Ch. 2-Roots to Cons. Test Bank

Principles in the Constitution / Test Bank / Finkle

1. Federal and state governments of the US share the power toA. establish schools C. establish post offices B. conduct foreign relations D. issue money E. charter banks

2. Which principle of government is derived from the words: “ the powers not delegated to the United States, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states”?

A. federalism C. pluralism B. checks and balances D. separation of powers E. republicanism

3. Under the US Constitution, all states are required toA. have a republican form of government B. adopt the Equal Rights Amendment C. have a strong Democratic Party D. elect governors for two terms E. maintain balanced budgets

4. Of the following, American federalism is most greatly influenced by the A. system of checks and balances among the three branches of the national government B. process by which international treaties are completed C. special constitutional status of Washington, D.C. D. Tenth Amendment to the Constitution E. president’s power to grant reprieves and pardons

5. Which of the following is an example of checks and balances, as established by the Constitution?

A. A requirement that states lower their drinking age to eighteen as a condition of receiving funds through highway grant programsB. Media criticism of public officials during an election campaignC. The Supreme Court’s ability to overturn a lower court decisionD. The requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate E. The election of the President by the electoral college rather than by direct election

6. All of the following powers are granted to the President by the Constitution EXCEPTA. commissioning officers in the armed forcesB. addressing the Congress on the State of the UnionC. receiving ambassadorsD. granting pardons for federal offensesE. forming new cabinet-level departments

7. Which of the following actions can Congress take if the Supreme Court finds a federal law unconstitutional?

A. Appeal the Court’s decision to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals

B. Formally request the President to veto the Court’s decisionC. Remove certain members of the Court and try to replace them with new membersD. Try to amend the Constitution E. Reenact the same law

8. Which of the following is articulated in the War Powers Resolution?A. The President may declare warB. The President must finance any war efforts from a special contingency fund

C. The President must bring troops home from hostilities within 60 to 90 days unless Congress extends the time D. The President may not nationalize state militias without congressional consent

E. The President may not send troops into hostilities without a declaration of war from Congress or a resolution from the United Nations

9. Which of the following procedures results in the removal of the President from office?A. The House and Senate vote for impeachment, and the Supreme Court reaches a guilty verdictB. The House votes for impeachment, and the Senate conducts a trial and the Senate reaches a guilty verdict C. The House and Senate both vote for a bill of impeachmentD. Only the House votes for a bill of impeachmentE. A criminal court finds the President guilty of “high crimes and misdemeanors”

10. One of the formal tools used by Congress for oversight of the bureaucracy isA. the line-item veto B. authorization of spendingC. impoundment bills D. private billsE. senatorial courtesy

11. The reserved powers of the state governments can best be described as those powersA. not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the statesB. implied in the Fifth AmendmentC. listed specifically in the Tenth AmendmentD. exercised by both national and state governmentsE. granted to the states as part of the implied powers doctrine

12. Which of the following is true of nominees for federal judgeships?A. They are recruited from the current pool of U.S. attorneysB. They are nominated by the Senate and approved by the House of Representatives

C. They are elected in popular elections in individual states

D. They must receive approval of the American Bar Association upon nominationE. They are appointed for life by the President with the advice and consent of the

Senate

13. Which of the following is empowered to create new federal courts and specify the number of judges who will sit on them?

A. the Supreme Court B. CongressC. The President D. The Department of Justice

E. the attorney general

14. All of the following statements pertaining to the presidential veto are true EXCEPTA. Congress overrides fewer than ten percent of presidential vetoesB. A vetoed bill is often revised and passed in another formC. Presidents often threaten to veto bills to increase their leverage with CongressD. A President may veto part of a billE. Congress often places provisions the President wants into a bill the President dislikes to make a veto less likely

15. The primary reason for the tensions that exist between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government is that the branches

A. are staffed with many of the same peopleB. have different constituencies with different interestsC. operate on different timetablesD. share the responsibility for the selection of cabinet-level officialsE. share the constitutional power to levy taxes

16. The President can do which of the following without seeking the consent of either the House or the Senate?

A. Ratify a treaty B. Appoint ambassadorsC. Appoint district court judges D. Deploy troopsE. Declare war

17. Congress has the constitutional power to control the judicial branch byA. determining the size of the Supreme CourtB. nominating the Chief Justice of the Supreme CourtC. censuring judges for unethical behaviorD. reducing the salary of judges while they are sittingE. altering the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

18. In the Federalist #10, James Madison supported the concept of three strong branches of central government that check and balance one another because

A. the Bill of Rights kept government from being too oppressiveB. the legislative branch was too domineering under the Articles C. separation of powers insured that no one strong faction of interests would take over the central government

D. a unitary system of government would be effective in only a small simple societyE. public-spirited leaders insured that the balance would be maintained in spite of

attempts by power seekers to take control

19. Selection of senatorsA. has always been by popular voteB. has always been by state legislatorsC. was by the electoral college until this centuryD. was first by the House of Representatives, then by state legislatorsE. was first by state legislators, and is now by popular vote

20. Selection of House representativesA. has always been by popular voteB. has always been by state legislatorsC. was by the electoral college until this centuryD. was first by the House of Representatives, then by state legislatorsE. was first by state legislators, and is now by popular vote

21. Which of the following represents an important democratic provision included by the Founders in the Constitution?

A. judicial review B. election of senatorsC. election of representatives D. amendment process of the ConstitutionE. selection of the President

22. The attitude of the Founders toward political parties is best described asA. very favorable, since political parties are provided for in the Constitution

B. antagonistic, since the Founders saw parties as factions, motivated by ambition

and self-interest C. indifferent, because the Founders did not foresee the creation of partiesD. reluctantly accepting, because the Founders regarded parties as inevitable and warned against them in the ConstitutionE. inconsistent, because some of the Founders wanted to include political parties in the Constitution and some did not

23. Which of the following does NOT represent a check of judicial power by either of the other two branches?

A. The president can veto a Supreme Court decision. B. The senate must approve federal judicial nomineesC. The House has the power to impeach federal judges.D. Congress can alter the jurisdiction of federal courts and prevent them from hearing certain cases.E. Congress and the states can amend the Constitution.

