. Constitution states in the expressed powers that Congress
can raise an army and navy, but it doesn’t specifically say how Congress can do this. So
when Congress passed the draft laws during WWII and Vietnam, it was using implied
powers to raise an army and navy to defend our country.
The Virginia Constitution has both expressed and implied powers also.
The law-making process at the national and state levels involves work in
committees followed by debate and action on the floor. After being approved by a vote in
both houses of the bicameral legislature, a bill must also be approved by president (or
governor at the state level) to become a law.
Members of Congress who make our laws have a big responsibility as elected
officials to represent the best interests of the people. They have to write laws, and take
action in response to problems, issues, or events that are facing our nation or state at
that particular time. For instance, Congress recently formed a new cabinet post for the
president’s cabinet, the Department of Homeland Security, to prevent terrorist attacks.
Individuals and interest groups also help shape legislation. For example, a person
with a serious disease might want Congress to appropriate (give) money to find a cure.
That person could join a national group, and could lobby or call his/her representatives
and ask them to pass legislation for this money.
Number the steps in the process of making a law at both the national and state levels.
_____The governor or President signs the bill into law.
_____A congressman proposes a new bill.
_____Committees meet to discuss the bill.
_____Both houses vote on the bill.
_____The bill is debated on the floor of both houses of Congress.
SOL CE.10a - Examine the impact of the media on public opinion and public
policy at the local, state, and national levels.
The media inform policymakers and influence public policy. Government officials
use the media to communicate with the public. The media have three important roles in
setting the public agenda. First, they focus attention on selected issues. Second, they
offer a forum in which opposing viewpoints are communicated. Third, they hold
government officials accountable to the public.
Write a C for government officials communicating with the public. Write a W for the media
serving as a watchdog. Write an F for the media offering a forum.
____ 1.A reporter asks a candidate questions about his past.
____ 2.A television station organizes a debate between candidates.
____ 3.Commericals for opposing candidates appear on television.
____ 4.A newspaper reports on how local representatives voted on various issues.
____ 5.The president addresses the country in a weekly radio show.
____ 6.A television station holds a town meeting in its studio, where voters can ask
government officials questions.
Public opinion is a term that refers to the attitudes and opinions of a large group of
people about a particular issue. On any given issue, different groups of the “public” often
hold different viewpoints. On any public issue there are at least two or more “public”
opinions. Factors that affect public opinion include age, race, gender, income, hobbies,
religion, and occupation.
The media can influence public opinion and what the public perceives as important.
The amount of this influence is based on the number of people the media reach and how
they cover particular issues. The media can emphasize certain issues and events and
downplay other event; these decisions by the media can influence public opinion.
The media and public officials use public opinion polls as a way to measure public
opinion. Pollsters collect information by questioning certain groups and analyzing the data
they collect. Some critics feel that they polls not only measure public opinion but can also
affect how the public perceives a particular issue. The impact can be positive (getting
people involved) or negative (telling people a particular candidate has a large advantage
before election day and his/her supporters do not go out and vote.)
How has the media influenced your opinion about an issue that has been in the news?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
SOL CE.10b - Describe how individuals and interest groups influence public
policy at the local, state, and national levels of government.
Special interest groups often try to influence legislators’ votes on certain bills.
People called lobbyists, employed by interest groups such as MADD (Mothers Against
Drunk Driving) or NRA (National Rifle Association), work in the national and state capitals,
trying to convince legislators to vote for or against certain bills. A good lobbyist
understands how government works and knows how to “push the buttons” of elected
officials.
Individuals can influence public policy by voting and campaigning for
candidates.
🏱 They participate in politics by voting and campaigning for candidates.
🏱 They express their opinions on issues by writing letters to congressmen or other
legislators, by demonstrating, and by getting lobbyists to work for them.
🏱 They join interest groups that support their ideas. (MADD, NRA, AARP, etc.) Interest
groups can influence public policy in three ways:
1. They identify issues that influence their cause.
2. They make political contributions for candidates that support their cause.
3. They get lobbyists to work with government officials to support their cause.
Read the fictional story below and tell what you as an individual could do to influence
public policy on this issue. Use the information above to help you decide what you can do
about this issue.
