PSC 101 Exam 1 Quizzes (Ch 1-6)
A person who opposes government regulation of business is likely to be a __________. a. conservative b. Green Party member c. socialist d. liberal
a. conservative
Which of the following statements about the Constitution's ratification process is true? a. Ratification was done by the U.S. Senate. b. Ratification was strongly opposed by many influential citizens. c. The president had the final say on the ratification of the new Constitution. d. Ratification was completed with relative ease.
b. Ratification was strongly opposed by many influential citizens.
Under the Articles of Confederation, most policy decision making was done by what or by whom? a. the U.S. Congress b. state legislatures c. the president of the United States d. local judges
b. state legislatures
Candidates for elected office often seek to demonstrate that they have worked hard to pull themselves out of poverty and overcome significant life challenges. Which political value does this campaign narrative reflect? a. communitarianism b. liberalism c. individualism d. nationalism
c. individualism
What term describes the Supreme Court's right to declare the actions of the other branches of government null and void if they are contrary to the Constitution? a. judicial activism b. judicial interpretation c. judicial review d. judicial oversight
c. judicial review
Americans' fundamental beliefs about human nature, society, economic relations, and the role of government are known as their __________. a. political religion b. cultural individualism c. political culture d. political socialization
c. political culture
What does the supremacy clause state? A. It states that each state reigns supreme within its borders. B. It states that the Constitution and national government laws are to be treated as the supreme law of the land. C. It states that the national government can make all laws that are necessary to protect the health and safety of the citizenry of the United States. D. It states that the Supreme Court has the power to review all actions taken by Congress and the president and to rule on their constitutionality.
B. It states that the Constitution and national government laws are to be treated as the supreme law of the land.
How many amendments does the Constitution now have? a. 27 b. 21 c. 25 d. 19
a. 27
Which of the following is argued to be a central component of the social contract? a. A just government is one that derives its power from the consent of the people. b. Rebellion is never an option once a Constitution is agreed upon. c. Rights are socially constructed and do not exist outside of a legitimate government. d. Everyone in a society explicitly agrees to live by the laws set forth by the government.
a. A just government is one that derives its power from the consent of the people.
Which of the following statements about direct democracy is true? a. Direct democracy is difficult to implement in its purest form in a large country. b. Direct democracy involves elected officials making policy decisions directly. c. Direct democracy is the most common form of democratic government in today's world. d. Direct democracy requires one representative for every thousand citizens.
a. Direct democracy is difficult to implement in its purest form in a large country.
In what way did the Declaration of Independence create a contradiction in American society between what the document stated about individual rights and equality and how certain groups were treated in practice? a. It said all men are created equal, but it did not specify that slaves had the same rights as white men. b. It gave equal rights to all men but did not provide any rights for women. c. It said that free blacks had more rights than slaves. d. It said that married women had the same rights as men, but unmarried women had no rights
a. It said all men are created equal, but it did not specify that slaves had the same rights as white men.
Which of the following is a true statement about the Articles of Confederation? a. It was the first governing document of the United States. b. It provided for a strong central government with broad war powers. c. It was created after the American Revolution. d. It could be amended by a majority vote, which was seven of the 13 original colonies.
a. It was the first governing document of the United States.
_________ is a type of government in which a few people rule, such as the elite of the Communist Party in China. a. Oligarchy b. Kleptocracy c. Monarchy d. Direct Democracy
a. Oligarchy
Which of the following best contrasts structure with government action in the analytical framework used in this book? a. Structure is the foundation on which everything else is built, and it is the slowest to change. Government action encompasses all the institutions and public officials that have legal responsibilities for forming public policies. b. Structure refers to patterns of media reporting and public opinion. Government action refers to what the government does in response to these forces. c. Structure is a principle of government requiring laws and policies to be written and executed in a particular format. Government action is the basis on which structure is built. d. Structure is the unchanging foundation of government. Government action is the direct result of this permanent structure.
a. Structure is the foundation on which everything else is built, and it is the slowest to change. Government action encompasses all the institutions and public officials that have legal responsibilities for forming public policies.
The Constitution gives the national government significant control over interstate commerce. Which of the following is the most likely reason the framers did this? a. Such regulation would decrease competition between states and foster economic growth. b. They wanted a steady source of tax income for the national government. c. They wanted to make the states more subservient to the national government. d. They wanted to give the national government control over major industries.
a. Such regulation would decrease competition between states and foster economic growth.
