A
Which of the following is argued by James Madison in Federalist 10?
A. A system of republican representation helps limit the excesses of factionalism.
B. Small republics are better able to ensure individual liberty than are large republics.
C. The presence of a few large factions helps to protect the rights of minorities.
D. Participatory democracy is the surest way to prevent tyranny.
E. The elimination of the causes of factionalism is the best protection against tyranny.
A. A system of republican representation helps limit the excesses of factionalism.
Concurrent powers have which of the following effects on the United States political system?
A. They reinforce the expansion of the power of the national government and the supremacy of the national law.
B. They eliminate disputes between the states and the national government by creating completely separate spheres of influence.
C. They foster cooperation between the states and the national government by requiring that the two levels of government work together.
D. They make it possible for the states and the national government to simultaneously exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.
D. They make it possible for the states and the national government to simultaneously exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.
Which of the following is the best example of a constitutional concept that supports the vision of the United States 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
Which of the following is NOT a trait of a liberal democracy?
A. Holding regular, frequent, and competitive elections.
B. Protecting minority rights.
C. Having a lively and free press.
D. Achieving income inequality.
E. Guaranteeing equality in voting.
D. Achieving income inequality.
With reference to the following excerpt from a Supreme Court decision:
"We are unanimously of opinion, that the law passed by the legislature of Maryland, imposing a tax on the Bank of the United States, is unconstitutional and void...This is a tax on the operation of an instrument employed by the government of the Union to carry its powers into execution. Such a tax must be unconstitutional..."
The decision of the Supreme Court upheld the principle that:
A. the federal government and the state governments are equal.
B. Congress has only those powers specifically enumerated in the Constitution.
C. Congress has the power to make laws to carry out its constitutional duties.
D. taxation without representation is unconstitutional.
E. the federal government alone may levy taxes.
C. Congress has the power to make laws to carry out its constitutional duties.
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 liberties.
B. fear for the stability of the central government.
C. desire to promote trade among the states.
D. the need to give the central government the power to levy taxes.
E. dissatisfaction with the central government's ability to provide for national defense.
A. dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and liberties.
The Connecticut (Great) Compromise provided for:
A. all revenue bills to originate in the Senate.
B. all judicial appointments to be nominated by the president.
C. the elimination of the importation of slaves.
D. an electoral college and rules for the removal of the president.
E. a bicameral legislature with one house's composition based on state population and another's on equal state representation.
E. a bicameral legislature with one house's composition based on state population and another's on equal state representation.
Which of the following is the best example of a categorical grant?
A. Money given to states for special education programs.
B. Money given to individuals in the form of tax rebates.
C. Money given to states unconditionally.
D. Money given to states to spend at their discretion on transportation.
E. Money given directly to private business for economic development.
A. Money given to states for special education programs.
Members of Congress receive many phone calls, meeting invitations, and emails from various competing interest groups asking for support on their preferred public policies. This situation best exemplifies which of the following models of democracy?
A. Pluralist
B. Participatory
C. Elitist
D. Trustee
A. Pluralist
With reference to the following excerpt from a Supreme Court decision:
"We are unanimously of opinion, that the law passed by the legislature of Maryland, imposing a tax on the Bank of the United States, is unconstitutional and void...This is a tax on the operation of an instrument employed by the government of the Union to carry its powers into execution. Such a tax must be unconstitutional..."
Which of the following resulted from this Supreme Court decision?
A. The power of the national government was strengthened.
B. The power of the Supreme Court was weakened.
C. The power of state governments to tax individual citizens was clearly limited.
D. Congress was given the power to coin money.
E. Congress alone was given the power to charter banks.
A. The power of the national government was strengthened.
States and localities have the most discretion in establishing policy when federal funding is derived from:
A. categorical grants
B. matching grants
C. block grants
D. project grants
E. grants-in-aid
C. block grants
All of the following are consequences of the federal system in the United States EXCEPT:
A. inequality in government services across subnational entities.
B. opportunities for experimentation in government programs.
C. multiple points of access for interest groups.
D. decentralization of political conflict.
E. a strict division of power among levels of government.
E. a strict division of power among levels of government.
When independent regulatory agencies make rules, enforce those rules, and adjudicate disputes arising under those rules, they risk violating the constitutional concept of:
A. equal protection of the laws.
B. due process of law.
C. federal supremacy.
D. separation of powers.
E. federalism.
D. separation of powers.
Which of the following constitutional provisions broadened the power of Congress?
