Ortoleva US Government & Politics Quizzes
Shays's Rebellion contributed to calls for a stronger national government because
it indicated that the national government under the Articles of Confederation was weak.
Nominations to the Supreme Court must be approved by a
simple majority vote in the Senate only
Why did Congress enact the War Powers Resolution?
to limit the powers of the president in the conduct of war
Which of the following constitutional amendments address King's concern that there should be racial justice?
Fourteenth Amendment
Most powerful leadership position in the House of Representatives....
Speaker of the House
The Federalists were generally comprised of the following types of people.....
(a) and (b) but not (c)
What constitutional principle did Madison defend in Federalist No. 51?
separation of powers
What has to happen in Congress in order for the president to be impeached and removed from office?
The House must impeach the president by a simple majority; the Senate must convict with a two-thirds majority.
Based on previous court rulings, which of the following scenarios would most likely violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
A public school system uses race-based segregation.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government was weakened by the lack of the following power(s)...
all of the above
Which of the following is a basic principle of the Constitution?
all of the above except d
In what ways did the religious traditions of early European settlers impact American politics?
A B and C
The picture above reflects the following:
A gerrymandered congressional district
The picture above reflects the following: [District Pennsylvania (07) 114th Congress]
A gerrymandered congressional district
Replace the letters in the figure above with the appropriate institutions to differentiate each institution's specific role in an iron triangle
A is Interest Group, B is Congress, and C is the Bureaucracy
Replace the letters in the figure above with the appropriate institutions to differentiate each institution's specific role in an iron triangle.
A is Interest Group, B is Congress, and C is the Bureaucracy
Changing demographics has had an impact on the American polity, in what ways have these demographics changed?
All of the above
Anti-Federalist were concerned that the Constitution would create a excessively strong national government that could limit the liberties of the people. How were there concerns eventually eased and thus allowing the Constitution to be ratified in New York?
Amending the Constitution to include a Bill of Rights.
Why might the Framers have had to justify the need for and strength of the Executive Branch?
Americans feared monarchical rule after the Revolution.
The "power of the purse" is the congressional power over:
Appropriation
What was the effect of the opinion in Schenck v. United States?
As long as speech does not present a clear and present danger, it is allowed.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the two court cases? a) Required all-black schools to have facilities and faculties of the same quality as all-white schools Brought vocal opposition to abortion and encouraged legislatures to reshape abortion policy b)Required students to be bused Made abortion legal in all states c) Concluded that "separate but equal" schools are impossible Assured a pregnant woman's right to have an abortion in the first trimester d) Upheld the separation of races in public accomodations Upheld states' police powers to regulate safety, health, and morals
C: Concluded that "separate but equal" schools are impossible Assured a pregnant woman's right to have an abortion in the first trimester
A vote of cloture:
Can end a filibuster if 3/5 of the Senate agrees
Needs a simple majority of both houses of Congress
Can end a filibuster if 3/5 of the Senate agrees
Speaking up in an authentic voice, organizing your ideas and people, practicing consensus and conflict skills, and adapting are all part of _____.
Citizenship
All of the following are ways that the legislative branch can check the powers of the executive branch EXCEPT:
Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional
Based on your knowledge of the Constitutional Convention, how was the matter of congressional representation resolved?
Delegates decided to compromise by adopting a bicameral legislature with each state receiving two Senators and the House reflecting the population totals of each state.
Which of the following actions by a congressional representative is an example of "pork barreling"?
Directing federal funds into the representative's district through legislation
"All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and the wellborn, the other the mass of the people. . . . The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct, permanent share in the government. They will check the unsteadiness of the second, and as they cannot receive any advantage by a change, they therefore will ever maintain good government." -Alexander Hamilton, "Speech in the Constitutional Convention on a Plan of Government," 1787 Which of the following models of democracy is the author advocating?
Elite democracy
" The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts, and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general welfare of the United States;... To regulate Commerce with foreign nations.... To coin money... To declare war... And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States..." Based on this passage, which of the following type of Congressional powers is outlined in Article I, section 8 of the Constitution?
Enumerated power
Which of the following principles is meant to discourage government from conducting unlawful searches and to protect citizens when unlawful searches occur?
Exclusionary rule
Which of the following statements best summarizes the author's argument in Federalist #10. What does he suggest is the best remedy this problem?
