Question 1

The idea that government should be restricted in its lawful uses of power and hence in its ability to deprive people of their liberty is expressed by the term

Accepted Answer

A)  federalism.
B)  self-government.
C)  judicial review.
D)  limited government.
E)  natural rights.F) All of the above
G) None of the above

Question 2

According to John Locke,inalienable rights in a social contract

Accepted Answer

A)  belong to the government only.
B)  belong to individuals but can be denied by government.
C)  belong to individuals and cannot be denied by government.
D)  cannot be guaranteed by any governmental body.
E)  are no longer as important to the individual as in a state of nature.F) C) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 3

Explain why early Americans admired limited government.

Accepted Answer

Two main factors were the colonists' Eng...

Question 4

The writers of the Constitution used the term ________ to describe a form of government that consists of carefully designed institutions that are responsive to the majority but not captive to it.

Accepted Answer

A)  democracy
B)  republic
C)  federalism
D)  majoritarianism
E)  separation of powerF) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 5

Judicial review is the power of the American courts to

Accepted Answer

A)  declare a law unconstitutional.
B)  suspend the writ of habeas corpus.
C)  impeach the president.
D)  give advisory opinions to Congress.
E)  give advice and counsel to the president.F) C) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 6

Early Americans' preference for limited government was strengthened by

Accepted Answer

A)  their exposure to life under the British Parliament and some of the "rights of Englishmen."
B)  Lockean philosophy.
C)  Britain's treatment of the colonies after the French and Indian War.
D)  taxation without representation.
E)  All these answers are correct.F) None of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 7

The framers of the Constitution preferred which of the following political arrangements?

Accepted Answer

A)  a republic as opposed to a pure democracy
B)  a monarchy as opposed to a constitutional system
C)  a pure democracy over a republic
D)  a pure democracy over a representative democracy
E)  socialism over capitalismF) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 8

________ is the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

Accepted Answer

A)  John Locke
B)  Thomas Jefferson
C)  James Madison
D)  George Washington
E)  Alexander HamiltonF) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 9

The European philosopher whose concept of natural rights had a great impact on American politics is

Accepted Answer

A)  Montesquieu.
B)  Locke.
C)  Hobbes.
D)  Aristotle.
E)  Burke.F) B) and C)
G) None of the above

Question 10

To the framers,the great danger of democratic government was the risk of

Accepted Answer

A)  tyranny of the majority.
B)  elite rule.
C)  special-interest politics.
D)  a weak presidency.
E)  judicial imperialism.F) All of the above
G) B) and C)

Question 11

Presidents are

Accepted Answer

A)  directly selected by the people.
B)  selected by votes of the state legislatures.
C)  selected by votes of the Electoral College.
D)  subject to recall elections.
E)  subject to confidence votes by Congress.F) A) and C)
G) All of the above

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?

Accepted Answer

A)  the veto
B)  the impeachment process
C)  approval of treaties
D)  judicial review
E)  All these answers are correct.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 13

The Federalist Papers were written by

Accepted Answer

A)  Washington,Adams,and Jefferson.
B)  Franklin,Washington,and Lee.
C)  Jefferson,Locke,and Montesquieu.
D)  Madison,Hamilton,and Jay.
E)  Marshall,Jefferson,and Adams.F) C) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 14

In his criticism of the Constitution,the economist Charles Beard argued that

Accepted Answer

A)  the Constitution's elaborate systems of power and representation were designed to protect the interests of the rich.
B)  the Constitution failed to protect the economic interests of the poorer states.
C)  the Constitution's commerce clause was inadequate to meet the nation's economic needs.
D)  the Constitution did not provide for sufficient protection of property.
E)  the Constitution gave too much power to the illiterate.F) A) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 15

Which of the following aspects of U.S.government might be used as part of an argument that the U.S.is less democratic than some other democracies?

Accepted Answer

A)  the extension of popular direct election to office
B)  the frequency of election of its larger legislative body
C)  its extensive reliance on primary elections
D)  the frequency of election of its chief executive
E)  its staggered terms of office of members of the legislatureF) D) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 16

Which of the following nations is often noted as an example of a government that has a system of checks and balances,but is often plagued by political extremes?

Accepted Answer

A)  France
B)  Japan
C)  Mexico
D)  Great Britain
E)  CanadaF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 17

In Federalist No.10,James Madison argued that

Accepted Answer

A)  government is most dangerous when a single group is powerful enough to gain full political control.
B)  monarchies are preferable to democracies.
C)  America was not diverse enough to prevent powerful interest groups from exercising too much political power.
D)  interest groups should be heavily regulated in America.
E)  interest groups are less troublesome than political parties are.F) B) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 18

The writers of the Constitution justified different methods of selection and varying terms of office for the president,Senate,and House as a means of

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing popular influence.
B)  protection against rapid control by an impassioned majority.
C)  preventing elite control of government.
D)  maintaining experienced leadership.
E)  increasing voter turnout.F) A) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 19

The words of the Declaration of Independence reflected

Accepted Answer

A)  Aristotle's conception of democracy.
B)  Montesquieu's view of constitutionalism.
C)  Hobbes's idea of the state of nature.
D)  Locke's philosophy of inalienable rights.
E)  Madison's view of factions.F) None of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 20

The direct election of U.S.senators came about due to

Accepted Answer

A)  passage of the Second Amendment.
B)  political pressure from the Progressives.
C)  Jeffersonian democracy.
D)  Jacksonian democracy.
E)  the fact that state legislators no longer desired to select them.F) D) and E)
G) B) and D)

Exam 8: Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain why early Americans admired limited government.

Correct AnswerverifiedTwo main factors were the colonists' Eng...View AnswerShow Answer

________ is the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The direct election of U.S.senators came about due to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In his criticism of the Constitution,the economist Charles Beard argued that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The idea that government should be restricted in its lawful uses of power and hence in its ability to deprive people of their liberty is expressed by the term

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The writers of the Constitution justified different methods of selection and varying terms of office for the president,Senate,and House as a means of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In Federalist No.10,James Madison argued that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Judicial review is the power of the American courts to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The writers of the Constitution used the term ________ to describe a form of government that consists of carefully designed institutions that are responsive to the majority but not captive to it.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Early Americans' preference for limited government was strengthened by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The words of the Declaration of Independence reflected

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Federalist Papers were written by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to John Locke,inalienable rights in a social contract

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Presidents are

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

To the framers,the great danger of democratic government was the risk of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following aspects of U.S.government might be used as part of an argument that the U.S.is less democratic than some other democracies?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following nations is often noted as an example of a government that has a system of checks and balances,but is often plagued by political extremes?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The European philosopher whose concept of natural rights had a great impact on American politics is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The framers of the Constitution preferred which of the following political arrangements?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Two main factors were the colonists' Eng...
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