Gov 2305 Unit 1 test
The Declaration of Independence defined which three inalienable rights?
"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
The text of the Fourteenth Amendment states
"nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Approximately what percentage of the American public is Black?
13
The number of categorical grants in the United States increased dramatically during the
1960s
The power of Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states, and with Native American tribes is found in ________ of the U.S. Constitution.
Article I
Which of the following statements best summarizes the federal courts' rulings on Internet content?
Congress enacted legislation giving service providers immunity from suits regarding content posted by others, and the courts have upheld this law.
Regulated federalism is a form of federalism in which
Congress imposes legislation on states and localities, requiring them to meet national standards
How does regulated federalism differ from cooperative federalism?
Cooperative federalism often involves using funds to incentivize states, whereas regulated federalism imposes requirements on states.
The Supreme Court reaffirmed the idea that there is no substantial public interest in permitting certain kinds of speech, including fighting words, in
Dennis v. United States.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment provides a constitutional right to keep a loaded handgun at home for self-defense in
District of Columbia v. Heller.
________ prevent(s) people from being tried twice for the same crime.
Double jeopardy
A majority of the foreign-born population living in the United States today come from
Europe
"Commerce among the several states" was first defined in
Gibbons v. Ogden
Which event was most influential in triggering the rise of a more active national government?
Great Depression
A constitutional right to privacy was established in
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965).
What was the main reason Alexander Hamilton opposed a bill of rights?
He believed it was unnecessary since the national government was given only delegated powers
Which of the following statements best characterizes the relationship between government action, liberty, and equality?
In contrast to liberty, which requires limits on the role of government, equality implies an obligation of the government to act on behalf of the people.
What is the significance of the Bill of Rights?
It ensured certain rights and liberties to the people.
What is the significance of the 1937 Supreme Court case Palko v. Connecticut?
It established the principle of selective incorporation.
Which of the following is true about the Bill of Rights?
It is the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
________ defended the British soldiers who were involved in the Boston Massacre.
John Adams
Which of the following statements about the relationship between state and local governments is NOT accurate?
Local governments can legally dissolve the government of the state they reside in if every local government votes to do so.
The exclusionary rule was applied to all levels of government by the Supreme Court in which case?
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
The requirement that a person under arrest be informed of his or her right to remain silent is known as the ________ rule.
Miranda
Using block grants to return power to the states was part of ________ during the Nixon (1969-1974) and Reagan (1981-1989) administrations.
New Fedralism
Which of the following statements best describes British rule of the American colonies during the first half of the eighteenth century?
The British ruled with a light hand and exerted a strong influence only in the largest colonial cities.
Which of the following statements about grand juries is most accurate?
The Fifth Amendment provision for a grand jury has never been incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment to apply to state criminal prosecutions.
Which of the following statements best describes the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment?
The Fourteenth Amendment forced state governments to abide by almost every provision in the Bill of Rights, but the process took over 100 years.
Which of the following statements about Supreme Court decisions related to executions under the Eighth Amendment is NOT accurate?
The Supreme Court has outlawed the use lethal injection as a mode of execution.
What happened in 1937 that decisively ended the era of dual federalism?
The Supreme Court issued a series of decisions throwing out the old distinction between interstate and intrastate commerce.
Which of the following statements best summarizes President Herbert Hoover's views on federal action during the Great Depression?
The federal government could do little to alleviate the misery caused by the depression, and state and local governments should be responsible for responding to the crisis.
Which of the following statements best describes the 2005 Supreme Court ruling on medicinal marijuana?
The federal government has the power to regulate the use of medicinal marijuana under the commerce clause.
Why was the Supreme Court case New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) significant?
The justices ruled that a newspaper had to print false and malicious material deliberately in order to be guilty of libel.
What was one effect of dual federalism during the early Republic?
The national government was spared the task of making difficult policy decisions, such as the regulation of slavery, because the states did it themselves for the most part.
Which of the following best summarizes the history of citizenship and race in the United States?
There has been a gradual expansion of citizenship to people of non-White descent, starting after the Civil War.
Unfunded mandates were primarily the result of tension between
a Democratic Congress that wanted to achieve liberal social objectives and Republican presidents who opposed increased social spending
Which office did the framers design to be directly elected by the people?
a U.S. representative
Suppose the government wanted to develop a national high-speed rail network. The federal government supplies states with the money to do so but imposes very strict laws on how it will be spent. This type of funding is most likely to come from
a categorical grant
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) and Roe v. Wade (1973) have been extremely important in the development of
a constitutional right to privacy.
Habeas corpus refers to
a court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention.
In the 70 years following the Civil War, the Supreme Court interpreted the Constitution in a way that
allowed entrepreneurs to benefit from policies promoting commerce but shielded them from regulations that protected consumers and workers.
