St Petersburg College Civic Literacy
Exam Questions & Answers (Grade
A+)
Democracy -
correct answer ✅Type of government where power is derived
from the people, either directly or indirectly.
Representative Democracy or Democratic Republic -
correct answer ✅An indirect or a representative democracy where
eligible voters choose representatives to act on their behalf and
make political decisions.
Constitutional Democracy -
correct answer ✅A government that draws its legitimacy from an
authoritative document (a constitution) that defines the nation's
system of government, its laws and usually the rights of its citizens.
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The Constitution
describes who will make national laws, who will enforce them and
who will interpret it.
Social Contract Theory -
correct answer ✅The belief that people are free and equal by
natural right but will give up some freedom to give power to the
government so that the government can protect their rights.
,St Petersburg College Civic Literacy
Exam Questions & Answers (Grade
A+)
Consent of the Governed -
correct answer ✅The idea that our government derives its power
from the people because we elect representatives to the legislative
branch of government.
Checks and Balances -
correct answer ✅Principle reflected in the Constitution that grants
each of the three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial)
some control and scrutiny over one another.
Separation of Powers -
correct answer ✅Refers to the division of government branches:
each with separate independent power and responsibilities, so that
the powers of one branch do not conflict with the others.
Rule of law -
correct answer ✅No one is above the law; Everyone must follow
the laws, regardless of their position of power. This was established
by the Magna Carta in 1215. Everyone is equal under the law.
,St Petersburg College Civic Literacy
Exam Questions & Answers (Grade
A+)
Due process of law -
correct answer ✅Fair treatment through the normal judicial
system.
Equality under the Law -
correct answer ✅Equal treatment and equal protection without
the guarantee of equal outcomes.
Popular Sovereignty -
correct answer ✅A belief that ultimate power resides in the
people.
Natural rights -
correct answer ✅Rights people have by virtue of being human
beings; both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution
address the government's role in protecting these rights.
Federalism -
correct answer ✅A political system in which power is divided
between a central government and multiple constituent, provincial,
or state governments.
, St Petersburg College Civic Literacy
Exam Questions & Answers (Grade
A+)
Concurrent powers -
correct answer ✅Powers that are held by both the federal and the
local governments (e.g. taxing, roads, elections, lower courts).
Equal Protection Clause -
correct answer ✅Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that
forbids any state to deny to any person equal protection of the
laws. This clause is the major constitutional restraint on the power
of governments to discriminate against persons because of race,
national origin, or sex.
Article I, Section 4, of the United States Constitution -
correct answer ✅Grants the states the authority to determine the
rules by which they elect their United States Senators and
Representatives, unless the United States Congress acts to change
those rules.
Article II, Section 1, of the United States Constitution -
correct answer ✅Provides that the President of the United States
is elected by the Electoral College.
Exam Questions & Answers (Grade
A+)
Democracy -
correct answer ✅Type of government where power is derived
from the people, either directly or indirectly.
Representative Democracy or Democratic Republic -
correct answer ✅An indirect or a representative democracy where
eligible voters choose representatives to act on their behalf and
make political decisions.
Constitutional Democracy -
correct answer ✅A government that draws its legitimacy from an
authoritative document (a constitution) that defines the nation's
system of government, its laws and usually the rights of its citizens.
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The Constitution
describes who will make national laws, who will enforce them and
who will interpret it.
Social Contract Theory -
correct answer ✅The belief that people are free and equal by
natural right but will give up some freedom to give power to the
government so that the government can protect their rights.
,St Petersburg College Civic Literacy
Exam Questions & Answers (Grade
A+)
Consent of the Governed -
correct answer ✅The idea that our government derives its power
from the people because we elect representatives to the legislative
branch of government.
Checks and Balances -
correct answer ✅Principle reflected in the Constitution that grants
each of the three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial)
some control and scrutiny over one another.
Separation of Powers -
correct answer ✅Refers to the division of government branches:
each with separate independent power and responsibilities, so that
the powers of one branch do not conflict with the others.
Rule of law -
correct answer ✅No one is above the law; Everyone must follow
the laws, regardless of their position of power. This was established
by the Magna Carta in 1215. Everyone is equal under the law.
,St Petersburg College Civic Literacy
Exam Questions & Answers (Grade
A+)
Due process of law -
correct answer ✅Fair treatment through the normal judicial
system.
Equality under the Law -
correct answer ✅Equal treatment and equal protection without
the guarantee of equal outcomes.
Popular Sovereignty -
correct answer ✅A belief that ultimate power resides in the
people.
Natural rights -
correct answer ✅Rights people have by virtue of being human
beings; both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution
address the government's role in protecting these rights.
Federalism -
correct answer ✅A political system in which power is divided
between a central government and multiple constituent, provincial,
or state governments.
, St Petersburg College Civic Literacy
Exam Questions & Answers (Grade
A+)
Concurrent powers -
correct answer ✅Powers that are held by both the federal and the
local governments (e.g. taxing, roads, elections, lower courts).
Equal Protection Clause -
correct answer ✅Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that
forbids any state to deny to any person equal protection of the
laws. This clause is the major constitutional restraint on the power
of governments to discriminate against persons because of race,
national origin, or sex.
Article I, Section 4, of the United States Constitution -
correct answer ✅Grants the states the authority to determine the
rules by which they elect their United States Senators and
Representatives, unless the United States Congress acts to change
those rules.
Article II, Section 1, of the United States Constitution -
correct answer ✅Provides that the President of the United States
is elected by the Electoral College.
