AP Gov Midterm
When were the Articles of Confederation formally ratified?
1781
Which type of state would have been in favor of the proposed Virginia Plan?
A state with a relatively large population
Which of the following constitutional provisions gives Congress and the president expressed power over the national defense?
Articles I and II
Which system of government was America under prior to declaring independence from Great Britain and adopting the Constitution?
Authoritarian
How does the Preamble of the United States Constitution establish the notion of popular sovereignty?
By declaring that the people of the United States of America are the ones granting the government its power.
How did Thomas Jefferson and other signers of the Declaration of Independence believe the King of England was violating the colonists' right to liberty?
By imposing unfair and damaging taxes
How do federal systems of government prevent one level of government from encroaching on the powers of the other?
By instituting constitutional protections
How does Bill Clinton's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) compare to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)?
Clinton's TANF placed greater restrictions and limitations on social welfare programs and gave more authority to the states than Roosevelt's AFDC.
Many Americans believed that the federal law might shift to favor the legalization of medical marijuana under which president?
Donald Trump
The following question(s) refer to the passage.The idea of a [unitary] government involves in it, not only an authority over the individual citizens, but an indefinite supremacy over all persons and things, so far as they are objects of lawful government. . . . In [that] case, all local authorities are subordinate to the supreme; and may be controlled, directed, or abolished by it at pleasure. In [a federal system], the [regional] authorities form distinct and independent portions of the supremacy, no more subject, within their respective spheres, to the general authority, than the general authority is subject to them, within its own sphere. —James Madison, Federalist No. 39 Which constitutional concept is best reflected in the passage?
Dual federalism
Who was selected as the president of the Constitutional Convention?
George Washington
A high school sophomore who belongs to his school's chapter of a Gay-Straight Alliance feels he is being discriminated against in the classroom by a teacher due to his membership in the group. How can this student utilize the political process to make quick and effective change?
He can seek legal assistance and file a lawsuit against the school or teacher.
How do the ideas of John Locke and David Hume complement one another?
Hume's idea of limiting government to prevent greed coincides with Locke's belief that people have the right to replace a government that grows too powerful.
How does the Supreme Court's decision on Gonzales v. Raich differ from its decision on United States v. Lopez?
In Gonzales v. Raich, the Supreme Court upheld the argument that marijuana cultivation and use reasonably fell under the authority of the federal government as part of the commerce clause, whereas it struck down such a claim in United States v. Lopez.
Which of the following statements best describes the viewpoint of American culture expressed in the cartoon?
Inequality makes it difficult for African Americans to achieve the American dream.
How does joining a civil society group impact participatory democracy?
It increases the likelihood that American citizens will participate in political processes.
What was the Antifederalists' most compelling argument against the Constitution?
It lacked a bill of rights to protect the rights of individuals.
Which argument did the Drug Enforcement Agency make at the Supreme Court to justify their actions against Diane Monson?
It stated that their actions were in accordance with federal law and their authority.
What would James Madison argue is the best check on the power of the current political parties in the United States?
Its large size and diversity
A political scientist living in the American colonies during the late 1700s believes it is the duty of the people to hold their government accountable and replace a tyrannical government if necessary. Who would this political scientist likely agree with?
John Locke
Who proposed the concept that some rights cannot be provided or taken away by governments?
John Locke
What was the most contentious issue surrounding the question of slavery during the Constitutional Convention?
Many did not agree on how enslaved people should be counted in terms of representation.
Suppose Congress has passed legislation that would ban American citizens from purchasing or owning firearms of any kind. The law is brought to the Supreme Court, where it is deemed a violation of the Second Amendment. The ability of the Supreme Court to make such a decision was established in
Marbury v. Madison
The graph supports which of the following conclusions?
Over the past four decades, America's wealthiest individuals have been earning a larger share of America's national income.
What political philosophy set forth in the quote was incorporated two years later into the Declaration of Independence?
People have the right to elect representatives to the legislatures that govern them.
A political activist who supports gun control legislation believes that interest groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA) have too much money and influence over lawmakers in Congress. Such a belief is characteristic of which theory?
