25-26 Government Unit 1 Review

Front

Which system of government involves all power being held at the national level?

Back

Unitary system

Answer explanation

In a unitary system only one level of government has power and that is the national government. Uni = one.

Other systems will share power of the national government or give regional governments most of the power.

Front

James Wilson as Founding Father signed the Declaration of Independence and proposed which compromise at the Constitutional Convention?

Back

The Three-Fifths Compromise

Answer explanation

James Wilson proposed the now infamous 3/5 Compromise to break the stalemate about whether or not slaves (considered property at the time) should count towards a states total population in order to determine the number of representatives that state will have in the House of Representatives. Non-slave states didn't want the slave states to have complete power in the legislature and slave states often wanted to ensure the continued survival of their slave economies. The disagreement was so bad, that slave states were threatening to walk out of the convention and no new government would be crafted. Wilson crafted this compromise and it was satisfactory to both sides.

Front

Protection of individual rights and majority rule with minority rights are characteristics of what type of government?

Back

Democratic

Answer explanation

Democratic based governments are most often associated with the characteristics of individual rights and majority rule (the largest group of people). But while the majority may have power, that doesn't mean that the minority (smaller group(s) of people) don't have rights to protect themselves from the majority.

Front

Which Founding Father is often referred to as the "Father of the Bill of Rights"?

Back

George Mason

Answer explanation

George Mason argued so much for specifically listed rights for individuals and states in the Constitution that when the final draft which still didn't contain these rights was voted on he refused to vote for or sign the new constitution. These rights were later added as the first changes or amendments made to the Constitution. Hence is is often referred to as the Father of the Bill of Rights.

Front

What principle from the Magna Carta is still debated today?

Back

Whether a leader is above the law

Answer explanation

When King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter) by his nobles, he effectively began to set the precedent that the King is bound by the laws of the land and isn't above them. American government still debates this idea today in the context of a President.

For example:

1. 1. Should the President be above the law while in office for official acts or should they be able to be held liable for acts that are contrary to laws passed by the Congress and signed into law by previous Presidents?

2. 2. Should the powers of the President be limited to ensure the stability of the various departments or should the President have full power to do as they see fit with these departments (referred to as the unitary executive theory)?

Front

Citizens voting in an election and laws being passed by elected representatives are examples of "consent of the governed".

Back

True

Answer explanation

When citizens cast their votes for a candidate they are effectively giving that candidate consent to enact their political beliefs and promises should they win the election. Candidates that get the most votes generally are considered to have the received consent from the majority on whose behalf they will govern. Should the not govern how they were expected to in the next election, people can revoke that consent by voting for another candidate.

Front

Which Founding Father supported a strong central government and was the principal author of the U.S. Constitution?

Back

James Madison

Answer explanation

Madison was a leading Federalist (the group that supported the new federal system of the proposed Constitution), an author of the Federalist Papers written to convince New Yorkers to adopt this new government. He also is often called the Father of the Constitution as he drafted the primary language used in the document.

Front

Based on the approaches to government authority, the American Founding Fathers synthesized them into the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution by combining the second and third approaches, using natural law to justify rights while requiring consent of the governed for legitimate government.

Back

True

Answer explanation

The first approach to governing is based on the divine right of kings whereas the second and third approaches speak of natural law and rights then of the consent of the governed.

Front

What is republicanism?

Back

Citizens elect representatives to create and enforce laws.

Answer explanation

Republics rely on chosen representatives to debate and enact laws on behalf of the people. The American concept of republicanism is that eligible voters are able to choose their representatives in order to craft laws that govern the nation and individual states.

Front

Which Enlightenment thinker argues for separation of powers to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful?

Back

Baron de Montesquieu

Answer explanation

Montesquieu was a French judge and Enlightenment thinker. He developed the idea of separation of powers in his argument, The Spirit of the Laws 1748, he states the tripartition of a government into Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. He even goes on to state that a two body legislature has the ability to check the power of the legislature from within.