Why would an advocate of dual federalism have opposed the New Deal? a. The New Deal reduced the overall power of state governments in comparison to the national government and its agencies. b. The layer cake model of federalism represented by the New Deal imposed a total separation of powers between the national government and state governments. c. The New Deal offered services to the poor and disadvantaged. d. The New Deal was associated with isolationism and withdrawal from world politics.
a. The New Deal reduced the overall power of state governments in comparison to the national government and its agencies.
What is one reason why amendments to the Constitution are relatively rare? a. The formal amendment process is long and difficult and requires widespread support in Congress as well as the states. b. The Constitution's framers set the precedent of infrequent amendment, which has been followed ever since. c. The Supreme Court must approve all constitutional amendments and it almost always strikes them down. d. The language of the Constitution is so general that there has been little need to revise it as the country has grown and developed.
a. The formal amendment process is long and difficult and requires widespread support in Congress as well as the states.
Which of the following is a characteristic of the government created by the Articles of Confederation? a. There was a central government that could declare war and peace but could do very little else. b. There was a process for amending the Articles of Confederation that required the approval, by vote, of two-thirds of all state delegations. c. There was a chief executive, the president, who would continue to wage war with England. d. There was a Supreme Court and several lower courts to ensure the protection of rights.
a. There was a central government that could declare war and peace but could do very little else.
Which of the following people is more likely to support the nationalist position, which calls for a more unified country under a federal government? a. a Democratic president b. a Tea Party activist c. a conservative member of Congress d. a homeowner
a. a Democratic president
The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, produced __________. a. a bicameral Congress b. three branches of government c. a system of governmental checks and balances d. suffrage for African Americans
a. a bicameral Congress
As defined in this chapter, the term liberal democracy refers to __________. a. a representative democracy that features popular sovereignty, liberty, and political equality b. a democracy with an expansive welfare state c. a democracy where policy makers are given a great deal of freedom to make policies as they choose d. a democracy that permits same-sex marriage
a. a representative democracy that features popular sovereignty, liberty, and political equality
If you were living under a unitary (or undivided) system of government, __________. a. all power would be concentrated at the national level b. all power would be concentrated at the state level c. power would be divided between the two houses of the legislature d. power would be dispersed between the national and state levels
a. all power would be concentrated at the national level
American federalism can be seen as a response to the __________. a. concerns about the potential abuses by a strong central government b. weakness of state governments under the Articles of Confederation c. desire of the Founders to establish a system of government responsive to the will of the people d. popularity of the British federal system in the colonies
a. concerns about the potential abuses by a strong central government
What organizational form of government did the leaders of the American Revolution have in mind during the war? a. confederation b. two-party system c. federal government d. unitary system
a. confederation
Political culture is described in general terms and __________. a. does not necessarily explain how Americans will act in certain situations b. is a great indicator of how Americans will act in most situations c. used to be a poor indicator of how Americans would act in most situations, but today political culture is becoming more unified d. used to be a good indicator of how Americans would act in most situations, but today political culture is becoming more diverse
a. does not necessarily explain how Americans will act in certain situations
According to the framers, which of the following is one solution to the problem of tyranny? a. fragmenting governmental power b. letting the majority rule c. limiting the power of political parties d. appointing government leaders, rather than electing them
a. fragmenting governmental power
According to John Locke, the absence of a respected social contract is one of the hallmarks of a society lacking in __________. a. fundamental freedoms b. codified laws c. an engaged citizenry d. effective political leadership
a. fundamental freedoms
Which of the following is a consequence of an economically troubled middle class? a. increasing incivility in civic life b. increasing support for family values-oriented interest groups c. a shift in political power from the core urban areas to the suburbs and exurbs d. strong support for moderate candidates in elections
a. increasing incivility in civic life
Populism favors the __________. a. ordinary person b. banking class c. most powerful d. most highly educated
a. ordinary person
If people are the ultimate source of government authority in a particular representative democracy, that government is said to be meeting the __________ benchmark. a. popular sovereignty b. political liberty c. political equality d. political socialization
a. popular sovereignty
States often pass regulatory legislation focused on certain industries that, because of federalism, can have unintended consequences. When a large or influential state makes a policy change, it may __________. a. prompt national companies who do business there to reflect those standards throughout the country b. pursue a goal that is inconsistent with the ideals of the Constitution c. encourage other states to impose tougher standards than those set by the federal government d. promote local rather than national standards