24. The issue of national supremacy vs. states’ rights is addressed most directly by the Founders in the Constitutional principle of

A. separation of powers B. protection of natural rightsC. judicial review D. federalismE. limited government

25. Which of the following statements expresses the Founders’ intentions regarding the power of the legislative branch?

A. The legislative branch should be equal in power to the executive and judicial branches.B. The executive branch should be dominant, but the legislative branch should provide checks and balances.C The legislative branch should be more powerful, but the executive and judicial branches should provide checks and balances. D. The executive branch should not be as strong as the judicial and legislative branches.

E. The judicial and executive branches will naturally be stronger, but the provisions in the Constitution give the legislative branch as much power as possible.

26. The War Powers Resolution (1973) was designed toA. give the President additional powers in case of military emergenciesB. delineate a clear chain of command in the event of nuclear warC. criticize the President for declaring war without authorization from CongressD. enable the President to commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping forcesE. limit the President’s authority to commit troops overseas

27. The Constitution expressly grants the President the power toA. send troops into foreign conflictsB. remove justices from the Supreme CourtC. grant pardons for offenses against the United States D. set the annual budget for the national governmentE. regulate interstate commerce

28. Although the President has the primary role in foreign affairs, Congress has all of the following responsibilities in this area EXCEPT

A. negotiating treatiesB. appropriating funds for national defenseC. approving U.S. ambassadorial appointments D. authorizing foreign aidE. establishing tariffs rates

29. Which of the following is a power that is NOT shared by the federal government and state governments?

A. Power to tax personal income B. Power to establish courtsC. Power to charter banks D. Power to tax property

E. Power to borrow money

30. All of the following are checks on the Judicial Branch EXCEPTA. the President appoints federal judgesB. Congress can decrease or withhold appropriations for the judicial branch

C. the Senate can withhold approval of presidential appointments to the judiciaryD. Congress can create additional courtsE. congressional committees exercise control over cases heard by the Supreme Court

31. Which of the following is NOT an example of a check on presidential power?A. Only Congress can declare warB. The Senate must approve ambassadorial appointmentsC. The Senate recognizes foreign nations D. Congress passes the final annual budgetE. The Senate has the power to approve treaties

32. Which of the following responsibilities belongs to the House but not to the Senate?A. Ratifying treaties with foreign countriesB. Approving nominees to the Supreme CourtC. Sending the annual budget to the Office of Management and Budget for research

D. Approving ambassadorsE. Impeaching federal judges and certain other high-level elected officials

33. All of the following represent examples of the use of checks and balances EXCEPTA. the 35 successful vetoes made by President BushB. The Senate rejection of the League of NationsC. the Supreme Court ruling the Flag Desecration Act unconstitutionalD. Congress passing the Crime Bill after changes were made to gain bipartisan support

E. The impeachment and trial of President Clinton

34. The Constitution provides that one-third of the Senate’s membership is up for election every two years so that

A. House members may decide whether to run for the SenateB. committee assignments can be alternated between Democrats and RepublicansC. voters have less of a chance to change control of the Senate from one party to another

D. the entire House and the entire Senate is not voted on in the same year E. congressional apportionment can alter the size of Senate districts

35. All of the following are powers forbidden of the states EXCEPTA. coining money B. passing ex post facto lawsC. making treaties with other states D. to lay and collect taxes E. granting titles of nobility

36. The Supreme Court has the constitutional authority to check Congress byA. vetoing legislation signed by the PresidentB. settling disputes among states

C. applying original jurisdiction to cases before them on appealD. declaring parts of legislation unconstitutional E. assigning the Chief Justice to preside over impeachment trials of the president

37. Under the system of checks and balances all of the following are allowed EXCEPTA. the Senate’s refusal to approve the president’s appointment of a justice to the

Supreme CourtB. the Senate’s refusal to ratify a treaty negotiated by the president and his foreign

policy advisorsC. the Senate’s dismissal of a Cabinet member accused of accepting bribes

D. the president’s lobbying for a new crime bill to be passed in CongressE. the Supreme Court’s ruling that an executive order is unconstitutional

38. Prior to the enactment of the Seventeenth Amendment, Senators wereA. chosen by state legislatures B. appointed by the President

C. appointed by governors of the states D. elected by all citizensE. elected by white males who owned property

39. The Constitution as ratified in 1788 most clearly reflects the framers’ commitment to A. the idea of direct democracy B. the principle of limited government

C. the abolition of slavery D. protecting the rights of the accused E. maintaining the primacy of the states

40. The Constitution, as originally ratified, addressed all of the following weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation except the:

A. lack of an executive office. B. the national government’s inability to levy taxes. C. absence of a central authority to regulate interstate commerce.

D. insufficiency of the government’s power to raise an army. E. omission of a universal suffrage clause.

41. The Founding Fathers (Jefferson in particular) relied on which principle developed by Enlightened thinkers?

A. habeas corpus B. one man, one vote C. guarantees of life, liberty, and property D. the right to bear arms E. a single house legislature

42. Which of the following conclusions did Madison reach regarding the issue of state sovereignty in the Federalist system?

A. A government should be developed where states retain important governing abilities but are subordinate to the federal government in other areas . B. The government should be a confederacy of sovereign states.

