Introducing Government in America
The Constitution
The Constitution 2
Federalism
Federalism 2
100
Which of the following was the most important effect of replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution of 1787?
A. The protection offree speech B. The guarantee ofstates’rights C. The establishment of direct democracy D. The creation of a strong national government E. The establishment ofjudicial review
100
Which characteristic of American politics is concerned with the rights of the minority?
A) the election process B) the Congressional policy-making process C) interest group bargaining and compromising on political issues D) the president altering his policy proposals in response to public opinion E) the Bill of Rights guarantee of civil liberties
100
What is the result of the Connecticut (Great) Compromise?
A) both the House and the Senate directly represent the population as a whole B) the House represents the interests of the states, while the Senate represents individuals within the district C) the Senate represents state interests, while the House mirrors the population proportionally D) the electoral college vote does not always mirror the popular vote E) large states have more power in the Senate than small states
100
The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues?
A) the right of the people to rebel B) the scope and power of the central government C) the existence of slavery D) the need to establish a standard currency E) the representation of large and small states
100
Which of the following constitutional principles most directly addresses the relationship between the national and state governments?
A) Federalism B) The Bill of Rights C) Separation of Powers D) Representation E) Checks and Balances
200
Which of the following best illustrates the elite theory?
A) The fact that more than 20,000 special interest groups lobby Congress each year B) the idea that because of mass media, Americans are increasingly isolated from their government, jeopardizing the strength of traditional groups in society C) The idea that contending interests are so strong within the United States that government is often weakened D) the idea that large interest groups dominate government decision-making E) The idea that a small group of wealthy individuals dominate government policy-making
200
The system of governance set up in the Constitutional Republic tends to:
A) be rather efficient in producing political results B) encourage direct democracy C) Centralize power D) Favor the status quo as opposed to political change E) represent an unwritten accumulation of tradition and precedents
200
The system of checks and balances in the Constitution means that
A) a majority can easily manipulate the system, but a minority cannot B) changes in government policy can be made with relative ease, with few obstacles to stop a popular new force C) we have a direct democracy, with all branches equally accessible to strong public pressure D) change usually comes slowly, if at all, and moderation and compromise are typical in our political system E) each branch of government has its own powers independent of the other
200
What is the basis of James Madison's argument in the Federalist Paper No. 10?
A) the government can eliminate the causes of faction B) factions are dangerous and must be destroyed C) political parties should be encouraged to form so that all viewpoints are represented D) a balanced government can control factions and prevent one faction from gaining too much power E) state government will prevent factions from forming
200
The Constitution prohibits the states from doing all of the following EXCEPT
A) determining qualifications for voting B) coining money C) imposing tariffs on goods from foreign countries D) giving sanctuary to runaway slaves E) granting titles of nobility
300

Which of the following statements about the Declaration of Independence is correct?

A) it was written primarily by George Washington and James Madison B) It was an important innovation in political philosophy C) it was a rejection of the philosophy of John Locke D) it drew upon the works of Thomas Hobbes E) it was a lawyer's brief justifying a revolution

300
All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention EXCEPT:
A) representation in the legislature B) method of electing the President C) voting qualifications of the electorate D) congressional powers to override a presidential veto E) qualifications for members of the House and Senate
300
Under the original Constitution, which branch or branches of government were selected directly by the citizens?
I. the president and the vice-president II. the Supreme Court III. the Senate IV. the House of Representatives
300
How did the Antifederalists differ from the Federalists?
A) the Antifederalists wanted a stronger central government B) the Federalists wanted to protect state sovereignty C) the Antifederalists had a more positive view of human nature D) the Antifederalists believed that a strong central government would be too distant from the people E) the Antifederalists were opposed to representative democracy
300
All of the following were Anti-Federalist arguments against the ratification of the Constitution EXCEPT:
A) a charge that it was a class-based document B) a claim that it would weaken the power of the states C) a charge that it was a betrayal of the American Revolution D) a charge that it would benefit creditors E) a claim that the Bill of Rights was unnecessary
400
The idea of limiting the role of government to protect "life, liberty, and property" is generally attributed to
A) Karl Marx B) Thomas Jefferson C) Thomas Hobbes D) John Locke E) Alexander Hamilton
400
The importance of Shay's Rebellion to the development of the U.S. Constitution was that it
A) revealed the necessity of both adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution and creating a new system of checks and balances B) indicated that a strong, constitutionally designed national government was needed to protect property and maintain order C) convinced that delegates attending the Constitutional Convention to accept the Connecticut Plan D) reinforced the idea that slavery should be outlawed in the new Constitution E) demonstrated the intensity of antiratification sentiment within the thirteen states
400
James Madison believed that various groups, or factions would compete within our democratic system. The result would be effective policy-making. Madison's theory can best be described as
A) hyperpluralism B) Marxism C) bureaucratic elitism D) pluralism E) elitism
400
Which of the following best illustrates a use of the elastic clause?
a. the Supreme Court allows a lower court ruling to stand by refusing to hear an appeal b. a Congressional committee prevents the full chamber from voting on legislation by delaying a report c. Congress passes legislation establishing a national speed limit d. A member of the House of Representatives introduces a bill to increase federal income tax e. A governor issues an executive order requiring all state employees to submit to drug testing
400
The Supreme Court first declared that the courts have the power to overturn government acts that conflict with the Constitution in
a. McCulloch v. Baltimore b. Gibbons v. Ogden c. Marbury v. Madison d. US v. Lopez e. Barron v. Baltimore
500
According to the pluralist theorists, which of the following (can be more than one) statements describe the American political system?
I. the public interest is normally served in the U.S. through the process of bargaining and compromise II. organized interest groups fairly shape the public agenda by broadly representing the interests of Americans III. multiple small groups among the wealthiest one percent of the public are in some way responsible for most policymaking IV. Policymaking reflects the desire of those who control many of the largest corporations in the U.S.
500
Which of the following Founders was the "principal architect" of the Constitution?
A) Edmund Randolph B) George Washington C) Thomas Jefferson D) Alexander Hamilton E) James Madison
500
The supremacy clause in the Constitution states that
A) Congress is the most important branch of the government B) the federal government has more power than the states C) the armed forces are under the control of civilian authority D) the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land E) the president has the supreme power as Commander-in-Chief
500
Someone who believes that the elastic clause of the Constitution should be narrowly interpreted is most likely to endorse the concept of --_______ federalism.
a. cooperative b. creative c. implied d. dual e. coercive
500
The most important principle upheld by the Supreme Court in McCulloch v. Maryland was that
a. ultimate political sovereignty rests with the states b. the powers of the national government must be strictly limited to those expressly stated in the Constitution c. the national government has powers in addition to those expressly stated in the Constitution d. the powers of the national government come from the people e. the Supreme Court has the last word on what is constitutional
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