a. prompt national companies who do business there to reflect those standards throughout the country
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is an example of which category of the analytical framework for examining how government and politics work? a. structure b. government action c. government d. political linkage
a. structure
The United States is generally thought of as a representative democracy, but some elements of direct democracy appear as well. Which is the best example of a feature of the American system that allows direct involvement of citizens? a. the initiative process at the state level b. political advertisements directed at individual states c. lawsuits brought by individuals in federal courts d. news programs that inform citizens about issues
a. the initiative process at the state level
State regulations can diverge from the policies of other states, sometimes leaving states incidentally affected by the actions of another with little recourse. Which of the following is an example of a divergent regulation that could potentially cause a direct conflict between states that find themselves in such a situation? a. water quality standards b. legal drinking age c. interstate highway regulations d. Social Security
a. water quality standards
The U.S. Constitution specifically lists __________. a. what the national government can do b. what citizens can do c. what the Supreme Court can do d. the divisions within state governments
a. what the national government can do
Responsiveness to ordinary citizens may be greater at the national level than at the state level. One possible reason for this is __________. a. it is often difficult for states to confront issues like poverty b. Americans are more engaged in national politics and thus more demanding of national officials c. Americans are better informed about happenings in their state governments and call on local officials more often d. politics at the national level are more heavily influenced by special interests
b. Americans are more engaged in national politics and thus more demanding of national officials
The United States' first written governing document was known as the __________. a. Constitution b. Articles of Confederation c. Second Treatise of Civil Government d. Mayflower Compact
b. Articles of Confederation
Which of the following is an objection to federal mandates often made by the states? a. A state's own laws may make it impossible for it to carry out a federal mandate. b. Because some federal mandates are unfunded, the financial burden is transferred to the states. c. Forcing a state to carry out a mandate is too costly for the federal government. d. The federal government has no effective means to enforce a federal mandate.
b. Because some federal mandates are unfunded, the financial burden is transferred to the states.
Why do rural, low-population states continue to exercise disproportionate power in national politics? a. The majority of the strongest political leaders in Congress come from these states. b. Constitutional provisions grant equal powers to the states in the Senate. c. The nation's wealth and industry are centered primarily in these states. d. These states have produced the overwhelming majority of American presidents.
b. Constitutional provisions grant equal powers to the states in the Senate.
Which statement accurately reflects the original Constitution's stance toward slavery? a. The Constitution immediately abolished the slave trade and set regulations for the buying and selling of slaves within the United States. b. Slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person when population for the House of Representatives was calculated. c. The concept of slavery was never addressed in the Constitution. d. The Constitution contained a provision describing how each state added to the Union would use a popular sovereignty mechanism in deciding whether it would allow slavery.
b. Slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person when population for the House of Representatives was calculated.
How did the different philosophies of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists change the Constitution? a. The Anti-Federalists refused to ratify the Constitution unless it included the supremacy clause, so the Federalists agreed to include it. b. The Anti-Federalists' insistence on specific mention of individual rights forced the Federalists to promise to amend the Constitution with the Bill of Rights. c. The Federalists added the Bill of Rights as amendments after the ratification because they did not think the Anti-Federalists would support the Constitution if it included the Bill of Rights. d. The Anti-Federalists would agree to the Constitution only if it included an Anti-Slavery Amendment. The Federalists agreed to pass this amendment immediately after ratification.
b. The Anti-Federalists' insistence on specific mention of individual rights forced the Federalists to promise to amend the Constitution with the Bill of Rights.
What happens if the Electoral College fails to give a majority to any candidate for president? a. The top two candidates run another campaign, and whoever wins that second race becomes president. b. The House of Representatives chooses the president. c. Congress chooses the president based on a majority vote of both chambers. d. The Supreme Court chooses the president based on a majority vote of the justices.
b. The House of Representatives chooses the president.
The three-fifths compromise involved slavery and apportioning representation in Congress. Which of the following is the best explanation of the Southern position in the debate? a. The South preferred that only three-fifths of all slaves should be allowed to vote in elections for the House of Representatives. b. The South preferred that each slave count as a person for purposes of representation in the House, but not for voting in elections. c. The South preferred that slaves not count as people for purposes of representation in the House or for voting in elections. d. The South preferred that slaves not be counted for purposes of representation, because slaves were considered to be property.
b. The South preferred that each slave count as a person for purposes of representation in the House, but not for voting in elections.
