Final Exam-Government
Which of the following is a necessary qualification for anyone wishing to be president of the United States?
35
Under the war powers act of 1973 what is the maximum length of time a president can commit troops to military action without congress's approval?
90 days
The framers relied on the writings of which enlightenment philosopher as they decided how best to protect economic freedom and rights to property
Adam Smith
Which of the following is one of the executive powers of the president
Appointing an ambassador to France
The first ten amendments to the constitution are traditionally called the
Bill of rights
Thomas Jefferson argued in the Declaration of Independence that, if a government disregards the will of the people the people are free to do what?
Change their government
The petition of right resulted from a conflict between which two groups
Charles I and parliament
Which type of colony enjoyed the most independence from the crown
Charter
In the role of symbolic figurehead representing the United States internationally the president acts as the
Chief of state
Who is charged with establishing the federal courts beneath the Supreme Court?
Congress
Which document was passed by parliament in the glorious revolution?
English bill of rights
The framers of the constitution got many ideas about governing from which of the following?
European philosophers of the eighteenth century
T or F A declaration of war by congress is necessary before a president can send U.S. troops into a foreign conflict
False
When a president seeks to improve with another country he or she is acting in the role of
Foreign policy leader
Parliament imposed a series of taxes on the colonies beginning in 1764 in order to
Help pay Britain's debts resulting from the French and Indian war.
Under the Presidential succession act of 1847 the person next in line after the Vice President is the head of the
House of Representatives
What is the meaning of the supremacy clause?
If federal and state laws conflict, valid federal laws take precedence
What ideal did the antifederalists find the constitution lacked
Individual rights
A president who wants to establish rules and regulations for the operation of a federal agency may do so by taking what action?
Issuing an executive order
Why is the sixteenth amendment an important element in the system of fiscal federalism?
It allows for a significant increase in federal income through the income tax
Proposing a law to expand educational opportunities for preschool-age children would be an example of what kind of presidential power?
Legislative
In the electoral college that chooses the president, each state gets one vote for every
Member of congress
The framers took the idea of Separation of powers from which philosopher
Montesquieu
In a presidential race, which of the following best describes how the states apportion their electoral votes among the candidates
Most states use a winner take all system but some states allow the votes to be split
For the confederation congress to pass any major legislation, how many states had to agree
Nine
Manga Carta was originally intended to protect the rights of which group
Nobles
According to the constitution, a states electors would be equal to what?
Number of its representatives in both houses of congress
Which of the following was the most pressing challenge facing the confederation congress?
Paying off war debts
Civic virtue is the idea that people should do which of the following
Place the common good over private interests
What job does the constitution assign the Vice President of the United States?
President of the Senate
Why did large states favor the Virginia plan
Representation in the legislature would be based on population
Delegates gathered in Philadelphia in May of 1787 to do what
Revise the articles of confederation
Which amendment was ratified in 1913 to make direct popular elections of senators part of the constitution?
Seventeenth
who is second in line of succession to the presidency of the United States?
Speaker of the house
Under the articles of confederation, most governmental power was retained by which
States
Which statement best describes the doctrine of secession?
States have the right to separate themselves the Union
Why was the great compromise acceptable to the smaller states
States would be represented equally in the senate
What happens if a president becomes disabled
The Vice President takes over presidential duties temporarily
Why did the colonists resent the taxes imposed by parliament beginning in 1764
The colonists had no representation in parliament
Why did the colonial assemblies reject the Albany plan of union?
They feared that the plan gave too much power to the crown
T or F The framers of the constitution were careful to place limits on congressional power
True
The main responsibility for resolving conflicts between the states and the federal government lies with which of the following?
U.S. Supreme Court
Which of the following is an important informal power of the president
Using the media to persuade the public
The great compromise combined elements of which two plans?
