POLITICAL SCIENCE MIDTERM EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Declaration of Independence - answer- the document recording the proclamation of
the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the
colonies from Great Britain
Auxillary Precaution - answer- According to Madison, a system in which the different
elements of government competed against one another, each preventing the other
from becoming too powerful, was the best system to prevent the rise of a tyrannical
government that would abuse the rights of the people
Nation - answer- a politically organized body of people under a single government
Articles of Confederation - answer- a written agreement ratified in 1781 by the
thirteen original states
Shays Rebellion - answer- this conflict in Massachusetts caused many to criticize the
Articles of Confederation and admit the weak central government was not working;
uprising led by Daniel Shays in an effort to prevent courts from foreclosing on the
farms of those who could not pay the taxes
Virginia Plan - answer- Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in
which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population
New Jersey Plan - answer- Opposite of the Virginia Plan, it proposed a single-
chamber congress in which each state had one vote. This created a conflict with
representation between bigger states, who wanted control befitting their population,
and smaller states, who didn't want to be bullied by larger states.
Great Compromise - answer- Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in
which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and
representation based on population in the other house
Three-Fifths Compromise - answer- The agreement btween slave states and free
states that a state's slave population would be counted for 60% for purposes of
determining a state's representation in the House of Representatives.
Republic - answer- a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of
citizens who can elect people to represent them
Indirect Election - answer- When government officials are elected by previously
chosen representatives, and not directly by the people
Separation of Powers - answer- the division of power among the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches of government
, Checks and Balances - answer- A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Judicial Review - answer- the power of the judiciary to interpret and overturn actions
taken by the legislative and executive branches of the government
Federalism - answer- the idea of a federal organization of more or less self-
governing units
Parliamentary System - answer- A system of government in which the legislature
selects the prime minister or president.
Supremacy Clause - answer- constitutional declaration (Article VI) that the
Constitution and laws made under its provisions are the greatest law of the land
Full Faith and Credit - answer- first words of Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution,
which requires states to respect the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings"
of all the other states.
Equal Privileges and Immunities - answer- a clause in the constitution stating that
states are to treat equally their citizens and the citizens of other states
Federalists - answer- supporters of the constitution
Anti-Federalists - answer- People who opposed the constitution
Bill of Rights - answer- a statement of fundamental rights and privileges (especially
the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution)
Confederation - answer- the act of forming an alliance or confederation
Unitary System - answer- a government that gives all key powers to the national or
central government
Sovereignity - answer- ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its
internal affairs by other states
Compact Theory - answer- The idea advanced by Rousseau, Locke, and Jefferson,
that government is created by voluntary agreement among the people involved and
that revolution is justified if government breaks the compact by exceeding its
authority.
Mandate - answer- the commission that is given to a government and its policies
through an electoral victory.
American War of Independence - answer- the revolution of the American colonies
against Great Britain, 1775
Continental Congress - answer- the legislative assembly composed of delegates
from the rebel colonies who met during and after the American Revolution
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Declaration of Independence - answer- the document recording the proclamation of
the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the
colonies from Great Britain
Auxillary Precaution - answer- According to Madison, a system in which the different
elements of government competed against one another, each preventing the other
from becoming too powerful, was the best system to prevent the rise of a tyrannical
government that would abuse the rights of the people
Nation - answer- a politically organized body of people under a single government
Articles of Confederation - answer- a written agreement ratified in 1781 by the
thirteen original states
Shays Rebellion - answer- this conflict in Massachusetts caused many to criticize the
Articles of Confederation and admit the weak central government was not working;
uprising led by Daniel Shays in an effort to prevent courts from foreclosing on the
farms of those who could not pay the taxes
Virginia Plan - answer- Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in
which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population
New Jersey Plan - answer- Opposite of the Virginia Plan, it proposed a single-
chamber congress in which each state had one vote. This created a conflict with
representation between bigger states, who wanted control befitting their population,
and smaller states, who didn't want to be bullied by larger states.
Great Compromise - answer- Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in
which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and
representation based on population in the other house
Three-Fifths Compromise - answer- The agreement btween slave states and free
states that a state's slave population would be counted for 60% for purposes of
determining a state's representation in the House of Representatives.
Republic - answer- a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of
citizens who can elect people to represent them
Indirect Election - answer- When government officials are elected by previously
chosen representatives, and not directly by the people
Separation of Powers - answer- the division of power among the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches of government
, Checks and Balances - answer- A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Judicial Review - answer- the power of the judiciary to interpret and overturn actions
taken by the legislative and executive branches of the government
Federalism - answer- the idea of a federal organization of more or less self-
governing units
Parliamentary System - answer- A system of government in which the legislature
selects the prime minister or president.
Supremacy Clause - answer- constitutional declaration (Article VI) that the
Constitution and laws made under its provisions are the greatest law of the land
Full Faith and Credit - answer- first words of Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution,
which requires states to respect the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings"
of all the other states.
Equal Privileges and Immunities - answer- a clause in the constitution stating that
states are to treat equally their citizens and the citizens of other states
Federalists - answer- supporters of the constitution
Anti-Federalists - answer- People who opposed the constitution
Bill of Rights - answer- a statement of fundamental rights and privileges (especially
the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution)
Confederation - answer- the act of forming an alliance or confederation
Unitary System - answer- a government that gives all key powers to the national or
central government
Sovereignity - answer- ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its
internal affairs by other states
Compact Theory - answer- The idea advanced by Rousseau, Locke, and Jefferson,
that government is created by voluntary agreement among the people involved and
that revolution is justified if government breaks the compact by exceeding its
authority.
Mandate - answer- the commission that is given to a government and its policies
through an electoral victory.
American War of Independence - answer- the revolution of the American colonies
against Great Britain, 1775
Continental Congress - answer- the legislative assembly composed of delegates
from the rebel colonies who met during and after the American Revolution
