US Government Study Guide

Name:

Date:

📚 Part 1: Key Terms - Fill in the Definitions

1. Constitution

The supreme _____________ of the United States that establishes the framework of government.

2. Federalism

A system of government where power is _____________ between national and state governments.

3. Separation of Powers

The division of government into three branches: _____________, _____________, and _____________.

4. Checks and Balances

A system that prevents any one branch from becoming too _____________ by giving each branch ways to limit the others.

5. Bill of Rights

The first _____ amendments to the Constitution that protect individual _____________.

6. Which document begins with "We the People"?

Declaration of Independence

US Constitution

Bill of Rights

Articles of Confederation

7. What are the three branches of government?

Federal, State, Local

Executive, Legislative, Judicial

President, Congress, Courts

House, Senate, Supreme Court

8. Which principle means "rule by the people"?

Federalism

Limited Government

Popular Sovereignty

Individual Rights

9. Name two powers that belong to the federal government and two that belong to state governments.

10. Explain why the Founding Fathers created a system of checks and balances.

11. What is the difference between a democracy and a republic?