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US Government Study Guide

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US Government Study Guide

Explore how the United States government is organised, how power is shared, and how people’s rights are protected. Answer each question using the information on this sheet and what you know.

The framework of government

The US Constitution is the nation’s highest law. It sets out how the government works and limits its powers. The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. They protect important freedoms, including freedom of speech and religion. The Constitution also divides power between the national government and state governments. This sharing of power is called federalism.

1.Which document is the highest law of the United States and sets out how its government works?

2.How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights?

Five
Ten
Twenty-seven
Fifty

3.In your own words, explain federalism.

Three branches at work

The legislative branch makes federal laws. The executive branch, led by the president, carries out laws. The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts; it interprets laws and decides whether they fit the Constitution. This division is called separation of powers. Checks and balances give each branch ways to limit the power of the others.

4.Match each branch to its main job.

Legislative
Executive
Judicial

Interprets laws
Makes laws
Carries out laws

5.A federal court decides what a law means in a case. Which branch is doing this work?

Legislative
Executive
Judicial
State

6.True or false: Separation of powers means all national government power belongs to the president.

TrueFalse

7.Why might checks and balances help protect people from government power being misused?

Power and people

The national government handles matters that affect the country as a whole, such as managing relations with other countries and coining money. State governments have powers such as organising public schools and issuing driver’s licenses. Some powers are shared. The phrase “We the People” expresses popular sovereignty: the idea that government gets its authority from the people. In a representative democracy, people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

8.Which is an example of a power of the national government?

Issuing driver’s licenses
Organising public schools
National defense
Choosing a town’s playground rules

9.Complete the sentence: Popular sovereignty means that government gets its authority from the .

10.A community is discussing a new rule for its public schools. Explain why this is generally a state or local matter rather than a national-government matter.

11.In a representative democracy, how can people take part in choosing who makes government decisions?