Ch. 2 Midterm Review Questions

How would the proposed Virginia Plan have created a stronger federal government?

It would have expanded the legislature and given states additional representatives.

Which issue was sent to a Grand Committee to decide upon during the Constitutional Convention?

Representation

Why was Shays's Rebellion an effective way for James Madison to lure George Washington back into public life?

The events that happened during Shays's Rebellion demonstrated how broken the system under the Articles of Confederation was.

State Ratification of the U.S. Constitution The table supports which of the following statements?

The first four states that ratified the Constitution did so by wider margins than did the final four.

When were the Articles of Confederation formally ratified?

1781

The Federalists and the Antifederalists disagreed upon which major issue?

A bill of rights

Which type of state would have been in favor of the proposed Virginia Plan?

A state with a relatively large population

Why was the federal government under the Articles of Confederation made to be intentionally weak?

Americans had just experienced tyranny under the rule of Great Britain and did not want to duplicate it with another powerful government.

Which of the following constitutional provisions gives Congress and the president expressed power over the national defense?

Articles I and II

A group of students is debating about whether or not America would benefit from a different form of government. One group of students believes that the Constitution gives the federal government too much power. Which paper supports that group's argument?

Brutus No. 1.

The following question(s) refer to the following excerpt from James Madison's March 18, 1786, letter to Thomas Jefferson. The States are every day giving proofs that separate regulations are more likely to set them by the ears, than to attain the common object. When Massachusetts set on foot a retaliation of the policy of Great Britain, Connecticut declared her ports free. New Jersey served New York in the same way. And Delaware I am told has lately followed the example in opposition to the commercial plans of Pennsylvania. A miscarriage of this attempt to unite the States in some effectual plan will have another effect of a serious nature. . . . I almost despair of success. Which provision in the Constitution most specifically addresses the problems described in the excerpt?

Commerce clause

Those who supported the new Constitution and wanted a stronger national government were known as

Federalists

Who was selected as the president of the Constitutional Convention?

George Washington

The following question(s) refer to the following excerpt from James Madison's March 18, 1786, letter to Thomas Jefferson. The States are every day giving proofs that separate regulations are more likely to set them by the ears, than to attain the common object. When Massachusetts set on foot a retaliation of the policy of Great Britain, Connecticut declared her ports free. New Jersey served New York in the same way. And Delaware I am told has lately followed the example in opposition to the commercial plans of Pennsylvania. A miscarriage of this attempt to unite the States in some effectual plan will have another effect of a serious nature. . . . I almost despair of success. Which of the following best describes the author's perspective and reasoning?

International and interstate trade must be regulated by the central government.

What was the Antifederalists' most compelling argument against the Constitution?

It lacked a bill of rights to protect the rights of individuals.

What would James Madison argue is the best check on the power of the current political parties in the United States?

Its large size and diversity

What was the most contentious issue surrounding the question of slavery during the Constitutional Convention?

Many did not agree on how enslaved people should be counted in terms of representation.

Suppose Congress has passed legislation that would ban American citizens from purchasing or owning firearms of any kind. The law is brought to the Supreme Court, where it is deemed a violation of the Second Amendment. The ability of the Supreme Court to make such a decision was established in

Marbury v. Madison

Which was a characteristic of the proposed Virginia Plan?

Representation proportional to population

After the Vietnam War, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution to prevent the president from committing the U.S. to a military conflict without the consent of Congress. Which constitutional principle was this law based on?

Separation of powers

The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State. The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security. As the former periods will probably bear a small proportion to the latter, the State governments will here enjoy another advantage over the federal government. The more adequate, indeed, the federal powers may be rendered to the national defense, the less frequent will be those scenes of danger which might favor their ascendancy over the governments of the particular States. — James Madison, Federalist No. 45 Which of the following best summarizes Madison's argument in Federalist No. 45?

State power is protected by a strong national defense.

Why did the economy fail to thrive under the Articles of Confederation?

States hindered commerce by imposing trade restrictions on one another.

Many states only agreed to ratify the Constitution on what condition?

That a bill of rights would be added

What was the most significant contradiction within the Constitution?

