PHSC American Federal Government
Exam
Annapolis Convention - correct answer-A convention that hoped to discuss revamping the
Articles of Confederation. Only 5 of the 13 states showed up, but it was a rallying point for
rewriting the Constitution.
Articles of Confederation - correct answer-The first written constitution of America. Made in
1777.
Authoritarian Government - correct answer-A system of rule in which the government has no
formal limits on power. Social institutions may be able to stop the government, however.
Autocracy - correct answer-A form of government where one individual rules.
Bill of Rights - correct answer-The first 10 amendments to the Constitutions.
Block grants - correct answer-federal grants that allow states leeway in spending federal
money
Boston Tea Party - correct answer-An event in American history where Samuel Adams and
radicals dressed as Indians and threw British tea in the harbor. It's goal was to push the
British government to respond and alienate the colonies from Britain. Resulted in the first
continental congress.
Brown vs. Board of Education - correct answer-1953 Supreme Court case that struck down
the separate but equal ruling. Used the strict scrutiny test in order to test if a law was
unconstitutional.
Colonial protesters of the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act rallied around what political slogan? -
correct answer-No Taxation without Representation
Constitutional government - correct answer-A system of rule where formal limits are set on
the power of the government.
Cooperative Federalism - correct answer-Where federal and state governments collaborate
on policy.
Declaration of Independence - correct answer-A statement made in 1776, that the 13 states
that were at war with Britain would be independent, and defined what they stood for. Made
three inalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Democracy - correct answer-A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant role in
the governmental process
, Direct democracy - correct answer-A system of democracy that permits citizens to directly
vote on laws and policies
Dual federalism - correct answer-System of government where governmental powers were
shared between the national and state governments. Prevailed in US for long time, also
called traditional federalism.
Establishment Clause - correct answer-Establishes freedom from religion in the first
amendment. Makes it so that the government can't impose religion on some people.
Federal System - correct answer-Where the Central Government shares power or functions
with lower levels of the government, such as states.
Free exercise clause - correct answer-Protects the right to believe and practice whatever
religion you choose, and the government can't infringe on that. Also protects atheists.
Great Compromise - correct answer-The merging of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey
Plan. Resulted in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Initiatives - correct answer-Direct votes on certain issues, such as raising minimum wage,
gun control, marijuana, etc.
Jim Crow Laws - correct answer-Laws enacted by Southern states in order to make racial
segregation. Some laws were: criminalize intermarriage, made public schools segregated,
etc.
Laissez-faire - correct answer-French litteral term for "leave alone." The idea that the
government should not control the economy. Basically Capitalism.
Mapp vs. Ohio - correct answer-A court case that highlights the exclusionary rule. Mapp's
house was searched by Ohio as a suspect of a bombing, and they found evidence of an
illegal gambling operation, but couldn't try him for that because it was unlawful search &
seizure.
New Federalism - correct answer-Returned of administrative powers to the state
governments.
New Jersey Plan - correct answer-A framework for the Constitution that called for equal
representation regardless on the population.
Oligarchy - correct answer-A system of government where a group of individuals rule.
Plessy vs. Ferguson - correct answer-A case where Homer Plessy, a black in the North
worked with lawyers in order to challenge Jim Crow laws. He sat in a whites only bus and
refused to leave when asked. He was detained, and the case started. It went to the Supreme
Court and they decided that seperate but equal laws were okay.
Exam
Annapolis Convention - correct answer-A convention that hoped to discuss revamping the
Articles of Confederation. Only 5 of the 13 states showed up, but it was a rallying point for
rewriting the Constitution.
Articles of Confederation - correct answer-The first written constitution of America. Made in
1777.
Authoritarian Government - correct answer-A system of rule in which the government has no
formal limits on power. Social institutions may be able to stop the government, however.
Autocracy - correct answer-A form of government where one individual rules.
Bill of Rights - correct answer-The first 10 amendments to the Constitutions.
Block grants - correct answer-federal grants that allow states leeway in spending federal
money
Boston Tea Party - correct answer-An event in American history where Samuel Adams and
radicals dressed as Indians and threw British tea in the harbor. It's goal was to push the
British government to respond and alienate the colonies from Britain. Resulted in the first
continental congress.
Brown vs. Board of Education - correct answer-1953 Supreme Court case that struck down
the separate but equal ruling. Used the strict scrutiny test in order to test if a law was
unconstitutional.
Colonial protesters of the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act rallied around what political slogan? -
correct answer-No Taxation without Representation
Constitutional government - correct answer-A system of rule where formal limits are set on
the power of the government.
Cooperative Federalism - correct answer-Where federal and state governments collaborate
on policy.
Declaration of Independence - correct answer-A statement made in 1776, that the 13 states
that were at war with Britain would be independent, and defined what they stood for. Made
three inalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Democracy - correct answer-A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant role in
the governmental process
, Direct democracy - correct answer-A system of democracy that permits citizens to directly
vote on laws and policies
Dual federalism - correct answer-System of government where governmental powers were
shared between the national and state governments. Prevailed in US for long time, also
called traditional federalism.
Establishment Clause - correct answer-Establishes freedom from religion in the first
amendment. Makes it so that the government can't impose religion on some people.
Federal System - correct answer-Where the Central Government shares power or functions
with lower levels of the government, such as states.
Free exercise clause - correct answer-Protects the right to believe and practice whatever
religion you choose, and the government can't infringe on that. Also protects atheists.
Great Compromise - correct answer-The merging of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey
Plan. Resulted in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Initiatives - correct answer-Direct votes on certain issues, such as raising minimum wage,
gun control, marijuana, etc.
Jim Crow Laws - correct answer-Laws enacted by Southern states in order to make racial
segregation. Some laws were: criminalize intermarriage, made public schools segregated,
etc.
Laissez-faire - correct answer-French litteral term for "leave alone." The idea that the
government should not control the economy. Basically Capitalism.
Mapp vs. Ohio - correct answer-A court case that highlights the exclusionary rule. Mapp's
house was searched by Ohio as a suspect of a bombing, and they found evidence of an
illegal gambling operation, but couldn't try him for that because it was unlawful search &
seizure.
New Federalism - correct answer-Returned of administrative powers to the state
governments.
New Jersey Plan - correct answer-A framework for the Constitution that called for equal
representation regardless on the population.
Oligarchy - correct answer-A system of government where a group of individuals rule.
Plessy vs. Ferguson - correct answer-A case where Homer Plessy, a black in the North
worked with lawyers in order to challenge Jim Crow laws. He sat in a whites only bus and
refused to leave when asked. He was detained, and the case started. It went to the Supreme
Court and they decided that seperate but equal laws were okay.
