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U.S. Government Semester Study Guide
PART 1: MATCHING KEY CONCEPTS—You will have to match any or all of the following terms and concepts
to their proper definitions/descriptions, as well as possibly a few others
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT
RATIFY
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
UNICAMERAL
CONSTITUTIONAL SUPREMACY
CHECKS AND BALANCES
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
SLANDER
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS
AMNESTY
INAUGURATION
ACQUITTAL
VERDICT
PLAINTIFF
INTEREST GROUPS
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT
INAUGURATION
VETO
CHARTER
CONCURRENT POWERS
FEDERAL MANDATES
UNITARY GOVERNMENT
REPEAL
BILL OF RIGHTS
JUDICIAL BRANCH
SUFFRAGE
SEPARATION OF POWERS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL
SEARCH WARRANT
CABINET
REPRIEVE
EXECUTIVE ORDER
BUREAUCRACY
INCUMBENTS
SUBPOENAS
DEFENDANT
PUBLIC BILL
MAYOR-COUNCIL FORM
TREATY
GOVERNOR
LINE ITEM VETO
AMENDMENTS
FEDERAL GRANTS
ORDINANCE
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES
PRECINCT
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
BICAMERAL
LIBEL
POLLING PLACE
JUDICIAL REVIEW
PARDON
DUE PROCESS
CONVENTION
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE
TWO-PARTY SYSTEM
JURISDICTION
CONSTITUENTS
ONE-PARTY SYSTEM
PRIVATE BILL
SUPREMACY CLAUSE
PRESIDENT-ELECT
CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM
RULE OF LAW
DELEGATED POWERS
SOVEREIGNTY
PART 2: MULTIPLE CHOICE—You will have various concepts presented in multiple-choice format. They may
include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Current voter qualifications
Types of party systems
Names, roles, and ideas of political parties in America
Role of and examples of Interest Groups
How do PACs impact politics
Kinds of elections (general, primaries, special, etc.)
Ballot issues (initiatives, referendums, recalls)
When Congress meets
Description of a typical member of congress
Leadership positions in Congress
Current members of congress for Iowa/our district (at national and state level)
Legislative and non-legislative powers of Congress
The role and types of committees in Congress
General information about how bills become laws (the process)
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The roles of the president and certain duties/descriptions associated with each
The role of the cabinet, and descriptions of various departments within it
Duties of the Vice President
Presidential Succession
Examples of some of the President’s powers
Federal verses state court systems and examples of cases therein
Which court is the only one specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution?
What elements make a law “good”
The workings of the federal Supreme Court and qualifications to be a part of it
Duties and facts about the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Different “opinions” that may be reached by the Supreme Court (unanimous, majority, etc.)
Various amendments discussed in class (first 10, 22nd, 25th, etc.)
Role of the U.S. Constitution in our government
Our current Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, President of the Senate, mayor, governor, and
lieutenant governor
Which political party currently controls both houses of Congress?
What are examples of issues local government will deal with as compared to the national government?
The voting process
The election ballot/Australian ballot
Types of executive agencies and examples
What classified vs unclassified employees are like
How do socialism, capitalism, communism, and mixed economies compare
Functions of government
What the principles of a true democracy are
PART 3: SHORT ANSWER ESSAY—You will have to answer an assortment of short-answer essay questions on
the following possible concepts, as well as possibly a few others. They will be largely in “listing” format.
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Listing the civil liberties contained within the First Amendment
The theories behind the origins of government
Some of the rights/liberties contained within the Bill of Rights
Describe different political activities people can be involved in in their country
Compare America’s two main political parties of today and how they differ
Describe the process of the electoral college
Identify similarities and differences between both houses of Congress
Identify the requirements for becoming a member of the houses of Congress
Identify the formal requirements to become President and the requirements to be the governor of
Iowa
10. Identify some of the functions of law in the United States
11. Compare and contrast the executive branches at the state and national level
12. Identify some ways each of the three branches have power/influence over each other (their checks and
balances)
13. Explain the importance of studying American Government as a senior in high school and what you are
walking away with from class to help you be better educated as an adult.
PART 4: EXTRA CREDIT—You will have an opportunity to answer some miscellaneous extra credit questions
pertaining to the unit.