If the federal government passed a law that did not provide money to state and local governments but required them to construct wheelchair lifts at all train stations, it would be an example of
an unfunded mandate
________ compels state governments to obey costly federal regulations but does not reimburse those costs.
an unfunded mandate
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) was important because it produced rules that must be used
by the police before questioning an arrested criminal suspect.
In Planned Parenthood of Southern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992), the Supreme Court has ruled that states
can impose restrictions on abortion as long as they do not pose an "undue burden" on women.
________ are areas of personal freedom with which governments are constrained from interfering.
civil liberties
The first test for determining when the government may intervene to suppress political speech was called the ________ test.
clear and present danger
A government that is formally limited by laws and rules is called
constitutional
________ is evidenced when national officials fund a project that is actually implemented by state governments.
cooperative federalism
Which of the following best represents the timeline of the evolution of federalism, from earliest in American history to most recent?
dual federalism, then cooperative federalism, then regulated federalism
A person files for a patent for a new invention they have come up with. The federal government grants them a patent using the power vested in it by Article I, Section 8 of the constitution. This is an example of what kind of power?
expressed power
The United States, Canada, and Switzerland are all ________ systems of government, while France is a ________ system of government.
federal; unitary
During the first 150 years under the Constitution, the federal government was
focused narrowly on taking actions to assist commerce and encourage economic development.
What is the term length of a federal judge?
for life
The ________ clause of the First Amendment protects an individual's right to believe and practice whatever religion he or she chooses.
free exercise
The form of federal assistance called ________ provides money to state governments with no strings attached.
general revenue sharing
The processes by which local, state, and federal governments negotiate and compromise over policy responsibilities is called
intergovernmental relations.
What were the Alien and Sedition Acts?
laws passed in the 1790s that made it a crime to say or publish anything that would defame the government of the United States
The Bill of Rights was designed to protect
liberty
Cities, states, and counties that have declared themselves "sanctuaries"
limit their cooperation with the national government's attempts to enforce immigration law.
In the United States, zoning laws, the provision of parks and recreational facilities, and basic services such as trash collection are typically the responsibility of
local governments.
American democracy rests on the principle of
majority rule and minority rights
Conflicts over whether public schools should be allowed to assign readings from the Bible and lead nondenominational prayers are examples of disagreements over the
meaning of the establishment clause.
Which clause is the source of implied powers under the U.S. Constitution?
necessary and proper
"Marble cake federalism" is associated with the
pattern of intergovernmental cooperation that has blurred the lines between the states and the national governments.
What was Justice Potter Stewart talking about when he declared, "I know it when I see it"?
pornography
The term " eminent domain" describes the
power of the government to seize private property for public use.
An example of ________ is federal officials forcing state officials to implement more stringent water pollution regulations.
preemption
Suppose the federal government blocks the states from imposing taxes on high speed internet service. Which of the following would allow it to do so?
preemption
The principle of ________ gives the federal government the power to override any state or local law in one particular area of policy.
preemption
The framers employed the separation of powers and federalism in order to
prevent the new government from abusing its power.
States are required to return fugitives to other states from which they have fled by the Constitution's
privileges and immunities clause.
Which of the following civil liberties is NOT included in Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution?
prohibition of government "taking" private property "without just compensation"
Which of the following is a good example of how state governments use their police power?
providing professional licenses to barbers and hair stylists
The political significance of the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise was to
reinforce the unity of the New England merchants and the southern planters.
On the subject of representation, Antifederalists wanted
representative bodies that accurately resembled those being represented.
In Riley v. California (2014), the Supreme Court
ruled that police are constitutionally prohibited from seizing and searching the digital contents of a cell phone during an arrest.
The process by which the Supreme Court has expanded specific parts of the Bill of Rights to protect citizens against state and federal actions is called
selective incorporation.
In a federal system, governmental responsibilities are
shared by both state and federal governments
Before the Great Depression
state and local governments took responsibility for assisting the poor, usually by channeling aid through private charity.
Which level of government writes the majority of criminal laws?
state governments
The principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government is referred to as
states' rights
The judicial doctrine that places a heavy burden of proof on the government when it seeks to regulate speech is called
strict scrutiny
The ________ affirms that national laws and treaties are "the supreme Law of the Land."
supremacy clause
Which amendment preserves a strong role for the states in the American federal republic?
tenth
Which of the following documents summarized its philosophy toward the national government by stating "each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence"?
the Articles of Confederation
American civil liberties and rights, such as freedom of speech, worship, and trial by jury are listed primarily in
the Constitution's Bill of Rights.
Which of the following laws passed by the Congress of the Confederation compelled states to surrender their western land claims?
the Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Which clause of the U.S. Constitution has been most important in allowing the growth of national power?
the commerce clause
Van Orden v. Perry (2005) and McCreary v. ACLU (2005) show that
the issue of government-sponsored religion has not yet been definitively settled.
