Ch. 1 & 2

Which of the following was an original constitutional means of selecting one of the three major branches of government, but that has since changed? A) The House of Representatives was chosen by electors. B) The Senate was chosen by state legislatures. C) Supreme Court justices were nominated by the Senate. D) The president was chosen by direct vote without electors.

B) The Senate was chosen by state legislatures.

Why are knowledgeable citizens more engaged in politics? A) They read the newspaper. B) They understand how politics affects their lives. C) They enjoy working for political campaigns. D) They earn higher wages.

B) They understand how politics affects their lives.

The United States' government is best characterized as A) a direct democracy. B) a republic. C) totalitarian. D) authoritarian.

B) a republic.

The electoral college is A) an expression of direct democracy. B) designed to select the president of the United States. C) the institution that originally selected U.S. senators. D) the federal organization that oversees the operation of all elections held in the United States.

B) designed to select the president of the United States.

What issue more than any other seemed to unite separate colonial interests into rebellion from Great Britain? A) trade B) taxes C) popular sovereignty D) foreign alliances

B) taxes

Which two entities have responsibility for overseeing the appointment and approval of federal judges? A) the president and the House of Representatives B) the Senate and the president C) the president and the Supreme Court D) the Senate and the Supreme Court

B) the Senate and the president

Which of the following statements best describes the changes in America's age profile since 1900? A) the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has declined dramatically B) the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has increased dramatically C) the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has remained constant D) the percentage of children under the age of 18 has increased dramatically E) the percentage of children under the age of 18 has remained constant

B) the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has increased dramatically

The Federalist Papers were written by A) John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. B) John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson. C) Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. D) Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, and James Madison.

C) Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.

Which political philosopher wrote that life in a government-less state of nature would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short"? A) Montesquieu B) Locke C) Hobbes D) Aristotle

C) Hobbes

The inspiration behind the Declaration of Independence's focus on "life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" was MOST inspired by which political philosopher? A) Thomas Hobbes B) Alexis de Tocqueville C) John Locke D) Edmund Burke

C) John Locke

Which of the following statements is true about the Three-Fifths Compromise? A) It settled the question of how many senators each state would get. B) It created a system to elect the president of the United States. C) Under this compromise, five slaves would count as three free persons in apportioning seats in the House of Representatives. D) Only three-fifths of all slaves were allowed to vote in national elections.

C) Under this compromise, five slaves would count as three free persons in apportioning seats in the House of Representatives.

Contemporary politics is best defined as A) a form of deceit practiced by everyone. B) what people do to get what they want from government. C) conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments. D) the misallocation of "values" for partisan purposes.

C) conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments.

Some states allow ballot referenda or popular initiatives, which are forms of A) representative democracy. B) totalitarianism. C) direct democracy. D) monarchy.

C) direct democracy.

The belief that citizens can affect government is called political A) culture. B) socialization. C) efficacy. D) satisfaction.

C) efficacy.

An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference is referred to as A) socialism. B) communism. C) laissez-faire capitalism. D) corporatism. E) feudalism.

C) laissez-faire capitalism.

The United States' key political values are A) liberty and responsibility. B) liberty, equality, and minority rights. C) liberty, equality, and democracy. D) liberty, democracy, and capitalism.

C) liberty, equality, and democracy.

The U.S. definition of liberty refers to A) personal freedom only. B) economic liberty only. C) personal and economic freedom. D) political and religious freedom.

C) personal and economic freedom.

The bourgeoisie of western Europe wanted to A) open up political participation to all social classes. B) restore the divine right of kings. C) promote political participation for the middle classes. D) overthrow parliaments.

C) promote political participation for the middle classes.

In a democracy, popular sovereignty is vested in A) the president. B) the federal government. C) the people. D) Congress.

C) the people.

The Virginia Plan proposed a system of representation in the national legislature that was based on A) equal representation between the states. B) the concept of universal suffrage. C) the population of each state or the proportion of each state's revenue contribution, or both. D) the strength of each state's militia.

C) the population of each state or the proportion of each state's revenue contribution, or both.

In 2016, Latinos were approxiately what percent of the American public? A) 67% B) 52% C) 31% D) 18% E) 6%

D) 18%

The United States' first written constitution was the A) U.S. Constitution. B) Declaration of Independence. C) League of States. D) Articles of Confederation.

