Kara Travers

Dr. Gray

March 15, 2023

Selected Response Assignment

Colorado Academic Standard(s):

Content Area: Social Studies // Grade Level: High School // Standard Category: 4. Civics

“Prepared Graduates” will: 8.01(a), 8.01(g)

8. Analyze the origins, structures, and functions of governments to evaluate the impact on

citizens and the global society.

“Grade Level Expectation”: 8.01(a), 8.01 (g)

2. Purposes, roles and limitations of the structures and functions of government.

“Evidence Outcome(s)”: 8.01(a), 8.01(g)

a. Describe the origins, foundations, purposes, and limitations of government and include

the contribution of key philosophers, American historical figures and documents.

g. Compare and contrast how other systems of government function.

Colorado Department of Education (2020). 2020 Colorado academic standards online. Colorado

academic standards. https://www.cde.state.co.us/apps/standards/8,15,40

Instructional Objectives:

1. Students will analyze and understand the types of governmental systems. (Questions 1-

6)

2. Students will understand the functions of the branches of the U.S. government.

(Questions 12-15, 18-20)

3. Students will identify key concepts of a democratic republic government. (Questions

10-11)

4. Students will identify key political philosophers in American history and their famous

ideals. (Questions 7-9)

Propositions

1. The basic functions of government are to preserve order, maintain a legal system, provide

services, provide national defense, and protect citizens.

2. Government is the political system or institution through which a society makes and enforces

its public policies.

3. Divine right is the belief that a ruler’s authority comes directly from God.

4. Popular sovereignty is the idea that all power is derived from the people.

5. Veto means to reject a proposal made by a law-making authority.

6. The power to veto is held by the executive branch (the President of the United States).

7. Democracy is a government where the power is in the hands of the people.

8. Aristocracy is a government where the power is held by the nobility.

9. Oligarchy is a government where the power is in the hands of a small self-appointed elite

group.

10. Theocracy is a government where priests rule in the name of God or a god.

11. Republic is a government where the power is held by elected officials.

12. Monarchy is a government where the power is held by a monarch.

13. A unicameral legislature is a legislative body with only one chamber.

14. The U.S. legislative branch is bicameral, meaning it has two chambers.

15. Jean Jacques Rousseau believed in the social contract as a way to protect your civil liberty.
16. John Locke believed in the right to life, liberty, and property.

17. Thomas Hobbes believed absolute sovereignty was the only way to organize a government.

18. Checks and balances occurs when the three branches of the U.S. government check each

other’s power and prevent one branch from becoming too powerful.

19. The Executive branch consists of the President. This branch enforces laws and holds the

power of veto against laws made by the Legislative branch.

20. The Legislative branch consists of Congress. They make laws.

21. The Judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court. They make sure laws are constitutional.
 High School Government Selected Response Assessment (Unit 1 Quiz)

Match each type of government to their description (each correct match is worth 2 points)

1. A government where the power is in the

hands of the people. a. Democracy
2. A government where the ruler is an
b. Oligarchy
absolute dictator.
c. Tyranny
3. A government where the power is in the
hands of a small self-appointed elite d. Republic
group.
e. Monarchy
4. A government where priests rule in the
f. Theocracy
name of a God.
5. A government where the power is held g. Aristocracy
by elected officials.
h. Anarchy
6. A government where the power is held
by a king or queen.

Fill in the Blank (each correct blank filled is worth 2 points)

7. ________________ is known for his emphasis on the right to life, liberty, and property.

8. ________________ is known for advocating in absolute sovereignty as the only way to

organize a government.

9. ________________ is known for his emphasis on the social contract and the general will as a

way to protect your civil liberty.

10. ________________ is the idea that all power in a government is derived from the people.

11. ________________ is the process in which the other two branches prevent one branch from

becoming too powerful.

12. ________________ is a legislative branch with one chamber.

13. ________________ is a legislative branch with two chambers.

Circle the best answer (each correct answer is worth 3 points)

14. Which is NOT a basic function of government?

a. To maintain a legal system

b. To preserve order

c. To ensure its citizens’ wealth

d. To provide national defense

15. What does the executive branch have the power to do?

a. Veto laws passed by Congress

b. Create laws for the citizens to follow

c. Ensure laws are constitutional

d. Declare war

16. Divine right is the belief that…

a. The power in a government comes from the people

b. The government is run by elected officials

c. Monarchs derived their authority from God

d. There should be no laws passed without representation

17. A political system or institution through which a society makes and enforces its public

policies is a…

a. Legislature

b. Government

c. Bureaucracy

d. Power
18. Which branch of the U.S. government contains a court that is dedicated to ensuring laws are

constitutional?

a. Legislative branch

b. Executive branch

c. Judicial branch

d. Supreme Court

19. The Executive branch consists of which of the following?

a. President

b. Speaker of the House

c. Justices

d. Senators

20. All of the following are associated with the Judicial branch except…

a. The Supreme Court

b. The power to overturn laws that are unconstitutional

c. Reviewing cases disputed by lower courts

d. The creation of new legislation

 Rubric for High School Government Selected Response Assessment

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

All or nearly all of Learning
Objective 1 questions are
incorrect
All or nearly all of Learning
Objective 2 questions are
incorrect
All or nearly all of Learning
Objective 3 questions are
incorrect
All or nearly all of Learning
Objective 4 questions are
incorrect
Only a partial amount of All or nearly all of Learning
Learning Objective 1 Objective 1 questions are
questions are correct correct
Only a partial amount of All or nearly all of Learning
Learning Objective 2 Objective 2 questions are
questions are correct correct
Only a partial amount of All or nearly all of Learning
Learning Objective 3 Objective 3 questions are
questions are correct correct
Only a partial amount of All or nearly all of Learning
Learning Objective 4 Objective 4 questions are
questions are correct correct

Answer Key for High School Government Selected Response Assessment

1. A
2. C
3. B
4. F
5. D
6. E
7. John Locke
8. Thomas Hobbes
9. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
10. Popular Sovereignty
11. Checks and Balances
12. Unicameral
13. Bicameral
14. C
15. A
16. C
17. B
18. C
19. A
20. D