American Government Exercise quizzes

What led to the creation of the Rhode Island Colony? How was the colony governed?

Roger Williams, a Puritan minister, had differences with the Puritan leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. When he was expelled, he founded Rhode Island as a colony that would be free to practice his brand of Puritanism. It was self-governing, with an elected governor and its own representative assembly.

What were the Constitutional changes to the presidency?

The election of the president in the 12 amendment and the terms limits in the 22nd amendment.

What are the three parts of the executive branch?

The executive branch is composed of the executive office of the president, the executive departments, and independent agencies.

How does the government spend the nondefense discretionary part of the federal budget?

The federal government spends its money on a wide variety of programs and services. Discretionary spending is the part of the budget that goes through the appropriations process each year.

Why did the framers of the Constitution want Supreme Court justices appointed for life?

The framers felt that members of the federal judicial branch should be free to voice legal opinions. That freedom would be lacking if the justices feared losing their jobs for rendering unpopular decisions.

What's the main power of the Supreme Court?

The main power of the Supreme Court is the power of judicial review. Only the Supreme Court can interpret the Constitution. Its interpretations become law since the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land.

Explain the name Publius.

The name Publius was used to sign The Federalist articles when they were published in newspapers. Publius was a pseudonym for James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.

Suppose the Supreme Court justices vote on a decision in Franklin v. United States. The chief justice votes with three other justices in favor of Franklin. Who will write the opinion of the court?

The opinion will be written by one of the justices who voted with the majority.

The First Continental Congress sent a petition to King George. What did it proclaim?

The petition sent by the First Continental Congress to King George proclaimed that the English Parliament couldn't pass laws without the consent of the colonial government.

What principle is expressed by the Latin phrase e pluribus unum? What does the phrase mean in English?

The phrase e pluribus unum expresses the principle of federalism. Each state and local government has its own power under a central government with limited powers. The phrase means "out of many, one."

What is the purpose of voter registration?

The purpose of voter registration is to assure that people vote only once.

What are the two main sources of income for the federal government?

The two main sources of revenue for the federal government are personal income taxes and social insurance taxes.

What are the two formal duties of the vice president?

The vice president presides over the Senate when there's likely to be a tie vote, and he's responsible for taking over the duties of the president should that be necessary.

What are entitlements?

Government entitlements are welfare programs paid for by taxes or by government borrowing. Examples are Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

What is a possible drawback to direct democracy? How might it be resolved?

A direct democracy may allow a majority to dominate and silence a minority. This kind of problem can be remedied by providing all citizens with basic rights. Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are examples of basic rights.

Why were some delegates opposed to having a president to lead the executive branch?

Paterson and others who supported the New Jersey Plan thought a single president would be too much like a king.

What does the phrase advice and consent mean?

Advice and consent is the Senate's power to approve or reject presidential appointments.

What did James Madison and John Marshall have in common?

Both James Madison and John Marshall served as secretary of state.

Explain how the popular and electoral college votes decide the presidency.

Each state is allowed a certain number of electors equal to the number of its senators and representatives combined. Political parties submit a slate of electors (electoral college) pledged to vote for the candidate of that party. The candidate who wins the vote in a state wins all that state's electoral votes, regardless of the popular vote.

What are excise taxes?

Excise taxes are federal or state taxes placed on commodities such as alcohol, tobacco, and gasoline.

How is a special issue interest group like the AARP different from an organized labor interest group?

Generally, special issues groups address issues of broad public concern. For example, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) addresses the concerns of older people. The National Rifle Association addresses the public's right to bear arms. Organized labor interest groups, on the other hand, are focused on getting a fair slice of the economic pie. They first formed to oppose the power of business owners and managers. Teacher and government worker unions try to get a fair deal from governments that own and manage their labor.

What was the divine right of kings?

In Europe, kings sometimes claimed that their power was from God. They ruled by divine right.

Briefly compare debate rules in the House and the Senate.