D) Articles of Confederation.

The three political philosophers whose ideas exerted the greatest influence on the Founders were A) Rousseau, Nietzsche, and Foucault. B) Marx, Lenin, and Trotsky. C) Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson. D) Hobbes, Locke, and Montesquieu.

D) Hobbes, Locke, and Montesquieu.

Which of the following statements best describes the history of income inequality in the United States? A) The top 1% has never earned more than 10% of the nation's annual income B) The top 1% has never earned less than 10% of the nation's annual income C) Income inequality has remained fairly constant since the late 1970s D) Income inequality has increased considerably since the late 1970s E) Income inequality has decreased considerably since the late 1970s

D) Income inequality has increased considerably since the late 1970s

Which of the following statements describes America's growing population since its founding? A) More Americans trace their roots to Europe today than ever before. B) African Americans now make up a much smaller percentage of the total population. C) The percentage of the American population that identifies as Protestant has been on the rise. D) The number of elderly Americans has grown, and the number of children aged 18 and under has declined.

D) The number of elderly Americans has grown, and the number of children aged 18 and under has declined.

How does the text define citizenship, as derived from the ancient Greek meaning? A) the right by birth to govern B) official designation as a legal member of a society C) the right and practice of voting D) as the complete person; participation in public affairs

D) as the complete person; participation in public affairs

A direct democracy is a system in which A) an elite makes decisions for the society. B) representatives meet to discuss policy and make decisions. C) the masses have certain rights, but decisions are made by a council. D) citizens are permitted to vote directly on laws and policies.

D) citizens are permitted to vote directly on laws and policies.

Which concept is increasingly important in politics and best describes the rising ability to participate in society online? A) social citizenship B) political citizenship C) online citizenship D) digital citizenship

D) digital citizenship

Which of the following is the term generally used to describe the institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled? A) economy. B) legislature. C) politics. D) government.

D) government.

Americans' trust in their government A) has risen steadily since the 1960s. B) has remained relatively constant since the 1960s. C) increased between 1960 and 2008 but has declined since. D) increased after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but has declined since. E) declined after the September 11, 2001, terrorist ataks but increased since.

D) increased after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but has declined since.

Which political value did the Constitution value more than any other at its creation? A) equality B) prosperity C) democracy D) individual liberty

D) individual liberty

Under a system of laissez-faire capitalism, the role of government is to A) regulate the market in order to protect the public. B) choose the most successful industries. C) ensure access to free public education. D) interfere with the market as little as possible.

D) interfere with the market as little as possible.

In a representative democracy, public policies are determined by A) consensus. B) arrangements such as popular referendums and initiatives. C) a small group of individuals such as landowners or military officials. D) officials regularly chosen by the people.

D) officials regularly chosen by the people.

Which was not a reason for establishing the second founding? A) foreign affairs and commerce B) domestic tranquility and peace C) weak federal governments D) slavery

D) slavery

What percent of Americans live in urban areas today? A) less than 10% B) about 20% C) about 40% D) about 60% E) about 80%

E) about 80%

Which of the following mechanisms were instituted in the Congress to guard against "excessive democracy"? A) bicameralism B) staggered terms in office C) appointment of senators for long terms D) indirect election of the president E) all of the above

E) all of the above

Which of the following best describes the Supreme Court as understood by the Founders? A) the body that would choose the president B) the principle check on presidential power C) arbiter of disputes within the Congress D) a figurehead commission of elders E) the highest court of both the national government and the states

E) the highest court of both the national government and the states

What best describes the process of amending the Constitution?