Crime among juveniles between the ages of 10 and 18 has been on the rise in
Bedford County. The School Board, along with the Board of County Supervisors, has
decided that the students have too much free time on their hands. In order to decrease
the crime rate, they have decided to pass new legislation that would lengthen the school
day and require all county students to attend school on Saturdays. In addition, the new
school day would begin at 8 a.m. and last until 5 p.m. with no after school activities. You
as a citizen of Bedford County are very upset with this proposed legislation. What are you
going to do about it? Using the information at the top of the page tell as many as possible
you can do.
SOL CE.9b – The Supreme Court & Judicial Review
The power of judicial review is an important check on the legislative and executive
branches of the government.
Use words from the word bank to complete the paragraph below.
The _______________________________ of the United States and Virginia
determine the _____________________________ of laws and of acts of the
___________________ branch of government. This power is called
_____________________________. The case of ______________________________
established judicial review at the national level. The __________________________ is
the supreme law of the land. State laws must conform to both the __________________
and _________________________ constitutions.
Answer the following multiple-choice questions.
___1. If the Supreme Court finds a law in conflict with
the Constitution, it
a. sends it back to a lower court.
b. asks Congress to decide.
c. changes the law.
d. declares the law unconstitutional.
___2. The ____________________ is the supreme law
of the land and all laws must conform to it.
a. Virginia Constitution
b. US federal laws
c. Virginia state laws
d. US Constitution
___3. What is one function of the Supreme Court?
a. appoint judges to other courts
b. pass laws at the national level
c. add amendments to the Constitution
d. determine the constitutionality of laws
SOL CE.9c – Civil & Criminal Court Procedures
Match the term to its definition.
___1. Criminal case
a. a person or party filing a lawsuit
___2. Complaint
b. the decision reached by a jury in a law case
___3. Plaintiff
c. a person accused of a crime or being sued
___4. Arraignment
d. court settles a disagreement between two parties
___5. Verdict
e. to ask that a decision in a court case be heard by a
___6. Appeal
higher court
___7. Civil Case
f. a formal notice that a lawsuit is being brought
___8. Defendant
g. hearing where suspect pleads innocent or guilty
h. court determines the guilt or innocence of a person
accused of breaking a law
Decide if each statement if true or false. If false, change the underline word(s) to make it
true.
___1. A person accused of a crime may be arrested if the police have probable cause.
___2. The accused may be committed to jail or released on probation.
___3. The case next goes to the arraignment where probable cause is reviewed, the
defendant may be appointed an attorney, and a plea bargain is entered.
___4. A court date is set and, later, a trial is conducted. ____________________
___5. A guilty verdict may be appealed to the district court. ________________________
___6. In some cases, a guilty verdict can be appealed directly to the Supreme Court.
___7. A civil case begins when a defendant files a complaint to recover damages or
receive compensation. __________________________________
___8. Civil cases can be heard by a judge only. ___________________________
___9. Not guilty verdicts can be appealed. ____________________________
___10.Judges have greater latitude (freedom) in handling juvenile cases.
___11.Juveniles who commit serious crimes cannot be tried as adults.
SOL CE.9d – Explain how Due Process protections seek to ensure justice.
The right to due process of law is outlined in the 5th and 14th Amendments to the
Constitution of the US. Due process of law is the constitutional protection against unfair
governmental actions and laws. The 5th Amendment prohibits the national government
from acting in an unfair manner. The 14th Amendment prohibits state and local
governments from acting in an unfair manner. The Supreme Court has extended the due
process clauses to protect the guarantees of the Bill of Rights.
Define Due Process:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
What is the major difference between the 5th and 14th Amendments?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Read the following situations, and on the blank write 5th and 14th after deciding which
Amendment would be used to protect a Virginia citizen.
____1.
A state police officer enters the home of a young Virginia citizen and
searches his house without a warrant.
____2. A federal judge refuses to allow an accused Virginia citizen to have the
services of a lawyer.
____3. After being found innocent by a jury in a Virginia court, the judge orders the
accused to stand a new trial.
____4. A Bedford County police officer arrests a citizen without obtaining an arrest
warrant.
____5. A confession by the accused is used in a federal court even though it was
taken before the accused was informed of his rights.
____6. A new federal law prohibits citizens from making speeches critical of
American involvement in Iraq.
____7. Congress passes a new law barring the owning of guns by persons under 30
years of age.