C. The states should not be able to be taxed by the federal government. D. The federal government should rely on the wisdom of the states more that the states should rely on the federal government E. the states should have delegated powers reserved to them.

43. The significance of the Great Compromise when the Founding Fathers agreed to adopt a new Constitution was that it:

A. guaranteed equal protection for all citizens. B. created a judicial branch of government. C. counted slaves for representation purposes. D. set up a bicameral legislature. E. prohibited import taxes.

44. The main criticism levied against the Articles of Confederation was that it: A. gave too much power to the central government. B. failed to give the national government the authority to lay and collect taxes. C. did not allow the federal government to govern new territories. D. created a powerful judicial branch. E. had a term limit provision for the president.

42. Which statement(s) best reflects what the US Constitution represents: I. The Constitution is a set of basic laws for the government. II. The Constitution is an explanation for the way government operates assigning separate powers to each branch and guaranteeing citizens their rights. III. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

A. I Only C. III only E. I, II, III B. I and III only D. II and III only

43. Which of the following documents created a compromise that led to the formation of a bicameral legislature?

A. Articles of Confederation B. Connecticut Compromise C. New Jersey Plan D. Virginia Plan E. Three-Fifths Compromise

44. All the following are considered enumerated powers of the Congress except: A. setting up the first National Bank of the US B. coining US currency after the Constitution was ratified C. establishing inferior courts in addition to the Supreme Court D. establishing uniform immigration laws E. regulating commerce among the several states

45. All the following represent examples of the use of checks and balances except: A. the 35 successful vetoes by President Bush B. the Senate rejection of the League of Nations treaty C. the Supreme Court ruling the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional D. the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson E. Ronald Reagan’s victory over the incumbent James Carter in the 1980

presidential election .

46. Which of the following principles of government is derived from the 10th Amendment? A. separation of powers C. federalism B. checks and balances D. pluralism E. republicanism

47. A strong federal system of government has which of the following components? A. a central government dominated by the states B. three branches of government having separate powers C. a parliament with a prime minister as head of the government D. a loosely bound union of states E. different levels of government unified by a central government.

48. The practice of judicial review was first established by which of the following actions? A. the Constitution gives life terms to Supreme Court judges B. the court case McCulloch v. Maryland C. the Judiciary Act of 1789 D. the court case Marbury v. MadisonE. it inclusion in Article III of the Constitution

49. How have most of the Amendments been RATIFIED? A. by approval of 3/4 of the state legislatures B. through ratifying conventions of 3/4 of the states C. by a 2/3 vote of both houses D. by national conventions requested by 2/3 of the state legislatures E. by legislative action and presidential signature

50. The procedures involved in amending the Constitution A. have played a significant but relatively limited role in adapting the Constitution to changing conditions . B. are so difficult that they have been of little importance. C. are so easy that they have been used too often. D. have been used only to protect the civil rights of the people. E. have been changed and adjusted to adapt to adapt to an evolving government.

51. “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands....” These words can be found in the ___, and were primarily written by ____.

A. Constitution of the United States; James MadisonB. Northwest Ordinance; Confederation CongressC. Articles of Confederation; John JayD. Federalist #51; James MadisonE. Declaration of Independence; Thomas Jefferson

52. Article I Section 8 of the Constitution has been viewed as a way for:

A. Congress to exercise greater authority in government over the states. B. the president to exercise greater authority to commit troops abroad. C. the states to exercise their reserved powers D. the Senate to increase its authority to advise and consent the president’s appointments E. Congress to exercise greater authority over the Supreme Court.

53. All of the following were weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation EXCEPT:A. nine of the thirteen states had to approve all lawsB. a national court system ruled on the constitutionality of lawsC. Congress worked in committees without a chief executiveD. all states were required to approve amendmentsE. Congress could raise money by borrowing or by asking states for money.

54. All of the following were provisions of the Constitution as originally written EXCEPT:A. indirect election of senators

B. the counting of three-fifths of slaves for purposes of determining representation in the HouseC. abolition of the internal slave tradeD. delegated powersE. the elastic clause

55. Which of the following BEST describes government under the Articles of Confederation?A. The Articles established guidelines for settling new territories and admitting

new states

B. Because of the colonists’ experiences with Great Britain, the Articles of Confederation had been written so that real power remained with the states C. States could not make treaties without Congress’ approvalD. The Confederation government was hampered in its ability to levy taxes

E. Because of sectional interests, the central government could not agree on whether or not to set customs duties or how high a tariff should be.

56. Of the thirteen states joined under the Articles of Confederation, the only one absent from the Constitutional Convention was

A. New Hampshire D. GeorgiaB. Rhode Island E. ConnecticutC. Maine

57. The opening words of the Constitution, “We the people,” express the fundamental principle of

A. popular sovereignty B. rule of lawC. republicanism D. constitutionalismE. federalism.

58. Which of the following were to be indirectly elected according to the Constitution as originally drafted?

I. President of the United States

II. U.S. SenatorsIII. Members of the House of RepresentativesIV. Justices of the Supreme Court

A. I only B. II only C. I and II onlyD. II and III only E. I and IV only

59. “In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and then in the next place oblige it to control itself.” James Madison wrote these words in THE FEDERALIST, No.10. The Framers of the Constitution attempted to accomplish the latter goal

A. by creating the amending processB. by establishing a system of checks and balances C. through federalism itselfD. by limiting majority control by having senators elected by state legislaturesE. by establishing Congressional oversight committees. 1

60. A major concern of the Anti-Federalists involvedA. their desire to strengthen the central governmentB. their fear that the states would maintain their dominance under the new government

C. their fear that foreign governments would try to overpower the new nationD. their belief that a strong chief executive was necessary

E. a desire to see a bill of rights guaranteeing individual protections.

61. The Federalist Papers I. were written by Washington, Madison, and Adams. II. provided a theoretical justification for the Revolutionary War. III. are considered an authoritative commentary on the U.S. Constitution.