Pluralist theory
In 2008, Congress authorized the Troubled Asset Relief Program to bail out the nation's banks to keep them functioning through the 2008 financial crisis. Although this program was criticized by many as an overreach of the federal government into private institutions, Congress had precedent to do so via
President Roosevelt's New Deal programs.
Suppose you want to start an after-school club at your high school for pro-life Christians. Your school administrators say you can meet with fellow classmates after school but cannot use school facilities or be a formal club. Which argument would be the MOST effective to convince the administrators to make your club official?
Prohibiting the club from becoming official goes against the precedent set by Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens.
Which issue was sent to a Grand Committee to decide upon during the Constitutional Convention?
Representation
Which was a characteristic of the proposed Virginia Plan?
Representation proportional to population
Citizens of a small American town have been dissatisfied with their elected representative in the House of Representatives and are planning to vote for a different candidate in the next election. Which form of government allows the citizens to take such an action?
Representative
Which grievance listed in the Declaration of Independence is an example of the King of England infringing upon the inalienable right to life?
Standing armies threatened colonists.
Which of the following best summarizes Madison's argument in Federalist No. 45?
State power is protected by a strong national defense.
Which of the following statements best describes the viewpoint expressed in the political cartoon?
Supreme Court decisions do not resolve long-standing disagreements over social policy issues.
Why is America's form of representative government preferable to the direct democracy of ancient Greece?
The American system of representative government is far more feasible than the direct democracy of ancient Greece.
Which piece of legislation is an example of the federal government devolving authority to the state?
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
Following the Civil War, how was the concept of federalism applied to the rights of African Americans?
The Supreme Court supported the rights of states to take their own action regarding the rights of African Americans but did not provide protection for African Americans at the national level.
Suppose that the Civil War has just ended and some plantation owners in Georgia are still engaged in the trade and exploitation of enslaved African Americans. Georgia is in direct violation of which amendment?
The Thirteenth Amendment
Which inference is most clearly drawn from the graph?
The category receiving the largest federal funding has shifted over time from "Education, training, employment, and social services" in 1975 to "Health" in 2011.
What is the primary difference between a civil society group like a charitable church organization and an interest group like the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)?
The charitable church organization acts in the interest of the common good, whereas the AARP advocates for its own interests.
What was an outcome of Plessy v. Ferguson?
The concept of separate but equal
Which aspect of the Constitution would you use to support a decision on McCulloch v. Maryland that rules in favor of the state instead of the national government?
The concurrent powers that grant both the state and national governments the right to charter banks and levy taxes.
No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time. — Federalist No. 10 Which of the following principles is reflected in the quote?
The danger of factions
The table supports which of the following statements?
The first four states that ratified the Constitution did so by wider margins than did the final four.
How does the case of the Boyd County High School Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) demonstrate the tension between the two visions of liberty?
The freedom of the students to form a club infringed upon the teachers' freedom from being subject to beliefs they may not agree with.
Which factor did the Supreme Court consider when making its decision on Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens?
The maturity of high school students
How do the powers granted to the federal government compare to the powers granted to the state governments?
The powers granted to the state governments are generally those that can be more efficiently and effectively implemented at the state level.
Which of the following best describes a constitutional democracy?
The powers of government are both described and limited by the Constitution.
A new amendment has passed a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate. Where should activists supporting ratification of the amendment focus their lobbying efforts?
The state legislatures
How does Bridget Mergens' experience with forming a Bible study group at her high school compare to the experience of the Boyd County High School students who wanted to form a Gay-Straight Alliance?
The students at Boyd County High School experienced far more backlash than Mergens but achieved greater change within their school district.
Why was a letter to Boyd County High School from the American Civil Liberties Union that referenced the Equal Access Act insufficient in addressing the issue of the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance?
The students who formed the Gay-Straight Alliance were harassed, and all groups were shut down.
If Angel Raich and Diane Monson's case were reversed and marijuana use was legal at the federal level but prohibited in their state of California, how would the outcome of their case be different?
Their use of marijuana would be permitted based on the supremacy clause within the Constitution.
Suppose a group of women's rights activists in America are pushing for the reconsideration and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Under the constitutional republic, how can these activists achieve their goal?