____8. The General Assembly passes a new law limiting the situations in which an
accused murderer is allowed to have a jury trial.
____9. According to a new law in Virginia, persons committing crimes against
juveniles will be physically branded for life.
____10. The President has proclaimed that citizens who actively participate in a
Christian church will be allowed a major tax cut.
SOL CE.11– Basic Economic Terms
People make choices about how to use limited resources and
structure markets for the distribution of goods and services.
Use these words to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. You will use words more
than once.
1. _____________________________ is the inability to satisfy all wants at the same
time.
2. _____________________________ are factors of production that are used to make
goods and services.
3. _____________________________ is selecting an item or action from a set of
possible alternatives.
4. _____________________________ is what is given up when a choice is made, the
highest valued alternative forgone.
5. _____________________________ is the amount of money exchanged for a good or
service.
6. _____________________________ are things that incite or motivate.
7. _____________________________ is the amount of a good or service that
consumers are willing and able to buy at a certain price.
8. _____________________________ is the amount of a good or service that producers
are willing and able to sell at a certain price.
9. _____________________________ is the combining of human, natural, capital, and
entrepreneurship resources to make goods or provide services.
10. _____________________________ is using goods and services.
11. Consumer preferences and price determine what is _______________________.
12. Incentives are used to change _____________________ behavior.
13. Resources available and consumer preferences determine what is
_____________________.
14. All resources are ____________________ so _________________ must be made.
15. Interaction of ________________ and _______________ determines price.
16. Types of resources are __________________, ________________, ______________,
and ______________________.
17. Individuals must choose/make decisions about desired goods and services because
these goods and services are ______________________.
18. Individuals must consider the _____________________ of what is given up when
making a _____________________.
SOL CE.12c – Business Organizations and Entrepreneurship
Complete the chart using the phrases below.
PROPRIETORSHIP
PARTNERSHIP
●
●
●
●
●
●
CORPORATION
●
ENTREPRENEUR
●
●
●
●
●
A form of business organization with two or more owners
A person who takes a risk to produce goods and services
A form of business organization with one owner
A form of business organization with many owners
Authorize by law to act as a legal person
The owner takes all the risks
Owners share the profits
Owners share the profits
Owners share the risks
Owner liability is limited to investment
The owner keeps all the profits
May establish a business according to any of the three types of organizational structures
SOL CE.12e - Explain how financial institutions encourage saving & investing.
Private financial institutions include banks, savings and loans,
credit unions, and securities brokerages such as Merrill Lynch.
They receive deposits from individuals and businesses which
go into checking and savings accounts. They use the money
deposited in their banking institutions to make loans to
individuals or businesses to make purchases or improvements.
Financial institutions encourage saving and investing by paying
interest on deposits.
Indicate whether each of the following statements is TRUE or FALSE. If false, correct the
underlined word(s) to make it true.
__________1. Banks are private financial institutions. _______________________
__________2. Banks receive loans and make deposits. _________________________
__________3. Financial institutions are in the money business. __________________
__________4. Financial institutions encourage saving by paying interest on deposits.
______________________________
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. How do private financial institutions act as intermediaries between savers and
borrowers? _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. What does it mean when a financial institution pays interest? _______________
_________________________________________________________________
3. Why does it make sense to save and invest in a financial institution? __________
_________________________________________________________________
4. What might happen to the economy if no one saved or invested in financial
institutions? _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
SOL CE.13 – The Role of the Gov’t and Competition in the Marketplace
The government promotes and regulates competition.
Each of the statements below is about ways the government promotes marketplace
competition, but each one is false. Identify the part that is false, and change it to make it
true.
1. The government enforces antitrust legislation to encourage the development of
monopolies. _____________________________________________________
2. The government does not engage in global trade. _______________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. The government discourages business start-ups. ________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Below are three agencies that oversee the way individuals and companies do business.
Match the situation to the agency that would handle it.
FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
FTC (Federal Trade Commission)
________ 1. A company is accused of false advertising.
________ 2. A telephone company doubles its rates.
________ 3. The major cell phone companies are accused of having a secret agreement
to set identical high prices for their services.
________ 4. A gasoline company is suspected of dumping fuel in a major river.
________ 5. A family cable channel shows an adult movie at 5 pm.
________ 6. Many people who get their water from wells and live within a 5-mile radius
of a chemical plant develop a rare form of cancer.