A. The necessary and proper clause.
B. The equal protection clause.
C. The Tenth Amendment.
D. The Ninth Amendment.
E. The eminent domain provision in the Fifth Amendment.
A. The necessary and proper clause
The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to:
A. prevent states from taxing agencies of the federal government.
B. reserve powers to the states.
C. restrict the application of judicial review.
D. allow for the burning of the flag as an expression of protest.
E. limit the use of the legislative veto.
B. reserve powers to the states.
Of the following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government?
A. The commerce clause of the Constitution
B. The habeas corpus clause of the Constitution
C. The bill of attainder clause of the Constitution
D. The First Amendment
E. The Fifth Amendment
A. The commerce clause of the Constitution
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 three-fourths of the states.
E. publication in the Federal Register.
D. ratification by three-fourths of the states.
The congressional power that has been contested most frequently in the federal courts is the power to:
A. establish post offices.
B. coin money.
C. levy taxes.
D. regulate commerce with foreign nations.
E. regulate interstate commerce.
E. regulate interstate commerce.
The importance of Shays' Rebellion to the development of the United States 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. demonstrated the intensity of antiratification sentiment within the thirteen states.
C. indicated that a strong constitutionally designed national government was needed to protect property and maintain order.
D. convinced the delegates attending the Constitutional Convention to accept the Connecticut Plan.
E. reinforced the idea that slavery should be outlawed in the new Constitution.
C. indicated that a strong constitutionally designed national government was needed to protect property and maintain order.
Which of the following actions by the federal government best illustrates the concept of unfunded mandates?
A. Requiring that polling booths remain open beyond the hours of the workday.
B. Requiring states and municipalities to provide certain services for their citizens without providing resources to pay for those services.
C. Requiring state governments to guarantee short-term bonds issued by large municipalities in their states.
D. Requiring all municipalities to impose a minimum property tax on all residential and business properties.
E. Requiring states and municipalities to privatize many previously publicly funded services.
B. Requiring states and municipalities to provide certain services for their citizens without providing resources to pay for those services.
Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution does which of the following?
A. Restricts the ability of Congress to tax.
B. Restricts the ability of Congress to establish an army or navy.
C. Establishes a unitary form of government.
D. Emphasizes state sovereignty over national sovereignty.
E. Emphasizes both national sovereignty and federalism.
E. Emphasizes both national sovereignty and federalism.
Which of the following accurately characterizes the main difference between elite theories and pluralist theories of politics in the United States?
A. Elite theories concentrate on the role of interest groups; pluralist theories emphasize the role of individuals.
B. Elite theories argue that a single minority dominates politics in all policy areas; pluralist theories argue that many minorities compete for power in different policy areas.
C. Elite theories argue that social status is the major source of political power; pluralist theories argue that wealth is the major source.
D. Elite theories emphasize the multiple access points that interest groups have to public officials; pluralist theories stress the limits in the number and effectiveness of such access points.
E. Elite theories view government as efficient; pluralist theories view it as slow and wasteful.
B. Elite theories argue that a single minority dominates politics in all policy areas; pluralist theories argue that many minorities compete for power in different policy areas.
The framers of the Constitution left decisions on voting eligibility to:
A. civil rights agencies.
B. individual states.
C. the Supreme Court.
D. the House of Representatives.
E. the Senate.
B. individual states.
The supremacy clause in the Constitution states that:
A. federal law takes precedence over state law when the laws conflict.
B. only Congress may declare war.
C. the Senate should have a greater role in foreign affairs than does the House of Representatives.
D. the federal government has the right to regulate interstate commerce.
E. the Supreme Court has the power to overturn decisions of lower courts.
A. federal law takes precedence over state law when the laws conflict.
Which of the following is the most likely consequence of divided government?
A. Reorganization of the federal bureaucracy.
B. Conflicts between states.
C. Delays in confirmation of federal court nominees.
D. Conflicts between national government and states.
E. Elimination of the seniority rule in Congress.
C. Delays in confirmation of federal court nominees.