gov multiple choice test
Which of the following is commonly identified as a failure of the Articles of Confederation? A The national government lacked an effective power to raise revenue. B The executive branch was granted too much power over the legislature. C The federal government had too much control over interstate commerce. D The judicial branch was elected and did not consistently adhere to rule of law.
A The national government lacked an effective power to raise revenue.
Which of the following is argued by James Madison in The Federalist paper number 10? A. A system of republican representation helps to limit the excesses of factionalism. B Small republics are better able to ensure individual liberty than are large republics. C The presence of a few large factions helps to protect the rights of minorities. D Participatory democracy is the surest way to prevent tyranny. E The elimination of the causes of factionalism is the best protection against tyranny.
A. A system of republican representation helps to limit the excesses of factionalism.
In The Federalist 10, James Madison argued that the new constitution would help control faction by doing which of the following? A. By creating a large republic, the new constitution made it less likely that a faction could gain enough power to completely dominate. B The new constitution had significant limits on the freedom of expression, thereby limiting the ability of factions to organize. C The new constitution gave political parties specific powers in the government which limited their influence. D The use of the electoral college and the indirect election of senators would limit the influence that factions could wield.
A. By creating a large republic, the new constitution made it less likely that a faction could gain enough power to completely dominate.
Members of Congress receive many phone calls, meeting invitations, and e-mails from various competing interest groups asking for support on their preferred public policies. This situation best exemplifies which of the following models of democracy? A. Pluralist B. Politico C. Elitist D. Trustee
A. Pluralist
The Declaration of Independence states "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." This was a revolutionary change from the system of British monarchy, which was based on the divine right of kings. For which of the ideals of democracy does this quote provide a foundation? A. Popular sovereignty B. Federalism C. Separation of power D. Limited government
A. Popular sovereignty
The author explains that the powers given to each branch "sometimes appear to swing like a pendulum" from one branch to another. Which of the following best describes how these shifts ensure that constitutional government is functional? A. Separation of powers divides responsibilities and authority between branches, which allows each branch to be checked by the other two branches to ensure accountability. B. The coequal branches have power evenly distributed between them and are not permitted to check another branch of government. C. The greatest power resides within the legislative branch of government, but the legislature can give this power to the executive branch. D. Each branch of government is elected by the people, which ensures that they all reflect the preferences of the population.
A. Separation of powers divides responsibilities and authority between branches, which allows each branch to be checked by the other two branches to ensure accountability.
All of the following were concerns about the Articles of Confederation that led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 EXCEPT A. dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and liberties B. fear for the stability of the central government C. desire to promote trade among the states D. the need to give the central government the power to levy taxes E. dissatisfaction with the central government's ability to provide for national defense
A. dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and liberties
Which of the following is true under the system of checks and balances? A The Supreme Court can overrule the President's policy proposals. B The Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become law. C A bill becomes law when the House and the Senate pass it, and the Supreme Court declares it constitutional. D The Supreme Court can remove members of Congress, and Congress can impeach the President. E The House of Representatives appoints justices to the Supreme Court and the Senate approves the appointments.
B The Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become law.
Under the Articles of Confederation, which of the following were true? I. Congress could not tax the states directly. II. The executive branch of government exercised more power than Congress. III. Congress was a unicameral body.IV. States were represented in Congress proportionally according to population. A. I and II B. I and III C. I and IV D. II and III E. II and IV
B. I and III
In The Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that factions in a republic are A. a more serious threat if the republic is large B. natural but controllable by institutions C. not likely to occur if people are honest D. prevented by majority rule E. prevented by free elections
B. natural but controllable by institutions
Which of the following is the best example of a constitutional concept that supports the vision of the United States as a union of states, rather than a union of individual citizens? A Supremacy clause B Judicial review C The electoral college D Separation of powers
C The electoral college
The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues? A The right of the people to rebel B The existence of slavery C The scope of power of the central government D The need to establish a standard currency E The representation of large and small states
C The scope of power of the central government
Which of the following statements best reflects James Madison's beliefs about political representation as expressed in the passage? A. People would be best served by having a strong leader to make the decisions. B. People will not truly have a voice in government until they can vote on laws directly. C. People are best represented by a few politicians chosen to voice their issues. D. People should elect political representatives who are wealthy enough to avoid corruption.
