GOVERNMENT MID-TERM REVIEW
1. What is the purpose of governments?
2. Define Federalism.
3. Describe an authoritarian government
4. Compare the level of freedom of speech in an authoritarian
government to that in a democracy.
5. What is the difference between a monarchy and an oligarchy?
6. Describe a Unitary government.
7. Describe a Federal government.
8. Describe a Confederate government.
9. Explain the difference between a direct democracy and a
representative democracy.
10. List the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
11. Under the Articles of Confederation, who has most of the
power?
12. What is the name of the document we use to run our
government?
13. Why is the document considered a “living document?’
14. What is the Bill of Rights? Why was it necessary?
15. Name the 5 freedoms in the 1st Amendment.
16. How is the amendment process an example of federalism?
17. Explain the difference between expressed and implied powers?
18. What are concurrent powers?
19. What is checks and balances?
20. Describe separation of powers. Why is it important?
21. Define popular sovereignty.
22. Define judicial review.
23. Define limited government.
24. What is the role of political parties?
25. What is the symbol used by the Republicans?
Democrats?
26. Why do people join 3rd parties?
27. What is an interest group?
28. What role do interest groups have in lobbying?
29. How do political parties and interest groups differ?
30. Define gerrymandering.
31. What is the purpose of the legislative branch?
32. What is the name of the legislative branch at the federal level?
33. Name the 2 parts of the legislative branch at the federal level.
34. What determines the number of seats a state has in the House
of Representatives?
35. How can ordinary citizens have a say in legislation?
36. What is impeachment? Who has this power? Why is this power
necessary?
37. Why is the Necessary and Proper Clause also called the elastic
clause?
38. What is the purpose of the executive branch?
39. Who is the head of the executive branch at the federal level?
40. Who is the head of the executive branch at the state level?
41. Name and explain 4 of the 8 roles of the President.
42. What is the difference between an executive agreement and an
executive order?
43. What is the difference between the primary elections and the
general election?
44. Who runs the elections?
45. What is “time-zone fallout?”
46. What kinds of problems do early election predictions create?
47. Why is the media referred to as the 4th branch of government?
48. Describe the Electoral College.
49. How is the number of electoral votes per state determined?
50. When and why does the Congressional representation of a state
change?
51. Who confirms all presidential appointments and why?
52. Describe the role of the President’s cabinet.