It is difficult and has rarely been used successfully to address specific public problems

Expressed powers

Those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution; also called the "enumerated powers"

Constitutional Government

formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of government

The Great Compromise

the agreement reached at the constitutional convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population but linked representation in the HoR to population

Who was responsible for executing laws passed by the national government under the articles of confederation?

the states

Authoritarian Government

-a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions -holds power by violence or threat of violence

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

In general, it was the ____ vision of the United States that triumphed after the nation's founding. A) Federalist B) Antifederalist C) Jeffersonian D) Washingtonian

A) Federalist

Which of the following is the MOST widely used method of amending the Constitution to date? A) Passage in the House and Senate by two-thirds vote, then ratification by majority vote of the legislatures of three-fourths (now 38) of the states. B) Passage in the House and Senate by two-thirds vote, then ratification by conventions called for the purpose in three-fourths of the states. C) Passage in a national convention called for by Congress in response to petitions by two-thirds of the states, ratification by majority vote of the legislatures of three-fourths of the states. D) Passage in a national convention (as in method 3), then ratification by conventions called for the purpose in three-fourths of the states

A) Passage in the House and Senate by two-thirds vote, then ratification by majority vote of the legislatures of three-fourths (now 38) of the states.

Theorists such as Montesquieu referred to the principle of giving each branch of government a distinctly different constituency as A) a mixed regime. B) a confederation. C) a bicameral structure. D) a limited government. E) a federalist government

A) a mixed regime.

Shays's Rebellion was politically significant to America's Founding in that it A) demonstrated the weakness of government under the Articles of Confederation. B) represented the first major battle of the Civil War. C) led to renewed fighting between the colonists and the British. D) was the last battle in the Revolutionary War.

A) demonstrated the weakness of government under the Articles of Confederation.

The percentage of foreign-born individuals living in the US A) has increased significantly since reaching its low point in 1970. B) has decreased significantly since reaching its high point in 1970. C) has remained the same since 1970. D) has never been less than the percentage of native-born individuals living in the US E) has not been studied since 1970.

A) has increased significantly since reaching its low point in 1970.

What power does the Supreme Court possess that is not expressly given to it by the Constitution? A) judicial review B) presidential impeachment C) declaring executive actions unconstitutional D) the power to issue warrants

A) judicial review

American democracy rests on the principle of A) majority rule, minority rights. B) minority rule, majority rights. C) majority rule, majority rights D) rule by consensus with majority rights.

A) majority rule, minority rights.

The principle that suggests "one person, one vote" refers to A) political equality. B) social equality. C) equality of opportunity. D) equality of outcome.

A) political equality.

What type of tyranny did the Federalists fear the MOST? A) tyranny of the majority B) tyranny of the minority C) tyranny of aristocracy and monarchy D) tyranny of the wealthy

A) tyranny of the majority

Elastic Clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

Which of the following was provided for by the supremacy clause? A) The judiciary would remain outside of the control of either the legislative or executive branch. B) All laws made by the federal government would be superior to all laws adopted by any state or any other subdivision. C) States would be free to make treaties with each other but not with the federal government. D) The federal executive, and no other, would have the power to implement the laws passed by Congress.

B) All laws made by the federal government would be superior to all laws adopted by any state or any other subdivision.

Which of the following is true of changes in the income and wealth distribution of the American people? A) Since the 1980s, the incomes of the broad middle class have experienced a steep decline. B) Beginning in the 1930s, a large middle class began to take shape. C) Today, roughly 10 percent of the population remains below the official poverty line. D) Due to progressive tax reforms and the largely rural population of the time, the 1890s marked a period of maximum income and wealth equality in the United States.

B) Beginning in the 1930s, a large middle class began to take shape.

Which of the following statements about the experience of the United States with religion is accurate? A) In 1900, 20 percent of the population identified as Protestant. B) By 2012 religious diversity was increasing, as approximately 20 percent of the population was not affiliated with an organized church, the largest statistic ever for this group. C) The American political cultural identity is becoming increasingly "Judeo-Christian" in nature. D) Since 1900, America's religious diversity has remained relatively homogenous.

B) By 2012 religious diversity was increasing, as approximately 20 percent of the population was not affiliated with an organized church, the largest statistic ever for this group.

Who was the chief radical leader for American independence from Great Britain? A) James Madison B) Samuel Adams C) John Adams D) Thomas Jefferson

B) Samuel Adams

The best principle of political equality can best be summed up as A) "equality of results." B) "equality of opportunity." C) "one person, one vote." D) "equality between the sexes." E) "leave everyone alone."

C) "one person, one vote."

Antifederalists

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government, generally.

The phrase "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" appears in

The Declaration of Independence

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

What were the Anti-federalists most concerned with?

The potential for tyranny in the central government

Virginia Plan

Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population

Confederation

a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government

Totalitarian Government

a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it