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Principles of American Government

Chapter 1

Principles of American Government

The United States is a representative democracy where the people govern through elected representatives. The supreme law of the land is the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the rules for the government and protects the basic rights of Americans. It was written in 1787 and features a system of self-government, often summarized by the opening words: 'We the People.' Amendments have been added over time to protect civil rights and adapt the Constitution, with the first ten being called the Bill of Rights. Additionally, the Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, announced the colonies' separation from Great Britain and proclaimed that all people possess unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Questions

16 Total
1

What is the form of government of the United States?

2

What is the supreme law of the land?

65/20 Rule
3

Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.

The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?

How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?

Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?

What is the economic system of the United States?

65/20 Rule

What is the rule of law?

Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.

There are three branches of government. Why?

Name the three branches of government.

Question 1

What is the form of government of the United States?

Acceptable Answers

Republic
Constitution-based federal republic
Representative democracy

* You only need to provide ONE of the accepted answers.

To know more

"The beginning of the Constitution is called the Preamble. The Preamble also says that under the Constitution, the people of the United States will have self-government. This means that the people of the United States are not governed by a king or a queen. Instead, the people of the United States govern themselves. The people of the United States govern themselves by electing representatives who serve in the local, state, and U.S. governments."