Factions are inevitable, yet a natural product of a free society that need to be limited.
All of these play a direct role in developing the federal budget EXCEPT:
Federal Reserve Board
What is the relationship between federal funds and state autonomy?
Federal involvement accompanies federal funds.
The Miranda rule stems from rights protected by which of the following amendments?
Fifth and Sixth Amendments
Which of the constitutional provisions was at issue in Schenck v. United States?
First Amendment free speech and free press rights
How did Lincoln defend his decision to order a blockade of southern ports without the approval of Congress?
He claimed that the inherent powers of his office allowed him to circumvent the Constitution in a time of war or national crisis.
Which of the following parts of the letter best summarizes King's position? "Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro. Something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be gained. Consciously or unconsciously, he has been caught up by the Zeitgeist, and with his black brothers of Africa and his brown and yellow brothers of Asia, South America and the Caribbean, the United States Negro is moving with a sense of great urgency toward the promised land of racial justice. If one recognizes this vital urge that has engulfed the Negro community, one should readily understand why public demonstrations are taking place. The Negro has many pent up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So, let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides—and try to understand why he must do so. If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history." --Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963) by Martin Luther King Jr
If peaceful, nonviolent demonstrations do not work, violent actions will be an option.
American government is rooted in the cultures and experiences of early European colonists as well as interactions with this group.
Indigenous people of the New World
Which of the following is true about the pocket veto?
It occurs when the President takes no action on a bill for ten days during which Congress is adjourned.
Why might Clinton favor repealing the 22 amendment?
It would allow him to run for office for a third term
Appointments to the federal Judiciary are often contentious for which of the following reasons?
Life terms for federal judges mean that presidential appointments will continue to have influence long after the president's term is over.
In which of these do members of Congress exchange favors for their mutual political benefit?
Logrolling
Which of the following Supreme Court cases is most consistent with Hamilton's view in the above passage?
Marbury v. Madison
In which way do modern presidents differ from the original intentions of the Framers of the Constitution?
Modern presidents are much more influential in the legislative process than the Framers originally intended.
Which clause of the U.S. Constitution did the Supreme Court interpret in McCulloch v. Maryland as allowing Congress to create a national bank?
Necessary and proper clause
Which of the following provides for the Constitution's flexibility?
Necessary and proper clause
This source of power comes from the vocal mass of people and creates power by expressing collective intensity of interest and asserting legitimacy.
Numbers
Which of the following has the duty to examine the cost implications of a proposed bill?
Office of Management and Budget
In what ways do the decisions in Engel v. Vitale and Wisconsin v. Yoder differ?
One suggests a public policy creates an establishment of religion, while the other suggests a public policy denies the free exercise of religion
The ability to have others do what you would have them do is called _____________.
Power
Which of the following data is reflected in the chart above? [Presidential appointments of lower federal court judges by partisan affiliation]
President's nominated judges that were aligned with their own political affiliation.
According to Supreme Court rulings, congressional redistricting primarily based upon which of these is unconstitutional?
Race
Which statement best summarizes Justice Kennedy's opinion? It is now clear that the challenged laws burden the liberty of same-sex couples, and it must be further acknowledged that they abridge central precepts of equality. Here the marriage laws enforced by the respondents are in essence unequal: same-sex couples are denied all benefits afforded to opposite-sex couples and are barred from exercising a fundamental right. Especially against a long history of disapproval of their relationships, this denial to same-sex couples of the right to marry works a grave and continuing harm. The imposition of this disability on gays and lesbians serves to disrespect and subordinate them. --Justice Anthony Kennedy, Majority Opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)
Same-sex couples are unfairly harmed by states' denial of their legal marriage.
Which of the following Supreme Court cases is the most relevant to the topic of the cartoon?
Shaw v. Reno
Using law to compel people to do or not to do certain things is called _________.
State Action
Which clause of the U.S. Constitution did the Supreme Court interpret as preventing Maryland from taxing the national bank in McCulloch v. Maryland?
Supremacy Clause
Which statement best describes the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment?
The Fourteenth Amendment's due process clauses makes most rights contained in the Bill of Rights applicable to the states.