C. People are best represented by a few politicians chosen to voice their issues.
Which of the following statements reflects a pluralist theory of American politics? A. American politics is dominated by a small elite. B. Public policies emerge from cooperation among elites in business labor, and government. C. Public policies emerge from compromises reached among competing groups D. American politics is dominated by cities at the expense of rural areas E. The American political arena is made up of isolated individuals who have few group affiliations outside the family.
C. Public policies emerge from compromises reached among competing groups
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances in action in the United States government? A. The House and Senate cannot agree on the same version of a bill to send to the president. B. The president issues an executive order that freezes federal government hiring. C. The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress. D. The voters reject the status quo and elect all new members of Congress. E. The voters at the state level elect a governor from a party other than the president's.
C. The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress.
The importance of Shays' Rebellion to the development of the United States Constitution was that it A. revealed the necessity of both adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution and creating a new system of checks and balances B. demonstrated the intensity of antiratification sentiment within the thirteen states C. indicated that a strong, constitutionally designed national government was needed to protect property and maintain order D. convinced the delegates attending the Constitutional Convention to accept the Connecticut Plan E. reinforced the idea that slavery should be outlawed in the new Constitution
C. indicated that a strong, constitutionally designed national government was needed to protect property and maintain order
Based on The Federalist 21, which of the following arguments about government would Hamilton likely agree with? A The national government, by natural right, has more power than the state governments. B Separation of powers means that the national government is limited to passing only legislation that all the states want. C Under federalism, the states retain more power than the national government. D As a practical matter, the laws of the national government ought to have supremacy over state laws.
D As a practical matter, the laws of the national government ought to have supremacy over state laws.
In the 1780s, proponents of the new Constitution cited Shays' Rebellion as an example in support of which of the following criticisms of the national government under the Articles of Confederation? A The national government did not provide sufficient protection of individual rights. B The lack of a centralized judiciary made enforcement of national laws difficult. C States with larger populations were underrepresented in Congress. D There was a lack of a national military power to address security concerns.
D There was a lack of a national military power to address security concerns.
Which of the following best explains how the view of the author of the passage compares with The Federalist 51 regarding separation of powers and checks and balances? A. The author of the passage views the structure of government as providing a balance between the branches of government, whereas The Federalist 51 supports the idea of a powerful executive branch. B. The author of the passage views separation of powers as a limitation on the authority of government, whereas The Federalist 51 argues in favor of using separation of powers as a means to expand the role of government. C. Both the author of the passage and The Federalist 51 argue that elections are a sufficient means to ensure good government. D. Both the author of the passage and The Federalist 51 assert that the structure of government helps control ambitions among the branches in such a way as to promote effective government.
D. Both the author of the passage and The Federalist 51 assert that the structure of government helps control ambitions among the branches in such a way as to promote effective government.
The Connecticut (Great) Compromise drafted at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 is significant for which of the following reasons? A. It established the presidential system and gave the United States Supreme Court power to serve as the ultimate arbiter of constitutional disputes. B. It allowed southern states to count each slave as three-fifths of one person for determining representation in the House of Representatives. C. It provided equality of representation among the states in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. D. It proposed a Senate with equal representation for each state and a House of Representatives with membership established according to the population of each state. E. It denied Congress the power to establish tariffs on exported merchandise.
D. It proposed a Senate with equal representation for each state and a House of Representatives with membership established according to the population of each state.
American political culture is characterized by strong popular support for all of the following EXCEPT A the rule of law B limited government C individual liberty D equality of opportunity E economic equality
E economic equality
The Articles of Confederation implemented the principle of A. a strong national government B. a unified system of taxes C. universal suffrage D. an independent judiciary E. state sovereignty
E. state sovereignty