The "traditional system" of American federalism refers to a period when
the national government was quite small and carried out only a narrow and very specialized set of responsibilities.
Which of the following is NOT among the expressed powers granted to the national government in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution?
the power to establish a national bank
Which of the following is the best example of a concurrent power under the U.S. Constitution?
the power to regulate commercial activity
The full faith and credit clause of the Constitution requires
the states to honor each other's public acts and legal decisions.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) established the right
to legal counsel in felony cases.
Antifederalists were sharply critical of the structure of the Senate, the executive, and the federal judiciary under the Constitution because they
worried these undemocratic institutions would lead those in power tyrannize the public.
individual political rights are protected against:
the tyranny of the majority
The constitutional idea of states' rights was strongest during which historical period?
the years immediately preceding the Civil War
During the ratification debates, who were the Federalists?
those who supported the Constitution because it contained a strong national government
A government that recognizes no formal limits on its power and also seeks to eliminate any challenges to its authority is known as a(n) ________ government.
totalitarian
A ________ vote by both houses of Congress and a ratification vote of ________ of the states are required to amend the U.S. Constitution.
two-thirds; three-fourths
Direct democracy is best defined as
a system that allows citizens to vote directly for laws and policies.
Senators were originally appointed by state legislatures.
execution of the leaders of the Boston Tea Party
Colonial protesters of the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act rallied around which slogan?
"No taxation without representation"
The weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation became a concern to southern planters and New England merchants when
"radical" forces began to exert control over a number of state governments.
The Articles of Confederation were ratified by all of the states in
1781
Why did the British government tell John Adams that they would not negotiate treaties related to Revolutionary War disputes with the national government?
The British claimed that there was no point negotiating with the national government under the Articles of Confederation given that it was unable to enforce existing treaties.
What does the supremacy clause assert?
The Constitution and all laws made under it are superior to any state laws.
The power of the federal government began to expand after 1933 in response to
the stock market crash of 1929, the Great Depression, and the run on banks of 1933.
The American population has grown from approximately ________ million people in 1790 to approximately ________ million people in 2018.
4; 327
In order for the Constitution to be formally adopted, ________ of the ________ states in the Union had to agree to its terms.
9; 13
Which of the following is an example of a confederation?
A group of states agree to create a new government over them, which they will allow to manage some issues of common interest, but otherwise the states will remain independent.
Which of the following best captures the views of northern delegates to the Constitutional Convention when it came to slavery?
Although some considered it immoral, most were willing to compromise on the issue to keep the union together.
Which of the following statements concerning political values in the United States is most accurate?
American values often conflict with each other in practice.
The expressed powers of Congress are listed in ________ of the U.S. Constitution.
Article I, Section 8
The United States' first written constitution was called the
Articles of Confederation.
The Boston Tea Party was largely a response to the
British government's decision to eliminate the lucrative colonial tea trade.
The essential documents of the American founding are the ________ and the ________.
Declaration of Independence; Constitution
Which of the following is an accurate statement about the consequences of declining trust in government?
Distrust makes it difficult for government to attract talented and effective workers to public service.
Which of the following statements best summarizes Americans' belief in equality?
Few Americans have embraced the ideal of equality of results, but most share the ideal of equality of opportunity and political equality.
Why was the Declaration of Independence a remarkable political statement for its time?
It helped unify previously divided colonial groups by identifying shared problems, grievances, and principles.
Why do we have a government?
It provides basic services that everyone needs but that would be difficult for individuals to provide for themselves
________ are the three core values in American politics.
Liberty, equality, and democracy
Why does it matter if Americans have low levels of trust in their government?
Low levels of trust can lead to a more ineffective government that is starved of the resources it needs to function.
Which of the following best summarizes Americans' political knowledge?
Most Americans know little about how politics works or what current issues are under debate.
The foreign-born population in the U.S. reached an all-time low of 5% in 1970 because the
National Origins quota system strongly restricted the number of immigrants who could enter the U.S.
Which of the following best summarizes the colonies' path to declaring independence?
Originally, most colonists wanted better treatment from Britain, but a cycle of colonial protest and British repression radicalized many colonists and led them to declare independence.
The framers designed the Senate to be a check against excessive democracy by doing which of the following?
Senators were originally appointed by state legislatures.
Which of the following statements best summarizes the Federalists' view on representation?
The best system of representation allows citizens to elect individuals possessing ability, experience, and talent superior to their own.
Which of the following is the best example of a unitary system of government?
The federal government sets detailed educational guidelines that all local governments must implement.
Daniel Shays was
a former army captain who led a rebellion against the Massachusetts government.
Which of the following statements is true about Americans who identify as "two or more races"?
The number of Americans identifying as "two or more races" was largely unknown before the census added that category in 2000.