What is one way that a large democracy can protect minority opinions from majority tyranny? a. The majority are inherently selfish, so democracies ensure that those in the minority are protected by the threat of police and military actions. b. The composition of the majority and the minority is constantly shifting depending on the issue and the current social and cultural climate. c. By restricting immigration, the majority can be stabilized. Then the majority and minority can agree to take turns making policy decisions. d. The majority is composed of people who are inherently good, so the minority is naturally protected.
b. The composition of the majority and the minority is constantly shifting depending on the issue and the current social and cultural climate.
Why were the framers of the Constitution afraid of a tyranny of the majority? a. They knew that slaves would constitute a majority once they were freed. b. They were afraid that the majority might try to undermine the freedoms of minorities and threaten individual rights. c. They recognized that the public was well educated and a majority of citizens could outsmart elected officials. d. They thought elected leaders would be easily swayed by public opinion.
b. They were afraid that the majority might try to undermine the freedoms of minorities and threaten individual rights.
Why does the meaning of the Constitution often change over time? a. because of actions of state legislatures alone b. because of changing judicial interpretations c. because of national referenda d. because of presidential proclamations
b. because of changing judicial interpretations
The provisions in the Constitution that give each branch of the federal government the ability to block the actions of the other branches are known as __________. a. majority faction b. checks and balances c. the Bill of Rights d. federal division
b. checks and balances
The federal government's method of financing the interstate highway system and the Great Society are examples of __________. a. state governments failing to work together to complete multistate projects b. federal grant money sent to the states to fund national projects c. the use of government revenue to fund massive employment d. funding transportation projects as a federal responsibility
b. federal grant money sent to the states to fund national projects
Which of the following is considered a linkage factor in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965? a. ratification of the Twenty-sixth Amendment, which ensured that anyone 18 or older could vote b. growing public support for the cause of civil rights c. the Great Migration of African Americans to the North in an era of industrialization d. the Supreme Court's expansion of the equal protection clause
b. growing public support for the cause of civil rights
When states initiate innovative laws with the potential to serve as models for other states or the federal government, political scientists characterize these states as __________. a. national standards b. laboratories of democracy c. linkage factors d. strong states
b. laboratories of democracy
Who were delegates to the Constitutional Convention? a. a mixture of small landowners, wealthy men, racial minorities, and women b. mainly wealthy men c. mainly common folk d. mainly small landowners
b. mainly wealthy men
Athens of the fifth century BCE is often cited as __________. a. an important early dictatorship b. one of the purest forms of democracy that ever existed c. an extravagant monarchy d. the first instance of a representative democracy
b. one of the purest forms of democracy that ever existed
The news media fall under which category of the analytical framework? a. government action b. political linkage c. structure d. government
b. political linkage
What is the natural outcome of the United States' history of immigration? a. a decline in diversity caused by the immigration rate b. substantial racial and ethnic diversity in the American population c. an increase in the amount of money government spends on social welfare programs d. substantial racism and anti-immigrant feelings in the majority of the American population
b. substantial racial and ethnic diversity in the American population
Opposition to the Constitution was based on which of the following fears? a. that it gave too much power to large states b. that it gave too much power to the national government c. that it gave too much power to state governments d. that it gave too much power to small states
b. that it gave too much power to the national government
Which of these groups supported ratification of the Constitution? a. the Democratic-Republicans b. the Federalists c. the Anti-Federalists d. the Whigs
b. the Federalists
The Constitution gave Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, coin money and regulate its value, and establish bankruptcy and patent laws. These steps encouraged __________. a. states to impose taxes on other states' exports b. the emergence of a national free enterprise economy c. states to establish their own forms of currency that would be used in place of the national currency d. states to help debtors by making laws to forgive their debts
b. the emergence of a national free enterprise economy
What evidence validates the idea that the American Dream remains an unfulfilled dream? a. the growing American debt and uncontrolled government spending b. the permanent existence of an underclass in the form of impoverished families c. steadily declining immigration rates as more people leave the country d. the increasing lack of trust Americans have in their government
b. the permanent existence of an underclass in the form of impoverished families
It has been argued that majoritarian democracy threatens political liberty and minorities; however, there is little evidence to suggest that __________. a. codified constitutions minimize these problems in democracies compared to democracies without a codified constitution b. the rights of minorities are better protected under alternative forms of government c. majoritarian democracies threaten minorities d. the United States is better at protecting political liberty and minorities than all other democracies are
b. the rights of minorities are better protected under alternative forms of government
Ratification of the Constitution required approval of how many of the 13 original states? a. all 13 b. 11 c. 9 d. 7
c. 9
Which of the following is an example of preemption? a. The Supreme Court finds that a state law is unconstitutional. b. A state declares a national law null and void. c. A state passes a law that contradicts an existing national law, and the state law is struck down. d. A national law contradicts a section of a state's Constitution, and the law is struck down.
