gov civ

Political Systems

100

In which form of government do delegates speak on behalf of citizens?

a) popular sovereignty

b) authoritarian

c) monarchy

d) representative

e) totalitarian

d) representative

200

Which of these is defined by population, territory, government, and sovereignty?

a) nation-state

b) civilization

c) parliament

d) district

e) federation

a) nation-state

300

What is a union of independent sovereign states?

a) a federation

b) a unitary government

c) a constitutional government

d) a confederation

e) a democracy

d) a confederation

400

Which of these is a form of authoritarian government in which power is typically handed down through family lines and rulers stay in power for life?

a) oligarchy

b) monarchy

c) republic

d) plutocracy

e) theocracy

b) monarchy

The Development of US Democracy

100

What right did the English nobles gain when King John signed the Magna Carta?

a) Parliament would be required to meet once a year.

b) Nobles could choose their own juries at criminal trials.

c) The king would control the establishment of noble titles.

d) The Great Council could approve taxes proposed by the monarch.

d) The Great Council could approve taxes proposed by the monarch.

200

What was the Mayflower Compact?

a) the ship that transported the Pilgrims to America

b) the colonial legislature of Virginia

c) the agreement in which the Pilgrims agreed to make decisions collectively

d) Benjamin Franklin's 1754 plan for uniting the colonies

c) the agreement in which the Pilgrims agreed to make decisions collectively

300

Whose political philosophy is most clearly reflected in the Declaration of Independence?

a) Thomas Hobbes

b) King John

c) William Blackstone

d) John Locke

e) Charles-Louis Montesquieu

d) John Locke

400

the implied agreement between the people and the government, in which the people give up some of their power and freedom in exchange for protection of their rights

a) natural rights

b) social contract

c) divine right of kings

d) state of nature

e) popular sovereignty

b) social contract

The Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation

100

Which philosopher had the most profound influence on Thomas Jefferson's political thought?

a) Thomas Hobbes

b) Jean-Jacques Rousseau

c) John Locke

d) Charles-Louis Montesquieu

e) Benjamin Franklin

c) John Locke

200

Which phrase best describes the form of government created by the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

a) a weak central government that granted power to the states

b) a weak monarchy that promoted individual liberties

c) a confederal government that limited government powers

d) a more powerful central government that abided by rules

d) a more powerful central government that abided by rules

300

Which flaw in the government created by the Articles of Confederation did Shays's Rebellion make apparent?

a) A powerful central government angered citizens.

b) Too few taxes meant fewer roads and programs for the colonies.

c) The government was unable to provide for national defense and economic policy.

d) States could trade productively with other countries.

c) The government was unable to provide for national defense and economic policy.

400

According to the Declaration of Independence, what is the power of the government based on?

a) divine right

b) the consent of the governed

c) might makes right

d) tradition

b) the consent of the governed

Writing the Constitution

100

Which belief was generally held by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

a) A stronger central government was necessary to maintain order.

b) Slavery should be abolished.

c) The principles of government should be firm and unchangeable.

d) The rule of kings is superior to the rule of the law.

a) A stronger central government was necessary to maintain order.

200

Which states' delegates most strongly opposed the Virginia Plan?

a) large states

b) northern states

c) small states

d) southern states

e) slave states

c) small states

300

Which system did the new government created under the Constitution use?

a) a unitary system with all power concentrated in a central government

b) a presidential system with a unicameral legislature

c) a totalitarian system

d) a federal republic

d) a federal republic

400

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists argued primarily over which issue?

a) the political representation of southern slaves

b) fair state representation in the national Congress

c) the new role for a limited monarchy for foreign affairs

d) the range of power handed to the national government

d) the range of power handed to the national government

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights

100

Which is the best description of civil liberties?

a) natural rights

b) privileges

c) rights guaranteed by law

d) democratic goals

e) trial procedures

c) rights guaranteed by law

200

Which three amendments were passed shortly after the Civil War?

a) the First, Second, and Third Amendments

b) the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments

c) the Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Amendments

d) the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Amendments

b) the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments

300

Which document begins with the words "We the people of the United States"?

a) the Declaration of Independence

b) the first amendment in the Bill of Rights

c) the Articles of Confederation

d) the Preamble of the Constitution

d) the Preamble of the Constitution

400

What is the defining right of a representative democracy?

a) the right to petition the government

b) the right to freedom of religion

c) the right to a jury trial

d) the right to vote

d) the right to vote