In the Senate, debate time is more or less unlimited. In the much larger House, debate is strictly controlled by the Rules Committee. Senate debate rules allow bills to be talked to death through a filibuster. That isn't possible in the House.

Summarize three main things interest groups do to get laws passed in their favor.

Interest groups try to get laws passed in their favor through member education, using the media, and hiring lobbyists.

What are the overall powers of the legislative branch?

Levying and collecting taxes, borrowing money by issuing bonds and certificates, controlling and regulating commerce between the states and between the United States and other nations, determining how people become citizens of the United States, printing and coining money.

What are motor-voter laws?

Motor-voter laws, which were instituted in 1993, allow people to register to vote when they get their driver's license or have it renewed.

How were royal colonies different from corporate colonies?

Royal colonies were founded under a royal charter. Their governor and colonial council were appointed by the king of England. Such charters provided for a representative assembly and support for the Church of England. Corporate charters, on the other hand, were granted by the king to a company of investors. The management of a corporate colony was up to the directors and shareholders of the company.

Members of Congress get benefits from lobbyists. What are they?

Senators and representatives use lobbyists as a source of information. Lobbyists help them know what voters are interested in. They also help explain some of the many bills that legislators must read and understand.

What was the Stamp Act of 1765?

The British Stamp Act of 1765 forced the American colonists to buy a tax stamp for many purposes. Stamps were required on all legal documents, playing cards, and even newspapers. The colonists were greatly angered by the act.

Why is it appropriate to say the Constitution is designed to "bend like a willow"?

The Constitution is designed to be flexible. New laws can be made as they're needed. In addition, old laws can be reinterpreted.

What was the Holocaust? What type of government was in effect in Germany at the time of the Holocaust?

The Holocaust was the killing of millions of Jews and others during Hitler's rule over Germany. Hitler led a totalitarian government at this time.

What was the king's Privy Council? What role did it play in the House of Burgesses?

The Privy Council was made up of the king's top aides. After Virginia became a royal colony, decisions of the burgesses had to be approved by the Privy Council.

Identify and explain the different forms of jurisdictions for the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review; it can interpret the Constitution. In original jurisdiction cases, the Supreme Court hears cases that haven't been tried by lower courts. Most often the Court hears appeals to previously tried or disputed cases. This is appellate jurisdiction.

Briefly describe the city manager form of government. Why is it used more and more often?

The city manager form includes a city manager with a city council. City managers are professionals trained in urban management. The city manager and his or her staff run the city or town, but the manager answers to an elected town or city council. City managers are used more and more as urban problems have grown more complex.

Why did it take the states so long to ratify the Articles of Confederation?

The war was still going on. Therefore, getting things done was difficult. Also, the states had different laws and different interests. One big problem had to do with control of the frontier lands. States bordering the frontier wanted to expand their territory. States along the seaboard wanted all the states to benefit equally as new territory was settled.

Summarize the three main effects of third parties on American politics.

Third parties offer an alternative to voters who don't want to support either of the major parties. They've given political leaders insight into the real concerns of voters. Finally, they've sometimes affected the outcome of national elections.

Who was Thurgood Marshall?

Thurgood Marshall was an attorney for the NAACP who argued the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case before the Supreme Court. Later, he was appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court.

What are the special powers of the House of Representatives?

To best represent the will of the people, tax measures must be initiated in the House. The House also has the power to vote to impeach a federal official.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

To settle the issue of proportional representation, the delegates agreed on a formula for counting slaves in a state's population. A slave would count as three-fifths of a person.

What is a plea bargain and what is it good for?

Trials are expensive for a state or locality. Plea bargains avoid the time and expense of a full jury trial. In a plea bargain, a person charged with an offense may agree to plead guilty to a lesser offense. The attorneys for the defense and the prosecuting attorneys determine what the lesser offense is.

What was William Paterson's main contribution to the Constitutional Convention?

William Paterson presented a plan to oppose Madison's Virginia Plan. The New Jersey Plan, as it was called, proposed revising the Articles of Confederation.