A. I only C. III only E. I and III onlyB. II only D. I and II only

62. The presiding officer at the Constitutional Convention wasA. James Madison B. Benjamin FranklinC. George Washington D. Thomas Jefferson E. Patrick Henry

63. The Constitution required ratification by __ to go into effect.A. seven of the delegates at the convention B. nine of the thirteen statesC. eleven of the thirteen states D. thirteen of the thirteen statesE. three-fourths of all the delegates

64. In the Constitution “slavery” was

A. not specifically mentioned B. outlawed after twenty yearsC. denounced as inhuman D. expressly permitted in the SouthE. forbidden in new states north of the Ohio river.

65. In the Constitution as it was originally written, which of the following would NOT be counted for the purpose of deciding representation in the House of Representatives?

A. women C. slaves B. Indians D. new immigrantsE. indentured servants

66. A constitutional proposal for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state was the:

A. Connecticut Plan D. Three-fifths CompromiseB. Elastic clause E. Virginia PlanC. New Jersey Plan

67. The framers of the Constitution designed which of the following to be LEAST responsive to public opinion?

A. The office of the President D. The courtsB. Congress E. The electoral collegeC. Political Parties

68. Which of the following is a correct statement about the federal government’s role in interstate commerce?

A. The federal government has no role in regulating interstate commerce.B. The federal government’s role is limited to regulating activities that may lead to federal crimes.C. The federal government’s role is limited to regulating commerce transported on interstate waterways such as the Mississippi River.D. The federal government’s role is limited to regulating the transport of agricultural goods.E. The federal government’s role is has been greatly expanded through the interpretation of the interstate commerce clause.

69. The decision by the framers of the Constitution to establish a federal, rather than unitary, structure of government was most influenced by which of the following aspects of colonial experience?

A. The difficulties of self-government experienced by the individual colonies. B. The experience of excessive control of the colonies by Parliament and the King.

C. The role of the large trading companies in colonial government.D. The federal structure of the government in Great Britain.E. The absence of an independent judiciary in the colonies.

70. Which of the following best describes the kind of government created by the framers of the Constitution?

A. a plebiscitary confederation D. a direct democracyB. a unitary government E. a limited monarchy

C. a representative government

71. Which of the following is true regarding The Federalist papers?A. They stressed the need for a strong judicial branch and weak legislative and executive branches.B. They were written in support of the Articles of Confederation.C. They were written to further the aims of farmers.D. They were advocated by promoters of states’ rights in the eighteenth century.E. They were a series of newspaper articles arguing for the ratification of the Constitution.

72. All of the following procedures established by the Constitution reflect the framers’ mistrust of popular rule EXCEPT

A. selection of the President D. election of Senate membersB. election of House members E. amendment of the

Constitution C. appointment of Supreme Court justices

73. “ The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight...." This quote can be found in ____ , and refers to____.

A. The Northwest Ordinance; prohibition against slaveryB. Article IV of the Constitution; surrender of fugitive slavesC. The Declaration of Independence; settlement in the Northwest TerritoryD. Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution; a temporary ban on Congress’ limitation

of the slave trade E. Article 1, Section 8; the authorization given to Congress to regulate international and interstate trade

74. If the U.S. were operating today under the Articles of Confederation instead of the Constitution, a problem like air pollution or the preservation of an endangered species would most likely be handled by

A. Congress, acting through the Speaker of the House and President of the SenateB. the Supreme Court

C. the PresidentD. the individual statesE. the Senate natural resources committee.

75. An order by a judge to police officials requiring them to produce an individual whom they are holding in custody:

A. writ of certiorari B. bill of attainder C. writ of habeas corpus D. court injunction E. stare decisis

76. As originally ratified, the United States Constitution included provisions that A. limited the importation of foreign manufactured goodsB. increased the economic importance of the agrarian sector relative to that of the manufacturing sectorC. increased the economic powers of the central government

D. expanded the states’ powers to regulate their own commerce with foreign countriesE. guaranteed the states a greater role in economic policy-making

77. In a federal system of government, political power is primarilyA. vested in local governmentsB. vested in regional governmentsC. vested in the central governmentD. divided between the central government and its regional governmentsE. divided between local governments and its citizens

78. Supreme Court Justices were given tenure subject to good behavior by the framers of the Constitution in order to ensure that

A. justices are free from direct political pressuresB. justices remain accountable to the publicC. justices are encouraged to make politically popular decisionsD. cooperation between the judicial and legislative branches is assuredE. Presidents are encouraged to seek younger nominees for the Supreme Court

79. Which of the following statements of comparison is correct about the differences between Federalists and Anti-Federalists?

A. Neither group was willing to dissolve the union over the question of counting slaves for purposes of representation

B. The Federalists believed a Bill of Rights was essential whereas the Anti-Federalists did not

C. The Federalists believed officials should all be selected directly by the people whereas the Anti-Federalists did notD. The Federalists believed in national sovereignty whereas the Anti-Federalists

believed in strong state governments E. The Federalists did not believe in the need for a presidential cabinet whereas the Anti-Federalists did.

80. “ All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” This quote can be found in the Constitution in

A. Article I B. Article III C. Article IVD. Article VI E. Article VII

81. According to The Federalist Papers , republican federalism has which of the following effects on political factions?

A. It provides a structured environment in which factions may flourish.B. It limits the dangers of factionalism by diluting political power. C. It allows factions to dominate on the national level while limiting their influence on a

state level.D. It eliminates any opportunity for factions to form.E. It prevents factions by declaring them illegal.

