We the People Note Guide

This notetaking guide will help you prepare for assessments, quizzes, exams, and Discussion-
Based Assessments. You do not have to submit it for a grade. Vocabulary and reflection
questions are organized by lesson. Define each vocabulary term in your own words. Answer
each reflection question with details from the lesson.

Purposes of Government
Authority

Anarchy

Public policy

Institution

Infrastructure

U.S. Constitution

Common good

Consent

Rule of Law

Legitimacy

Divine right of kings

Tyranny

Democracy

Republic

Republicanism

Magna Carta

English common law

European Enlightenment
Constitutionalism

What is the purpose of having a government?

What are two examples of how government affects your daily life?

Identify the five important features of law for rule of law to be effective.

Explain how each ancient tradition shaped the colonists’ ideas about government.

Ancient Greece

Ancient Rome

Judeo-Christian
Tradition

Why is the idea of limited government important?

Explain how the European Enlightenment influenced the U.S. government.

How do each of these principles relate to government?

Natural rights—

Social contract—
Popular sovereignty—

The Declaration of Independence

National sovereignty

Charter

Oversight

Parliament

Petition

Constituents

Explain why the American colonies wanted independence from Great Britain.

Describe each main component of the Declaration of Independence.

Introduction and Beliefs List of Grievances Formal Declaration

How is the principle of social contract reflected in the Declaration of Independence?

What other principles are represented in the Declaration of Independence?

Which principles are reflected on Election Day? Explain.

The Constitutional Convention
Tyranny

Confederation

Supremacy

Legislature

Constitution

Bicameral legislature

Great Compromise

Popular vote

Why is the ability to compromise important in a representative democracy?

What was the purpose of the Articles of Confederation?

What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Why did the framers want to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new constitution?

What was the main difference between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan? How did the
Great Compromise resolve this difference ?

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

What is the purpose of the Electoral College?

Principled Debate
Ratification

Delegate

Philadelphia Convention

Judicial review

Faction

Checks and balances

What is civil discourse and why is it important?

Discuss how the Constitution fixed the issues of the Articles of Confederation. Include at least
one founding principle in your response.

What did the Federalists and Anti-Federalists have in common? What was their main
difference?

Complete the chart by identifying the main arguments of the Federalists and the Anti-
Federalists.

Federalist Anti-Federalist
The Constitution
Separation of powers

Enumerated power

Delegated power

Full faith and credit clause

Reserved power

Supremacy clause

Statute

Ordinance

Appeal

Precedent

What are the purposes of government as stated in the Preamble?

Explain how the common good can conflict with individual rights.

Describe the purpose of each article of the Constitution.

L—

E—
J—

R—

A—

S—

R—

Describe how the Constitution reflects separation of powers.

Describe a few checks and balances built into the Constitution.

What are the two steps to amending the Constitution?

Why are laws necessary?

What role does each branch of government have in the U.S. legal system?

What are some ways you can influence U.S. democracy?

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights

Absolute

Equal protection clause

Due process clause

Establishment clause

Free exercise clause

Incorporation
Are individual rights absolute? Explain your response.

How does limited government protect individual rights?

Explain the role of the Supreme Court when it comes to individual rights.

Define each freedom of the First Amendment and explain its importance:

Religion—

Assembly—

Press—

Petition—

Speech—

Describe a situation in which an individual right can conflict with the rule of law.

Describe the protection contained in each of the following amendments:

Thirteenth—

Fourteenth—

Fifteenth—

Nineteenth—

Twenty-third—

Twenty-fourth—

Twenty-sixth—
Comparing Governments
Feudalism

Mercantilism

Authoritarian

Monarchy

Republic

Democracy

Oligarchy

Autocracy

Fascism

Unitary

Confederation

Federation

Parliamentary republic

Prime minister

Communism

Socialism

Presidential system

Democratization

Gross domestic product

Qualitative

Quantitative

Per capita

Patent

Copyright

Apathetic
Coup d’état

Arable land

Imports

Exports

Sustainability

Identify an example of a country that has each form or type of government:

Democracy—

Oligarchy—

Autocracy—

Unitary—

Federation—

Confederation—

Parliamentary—

Communism—

What are the advantages and disadvantages of representative democracy?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an autocracy?

What are the indicators of democracy? Explain each.

How can a democratic nation fail, and what can citizens do to prevent it?

What initiatives help manage resources and climate change?

Describe organizations that the United States has created or joined to address environmental
challenges.

The United States in the World

Interdependence

Foreign policy

Domestic policy

Tariff

Quota

Barrier to trade

Free trade

Economic sanction

Embargo

Holocaust

Nanking massacre

Japanese American internment

Reparations

United Nations

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Genocide

Human trafficking

Why are relationships with other countries important for the economy?

What are three examples of domestic policies?

What are three examples of foreign policies?

What are the goals of foreign policy?

How does trade affect foreign and domestic policies?

What are the positive and negative consequences of using trade restrictions?

Describe each approach to foreign policy:

Isolationism—

Diplomacy—

Interventionism—

Imperialism—

What founding principles are connected to human rights policies? Describe at least one
example.

Discuss human rights issues in at least two foreign countries and how the United States has
responded to them.