U.S. Govt. – Unit 2 Test Review Sheet

Guiding Principles of the U.S. Constitution: Define

  1. Popular Sovereignty
  2. Limited Govt.
  3. Rule of Law
  4. Separation of Powers
  5. Checks & Balances
  6. Judicial review
  7. Federalism
  1. What is the make up of the National govt. (3 Branches)?
  1. What are the major functions of the three branches of the national govt.(What is each branch responsible for)?
  1. What force drove the framers when creating our system of divided government?
  1. What is the mechanism built into the Const. to ensure no branch becomes too powerful?
  1. What checks (limits of power) does the executive branch have over the legislative & Judicial branches? (i.e.- how can the President exert authority over the Congress & the Fed. Courts?)
  1. What checks does the Legislative Branch have over the Executive & Judicial branches?(i.e.- how can the Congress exert authority over the other two branches?)
  1. What checks does the Judicial Branch have over the Executive & the Legislative branches?(i.e.- how can Fed. Courts exert authority over the President & Congress?)
  1. What is the make up (2 parts) of the constitution?
  1. Identify the goals stated in the Preamble.
  1. Describe each of the three articles of the Constitution (Ex. Article I = Legislative branch…)
  1. Which branch of govt. is responsible for interpreting & further defining the meaning of the words in the Constitution?
  1. What Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review?
  1. Identify the rights & liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights (Know the first ten Amendments)?
  1. What are the basic provisions of the “Civil War” Amendments?
  1. What are changes made to the Constitution called?
  1. What amendments focus on the voting rights Amendments?
  1. How many changes have been made to the U.S. Constitution?
  1. What is the difference between formal & informal changes to the Constitution?
  1. How does the Amendment process reflect the federal character of our system of govt.?
  1. Define Federalism?
  1. What are some advantages & disadvantages of the federal system?
  1. What are some examples of conflicts that have arisen between the states & the National govt.?
  1. Who settle disputes in the federalist system?
  1. What is the “Supremacy clause”?
  1. Define & differentiate the national govt’s: expressed, implied & inherent powers.
  1. What powers are held exclusively by the National Govt.
  1. What powers are reserved to the states?
  1. What powers are shared or “concurrent”?
  1. What are full faith & credit, extradition, & privileges & immunities?
  1. What is extradition?

Please review all Unit II Vocab terms for test