c. A state passes a law that contradicts an existing national law, and the state law is struck down.
Which of the following is generally true about the effect of constitutional amendments on the American political system? a. Amendments have dramatically expanded the power of the states over the national government. b. Amendments have sometimes restricted individual rights and reinforced tyranny of the minority. c. Amendments have made the country more democratic and expanded rights to excluded groups. d. Amendments have reinforced the power of elites over most governmental institutions.
c. Amendments have made the country more democratic and expanded rights to excluded groups.
Which of the following is a feature of the Connecticut Compromise? a. It established a formula for how to count slaves, ended the slave trade, and explicitly mentioned that slaves could not be considered persons in a court of law. b. It established a council for the executive branch and stipulated that foreign policy decisions would be based on a majority vote of the chief executive. c. It established a two-chamber legislative branch, with each chamber based on a different principle of representation. d. It established a Supreme Court and most of the entire federal judiciary, with the exception of the District of Columbia Circuit Court and the specialized federal tax courts.
c. It established a two-chamber legislative branch, with each chamber based on a different principle of representation.
Which of the following statements about the position of the Supreme Court regarding federalism is most accurate? a. The Court has never supported a devolution of power in the federal relationship. b. The Court has vigorously maintained a clear separation between national and state authority. c. Under Chief Justice Rehnquist the Court was supportive of devolution efforts but has since lessened its support. d. Historically the Court has always ruled in support of state power over federal power.
c. Under Chief Justice Rehnquist the Court was supportive of devolution efforts but has since lessened its support.
Constitutionalism is rooted in the belief that citizens need to be protected from __________. a. the unchecked growth of government b. powerful centralized governments c. arbitrary decisions by political elites d. excessive taxation
c. arbitrary decisions by political elites
Monarchies, military tyrannies, and theocracies are all types of __________. a. anarchies b. participatory collectives c. autocracies d. democracies
c. autocracies
Federalism protects liberty by __________. a. centralizing power in the national government b. allowing the states to operate as loosely aligned, separate, and distinct centers of power c. dividing responsibilities within and among governmental units d. improving the efficiency of the national government
c. dividing responsibilities within and among governmental units
Since the ratification of the Constitution, American federalism has gradually changed from __________. a. a unitary system to a federal system b. cooperative to dual federalism c. dual to cooperative federalism d. a federal system to a unitary system
c. dual to cooperative federalism
An accused murderer cannot escape punishment by entering another state. What principle is at stake? a. concurrent powers b. interstate compacts c. full faith and credit d. horizontal federalism
c. full faith and credit
A company deciding to downsize its workforce and relocate operations to another country with lower wages is in large part the result of __________. a. technological change b. populism c. globalization d. nativism
c. globalization
James Madison and many of the Founders feared the influence of "popular passions" on overwhelming the public sphere and infringing upon the rights of groups with the minority position. To curb this threat, often referred to as majority tyranny, one of the goals of the founders was to __________. a. encourage a system of direct democracy to empower the masses b. explore the possibility of oligarchic government to stifle minority persecution c. protect civil liberties through a constitutional system d. reject representative democracy due to the impracticality of citizen assemblies
c. protect civil liberties through a constitutional system
What were the Articles of Confederation intended to do? a. create a government that represented the interests of the states in the international community b. list the grievances of the colonists and provide the justification for independence from England c. provide for basic governmental organization and preserve the power of state governments d. increase the power of the central government relative to the governments of the states
c. provide for basic governmental organization and preserve the power of state governments
Which document describes the president's understanding of a law and how executive branch officials should carry it out? a. executive order b. declaration of intent c. signing statement d. executive agreement
c. signing statement
In explaining the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the "Great Migration" of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North—which increased the political power of African Americans—is an example of which category of the analytical framework? a. government action b. government c. structure d. political linkage
c. structure
Political equality refers to __________. a. the idea that those in the minority should be able to determine policy outcomes b. the idea that Democrats and Republicans should have an equal number of seats in Congress c. the principle that each person carries equal weight in the conduct of the public business d. the concept that president and Congress should have the same powers