That slavery was still permitted in a document based on human liberty.

No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time. — Federalist No. 10 Which of the following principles is reflected in the quote?

The danger of factions

A group of women's rights advocates believes women are not being paid equally to men in the workplace and are concerned that federal anti-discrimination laws are not being effectively carried out. Which branch of government should be blamed for the lack of enforcement of such laws?

The executive branch

Given that Switzerland is governed by a direct democracy, which is a critique a Federalist would have of the Swiss government?

The government is susceptible to the dangers of factions.

The system of federal courts is part of which branch of government?

The judicial branch

Which portion of the Constitution creates the potential for the legislative branch to grow too powerful?

The necessary and proper clause

Why did smaller, less-populous states prefer the New Jersey Plan?

The plan proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation.

Suppose Congress has passed a law that makes it illegal to smoke in public spaces and wants to punish those who have smoked in public spaces in the year prior to passing the law. Which constitutional protection prevents Congress from doing so?

The prohibition of ex post facto laws.

Suppose the president has nominated someone for a vacancy on the Supreme Court, but a senator in the opposing party does not approve of the president's choice. What can that senator do to change the situation?

The senator may vote against the president's chosen nominee during the confirmation hearing.

A new amendment has passed a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate. Where should activists supporting ratification of the amendment focus their lobbying efforts?

The state legislatures

Who held most of the power under the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union?

The states

Many legal challenges have been made to the arrest and detainment of suspected terrorists because they often are not told why they are being held. Which constitutional protection are these legal challenges based on?

The writ of habeas corpus

Why were the Federalist Papers so effective in gaining support for the Constitution?

They addressed concerns with the Constitution by pointing out flaws in the Articles of Confederation.

Why did so many Americans want to keep the Articles of Confederation as they were?

They feared what would result if any changes were made.

Why was the Antifederalists' position more difficult than that of the Federalists during the debates over the ratification of the Constitution?

They had to prove that the proposed government was more dangerous than the existing one.

The cartoon demonstrates which viewpoint about the founding fathers?

They trusted Americans to use good judgment in interpreting the Constitution in the future.

Why might small farmers and those from rural areas opposed the Federalist position?

They were generally distrustful of political elites and a distant central government.

What was the main function of the Riot Act?

To absolve sheriffs and officers from prosecution for killing rioters.

What was the primary function of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

To count an enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of calculating a state's representation.

What is the primary function of the president as outlined in the Constitution?

To enforce the laws written by Congress

What was the main function of Article V of the Articles of Confederation?

To establish a unicameral legislature

What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention in 1787?

To fix the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger national government.

Why might a group of veterans during Shays's Rebellion have focused their efforts on local courthouses?

To prevent them from operating effectively.

How many votes are required in the House and Senate to propose an amendment to the Constitution?

Two-thirds in both the House and the Senate

What was the main argument made in Federalist No. 51?

Tyranny will be prevented by establishing a system of separation of powers.

Which of the following concepts was not included in the original Constitution as drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1788?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

According to the cartoon, the founding fathers wrote the Constitution to achieve which goal?

balance liberty with the protection of social order

When a new law is created by the legislative branch, the constitutional legality of the bill can be questioned by the Supreme Court. This scenario is an example of

checks and balances.

Suppose the president has signed an executive order that bans a certain type of speech and the Supreme Court determines that the president's executive order is unconstitutional. This is an example of the Supreme Court

exercising judicial review.

The current U.S. Senate is similar to the unicameral legislature under the Articles of Confederation in that both

favor less populous states over more populous ones.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. — United States Constitution, Article V Which of the following principles is reflected in Article V?

federalism

The ability of an American citizen to enact change by getting either Congress or their state legislature to pass legislation is an example of

federalism

In the late 1700s, a wealthy educated male would have most likely been

in favor of the newly proposed Constitution.

International and interstate trade must be regulated by the central government.

land

Those who participated in Shays's Rebellion were most likely to be

poor farmers

A political scientist who was dissatisfied with the Articles of Confederation might attend the Annapolis Convention with the hope that

significant changes would be made to the government.