MTEL Elementary Education Subject Matter Flashcards

Which branch of the U.S. federal government has the power to declare laws unconstitutional?

Answer: Judicial branch (Supreme Court)

The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, exercises judicial review — the power to strike down laws that violate the U.S. Constitution.

The latitude lines on a map run in which direction and measure what?

Answer: East–west; distance north or south of the equator

Latitude lines (parallels) run east–west and measure angular distance in degrees north or south of the equator (0°).

What was the PRIMARY economic activity of most New England colonies in the 1700s?

Answer: Trade, fishing, and shipbuilding

New England's rocky soil was poor for large-scale farming, so colonists relied on the Atlantic Ocean for trade, fishing, and a thriving shipbuilding industry.

The principle of 'checks and balances' in the U.S. government BEST refers to:

Answer: Each branch of government having powers that limit the other branches

Checks and balances distributes power among the three branches so no single branch can become too powerful, with each branch having the ability to limit the others.

Which economic concept describes what you give up when you choose one option over another?

Answer: Opportunity cost

Opportunity cost is the value of the next-best alternative forgone when making an economic choice.

The Great Migration of the early 20th century PRIMARILY refers to:

Answer: African Americans moving from the South to northern cities

The Great Migration (roughly 1910–1970) was the large-scale movement of African Americans from the rural South to northern and midwestern cities in search of better opportunities and to escape Jim Crow laws.

On a physical map, which feature would MOST LIKELY be shown using contour lines?

Answer: Elevation and terrain

Contour lines on topographic (physical) maps connect points of equal elevation, revealing the shape and height of landforms.