Constitution Principles of Governance Flashcards
7 cards from real US practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Constitution Principles of Governance flashcards as text
Which constitutional principle is demonstrated when a federal court strikes down a presidential executive order as unconstitutional?
Answer: Checks and balances
Judicial review of executive orders exemplifies checks and balances—the judiciary checking executive action to ensure constitutional compliance.
What constitutional mechanism prevents the same person from serving in both the legislative and executive branches simultaneously?
Answer: The Incompatibility Clause
The Incompatibility Clause (Article I, Section 6) prohibits members of Congress from holding any civil office under the executive branch while serving.
Under constitutional governance, which principle requires that criminal defendants must be informed of charges and given a fair trial?
Answer: Due process of law
Due process (Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments) guarantees fair procedures before the government deprives any person of life, liberty, or property.
The 'necessary and proper' clause expands congressional authority by allowing laws that are:
Answer: Needed to carry out enumerated powers, even if not listed
The Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) grants Congress power to pass laws needed to execute its enumerated powers, implying additional authority.
Which constitutional principle is at stake when the federal government uses its spending power to influence state policy?
Answer: Cooperative federalism
Cooperative federalism describes the relationship where federal grants with conditions lead states to adopt federal policy goals, blending rather than strictly dividing power.
What constitutional safeguard ensures that a law cannot be retroactively applied to punish actions that were legal when committed?
Answer: Ex post facto law prohibition
Article I, Sections 9 and 10 prohibit both Congress and states from passing ex post facto laws, which criminalize acts after they were committed.
The principle of 'separation of powers' was most directly designed to prevent which historical form of government abuse?
Answer: Tyranny arising from concentrated governmental authority
The Framers separated powers to guard against tyranny, drawing on Enlightenment theory and their experience under British rule.