Virginia and New Jersey
For ideas on how to use the law to protect people's natural rights to life, liberty, and property, the framers looked to
William Blackstone
the presidential veto is
a significant check on congress
No level of government may try a person under an ex post facto law, meaning a law that was passed
after the alleged crime took place
The New Jersey plan was designed to stay closer to which document
articles of confederation
When the president signs a bill, it
becomes law
which of the following is an expressed power of the president
commanding the military
What does the conference committee issue when it reaches an agreement on a bill?
conference report
which of the following is a power reserved to the states
controlling public school systems
Which of the following is an expressed power of the federal government that is not shared with the states?
declaring war
The republicans' 1994 contract with America is an example of which of the following ideas?
devolution
the federal government's chief tool for influencing states and communities is
distributing grants-in-aid
What justification has the national government used for imposing federal mandates such as school busing, desegregation, and affirmative action?
equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment
which type of constitutional power allows congress to declare war
expressed
The constitution allows the house to judge its own members behavior, requiring a two-thirds vote for which action?
expulsion
T or F Each state has at least three representatives in the House of Representatives
false
T or F Powers shared by both the state and the national government are called expressed powers
false
T or F the national security adviser is appointed by the president with the consent of the senate
false
if a conflict arises between a state law and a federal law, state law is supreme
false
How was the relationship between the federal and state governments generally understood during the period of dual federalism
federal and state governments were each sovereign in their own sphere
who has the constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce?
federal government
The practice of drawing district boundaries to the political advantage of the party in power is known as
gerrymandering
which of the following is one of the presidents judicial powers?
granting clemnency
why did president reagan use block grants in the 1980s
he wanted to reduce the size of the federal government
Under the full faith and credit clause of the constitution a state must
honor the public acts and court proceedings of other states
when congress places demands on states without grant money, it is
imposing an unfunded mandate
which of the following is the main source of income for the federal government today?
income tax
the power of the presidency has
increased significantly over time
Which resolution is not a bill but follows the same procedure as a bill and has the force of law, if it signed by both houses of congress and the president
joint resolution
Which basic job qualification for the house was set by the constitution?
live in the state he or she represents
In a Presidential race, which of the following best describes how the states apportion their electoral votes among the candidates
most states use a "winner-take-all" system but some states allow the votes to be split
according to the doctrine of nullification states could
refuse to obey or enforce federal laws with which they disagreed
Which of the following is an implied power of the federal government?
regulating radio and TV stations
which of the following best defines federal mandates
requirements imposed by the federal government as a condition of receiving grant money
Which provision adds an unpopular provision to a popular bill that is likely to be passed?
rider
what is the title of a cabinet department head?
secretary
To be eligible to serve in the House of Representatives, a person must be a U.S. citizen for at least
seven years
how many years do senators serve in the senate
six
how long is a senators term of office?
six years
who is the most powerful member of the House of Representatives
speaker of the house
Which term applies to the 20 permanent committees of the house
standing committee
who has the final authority to ratify any amendments congress proposes
states
according to the constitution both senators and members of the house may submit bills with the exception of what kind of bill?
tax bills
To run for a seat in the House of Representatives, what is the most important informal qualification?
the ability to appeal to voters
which of the following represents an example of fiscal federalism
the morrill act of 1862 granted land to states to help finance education
which of the following best describes how the civil war affected federalism
the war resulted in new federal powers over the states
which court order forces the police to present a person in court to face charges, except in cases of rebellion or invasion
the writ of habeas corpus
T or F Congress has often used federal mandates to get states to enforce civil rights laws
true
T or F Members of congress represent the people living in a particular geographic area
true
T or F Originally the president's cabinet had four members
true
T or F a federal grant to help a state build a specific dam would be a categorical grant
true
T or F the constitution assigns to the Vice President the job of presiding over the senate
true
T or F the manager of the White House office is called the chief of staff
true
the tenth amendment limited the power of the federal government
true
How many senators are there from each state?
two
How many years is the term of a member of the House of Representatives
two
What vote count is required in the senate for a treaty to become law?
two-thirds