They can vote for Congressional representatives who can set the amendment process in motion.
Why did so many Americans want to keep the Articles of Confederation as they were?
They feared what would result if any changes were made.
Why might small farmers and those from rural areas opposed the Federalist position?
They were generally distrustful of political elites and a distant central government.
What was the main function of the Riot Act?
To absolve sheriffs and officers from prosecution for killing rioters
What is the primary function of the president as outlined in the Constitution?
To enforce the laws written by Congress
What was the main function of Article V of the Articles of Confederation?
To establish a unicameral legislature
What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention in 1787?
To fix the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger national government.
Why might a group of veterans during Shays's Rebellion have focused their efforts on local courthouses?
To prevent them from operating effectively.
Which was a function of the Social Security Act of 1935?
To provide assistance programs to the elderly
What is the primary purpose of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970?
To regulate the use and possession of certain drugs and other dangerous substances
A student who is studying important Supreme Court cases that re-established the balance of state and federal government power in America's system of federalism might include which case in their studies?
United States v. Lopez
Federal nutrition guidelines require public schools to serve healthy lunches to students and limit the amount of "junk food" available in vending machines. A state seeking to challenge these nutrition rules should cite which of the following cases?
United States v. Lopez
Which Supreme Court case first recognized the legality of same-sex marriage?
United States v. Windsor
Why might more and more states be willing to legalize the use of marijuana for medical or recreational purposes despite it being illegal at the federal level?
With the growing number of people using marijuana, the federal government would have to expend its resources to jail citizens who would otherwise be considered law-abiding citizens.
Would the students of Boyd County High School have been successful in forming a Gay-Straight Alliance if Bridget Mergens had lost her case at the Supreme Court?
Yes, because the American Civil Liberties Union initially cited the Equal Access Act and was successful.
Suppose the Department of Energy has decided to provide funds to state governments for the purpose of researching, establishing, and implementing any number of clean energy sources in any way the state sees fit. This is an example of
a block grant
According to John Locke, it is the government's job to
ensure an orderly and functioning society.
The current U.S. Senate is similar to the unicameral legislature under the Articles of Confederation in that both
favor less populous states over more populous ones.
The ability of an American citizen to enact change by getting either Congress or their state legislature to pass legislation is an example of
federalism
Which of the following principles is reflected in Article V?
federalism
President Richard Nixon attempted to reduce the authority of the national government by
funding policies with block grants.
Exclusive powers can be defined as powers that are
granted to the national government and not to subnational governments.
The "league of friendship" created by the Articles of Confederation was meant to address issues between states concerning
land
In a debate about the scope of the American government providing social welfare programs, one student argues that such programs are conducive to helping Americans realize the American Dream, while the other argues that such programs run contrary to the inherent right to
pursue happiness through hard work, sacrifice, and one's own skill set.
An increasing federal deficit will likely put an end to
revenue sharing.
If the Supreme Court were to hear a case regarding the issue of firearm ownership in California and decided that the legislation in question violated the Second Amendment and that no state may infringe upon the Second Amendment, this would be an example of
selective incorporation.
A political scientist who was dissatisfied with the Articles of Confederation might attend the Annapolis Convention with the hope that
significant changes would be made to the government.
The case of Angel Raich and Diane Monson using medical marijuana within the state of California, where it is legal, while it is illegal at the federal level is an example of the
tensions and complications that can arise under the American system of federalism.
States like California, Alaska, and Oregon have legalized marijuana despite it being illegal at the federal level. This discrepancy between state laws that have legalized marijuana and the federal law is an example of
the conflicting nature of American federalism
A group of women's rights advocates believes women are not being paid equally to men in the workplace and are concerned that federal anti-discrimination laws are not being effectively carried out. Which branch of government should be blamed for the lack of enforcement of such laws?
the executive branch
Which part of the Constitution did Chief Justice John Marshall cite in justification of the Supreme Court decision in McCulloch v. Maryland?
the necessary and proper clause
Minnesota does not charge sales tax on clothing purchases. If Minnesota were to pass a law that allows businesses to charge sales tax on clothing purchases made by visitors from other states, Minnesota would be in violation of
the privileges and immunities clause.