82. Which of the following arguments could NOT be used to explain how a strong executive , as provided for in the Constitution, is in accordance with the principle of a republican form

of government?A. The President is limited to a four year term, after which he must face reelection.

B. The President has veto power over bills passed by Congress. C. The President is elected indirectly through popular sovereignty.D. The President is subject to impeachment and removal from office.E. The electoral college, who directly choose the President, is made up of members of

the electorate of the states.

83. Which of the following was an argument in favor of federalism prior to the ratification of the Constitution?

A. The corrupt state governments would lose power. B. Federalism had already worked in several other countries. C. States would hold the majority of governmental power. D. A unified group of states could better protect the people. E. Having several levels of government would be unwieldy.

84. Among those who were conspicuously absent from the Constitutional Convention wereA. Alexander Hamilton and George WashingtonB. Benjamin Franklin and John HancockC. John Adams and James MadisonD. George Washington and James MadisonE. Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry

85. The presiding officer at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention wasA. James Madison B. George WashingtonC. Thomas Jefferson D. Alexander HamiltonE. Benjamin Franklin

86. The central issue in the framing of the U.S. Constitution was that ofA. how strong to make the central governmentB. how best to divide the powers among the branches of governmentC. how best to break with Great BritainD. how to adopt liberty but still allow slaveryE. how to create a truly independent judiciary

87. A "council of revision" for acts of the national legislature was proposed in theA. Connecticut Plan B. New Jersey PlanC. Maryland Plan D. Virginia PlanE. Great Compromise

88. The national legislature would have had the power to veto state laws under theA. Connecticut Plan B. New Jersey PlanC. Maryland Plan D. Virginia PlanE. Great Compromise

89. Under the Virginia Plan, acts of the national legislature could have been revised byA. the president B. the Supreme CourtC. a council of revision D. any federal courtE. no one - they would have been supreme

90. The New Jersey Plan was a reaction by some states primarily to the fear thatA. legislative veto power called for by the Virginia Plan would seriously

undermine individual states' rightsB. the weak central government devised by the Virginia Plan would grant too much

power to rural statesC. the strong central government devised by the Virginia Plan would grant too much

power to small statesD. The Virginia Plan gave too much power to populous statesE. Hamilton's suggestions about the Executive branch would be accepted by the

Convention.

91. Which of the following was intended to reinstate the Confederation legislature with some amendments?

A. Connecticut Plan B. New Jersey PlanC. Maryland Plan D. Virginia PlanE. Georgia Plan

92. Each state would have an equal number of votes in the legislature under theA. Connecticut Plan B. New Jersey PlanC. Maryland Plan D. Virginia PlanE. Georgia Plan

93. The New Jersey Plan would have allotted votes in Congress to states on the basis ofA. area B. statehood seniorityC. population D. voting populationE. equality

94. The Great Compromise allocated representation on the basis ofA. population in both housesB. equality, in both housesC. population in the House and equality in the SenateD. equality in the House and population in the SenateE. None of the above

95. The net result of the Great Compromise was theA. balancing of the interests of the central government with state interestsB. reconciliation of large-and small-state representationC. settling of the colonists' financial obligation to Great BritainD. settlement of the slavery issue among the coloniesE. creation of an independent judiciary

96. The importance of the Great Compromise adopted by the Constitutional Convention was that it

A. created a legislature similar in structure to that under the Articles of ConfederationB. established a single, one state = one vote formula under which all states would benefitC. strengthened the power of larger states at the expense of smaller statesD. granted equal power to the three branches of the new central government

E. ensured support for a strong national government from small as well as large states.

97. Among the many compromises worked out at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 after the adoption of the Great Compromise was that of the

a. adoption of a five-year term of office for the presidentb. selection of the Supreme Court by the Senatec. popular election of members of the Senated. use of an electoral college for choosing a presidente. an elective monarchy

98. The goal of the Framers of the U.S. Constitution was to create aa. political system in which majority rule was supremeb. pure democracy modeled after the New England town meetingc. pluralist democracy ruled by a political elited. an autonomous collectivee. republic based on a system of representation

99. The power of the people - popular majority rule - was limited by the U.S. Constitution in several ways, including

a. establishing a directly elected House of Representativesb. granting law-making powers to the judicial branch of governmentc. concentrating political power in a single, supreme legislatured. making the amending process relatively difficulte. removing all formal titles from the heads of government

100. Which of the following statements best reflects the political philosophy established after the colonists achieved their independence?

I. The former colonists eliminated property criteria for political officeII. The former colonists recognized the need for a strong executiveIII. The former colonists believed that the states should become the dominant

political and social forceA. I only B. I and II onlyC. I, II, and III D. III onlyE. II and III only

101. The New Jersey and Virginia Plans both provided for A. a bicameral legislatureB. separation of powersC. a strong executiveD. equal representation of statesE. slavery

102. Which of the following statements best characterizes the attitudes of the framers of the Constitution toward slavery?