c. the principle that each person carries equal weight in the conduct of the public business
One probable reason that the Constitution's framers included very strong wording protecting private property and contracts was __________. a. they were trying to promote economic equality for all citizens b. the language was a carryover from the Articles of Confederation c. their experience with property violations by the British leading up to the American Revolution d. such protection was necessary for the promotion of a strong central government
c. their experience with property violations by the British leading up to the American Revolution
According to eighteenth-century republicanism, elected representatives should act as _____________. a. "compromisers" b. "moderators" c. "delegates" d. "trustees"
d. "trustees"
What is one of the things that struck foreign observers of the American scene such as Alexis de Tocqueville and James Bryce? a. Though the American political system offers little choice to voters, they do not seem to care. Instead they prefer to seek consensus. b. Americans are unwilling to publicly harbor their discontent with government openly, unlike in other societies. c. For the most part, Americans are apathetic to government and seek to avoid involving themselves in it. d. Americans share a broad consensus on many core beliefs and principles that guide the nation.
d. Americans share a broad consensus on many core beliefs and principles that guide the nation.
Why were defects in the Articles of Confederation difficult to correct? a. Any changes required the signature of the president and the House of Representatives. b. Any changes had to be approved by popular vote. c. Any changes required communication among 13 states spread over a wide area, making the process unwieldy. d. Any changes required the unanimous approval of the states.
d. Any changes required the unanimous approval of the states.
Which statement best applies to the tenets of eighteenth-century republicanism? a. Anyone has the right to run for office. b. The population rules the country directly. c. Elected representatives act as delegates. d. Government safeguards property rights.
d. Government safeguards property rights.
What is one of the most important effects of constitutional design? a. Representation in the Senate is biased toward the large states. b. The Constitution provides for the direct election of senators. c. There is an imbalance of power between the federal government and the states. d. It is very difficult for the majority to govern in the United States.
d. It is very difficult for the majority to govern in the United States.
What term is used to describe the period in U.S. history during which African Americans were treated as second-class citizens and were officially segregated in the South? a. Reconstruction b. Cold War c. the "Red Scare" d. Jim Crow
d. Jim Crow
The framers were practical politicians. They knew that to prevent tyranny in their young country, they would have to craft a Constitution that "checks power with power." What does this concept mean? a. Most of the power should remain with state governments because a national government is more likely to oppress people. b. The framers were concerned that one branch of the government might go to war against another branch. c. There was a great likelihood that the branches of government would block one another so that nothing could be done. d. Power would need to be distributed to several branches of the government so that the power of one branch could be checked by the other branches.
d. Power would need to be distributed to several branches of the government so that the power of one branch could be checked by the other branches.
Which is an accurate statement regarding the thoughts of eighteenth-century republicans? a. Lower and middle classes should be over-represented because of their more precarious financial position. b. Decisions regarding public business should be the province of all individuals. c. They expected that elected officials would represent their constituents and be responsive to public opinion. d. Public affairs should be left to the wealthy and already powerful men of society.
d. Public affairs should be left to the wealthy and already powerful men of society.
What caused the citizens of the states to endorse a new form of government after the adoption of the Articles of Confederation? a. They wanted to overthrow of British government. b. They wanted to prevent tyranny. c. They needed popular participation and equality among citizens. d. The Articles proved ineffective at unifying the states into a coherent, national entity.
d. The Articles proved ineffective at unifying the states into a coherent, national entity.
The separation of powers in the national government outlined in the Constitution is a foundation of our government. It mandates separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Which of the following is an essential characteristic that makes the system effective? a. The executive branch controls the staff that handles the work for all the branches. b. The legislative branch, which is closest to the citizens, is the most important branch. c. Each branch has specific functions that do not overlap with the functions of the other branches. d. The branches are constitutionally equal and independent.
d. The branches are constitutionally equal and independent.
