Government ’09-‘10

Semester Test/SIM Study Guide

1. How would you best describe the Mayflower Compact in terms of government?

2. How might you summarize the ideas of the Declaration of Independence?

3. What were the purposes of writing the Declaration of Independence?

4. Look at the Declaration of Independence. Why did the founding fathers believe it
was justified to separate from England?

Describe how each of the following forms of colonial government functions:

5. Charter

6. Founder

7. Proprietary

8. Royal

9. From where did the colonists derive their “essential rights”?

10. Which of the following theories had the most influence on the men who wrote
the Constitution? Force Theory, Social Contract, Evolutionary, Divine Right

11. What belief held by the framers of the Constitution helped develop its
philosophy?
12. “Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed” demonstrates a belief in what ideal?

13. Define popular sovereignty

14. What are the requirements to vote in a presidential election?

15. How can you lose your right to vote?

16. Give an example of voter requirements within a state.

17. Give a reason for the establishment of the electoral college.

18. What is a dictatorship?

19. What is a monarchy?

20. How are presidents and legislative bodies chosen in the United States?

21. What is the difference between a presidential democracy and a direct

democracy?

22. Describe federalism.

23. Describe a unitary system of government.

24. List the roles of the president and give an example for each one.

25. Describe the roles of each of the three branches of government

26. Give an example of a check and a balance each branch of government has.

27. Briefly explain how a bill becomes a law

28. What are the requirements for becoming a US Senator?

29. What kind of speech was involved in Tinker v. DSM?

30. What is an advantage of separation of powers?

31. What was the importance of Brown v. Board of Ed?

32. What impact did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 have on the United States?

33. What Supreme Court case changed the interpretation of the 14th amendment as
it applies to schools?

34. What is a Bill of Attainder? Writ of Habeas Corpus? Ex Post Facto Laws?

35. Name some limitations of the freedoms granted in the 1st amendment

36. What is the Establishment Clause?

37. How would you describe the United States under the Articles of Confederation?