Government 2305 Chapter 2 Quizzes

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

The president nominates judges, and the Senate confirms them.

How did the Framers ease the path to ratification of the Constitution?

by requiring nine out of 13 states to approve the document

The development of the two-party system in the United States was the result of what type of constitutional change?

changing political practice

What issue was resolved through the Connecticut Compromise?

how to balance the interests of small and large states in Congress

What has been the most common path of amending the Constitution?

proposal by Congress and ratification by state legislatures

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson primarily emphasized the __________.

ways in which George III had abused the colonies

Why was James Madison more concerned about majority factions than minority factions?

Majority factions were more difficult to control.

Which action by the federal government would most likely be unconstitutional?

establishment of a state-supported church

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress had the power to __________.

raise and maintain an army and navy

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention assumed that people were generally __________.

self-interested

What was a key difference between Federalists and Anti-Federalists in the type of government they preferred?

Federalists preferred longer terms of office, while Anti-Federalists preferred shorter terms.

What major concession did the Federalists make to the Anti-Federalists?

They agreed to add a bill of rights to the Constitution.

As described in Article V of the Constitution, the two stages of the amendment process are __________.

proposal and ratification

According to Gouverneur Morris and many other delegates at the Constitutional Convention, the main purpose of government was to __________.

protect private property

What did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention have in common?

Most had practical political experience.

At the time it was written, the Declaration of Independence served mainly as __________.

a political argument

Under the Articles of Confederation, how did Congress raise revenue to maintain an army and navy?

by requesting money from the states

Which of the following is a characteristic of a republic?

elections in which people select representatives

The Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison is significant because it __________.

established the Court's power of judicial review

A __________ system of government divides power between the national and state governments.

federal

What term used today is closest to the Framers' notion of a faction?

interest group

What aspect of democratic government did the authors of the Constitution oppose?

majority rule

Which of the following developments illustrates the gradual democratization of the Constitution?

passage of the Seventeenth Amendment, providing for the direct election of senators

English philosopher John Locke believed that the main purpose of government was to __________.

preserve property rights

An Anti-Federalist would likely support which of the following proposals?

reducing the term of office for senators from six to two years

The three-fifths compromise dealt with how slaves would be counted for what two purposes?

representation in the House and taxation

The primary goal of the American Revolution was to __________.

restore rights colonists felt were theirs as British subjects

According to English philosopher John Locke, natural rights consist of __________.

rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention believed the new constitution would control factions by __________.

setting power against power

What has been the most important effect of constitutional amendments?

the expansion of individual rights and liberties

What was a major factor leading to passage of the Twenty-sixth Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18?

the sacrifices of young soldiers in Vietnam

According to the Framers, what is the main source of factions?

the unequal distribution of property and wealth

What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?

to convince people to support the new Constitution

What purpose is most clearly reflected in the Framers' use of special electors to choose the president?

to place government beyond the direct control of the majority

Why did the British Parliament impose new taxes on colonists following the French and Indian War?

to raise revenue for the defense of newly acquired territory

Why did the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) fail?

Due to opposition from Southern states, it failed to get the support of three-fourths of state legislatures.

How were votes allocated in the national legislature under the Articles of Confederation?

Each state had one vote.

What is a drawback of the system of separation of powers and checks and balances?

It can cause gridlock or inadequate policies.

Why did the Constitution drafted at the Constitutional Convention say little about personal freedoms?

The Framers believed that the Constitution would protect freedoms through limited government.

Which statement best describes the power of the national government relative to the states under the Articles of Confederation?

The national government was weak and ineffective in relation to the states.

Anti-Federalists used which argument to oppose the Constitution?

The new government would be controlled by economic elites.

Which of the following is a consequence of the system of checks and balances and the separation of powers?

There is a bias toward the status quo.

Why was Shays's Rebellion so concerning to economic and political elites?

They believed it might lead to a full-fledged revolution.

How did the delegates at the Constitutional Convention decide on who should be eligible to vote?

They gave states the authority to determine voter eligibility.

In spelling out economic powers, the Constitution prohibited states from __________.

taxing imports from other states

What was the most significant change in the states under the Articles of Confederation?

the adoption of bills of rights and laws reducing barriers to political participation

A(n) __________ requires authorities to explain to a judge their lawful reasons for holding a prisoner in custody.

writ of habeas corpus