A. They were all slave owners, and were determined to preserve slaveryB. They supported the expansion of slavery beyond the thirteen statesC. There was sentiment to limit slavery, but political considerations made that

impossible

D. They believed that if slavery was not mentioned, ratification would be harderE. They preferred the gradual emancipation of all slaves

103. The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, concernedA. the power of the presidentB. representation in CongressC. continuation of the slave tradeD. the organization of the federal courtsE. the right to vote

104. Under the Constitution as ratified, members of the Senate wereA. chosen by the state legislatorsB. appointed by the governorC. elected by the peopleD. selected by the House of RepresentativesE. chosen through the electoral college

105. The form of government outlined in the Virginia Plan gave the power to veto state laws toA. the National LegislatureB. The National ExecutiveC. the National JudiciaryD. the Council of RevisionE. the state governors

106. The Founding Fathers relied on which principle developed by Enlightenment thinkers?A. habeas corpusB. guarantees of life, liberty, and propertyC. one man, one voteD. the right to bear armsE. a single house legislature

107. Which of the following principles of government was articulated in the Federalist Papers?A. checks and balances B. a weak judicial branchC. a weak executive branchD. a strong House and a weak SenateE. a unitary form of government

108. A comparison of the Virginia and New Jersey plans would include all of the following EXCEPT

A. VA proposed a bicameral legislature while NJ proposed one that was unicameralB. Both VA and NJ supported the idea of a legislative vetoC. NJ proposed that each state be equally represented in the national legislature while

VA proposed that representation be based on a state's populationD. Both NJ and VA proposed an executive that would be chosen by the national legislatureE. Both NJ and VA supported an appointed judiciary

109. Which of the following is true about the commerce compromises agreed upon at the Constitutional Convention?

A. Slave importation was to be prohibited for a twenty year period following ratification of the Constitution.

B. Three slaves were to be counted equal to five free persons for the purpose of determining representation in the House.

C. The federal legislature would have the power to pass laws regulating interstate Commerce.

D. The federal legislature would have sole power of negotiating treaties.E. For the purpose of determining representation in the House, a census would include Indians but not include slaves.

110. Which of the following rules applied to the passage of laws at the Constitutional Convention?

A. each state was allowed one vote toward passage of a lawB. a majority vote of the delegates in attendance was required for passage of any lawC. to be passed, all thirteen states had to vote in favor of the law.D. all laws passed had to conform to the provisions of the Articles of ConfederationE. all but (C) was required for passage of a law

111. The Constitutional Convention was held in A. Washington, DC B. New YorkC. Virginia D. BostonE. Philadelphia

112. All of the following were part of the commerce compromises adopted at the Constitutional Convention EXCEPT

A. the tax on the importation of slaves would be limitedB. the power to tax imports would lie with the statesC. a tax on exports would be prohibitedD. the importation of slaves could not be regulated by the federal legislature

until1808.E. trade with Indian tribes would be regulated by the federal legislature.

113. Interpretation of which of the following in the Constitution has been used to justify giving more powers to the national government as implied powers.

A. Due process clause B. Non-enumerated rights clauseC. Necessary and proper clause D. Supremacy clauseD. Bill of Rights

114. A person cannot be imprisoned without first being brought before a judge, who in turn finds sufficient cause for his or her detention. This protection is known as

A. writ of certiorari B. bill of attainderC. writ of habeas corpus D. court injunctionE. stare decisis

115. Three-fifths of the slaves were counted for purposes ofA. electing state legislaturesB. apportioning delegates to presidential conventionsC. allotting seats in the House of RepresentativesD. electing the presidentE. allotting seats in the Senate

116. The issue of importation of slaves was addressed by the Constitutional Convention in what way?

A. It immediately ended all importation of slavesB. It allowed slavery where approved by the citizens of a state.C. It ignored altogether the issue of slavery importationD. It allowed only five southern states to continue to import slaves.E. It gave states until 1808 to continue to import slaves.

117. The U.S. Constitution provided that slaves escaping to a free state were toA. become free personsB. be imprisonedC. be returned to their masters D. remain free as long as they stayed in the NorthE. remain free as long as they were in any state that protected them

118. All of the following are forbidden of the states EXCEPTA. maintaining an armyB. having an income taxC. bills of attainderD. ex post facto lawsE. negotiating treaties

119. All of the following are forbidden of the federal government EXCEPTA. ex post facto lawsB. slave import taxesC. export taxesD. granting titles of nobilityE. spending without appropriation by law

120. The ____ Amendment to the U.S. Constitution appeared to guarantee equal right for Blacks.

A. First B. Fourteenth C. NineteenthD. Twenty-first E. Twenty-sixth

121. Which of the following statements about the right to vote in the U.S. is correct?A. Not every U.S. citizen of voting age is allowed to vote.B. The original U.S. Constitution ensured women the right to vote.C. The original U.S. Constitution specifically prohibited setting property restrictions on

the right to vote.D. The original U.S. Constitution specifically prohibited setting racial restrictions on

the right to vote.

E. The states originally had little to say on who could and could not vote.

122. Which of the following was NOT a device intended to prevent blacks from voting?A. the grandfather clause B. the poll taxC. the literacy test D. the Australian ballotE. the white primary

123. Which of the following statements about the right to vote by Blacks is correct?A. The 15th Amendment ensured all Blacks the right to vote.B. According to the 15th Amendment, Blacks could not be denied the right to vote on

the basis of literacyC. According to the 15th Amendment, Blacks could not be denied the right to vote on

the basis of race alone. D. According to the 15th Amendment, Blacks could not be denied the right to vote on

the basis of failure to pay poll taxes.E. None of the above

124. The number of voters eligible to vote in the 1972 presidential election rose dramatically from the previous election, in large measure because voting was extended to

A. persons between the age of eighteen and twenty-oneB. all Blacks due to the passage of the Voting Rights ActC. women through the ratification of the Nineteenth AmendmentD. aliens, through the passage of the Alien Rights ActE. None of the above

125. Which of the following CAN be used by states to deny a person the right to vote.A. criminal status B. mental statusC. alien status D. lack of appropriate identification cardE. all of these

