Articles Weaknesses
Which was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
A. Congress could remove state leaders.
B. The president had too much power.
C. Congress could not collect taxes.
D. The national courts had too much power.
C. Congress could not collect taxes.
Which document replaced the Articles of Confederation?
A. Declaration of Independence
B. U.S. Constitution
C. Bill of Rights
D. English Bill of Rights
B. U.S. Constitution
What is the Preamble?
A. the introduction to the U.S. Constitution
B. the first amendment
C. a list of court cases
D. a law passed by Congress
A. the introduction to the U.S. Constitution
Which principle divides government power among different branches?
A. rule of law
B. due process
C. popular sovereignty
D. separation of powers
D. separation of powers
Which term means government has limits on its power?
A. federalism
B. limited government
C. popular sovereignty
D. judicial review
B. limited government
Which branch was missing from the national government under the Articles?
A. executive branch
B. legislative branch
C. state branch
D. local branch
A. executive branch
Which new part of government helped solve the lack of central leadership under the Articles?
A. state legislatures
B. local courts
C. state governors
D. executive branch
D. executive branch
Which Preamble goal means keeping peace and order inside the United States?
A. provide for the common defense
B. form a more perfect union
C. ensure domestic tranquility
D. secure the blessings of liberty
C. ensure domestic tranquility
Which principle allows one branch to limit another branch?
A. individual rights
B. checks and balances
C. due process
D. popular sovereignty
B. checks and balances
Which principle means government officials must follow the law?
A. rule of law
B. separation of powers
C. checks and balances
D. popular sovereignty
A. rule of law
What was required to change the Articles of Confederation?
A. approval from the president
B. approval from nine states
C. approval from Congress only
D. approval from all 13 states
D. approval from all 13 states
Which weakness was addressed by giving the national government the power to collect taxes?
A. Congress could not raise enough national money.
B. States had no governments.
C. Congress had too many powers.
D. Courts controlled taxes.
A. Congress could not raise enough national money.
What does “We the People” mean?
A. States give the government its power.
B. Government gets its power from the people.
C. Courts have the highest government power.
D. Congress controls the people.
B. Government gets its power from the people.
Congress makes laws, the president carries out laws, and courts interpret laws.
Which principle does this illustrate?
A. rule of law
B. checks and balances
C. separation of powers
D. due process
C. separation of powers
Which principle requires government to use fair legal procedures?
A. individual rights
B. checks and balances
C. separation of powers
D. due process
D. due process
Which weakness made it difficult for Congress to control business between the states?
A. Congress could not create laws.
B. Congress could not regulate trade.
C. Congress had no representatives.
D. Congress could not create states.
B. Congress could not regulate trade.
Which change would best solve the problem that Congress could pass laws but could not make states obey them?
A. Give states the power to cancel all laws.
B. Require every citizen to approve laws.
C. Give the national government power to enforce laws.
D. Eliminate the national government.
C. Give the national government power to enforce laws.
Which Preamble goal focuses on protecting the country against outside threats?
A. establish justice
B. promote the general welfare
C. ensure domestic tranquility
D. provide for the common defense
D. provide for the common defense
Congress passes a bill, but the president vetoes it.
Which principle is illustrated?
A. checks and balances
B. individual rights
C. due process
D. rule of law
A. checks and balances
Why do individual rights help limit government power?
A. They allow government to ignore laws.
B. They allow one branch to control another.
C. They protect freedoms the government must respect.
D. They give all power to state governments.
C. They protect freedoms the government must respect.
A rebellion breaks out in one state. The national government wants to help restore order but does not have its own military forces.
Which weakness of the Articles of Confederation is illustrated by this situation?
A. Congress could not regulate trade.
B. Changes required unanimous approval.
C. The national government had no national armed forces.
D. The national government had no power to create laws.
C. The national government had no national armed forces.
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress passes a law about trade. Several states refuse to follow it, and Congress has no effective way to make them comply.
Which feature of the Constitution would most directly address this weakness?
A. requiring all states to agree on every law
B. allowing each state to create its own foreign policy
C. reducing the powers of the national government
D. creating a stronger national government able to enforce its laws
D. creating a stronger national government able to enforce its laws
Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, and government officials are expected to serve the people.
Which phrase from the Preamble is most closely connected to this idea?
A. “We the People”
B. “establish Justice”
C. “domestic Tranquility”
D. “common defence”
A. “We the People”
A president nominates a person to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Before the person may become a justice, the Senate must approve the nomination.
Which constitutional principle is best illustrated by this process?
A. rule of law
B. checks and balances
C. due process
D. individual rights
B. checks and balances
A government official orders a citizen to be punished immediately without a hearing or a chance to defend himself.
Which constitutional principle is most directly being violated?
A. separation of powers
B. checks and balances
C. popular sovereignty
D. due process
D. due process