SOL CE.13d – The Federal Reserve System
The Federal Reserve System, sometimes called the Fed, is the central bank of the United
States. Federal Reserve banks act for commercial banks and the federal government.
They issue currency and clear checks, among other duties. The main job of the Fed is to
regulate the amount of money in circulation.
To slow the economy, the Federal Reserve Bank restricts the money supply, causing
interest rates to rise; to stimulate the economy, the Fed increases the money supply,
causing interest rates to decline.
The Fed has three ways to slow economy (reduce the amount of money in circulation): it
can increase the reserve requirement, raise the discount rate, or sell government
securities. To stimulate the economy (increase the monetary supply), it does the
opposite: lowers the reserve requirement, lowers the discount rate, and purchases
government securities.
Match the term to its definition:
___1. Federal Reserve System
___2.
___3.
___4.
___5.
Central bank
Reserve requirement
Monetary policy
Discount rate
Choose the Best Answer.
a. The rate of interest charged by the Fed to
banks
b. A program of increasing or decreasing the
money supply
c. The central bank of the US
d. The amount of money a bank must keep on
hand
e. A bank whose functions include controlling the
money supply
___6. Which of these would decrease the money supply?
a. lowering the discount rate
b. lower the reserve requirement
c. selling securities
___7. Which is something the Fed would do to stimulate the economy?
a. lower interest rates
b. reduce credit
c. raise interest rates
___8. Who has accounts with the Federal Reserve System?
a. local governments
b. individual people
c. regular banks
___9. What is the primary purpose of the Federal Reserve System?
a. control government spending
b. regulate the money supply
c. increase the amount of money in circulation
___10.The Federal Reserve System can stimulate the economy by
a. reducing credit card debt
b. purchasing government bonds
c. clearing more checks
___11.To stimulate the economy, the Fed can
a. lower the reserve requirement
b. increase the discount rate
c. sell government securities
___12.The government agency responsible for controlling the amount of money in
circulation and issuing currency is the
a. Internal Revenue Service
b. Federal Trade Commission
c. Federal Reserve System
SOL CE.14 – Career Opportunities
Use the words in the word bank to complete the paragraph below. You may use a word
more than once.
When considering a future career, students need to consider several facts. First, an
awareness of individual talents, interest, and aspiration is needed to select a career.
Thus, career planning starts with ______________________________. Second, attitudes
and behaviors that support a strong work ethic enhance career success. This means that
employers seek employees who demonstrate the ____________________ and
____________ of a strong work ethic, such as responsibility, initiative, and punctuality.
Third, there is a correlation (relationship) between skills, education, and income. Higher
________________ and/or _________________ level(s) generally lead to higher income.
_____________________ and _________________ also influence job income. Finally,
changes in technology influence the abilities, skills, and education needed in the
marketplace. Employers seek individuals who have kept pace with technological
____________________ and ____________________. At the same time, technological
advancements create new ____________________ in the workplace
Knowing Your State Legislative Branch
The lawmaking body of your state plays a major role in the state government. Therefore,
it is important to know how your legislature is organized and the names of the people who
represent you. Fill in the blanks below to help you learn about your state legislative
branch.
VA LEGISLATURE
Name of Legislature
Name of Upper House
Name of Lower House
Number of Members in
Upper House
Number of Members is
Lower House
Length of Term in Upper
House
Length of Term in Lower
House
Name of my Representative
in the Upper House
Name of my Representative
in the Lower House
US LEGISLATURE
CIVICS SOL VOCABULARY
1.
amendment
2.
bias
3.
bicameral
4.
bureaucracy
5.
cabinet
6.
charter
7.
citizen
8.
concurrent powers
9.
consent of the governed
10. delegated powers
11. democracy
12. due process
13. Electoral College
14. endorsement
15. entrepreneur
16. federalism
17. immigrant
18. implied powers
19. judicial review
20. law
21. limited government
22. monopoly
23. natural rights
24. naturalization
25. nominate
26. opportunity cost
27. PAC
28. Parliament
29. party platform
30. popular sovereignty
31. price
32. propaganda
33. ratify
34. recession
35. republic
36. reserved powers
37. resources
38. rule of law
39. scarcity
40. veto