Question 1

Which of the following was NOT provided for by the Articles of Confederation?

Accepted Answer

A)  a national Congress
B)  each state having one vote in Congress
C)  unanimous approval by the states to amend the Articles
D)  a federal government subordinate to the states
E)  an independent federal executiveF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 2

The principle of checks and balances is based on the notion that

Accepted Answer

A)  leaders are the trustees of the people.
B)  a weak government is always preferable to a strong government.
C)  all legislative and executive action should be controlled through judicial power.
D)  power must be used to offset power.
E)  legislators and executives cannot be trusted,but judges are trustworthy.F) None of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 3

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 D)
G) All of the above

Question 4

The Constitution was ratified by

Accepted Answer

A)  the people.
B)  local referendums.
C)  the states.
D)  the Supreme Court.
E)  the Continental Congress.F) C) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 5

The term of office for a U.S.senator is ________ years,while that of a member of the U.S.House is ________ years.

Accepted Answer

A)  six;two
B)  four;two
C)  six;four
D)  four;four
E)  eight;fourF) A) and B)
G) D) and E)

Question 6

Under the original Constitution,Congress could not ban the slave trade until ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  1808
B)  1828
C)  1848
D)  1865
E)  1887F) A) and E)
G) B) and C)

Question 7

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) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 8

The writers of the Constitution devised the Electoral College as the method of choosing presidents because

Accepted Answer

A)  direct election was impractical due to the poor systems of communication and transportation that existed in the late 1700s.
B)  that method would shield executive power from direct linkage to popular majorities.
C)  that method guaranteed a majority winner.
D)  that method would give weight to the preferences of ordinary people.
E)  the framers had a great deal of faith in the wisdom of the masses.F) A) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 9

In practice,the most significant restraint imposed by Congress on the president is its

Accepted Answer

A)  ability to override presidential vetoes.
B)  power of impeachment.
C)  power to make the laws and appropriate money,for these determine the programs the executive can implement.
D)  power to approve presidential appointees.
E)  power to investigate presidential activities.F) B) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 10

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) C) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 11

Which of the following chronologies is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Boston Tea Party (1773) ;First Continental Congress (1774) ;and beginning of the American Revolution (1775) 
B)  Shays' Rebellion (1773) ;Annapolis Convention (1774) ;and Declaration of Independence (1776) 
C)  Stamp Act (1775) ;Declaration of Independence (1776) ;and Philadelphia Convention (1788) 
D)  Common Sense (1769) ;Declaration of Independence (1776) ;and The Federalist Papers (1783) 
E)  Declaration of Independence (1776) ;Articles of Confederation (1787) ;Constitution (1791) ;and Federalist No.10 (1795) F) A) and C)
G) C) and D)

Question 12

The origin of the concept of separation of powers is most associated with

Accepted Answer

A)  Montesquieu.
B)  Aristotle.
C)  Hobbes.
D)  Locke.
E)  Jefferson.F) A) and B)
G) B) and D)

Question 13

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) C) and D)

Question 14

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) B) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 15

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) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 16

The "Three-Fifths Compromise" was a response to

Accepted Answer

A)  conflict over the institution of slavery.
B)  the concerns of small states.
C)  apportionment in the U.S.Senate.
D)  the Electoral College.
E)  the demands of large states.F) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 17

________ was 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) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

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) None of the above
G) A) and D)

Question 19

All but one state constitution formed after the American Revolution

Accepted Answer

A)  provided for choosing governors in direct annual elections.
B)  provided for a less direct form of self-government than the national-level framers intended.
C)  provided for annual legislative elections.
D)  included more severe checks and balances than the U.S.Constitution.
E)  drastically limited the power of the executive in comparison to the legislature.F) B) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 20

How did Congress retaliate to the Supreme Court's reprimand,in Marbury v.Madison,that it had passed legislation that exceeded its constitutional authority?

Accepted Answer

A)  It passed legislation to reduce the power of judicial review.
B)  It forced the Court to accept the power to issue writs of mandamus.
C)  Congress had no way to retaliate.
D)  It voted to impeach the Chief Justice.
E)  It completely disregarded the Court's ruling.F) A) and C)
G) A) and D)

Exam 2: Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

The principle of checks and balances is based on the notion that

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The origin of the concept of separation of powers is most associated with

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All but one state constitution formed after the American Revolution

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In practice,the most significant restraint imposed by Congress on the president is its

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Which of the following chronologies is correct?

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How did Congress retaliate to the Supreme Court's reprimand,in Marbury v.Madison,that it had passed legislation that exceeded its constitutional authority?

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Under the original Constitution,Congress could not ban the slave trade until ________.

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

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

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Constitution was ratified by

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The writers of the Constitution devised the Electoral College as the method of choosing presidents because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The "Three-Fifths Compromise" was a response to

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

________ was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Early Americans' preference for limited government was strengthened by

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?

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

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Which of the following was NOT provided for by the Articles of Confederation?

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The term of office for a U.S.senator is ________ years,while that of a member of the U.S.House is ________ years.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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The term of office for a U.S.senator is years,while that of a member of the U.S.House is years.

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