HiSET Social Studies Study Guide: Civics & Government
Government questions will assess your knowledge/understanding of:
- Your role as a citizen
- The government’s structure and function
- How different governments operate
Types of Government
Although civics/government questions on the HiSET focus on the United States, you should be familiar with how other types of government work.
| Type of Government | Who’s in charge? Who makes the decisions? | Examples |
| Direct Democracy | Every citizen meeting specific requirements. | In Ancient Athens, all free men could vote on city issues. |
| Republican | Citizens elect representatives to pass laws/run the government. | In France and the United States, people elect representatives and an executive. |
| Constitutional Monarchy | A monarch acts as a head of state while an elected parliament runs the government. | The United Kingdom and Japan have monarchs who play a ceremonial role in government but have no real power. |
| Oligarchy | An elected or unelected minority of people rule over the majority, who have little to no say in government. | From 1948 to 1994, white South Africans created a system of apartheid to rule over and oppress the much larger Black population. |
| Dictatorship | A single person has the final say in all government policies/laws/etc. | In the Soviet Union, dictator Joseph Stalin had complete control over his nation’s political, economic, and military decisions. |
Branches of the U.S. Federal Government
The U.S. Government consists of three branches. The Founding Fathers used the concept of “separation of powers” to ensure each branch had an equal say in the running of government. Separation of powers also guarantees that no branch will become too powerful.
| Branch | What It Is/What They Do | Who Runs It | How it checks other branches’ powers |
| Judicial | The Supreme Court/Assesses the constitutionality of laws and presidential actions | Nine justices nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate | The Supreme Court can declare unconstitutional laws passed by Congress and presidents’ executive actions. |
| Executive | The President and their executive departments (The Cabinet)/Executes Congress’ laws and acts as Commander-in-Chief | The President | The president can veto laws passed by Congress and nominate justices to the Supreme Court. |
| Legislative | Congress (The Senate and the House of Representatives)/Writes and passes laws | House: The Speaker of the House Senate: The Vice President |
The Legislative Branch can impeach and remove the president and Supreme Court justices who act outside their authority. They can also overturn a president’s veto with a 2/3 majority vote. |
Federalism
The Constitution defines which powers belong to the federal government and which powers belong to the states. The federal government and the states also share some powers. This practice is known as federalism.
| Powers Held by the Federal Government | Powers Held by Both | Powers Held by States |
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Political Parties/Citizen Participation
As of 2024, two political parties dominate U.S. politics. The following chart summarizes their current beliefs and provides examples of notable 20th-century presidents from each party.
| Republican Party (Founded 1854) | Democratic Party (Founded 1828) |
Beliefs:
Republican Presidents
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Beliefs:
Republican Presidents
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Citizens can participate in political life in ways other than running for office. They can:
- Donate to a political campaign
- Work/volunteer for a campaign
- Attend local government meetings
- Protest a government action
Founding Documents
In the early United States, four documents played a significant role in the nation’s political development.
| Document | Year | Significance |
| The Articles of Confederation | 1777 | The United States’ first attempt at a constitution. Weaknesses led the government to call a constitutional convention in 1787. |
| The Constitution | 1787 | The modern Constitution discusses what the government can do, as well as the rights of states/citizens. |
| The Federalist Papers | 1787 | Federalists supported the Constitution. In essays, they argued why it was the best form of government. |
| The Bill of Rights | 1787 | The First 10 Amendments to the Constitution. Amendments protect individual and state rights. |
The HiSET social studies test may also pull excerpts from legal documents Americans encounter in their daily lives:
- A voter registration form
- Tax form
- Other common government documents
Supreme Court Cases
Supreme Court decisions can significantly alter the political landscape and Americans’ day-to-day lives. The HiSET social studies text may use an excerpt from one of these (or another) landmark Supreme Court cases.
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
The Supreme Court ruled it had the authority to strike down unconstitutional laws and executive actions. This authority is referred to as “judicial review.”
McCullough v. Maryland (1819)
The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government had implied powers beyond those the Constitution gives it.
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens, even those not enslaved.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation was legal as long as “separate but equal” services were provided to racial minorities.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
The Supreme Court overturned Plessy for public schools, leading to desegregation nationwide.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963).
The Supreme Court ruled that the Bill of Rights’ guarantee to an attorney applied to state as well as federal crimes.
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
The Supreme Court ruled that students in public schools had First Amendment rights.
U.S. v. Nixon (1974)
The Supreme Court ruled that President Nixon was not above the law and had to turn over information related to his role in the Watergate scandal.