CIVICS TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS FULL REVIEW GUIDE
●● John Locke
Answer: He wrote that government is morally obligated to serve people,
namely by protecting their natural rights of life, liberty, and property.
Think-Declaration of Independence
●● John Locke "Social Contract"
Answer: A social contract is the belief that the state only exists to serve
the will of the people.
He believed when government violates individual rights, people were
obligated to rebel.
Think - Declaration of Independence/American Revolution
●● Magna Carta (1215)
Answer: First document to limit the powers of the king - signed in 1215.
Citizens could not be deprived of life, liberty or property without a
lawful judgment of their peers or by law of the land.
Represented by the fifth amendment.
●● English Bill of Rights (1689)
,Answer: Established freedom from taxation without representation,
outlawed cruel and unusual punishment, guaranteed the right to bear
arms, and many other rights.
Many of these same rights are included in the U.S. Constitution.
●● Mayflower Compact (1620)
Answer: First document to establish self-government in the colonies.
Signed before the passengers left the ship, The Mayflower, to settle in
Plymouth Colony.
●● Common Sense (Thomas Paine)
Answer: Pamphlet encouraging colonists to demand their rights as
citizens and support independence for the colonies.
Ideas are echoed in the Declaration of Independence.
●● Self-Government
Answer: Government or control of a country by its own members rather
than by members of a different country.
●● Declaration of Independence
Answer: Statement of American ideals -role of government is to protect
their natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) - adopted July 4,
1776.
,Also listed grievances against the king. Colonists were angry over being
taxed without their consent (no taxation without representation).
●● Assent
Answer: Official approval or agreement
●● Tyranny
Answer: Cruel and oppressive government or rule.
●● Shay's Rebellion (1787)
Answer: Protests by Massachusetts farmers over tax collections and
judgments for debt. State militia crushed the rebels.
Alarmed politicians - cited as a reason to revise or replace the Articles of
Confederation.
●● Articles of Confederation
Answer: First form of government for America.
Many Weaknesses:
Only had a Congress where 9 out of the 13 states had to agree.
No executive or judicial branch (power to enforce or interpret laws).
States had the majority of the power.
Country in debt - no way to raise money.
, ●● Preamble to the Constitution
Answer: Introduction to the U.S. Constitution, establishing the goals and
purposes of government.
"We the People" = government depends on the people for its power and
exists to serve them.
Sets up the six goals of government.
●● Constitutional Government
Answer: Any government whose authority and construction are defined
by a constitution.
●● Separation of Powers
Answer: Powers of government are divided among three branches of
government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
Limits the power of government.
Montesquieu (French philosopher) believed this was a way to ensure
liberty.
●● Checks and Balances
Answer: Each governmental branch has powers to limit (check) the
other branches.
Keeps the balance of power relatively equal between the branches.
Montesquieu (French philosopher) believed this was a way to ensure
liberty.
SOLUTIONS FULL REVIEW GUIDE
●● John Locke
Answer: He wrote that government is morally obligated to serve people,
namely by protecting their natural rights of life, liberty, and property.
Think-Declaration of Independence
●● John Locke "Social Contract"
Answer: A social contract is the belief that the state only exists to serve
the will of the people.
He believed when government violates individual rights, people were
obligated to rebel.
Think - Declaration of Independence/American Revolution
●● Magna Carta (1215)
Answer: First document to limit the powers of the king - signed in 1215.
Citizens could not be deprived of life, liberty or property without a
lawful judgment of their peers or by law of the land.
Represented by the fifth amendment.
●● English Bill of Rights (1689)
,Answer: Established freedom from taxation without representation,
outlawed cruel and unusual punishment, guaranteed the right to bear
arms, and many other rights.
Many of these same rights are included in the U.S. Constitution.
●● Mayflower Compact (1620)
Answer: First document to establish self-government in the colonies.
Signed before the passengers left the ship, The Mayflower, to settle in
Plymouth Colony.
●● Common Sense (Thomas Paine)
Answer: Pamphlet encouraging colonists to demand their rights as
citizens and support independence for the colonies.
Ideas are echoed in the Declaration of Independence.
●● Self-Government
Answer: Government or control of a country by its own members rather
than by members of a different country.
●● Declaration of Independence
Answer: Statement of American ideals -role of government is to protect
their natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) - adopted July 4,
1776.
,Also listed grievances against the king. Colonists were angry over being
taxed without their consent (no taxation without representation).
●● Assent
Answer: Official approval or agreement
●● Tyranny
Answer: Cruel and oppressive government or rule.
●● Shay's Rebellion (1787)
Answer: Protests by Massachusetts farmers over tax collections and
judgments for debt. State militia crushed the rebels.
Alarmed politicians - cited as a reason to revise or replace the Articles of
Confederation.
●● Articles of Confederation
Answer: First form of government for America.
Many Weaknesses:
Only had a Congress where 9 out of the 13 states had to agree.
No executive or judicial branch (power to enforce or interpret laws).
States had the majority of the power.
Country in debt - no way to raise money.
, ●● Preamble to the Constitution
Answer: Introduction to the U.S. Constitution, establishing the goals and
purposes of government.
"We the People" = government depends on the people for its power and
exists to serve them.
Sets up the six goals of government.
●● Constitutional Government
Answer: Any government whose authority and construction are defined
by a constitution.
●● Separation of Powers
Answer: Powers of government are divided among three branches of
government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
Limits the power of government.
Montesquieu (French philosopher) believed this was a way to ensure
liberty.
●● Checks and Balances
Answer: Each governmental branch has powers to limit (check) the
other branches.
Keeps the balance of power relatively equal between the branches.
Montesquieu (French philosopher) believed this was a way to ensure
liberty.
