Study guide: Founding Ideas and Government Designs

Ideas to explain in your own words

• Different documents served different purposes. The Declaration announced independence; the Articles of Confederation formed the first U.S. national governmental framework; the Constitution replaced that framework; the Bill of Rights added the first ten amendments. They were not one document adopted at one moment.
• Federalism divides governing authority between national and state governments. Separation of powers divides federal functions among branches. Checks and balances let branches limit one another in defined ways. Reserved powers concern powers retained by states or people under the Tenth Amendment. These are distinct dimensions of constitutional design.
• Congress has a House of Representatives and a Senate. House representation follows population-based apportionment; each state has two senators. The president leads the executive branch. Federal courts exercise judicial functions. These basic structures do not describe every appointment, election or case procedure.
• Founding ideals and founding practice differed. The Constitution accommodated slavery, while many people were denied political participation. Later amendments and movements changed protections. A document’s principle, an institution’s rule, lived experience and a reform are different evidence categories; none alone proves equality was fully achieved.

Useful vocabulary

Declaration of Independence

the 1776 announcement of separation from Britain

Articles of Confederation

the first U.S. national governing framework

Federalism

division of authority between national and state governments

Separation of powers

division of federal functions among branches

House of Representatives

the congressional chamber apportioned among states by population

Senate

the congressional chamber with two senators per state

Principle

a stated general ideal

Institutional rule

a formal arrangement written into governing structures

Watch your reasoning

• Mixing up Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation. Re-read what each note says before choosing.
• Adding a detail that is not on the card. Point to the words that help explain your answer.

Make a practice plan

1. Read or listen to the notes in the four lessons. An adult can read aloud.
2. Try each lesson’s main question and three practice questions. Say, draw or write what helped you choose.
3. Use the review cards, then try the changed card in any lesson you want to practice again.
4. Complete the four-box task. Then try the separate subject-test cards.