Foundations of American Government

According to the Constitution,what are the six basic purposes of government?

Explain the three types of governments based upon their geographic distribution of powers.
Unitary, Federal, Confederation

Explain the differences between parliamentary and presidential forms of government.

Explain the differences between a dictatorship and a democracy.

Explain the differences between a dictatorship and a democracy.

Explain the main difference between a direct democracy and a representative democracy.

Explain the five basic concepts of democracy.

Explain the following basic concepts of the government of the American colonists.
Ordered, Limited, Representative

Identify the key provisions of
the following documents
that established the
“rights of Englishmen"

Explain the differences
between the three types of English colonies.

Identify the following attempt at unity among the American colonies.

Albany Plan of Union

Identify the following attempt at unity among the American colonies.

Stamp Act Congress

Identify the following attempt at unity among the American colonies.

First Continental Congress

Identify the following attempt at unity among the American colonies.

Second Continental Congress

What is the Declaration of Independence? Why is it important? What basic political concepts does it set forth in its second paragraph?

Explain the following common feature (or concepts) of the new state constitutions.

Popular Sovereignty

Explain the following common feature (or concepts) of the new state constitutions.

Limited Government

Explain the following common feature (or concepts) of the new state constitutions.

Civil Rights and Liberties

Explain the following common feature (or concepts) of the new state constitutions.

Separation of Powers

Explain the following common feature (or concepts) of the new state constitutions.

Checks and Balances

Explain the following common feature (or concepts) of the new state constitutions.

Checks and Balances

Under the Articles of Confederation, how was the national government structured, or set up?

What were the key weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation?

What were the concerns that led to the meetings at Mount Vernon and Annapolis?

Why was representation in Congress a key question at the Constitutional Convention? How was it resolved?

Explain the following compromises worked out at the Constitutional Convention.

Why was it necessary for the delegates at the Constitutional Convention to work out compromises?

What political writings are generally considered to be sources of the proposed constitution?

Why is James Madison considered the "Father of the Constitution"?

What were the major objections of the Anti-­‐Federalists to the proposed constitution?

Who were the leaders of the
Federalists?

Who were the leaders of the Anti-­‐ Federalists?

What are the four basic characteristics of the state?

Explain the following theory of the origin of the state.

Force&Theory

Explain the following theory of the origin of the state.

Evolutionary Theory

Explain the following theory of the origin of the state.

Divine Right Theory

Explain the following theory of the origin of the state.

Social Contract Theory