126. Which of the following is true of current elections for the U.S. House of RepresentativesA. The political party of a state's Representatives reflects the proportion of democrat and republican voters in the stateB. All of a state's Representatives are from the majority party in a state C. A state can choose to have all Representatives chosen in an at-large electionD. State legislatures choose who can run for U.S. RepresentativeE. States must use a district-wide election for each Representative

127. In the organization of government, the principle of federalism is best illustrated by thea. president's power as commander-in-chiefb. separation of powers between the Supreme Court and Congressc. representation system for electing senatorsd. qualifications for the office of presidente. federal bureaucracy]

128. The Constitution and its amendments expressly prohibit all of the following EXCEPTa. slavery

b. double jeopardyc. cruel and unusual punishmentd. unreasonable searches and seizurese. sex discrimination in employment

129. All of the following were concerns about the Articles of Confederation that led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 EXCEPT

a. dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and libertiesb. fear of the stability of the central governmentc. desire to promote trade among the statesd. the need to give the central government the power to levy taxese. dissatisfaction with the central government's ability to provide for national defense

130. James Madison, in The Federalist paper number 10, articulated the belief of the founding fathers that the Constitution would

a. lead to a tyranny of the majorityb. promote the growth of political partiesc. control the effects of factionsd. allow the states to maintain their sovereigntye. lead to a tyranny of the minority

131. The national government under the Articles of ConfederationA. consisted of three branchesB. promoted unity among the statesC. provided for a strong executive branch with enforcement functionsD. consisted of a unicameral legislatureE. required unanimous passage of all legislation

132. Shay's Rebellion was significant because itA. allowed commercial interests to express their disenchantment with the status quoB. symbolized the weakness of the central government under the Articles C. was the first organized protest against the system of slavery in the SouthD. expressed the discontent of the upper classE. was a key victory for the agrarian interests

133. The following were all prominent among the leaders at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 EXCEPT

A. Thomas Jefferson B. Benjamin FranklinC. James Madison D. George WashingtonE. Gouverneur Morris

134. The Connecticut Compromise resolved the controversy at the Constitutional Convention involving

A. the method of choosing a PresidentB. the regulation of interstate and foreign tradeC. representation in CongressD. the protection of the institution of slaveryE. ratification of the Constitution

135. One purpose of the Electoral College was toA. ensure that only qualified candidates would run for the presidencyB. ensure an independent executive branchC. promote democracyD. provide for a direct method of choosing the presidencyE. give the small states an equal voice in choosing the President

136. The stated purpose of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was toA. write a new plan of governmentB. eliminate the growth of the institution of slaveryC. raise more money by taxing importsD. construct a more democratic form of governmentE. reform the Articles of Confederation

137. Congress under the Articles of ConfederationA. could require the states to provide financial support of the central governmentB. represented the interests of the individual statesC. could conscript individuals for military serviceD. was dominated by a strong chief executiveE. forcefully dealt with Shay's Rebellion

138. A major concern of the anti-Federalists involvedA. their desire to strengthen the central governmentB. their fear that the states would maintain their dominance under the new governmentC. their fear that foreign governments would try to overpower the new nationD. their belief that a strong chief executive was necessaryE. their desire to see a bill of rights guaranteeing individual protections added to the

Constitution

139. Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government lacked all of the following EXCEPT

a. the ability to declare warb. a judicial branchc. the power to taxd. the ability to raise an armye. an executive branch

140. All of the following conditions characterized the U.S. under the Articles of Confederation EXCEPT

a. virtual sovereignty was left to the statesb. the federal government was virtually bankruptc. interstate trade and commerce was stifled d. a series of attacks on courthouses in Massachusetts called attention to the demands

of debtorse. several states were on the verge of rebellion because of harsh new restrictions placed

by the national government on interstate trade

141. Which of the following issues was left by the Constitutional Convention for the states to decide?

A. The method of electing the PresidentB. Qualifications of the electorate for voting in federal electionsC. The method of ratifying amendments to the ConstitutionD. Qualifications for members of the House and SenateE. Whether or not to levy protective tariffs on imported goods

142. One of the major problems with the national government under the Articles of Confederation was that

A. the executive branch was to strong in relation to the legislative branchB. the government had no power to levy direct taxesC. the national judiciary failed to exercise judicial reviewD. the Articles of Confederation was amended too frequentlyE. the bicameral legislature deadlocked frequently on controversial but necessary

legislation

143. Under a federal system of governmenta. power is concentrated in the central governmentb. power rests primarily in subnational units which control the national budgetc. the national government and the subnational units would share powerd. each state has a veto over national policy in areas such as defense policye. states would typically have no power over local matters such as schools, roads, and

police services

144. The Constitution as ratified in 1788 most clearly reflects the framers' commitment toa. the idea of direct democracyb. the principle of limited governmentc. the abolition of slaveryd. promoting the rights of the accusede. maintaining the primacy of the states

145. Which of the following most accurately describes THE FEDERALIST PAPERS ?A. The Federalist party platform during the presidency of John Adams, the first

Federalist presidentB. a popular anti-British booklet of the pre-revolutionary eraC. a collection of essays arguing the merits of the ConstitutionD. a series of Congressional acts defining the relationship between federal and

state governmentsE. the laws under which the South was governed during Reconstruction

146. All of the following are specifically mentioned in the Constitution EXCEPTa. judicial reviewb. the national censusc. rules of impeachmentd. the State of the Union Addresse. length of term of federal judgeships

147. Among the executive branch's checks on the legislative branch is the president's power toa. call special sessions of Congressb. introduce bills to the floor of Congressc. address Congress during its debate on billsd. vote on acts of Congresse. disband congressional committees

