Chapter 8 Practice Quiz

The United States Government is considered a federal system because

both national and state governments exist within the nation.

Which concept from the European Enlightenment was included in the United States Constitution?

consent of the governed

One way in which the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution

created a national government having three branches

Which constitutional provision was intended to give the people the most influence over the Federal Government?

direct election of members of the House of Representatives for two-year terms

The writers of the United States Constitution created a federal form of government primarily to

divide power between levels of government

The Mayflower Compact, New England town meetings, and the Virginia House of Burgesses are examples of

early colonial efforts in self-governments

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 agreed to the Three-Fifths Compromise as a solution to the problem of how to determine the

number of representatives in the House from each state

According to the Declaration of Independence, the fundamental purpose of government is to

protect people's natural rights

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness; . . ." This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of Independence were

reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment

John Locke's theory of the of the social contract, as developed in the United States Declaration of Independence

the people should revolt against a government that did not protect their rights

The Mayflower Compact, House of Burgesses, and the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut are all examples of the efforts of the colonial Americans to

use democratic practices in government

Which idea had a major influence on authors of the Articles of Confederation?

A strong central government threatens the rights of the people and the states.

A. Representative B. Slave Trade C. Taxation D. Election of the president

Compromises at the Constitutional Convention

Which fundamental political idea is expressed in the Declaration of Independence

If the government denies its people certain basic rights, that governments can be overthrown.

Which historical event best demonstrates the operation of checks and balance?

The Senate approved the appointment of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.

Which statement best describes governmental power under the Articles of Confederation?

The states had much greater power than the central government.

One way in which the authors of the Constitution tried to create "limited government" was by providing for

a division of power between the national and state government.

One similarity between the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution is that both documents provide for

a national legislature to make laws

The Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution is that both documents provide for

a national legislature to make laws

"In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this, you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself." This passage from the Federalist Papers refers to the need for

a system of checks and balances