What is one of the biggest problems with federal block grants?
There is a need for greater accountability in how the funds are actually spent by the states.
Which of the following is NOT a part of a capitalist system?
There is open competition and unrestricted movement of goods.
Which of the following statements about national defense under the Articles of Confederation is most accurate?
There was no national army and the armed forces were composed entirely of state militias.
The First Continental Congress was
a group of colonial delegates assembled in 1774 that called for a total boycott of all British goods.
The five men appointed by Second Continental Congress in 1776 to write a statement about American independence from British rule were Robert Livingston, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and
Thomas Jefferson.
Which of the following is the best definition of the elastic clause
a part of the Constitution that empowers Congress to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its enumerated powers
The profound change in America's racial and ethnic profile since the 1970s was primarily the result of
a 1965 Congressional decision to lift immigration restrictions.
The Boston Massacre occurred when
a small number of colonists were killed by British soldiers outside the Town House in Boston.
Consider a system of government in which some formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government, yet most governing decisions are controlled by a small group of wealthy people. Which of the following would best describe such a system?
an oligarchy
In the debates over ratification, which label was given to those who thought the powers of the federal government should be "confined to certain defined national objects" so that it did not "swallow up all the power of the state governments"?
antifederalists
A government that recognizes no formal limits on its power but yet is kept in check by the power of other political and social institutions is known as a(n) ________ government.
authoritarian
The Sultan of Brunei serves as a monarch of his country and has the ultimate control of the government. Brunei is an example of a(n)
autocracy
Imagine a country designs a system of government where the legislature can remove the chief executive if it loses confidence in her, while the chief executive can choose whether or not to veto legislative acts. This would be an example of
checks and balances.
Shays's Rebellion was significant because it
convinced many that the Articles of Confederation created an ineffective government.
Americans' sense of political efficacy has
decreased dramatically between 1960 and 2015
The electoral college is
designed to select the president of the United States.
The Land Ordinance of 1785 was significant because it
established the principles of surveying and ownership that governed westward expansion.
The process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government according to an established formula is called
general revenue sharing
Having the electoral college select the president, using a bicameral legislature, and designing a system of checks and balances are all evidence that the framers were primarily concerned with
giving too much power to the general public to influence the outcomes of government.
The most common method of passing and ratifying an amendment to the Constitution is passage
in both houses of Congress by a two-thirds vote, followed by a majority vote in three-fourths of the state legislature.
Since 1900, the percentage of Americans over the age of 65 has ________ while the percentage of Americans under the age of 18 has ________.
increased; decreased
Citizenship refers to
informed and active membership in a political community.
Government is best defined as the
institutions and procedures by which a territory and its people are ruled.
The incomes of middle class Americans have
largely stagnated over the last 40 years
While the framers designed a system based on checks and balances, they intended which branch to be the most powerful?
legislative
In 1900, Americans who traced their origin to Latin America or Asia each accounted for
less than 1% of the entire population.
Laissez-faire capitalism is most closely related to which core American value?
liberty
The decline in political efficacy in the United States is
likely to have negative effects on American democracy because it will lead to less citizen participation in government.
The Antifederalists argued that the powers of the federal government should be clearly spelled out and "confined to certain defined national objects." This most directly refers to
limited government.
In a(n) ________, power is held by a group of people, whereas in a(n) ________, power is held by only one.
oligarchy; autocracy
In America, much of our politics results from a pattern of struggles among interest groups for influence. This is fundamental to the theory of
pluralism
Different countries have different sets of shared values that they prioritize. In some countries that could be the well-being of the community and equality of outcomes, whereas in other countries it might be individualism and liberty. These are examples of how different countries can have different
political cultures
The belief that citizens can influence what government does is called
political efficacy
"One person, one vote" reflects the principle of
political equality.
1 out of 1 points The right of each citizen to vote is an example of
political equality.
The right of each citizen to vote is an example of
political equality.
Shays's Rebellion was an attempt to
prevent the state of Massachusetts from foreclosing on the lands of debt-ridden farmers.
New England merchants hoped to accomplish which of the following by supporting the radicals who staged the Boston Tea Party?
revocation of the Tea Act
During the last 50 years, the American population has
shifted as a result of people leaving the Northeast and Midwest and moving to the South and Southwest.
Under the Articles of Confederation, it was left to the ________ to execute laws passed by the Continental Congress.
states
Judicial review is the power of
the courts to review the constitutionality of actions taken by other branches of government.
What led British officials to raise taxes on the American colonists during the 1760s?
the debts incurred as a result of the French and Indian War
What was Madison referring to when he wrote that "a double security arises to the rights of the people"?
the fact that the Constitution protects the rights of the people through both federalism and the separation of powers
The Federalists believed that the most apparent source of tyranny was
the popular majority.