148. According to the Federalist Papers, federalism has which of the following effects on political factions?

a. It provides a structured environment in which factions may flourishb. It limits the dangers of factionalism by diluting political powerc. It allows factions to dominate on the national level while limiting their influence on

state governmentsd. It eliminates any opportunity for factions to forme. It prevents factions by declaring them illegal

149. The Constitution, as originally ratified, addressed all of the following weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation EXCEPT

a. lack of a chief executiveb. national government's inability to levy taxes effectivelyc. absence of a central authority to regulate interstate traded. insufficiency of the government's power to raise an armye. omission of a universal suffrage clause

150. The framers of the Constitution sought to insulate the Senate from public opinion bya. restricting Senate membership to those who previously served in the Houseb. delegating the responsibility for electing senators to the state legislatorsc. requiring all spending bills to originate in the Housed. empowering the Senate to provide advice and consent to the executive branche. assigning exactly two senators to each state's congressional delegation

151. Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government has the power toa. negotiate treatiesb. collect taxesc. establish a federal judiciaryd. enforce its lawse. regulate interstate commerce

2010 additions

151. Which of the following is argued by James Madison in The Federalist paper number 10?A. A system of republican representation helps to limit excesses in factionalism.B. Small republics are better able to ensure individual liberty than large republics.C. The presence of a few large factions helps to protect the rights of minoritiesD. Participatory democracy is the surest way to prevent tyrannyE. The elimination of the causes of factionalism is the best protection against tyranny

152. The arguments used by the Anti-federalists against ratification of the Constitution includedI. The Constitution gave too much power to the federal governmentII. The Constitution did not protect individual libertiesIII, The Constitution protected the rights of small farmers against the country’s

wealthy eliteIV. The Constitution took too many rights away from the states

A. I only B. I and II only C. I, II, and III onlyD. I, II, and IV only E. II and III only

153. All of the following statements about the amendment process are true EXCEPTA. Amendments are proposed by a vote of 2/3 of the state legislaturesB. Conventions in ¾ of the states can ratify amendmentsC. A national convention can propose amendmentsD. Amendments are proposed through a 2/3 vote of both houses of congressE. Ratification requires approval of 3.4 of the state legislatures

154. The supremacy clause in the Constitution states thatA. Congress is the most important branch of governmentB. the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the landC. the federal government has more power that the statesD. the armed forces are under the control of civilian authorityE. the president has supreme power as Commander-in-Chief

155. Evidence that the framers of the Constitution may have distrusted the common people isA. Senate approval of presidential appointmentsB. money bills are introduced in the House of RepresentativesC. the method by which the president is electedD. the age and citizenship requirement for the SenateE. the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives

156. The Virginia and New Jersey plans both provided forA. a bicameral legislatureB. separation of powersC. a strong executiveD. equal representation of statesE. slavery

157. The purpose of the system of checks and balances in the Constitution is to ensure thatA. the federal courts are independentB. the president has the power to control CongressC. the military is under civilian controlD. one branch does not dominate the otherE. Congress has a role in foreign policy

158. Which of the following civil liberty protections is in the Constitution as originally ratified?A. cruel and unusual punishment is forbiddenB. freedom of assembly is protected

C. the limitations imposed on the slave tradeD. the power given the states over electionsE. no religious test for holding office

159. . Which of the following statements about judicial review is NOT trueA. Judicial review gives the Supreme Court the power to declare an action by

the president unconstitutional B. The Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison was based on judicial

ReviewC. Judicial review is specifically mentioned in the Constitution under the powers

of the Supreme Court D. Judicial review can significantly impact the meaning of the ConstitutionE. The power of the Supreme Court to declare a law unconstitutional was

recognized in the Federalist Papers

160. Civilian control of the military is based onA. legislation that created the Department of DefenseB. an executive order issued by George WashingtonC. the fact that the president is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forcesD. a Supreme Court decision written by Chief Justice John MarshallE. custom that dates back to British policy

161. In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argues that a federal system of government reduces the danger of political factions by

A. creating insurmountable obstacles to the creation of factionsB. making it difficult for one faction to gain the power necessary to govern C. requiring equal representation of all factions within governmentD. restriction factional political activity to the state level onlyE. allowing federal agencies to strictly regulate the activities of factions

15. The stated purpose of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was toa. draw up a bill of rightsb. discuss trade relationsc. levy taxesd. find a solution to end Shay's rebellione. revise the Articles of Confederation

25. Shay's Rebellion stirred fears that state governments werea. becoming too powerfulb. about to collapsec. opposed to libertyd. seeking independencee. had a loyalist majority

26. The presiding officer at the Constitutional Convention wasa. James Madison b. Benjamin Franklinc. George Washington d. Thomas Jeffersone. Patrick Henry

27. Which of the following liberties was included in the Constitution as well as the Northwest Ordinance for governing newly formed territories?

a. habeas corpus b. freedom of speechc. right of women to vote d. protection from double jeopardye. protection from being held in slavery

28. The national government under the Articles of Confederationa. consisted of three branchesb. promoted unity among the statesc. had a bicameral legislatured. consisted of a unicameral legislaturee. required unanimous passage of all legislation

29. Shays Rebellion was significant because it a. allowed commercial interests to express their disenchantment with the

status quob. symbolized the weakness of the central government under the Articlesc. was the first organized protest against slavery in the Southd. was a great victory for the agrarian interestse. expressed the discontent of the upper classes

30. Congress under the Articles of Confederationa. could require the states to provide financial supportb. represented the interests of the individual statesc. could conscript individuals for military serviced. was dominated by a strong chief executivee. forcefully dealt with Shay's Rebellion

35. Each of the following was a leading figure in the adoption of the Constitution EXCEPT

a. Thomas Jefferson b. Alexander Hamiltonc. Patrick Henry d. James Madisone. John Jay