Which of the following statements describes the ultimate aims of the American Revolution? a. The colonists were mainly unhappy about the restrictions on trade and other impositions on liberty that they had enjoyed. b. The colonists wanted to be an equal power in the international community, and to be so required independence from England. c. The colonists were mostly concerned about the imposed taxes on tea, and the American Revolution was an escalation of the Boston Tea Party. d. The colonists wanted to rule themselves; they were primarily concerned about self-government and popular sovereignty.
d. The colonists wanted to rule themselves; they were primarily concerned about self-government and popular sovereignty.
Why did the Federalists believe the addition of the Bill of Rights was unnecessary to the Constitution? a. They did not see the value in a compromise with the Anti-Federalists as the Anti-Federalists had fewer resources and less organization. b. They opposed the powers some of the amendments granted to states and individual citizens at the expense of the federal government. c. They rejected the notion of a Bill of Rights in general fearing that too much empowerment of the masses would result in majority tyranny. d. They cited protections in existing state constitutions and limits imposed on the federal government by the Constitution.
d. They cited protections in existing state constitutions and limits imposed on the federal government by the Constitution.
How do core ideals and shared values, such as liberty and self-government, serve as important links between the history of the United States and its contemporary experiences? a. Such values and ideals have prevented the government from infringing on liberty. b. They have kept the country unified since its founding. c. They have led America to have the highest rates of equality in the world. d. They remind Americans of the reasons this country was founded.
d. They remind Americans of the reasons this country was founded.
The Declaration of Independence was written __________ the war between the colonists and Great Britain. a. after b. before c. without consideration of d. during
d. during
In order for elections to ensure that leaders are responsive to the peoples' wishes and are responsible to them for their actions, all of the following must be true, EXCEPT __________. a. people must be free to vote for the candidate of their choice b. elections must be competitive c. high-quality information must be available to voters d. elections must be kept simple by ensuring that voters only have to choose between two candidates
d. elections must be kept simple by ensuring that voters only have to choose between two candidates
Which of the following ensures popular sovereignty in the United States? a. the military b. checks and balances c. the Supreme Court d. free and fair elections
d. free and fair elections
One critical aim of block grants, supported by Republicans Nixon and Ford in the 1970s, was to __________. a. eliminate all federal grants-in-aid b. raise unfunded mandates c. push to recentralize federal authority d. limit restrictions on funding provided to the state governments
d. limit restrictions on funding provided to the state governments
An advocate of strong state governments might argue that geographic proximity to elected officials __________. a. allows for vast experimentation and the widespread adoption of states' ideas b. is not a significant factor in political responsiveness c. is less influential when people are aware of government's actions d. makes state governments more aware of the needs and desires of average citizens
d. makes state governments more aware of the needs and desires of average citizens
Those with greater resources are more likely to __________. a. ignore politics but be represented in government b. become distrustful of the government c. advocate political revolution d. participate in politics and be represented in government
d. participate in politics and be represented in government
The Constitution has a lot of language that is vague and often hard to interpret for exact meaning. The problems created by such language have been confronted in practice through which of the following approaches? a. state actions through their own legislatures b. Attorney General rulings regarding the Constitutional language c. congressional amendments to the Constitution to clarify discrepancies in language d. processing through state and federal courts and the use of judicial interpretation
d. processing through state and federal courts and the use of judicial interpretation
The full faith and credit clause __________. a. prevents states from showing preferential treatment to their citizens over citizens of other states b. regulates commerce between states c. requires states to follow national laws when they are in conflict with state laws d. requires states to honor each other's official acts
d. requires states to honor each other's official acts
What does an anarchist believe? a. that direct democracy better upholds the benchmark of popular sovereignty than representative democracy b. that government should provide only for the basic needs of people, such as law and order c. that democracy is the most just form of government d. that government is not necessary for people to live in harmony
d. that government is not necessary for people to live in harmony
Categorical grants from the federal government provide state and local governments with funding for a specific purpose, and there are many requirements that must be met. Block grants give state and local officials the ability to determine for themselves how to spend federal grant money. One other advantage of block grants is __________. a. they ensure that citizens of different states receive equal levels of service b. they protect taxpayers by ensuring greater accountability for how money is spent c. they allow states to coordinate their efforts to combat national problems d. they are easier to administer than categorical grants are
d. they are easier to administer than categorical grants are
According to the Declaration of Independence, what is the primary purpose of a government? a. to facilitate open trade b. to guarantee happiness tc. o negotiate an international community of nations d. to protect people's unalienable rights
d. to protect people's unalienable rights