Cities resent the imposition of federal mandates
The President is of a different party than a majority of the Congress
Divided government occurs when:
The President is of a different party than a majority of the Congress
Which of the following is the most complete summary of the selective incorporation doctrine?
The Supreme Court has required states to apply certain rights in the Bill of Rights through the Fourteenth Amendments due process clause.
Which of the following is one way in which the White House staff is different from the president's Cabinet?
The White House staff is not subject to Senate confirmation.
After a bill is introduced in the House of Representatives, what is the next step in the legislative process?
The bill is referred to a committee
Which of the following constitutional provisions would the Justice Kennedy cite to support the opinion?
The equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
To complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited Constitution. By a limited Constitution, I understand one which contains certain specified exceptions to the legislative authority; such, for instance, as that it shall pass no bill of attainder, no ex-post-facto laws, and the like. Limitations of this kind can be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void. Without this, all the reservations of particular rights or privileges would amount to nothing. ...The interpretation of the laws is the proper and peculiar province of the courts. A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body... -Alexander Hamilton. Federalist No. 78 What constitutional principle does Hamilton address in the above passage?
The interpretation of laws is the proper and peculiar province of the courts
Which of the following statements describes an appropriate use of executive privilege?
The president refuses to reveal classified national security documents.
The Bill of Rights guarantees which of the following rights to a person arrested and charged with a crime?
The right to legal representation.
Which of the following statements is true about church and state?
There is a constant struggle to define the separation of church and state.
With which of the following statements would the cartoonist most likely agree? [cartoon about separation of church and state]
There is a constant struggle to define the separation of church and state.
The purpose of the War Powers Act (1973) was to:
Weaken presidential war making powers
One of the six sources of power is social norms. Choose the description that best describes this form of power.
What other people think is ok
For an amendment to the Constitution to even be considered, it need to ____________.
a and b only
The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention involved the following:
a bicameral legislature.
What type of legislature did the United States have under the Articles of Confederation?
a single chamber with each state receiving equal power
Which of the following did Alexander Hamilton advocate for in Federalist No. 70?
a strong, energetic executive
Shays Rebellion in 1786 illustrated that ______________.
a stronger national government was needed.
Historically, vice presidential candidates have been chosen to __________.
balance the presidential ticket
Which of the following presidential powers/roles is Lincoln exercising in this photo?
commander in chief
In which of the following are powers shared by the federal and state governments in a marble-cake fashion?
cooperative federalism
As one of the functions of the American government, ensuring domestic tranquility means.......
creating a safe and stable society with the country.
What are the two types of federal powers derived from Article I, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution?
enumerated; implied
Overtime, the meaning of promoting the general welfare has ......
evolved as the needs and interest of the citizenry have changed.
Congress creating a Federal Bank is an example of a __________.
implied power.
Which political science term is best explained in this graphic?
iron triangle
The practice in Congress whereby Representative A promises to vote for Representative B's legislation, provided that Representative B will support Representative A's legislation, is referred to as
logrolling
Executive agreements have been cited as evidence that
modern presidents often try to avoid legislative checks and balances on their authority
On which of the following enlightenment ideas does the Declaration of Independence rely?
natural rights
When independent regulatory agencies make rules, enforce those rules, and adjudicate disputes arising under those rules, they risk violating the constitutional concept of
separation of powers
"Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President. Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress." —Twenty Fifth Amendment, U.S. Constitution, 1967 The Twenty-Fifth Amendment was enacted in order to clear up uncertainties over the constitutional provisions surrounding __________.
presidential and vice presidential succession
The Virginia Plan was based on the following idea......
representation based on population
Which of the following is a form of government in which the people select representatives to govern and make laws?
republic
Most of the work of legislating in Congress takes place in
standing committees/subcommittees
Article 1, Sec 8 of the Constitution lists the powers that the framers wanted the Congress to possess. These powers are known as the ___________.
the enumerated powers.
The greased hands of Congress and Lobbyists speak to the power of ....
the influence of lobbyists on Capitol Hill.
This cartoon speaks to the power of .... [Me? Addicted? I rather like to think of it as being highly appreciative... (Lobbyists and Grease)]
the influence of lobbyists on Capitol Hill.
Whose job is it to convey the party's position to rank-and-file congresspersons, keep vote counts, pressure waverers, and report the views and complaints of the House to the party leadership?
whip
