Federalism
the term "bicameralism" refers to the:
a. establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules.
b. members of the House of Representatives having two-year terms
c. president having veto power over both chambers of Congress.
d. Members of the House and Senate having to appease their mutual constituancies.
a. establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules.
The Connecticut Compromise estabilished
a. the Electoral College for presidential elections
b. a bicameral system of representation in Congress
c. the Bil of Rights as part of the U.S. Constitution
d. limits on the powers of the judicial branch
b. a bicameral system of representation in Congress
After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, its adoption requires:
a. official filing with the secretary of state
b. support by a majority vote of the people
c. signature by the president
d. ratification by 3/4ths of the states
d. ratification by 3/4ths of the states
In Fed 10, which of the following did James Madison argue would best control the negative effects of factions?
a. a law that prohibits factions
b. A small direct democracy
c. A large unitary government
d. A large federal republic
d. A large federal republic
Which of the following powers allows both the federal and state governments to make policies involving taxation?
a. Concurrent Powers
b. Exclusive Powers
c. Implied Powers
d. Enumerated Powers
a. Concurrent Powers
This is the type of Federalism in which national and state government have clear and distinct jobs.
Dual Federalism
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?
a. An unpopular Supreme Court ruling can be overturned by a majority of votes of both houses of Congress.
b. A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
c. A filibuster in the Senate can be ended with a cloture motion that has the support of 60 senators.
d. A treaty negotiated by the president with a foreign government must be approved by a majority vote of the House.
b. A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
In the early part of the 21st century, public oipinion polls showed that a majority of Americans believed it should be illegal to burn the American flag. As a result, many members of Congress introduced amendments to make it illegal to burn or desecrate the American flag. However, these efforts have been unsuccessful. Which of the following statements best explains why these efforts have been unsuccessful?
A. Congrtess and the states have agreed to add this amendment; however, recent presidents have refused to sign it.
B. The framers made the amendment process difficult in order to protect individual rights.
C. The Supreme Court has stated such an amendment is unconstitutional, thus blocking its ratification.
D. The framers specifically wrote the amendment process to prevent using it to limit freedom of expression.
B. The framers made the amendment process difficult in order to protect individual rights.
Under the Articles of Confederation, which of the following was true? (can be multiple)
I. Congress could not tax the states directly
II.The executive branch of government exercised more power than Congress
III. Congress was a unicameral body
IV. States were represented in Congress proportionally according to population.
I and III
Which of the following Supreme Court Cases best illustrates how views of federalism have shifted in the U.S.?
a. Brown v. Board and Baker v. Carr
b. McCulloch v. Maryland and U.S. v. Lopez
c. Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission and McDonald v. Chicago
d. Schenck v. US and NY Times v. U.S
b. McCulloch v. Maryland and U.S. v. Lopez
Which of the following forms of financial aid from the national government gives the states the broadest discretion in the spending of money?
a. categorical grants
b. unfunded mandates
c. block grants
d. military funding
c. block grants
a. If the president is removed, the vice president will take office to finish the president's current term
b. the Senate deliberates the case and votes to determine the president's guilt or innocence.
c. The chief justive of the Supreme Court presides over the trial.
d. After the impeachment, House managers will prepare a case to convict and remove the president from office.
b.
the Senate deliberates the case and votes to determine the president's guilt or innocence.
Which Article of the Constitution relates to the Amendment process?
Article V (5)
Which of the following is a correct comparison between the U.S. Constitution and the Articles of Confederation?
a. The U.S. Constitution favored stronger national government while the Articles of Confederation favored a federal system
b. The U.S. Constitution granted Congress the power to levy taxes while the Articles of Confederation granted states alone the power to levy taxes.
c. The U.S. Constitution required approval by 3/4ths of Congress for a constitutional amendment while the Articles of Confederation Required unanimity to amend.
d. The U.S. Constitution granted Congress the power to declare war while the Articles of Confederation granted the Congress power to regulate trade.
b. The U.S. Constitution granted Congress the power to levy taxes while the Articles of Confederation granted states alone the power to levy taxes.
The decision in U.S. v. Lopez reflected new ideas about federalism at the time that can be best characterized by which of the following?
a. A consolidation of power in the national governmnet based on national supremacy
b. Acknowledgement of the limitations of national power and a recognition of the reserved power of the states.
c. A delegation of power from the state governments to the federal government, increasing the power of the U.S. government.
d. An increase in cooperative federalism, where power and duties are shared between the federal and state governments.
b. Acknowledgement of the limitations of national power and a recognition of the reserved power of the states.
The Americans without Disabilities Act, which provides protections for the disabled, is an example of:
A. State supremacy
B. Horizontal federalism
C. Affirmative Action
D. Dual Federalism
E. A Federal Mandate
E. A Federal Mandate
The U.S. Constitution has endured for more than two centuries as the framework of government. However, the meaning of the Constitution has been changed by formal and informal methods.
a. Identify two formal methods for adding amendments to the Constitution. (must include proposal AND ratification methods)
Proposal:
1. 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress OR
2. National Constitutional Convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 State legislature
Ratification:
1. By Legislatures in 3/4 of the states
2. By conventions in 3/4 of the states
Throughout most of the 19th and 20th centuries, most African Americans were prevented from voting in many Southern States despite the 15th Amendment, which extended the right to vote to African American males. Southern states were able to take this action because
a. the Fifteenth Amendment did not apply to all states
b. Congress passed legislation that restricted the application of the Fifteenth Amendment to placate Southerners.
c. The framers allowed the individual states to created voting processes and voter qualifications.
d. The Supreme Court had declared the 15th Amendment unconstitutional.
c. The framers allowed the individual states to created voting processes and voter qualifications.
Which of the following clauses in the Constitution justifies the "implied powers doctrine"?
a. The necessary and proper clause
b. The privileges and immunities clause.
c. The contract clause
d. The executive power clause
The necessary and proper clause
Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland?
a. The federal government exceeded its authority in establishing a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional.
b. Maryland was within its authority to tax the federal government, but the Bank of the U.S. exceeded federal authority.
c. The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, but it had to pay Maryland's tax.
d. The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional.
d. The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional.
Which of the following is the best example of a constitutional concept that supports the vision of the U.S. as a union of states, rather than a union of individual citizens?
a. Supremacy clause
b. Judicial review
c. The electoral college
d. Separation of powers
c. The electoral college
Describe two informal methods that have been used to change the meaning of the Constitution. Provide one specific example of each informal method you describe.
Examples may include
Courts (judicial review/judicial interpretation/application). Ex: Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health (US const does not grant right to abortion)
Elastic Clause. Ex: McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): The Supreme Court formally backed a broad reading. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that if the end goal is constitutional, the federal methods to reach it are allowed.
Development of political customs/traditions
Ex:
Executive Power and Leadership
Cabinet creation: The Constitution does not mention a President's Cabinet. George Washington started this custom, and every leader since has used it.
Executive orders: Presidents use executive orders to make major rules. The text does not explicitly grant this broad power, but tradition has made it a normal tool of office.
What is one specific Amendment and how does it relate to fundamental human rights?
Answers will vary
Fed 39 relates to the role of the gov to be a republic that represents the people and Fed 51 relates to the separation of Powers and Checks and Balances that ensure one branch has distinct powers and can be checked by the other branches.
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 verdict.
b. The House votes for impeachment, and the Senate conducts a trial and reaches a guilty verdict.
c. The House and Senate both vote for a bill of impeachment.
d. Only the House votes for a bill of impeachment.
b. The House votes for impeachment, and the Senate conducts a trial and reaches a guilty verdict.