US Government Final Exam Review

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6. Analyze the political, economic, and social reasons that led to the writing of:
A. The Declaration of Independence
1. colonial weaknesses
B. US Constitution
1. weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
2. Connecticut Compromise
3. 3/5’s Compromise
4. Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
C. Bill of Rights
1. protection of individual rights and liberties
D. Federalist Papers
E. Anti-Federalist writings
7. Compare and contrast the arguments for and against the ratification of the Constitution proposed by the
Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
A. lack of Bill of Rights
B. strong Central Government
C. states rights
8. Understand the basic principles and structure of the US Constitution.
A. popular sovereignty
B. separation of powers
C. checks and balances
D. limited government
E. federalism
F. judicial review
G. preamble
H. articles
I. amendments
9. Explain the process of constitutional change.
A. formal amendment process
B. informal changes
10. Analyze the system of checks and balances.
A. powers of each branch
1. Legislative
2. Executive
3. Judicial
B. how each branch checks the others
1. L – J
2. L – E
3. E – L
4. E – J
5. J – L
6. J – E
11. Identify the division of powers between national and state governments.
A. federalism
B. delegated or expressed powers
C. reserved powers
D. concurrent powers
E. denied powers
12. Interpret the concept that the US has a “government of law, not of men”
A. US Constitution
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