Government Basics Q: What are the core concepts of the American way of government?A: Territory, authority, monopoly of force, sovereignty, power (beyond force), and public goods. Q: What is one purpose of government accepted by most Americans?A: Securing rights. Q: What are natural rights and human rights?A: Natural rights are inherent to individuals (e.g., life, liberty, property), while human rights are broader, often recognized by international law. Q: What does it mean to "secure rights"?A: Ensuring protection of individual freedoms through laws and governance. Q: What is meant by "limited government"?A: A principle that government must be empowered to serve its legitimate purposes but also controlled to avoid infringing on rights. Q: What is meant by "federalism"?A: A system where power is divided between national and state governments. Q: What is "separation of powers"?A: The division of government roles into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent abuse of power. Q: What is "checks and balances"?A: A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Q: How does each branch check and balance the others?A: Legislative Branch: Can override a presidential veto, confirm judicial appointments, and impeach federal officials. Executive Branch: Can veto legislation, appoint federal judges, and issue executive orders. Judicial Branch: Can declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional through judicial review. Elements of the Constitution Q: What is the significance of the Preamble?A: It states the purpose of the Constitution and emphasizes the goal of a stronger national government. Q: What does Article I establish?A: Legislative power, bicameral Congress, congressional selection, and 17 enumerated powers. Q: What does Article II establish?A: Executive power, presidential selection, and the Electoral College system. Q: What does Article III establish?A: Judicial power, judicial selection, and the Supreme Court. Q: What does Article IV establish?A: States' powers and limits, including the Full Faith and Credit Clause. Q: What does Article V establish?A: The two-stage process for amending the Constitution. Q: What does Article VI establish?A: Federal powers, including the Supremacy Clause. Q: What does Article VII establish?A: The ratification process for adopting the Constitution. The Bill of Rights Q: What rights are protected by the 1st Amendment?A: Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. Q: What does the 2nd Amendment protect?A: The right to keep and bear arms. Q: What does the 3rd Amendment prohibit?A: The quartering of soldiers in private homes without consent. Q: What does the 4th Amendment protect?A: Protection from unwarranted search and seizure. Q: What does the 5th Amendment guarantee?A: Rights of the accused in criminal proceedings, including due process and protection from self-incrimination. Q: What does the 6th Amendment ensure?A: The right to a fair and speedy trial. Q: What does the 7th Amendment guarantee?A: The right to a trial by jury in civil cases. Q: What does the 8th Amendment prohibit?A: Excessive bails, fines, and cruel or unusual punishment. Q: What does the 9th Amendment state?A: Rights not listed in the Constitution are still retained by the people. Q: What does the 10th Amendment clarify?A: Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people. Reconstruction and Other Amendments Q: What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?A: Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. Q: What are the key provisions of the 14th Amendment?A: The Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause. Q: What did the 15th Amendment prohibit?A: Voting discrimination based on race. Q: What did the 17th Amendment change?A: Established the direct election of senators. Q: What did the 19th Amendment accomplish?A: Ended voting prohibitions based on sex. Q: What was the significance of the 18th and 21st Amendments?A: The 18th Amendment enacted Prohibition, and the 21st Amendment repealed it. Q: What did the 26th Amendment do?A: Lowered the voting age to 18. Politics and Political Ideologies Q: What is the definition of politics?A: Nonviolent, open, and free activities through which people with different opinions and interests struggle for power over government. Q: What are two major sources of political conflict?A: Disagreement over values/ideology and conflicting interests. Q: What are common political ideologies on the right?A: Conservatives (favor limited government, traditional values, and stricter law enforcement) and libertarians (favor minimal government and individual liberties). Q: What are the four models of American politics?A: Majoritarianism, Elite Theory, Pluralism, and Biased Pluralism. Influence and Power in Government Q: How do citizens exert control over American government?A: By electing representatives, influencing government officials, and engaging in activism outside of formal democratic processes.