PS 101 Chapter 4

The term "judicial activism" refers to a court's tendency to __________. Select one: a. seek out controversial cases b. defer to the legislature c. strike down laws d. follow a liberal ideology

strike down laws

The Supreme Court ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller dealt with __________. Select one: a. the extent of gun rights b. immigration reform c. public school segregation d. discrimination against women

the extent of gun rights

Whether minority students have the right to be educated in their first language is primarily an issue of __________. Select one: a. parliamentary procedure b. judicial restraint c. checks and balances d. multiculturalism

multiculturalism

Limits on free speech in the United States usually connect with __________. Select one: a. religious extremism b. the rise of protest movements c. ideological conflict d. national security concerns

national security concerns

The U.S. president is commander-in-chief of the military but needs approval from the Senate to sign treaties. This shows the __________ in the United States. Select one: a. propensity for isolationism b. acceptance of judicial activism c. operation of checks and balances d. importance of due process

operation of checks and balances

A long and detailed constitution is likely to be __________. Select one: a. used by an undemocratic regime b. at least a century old c. relatively new d. less protective of individual rights

relatively new

How does the United States differ from most other countries in terms of its treatment of freedom of expression? Select one: a. The U.S. government is more restrictive of press freedom. b. The U.S. government is more restrictive of speech related to national security. c. The U.S. government is less restrictive of speech on the Internet. d. The U.S. government is generally less restrictive of hate speech than other countries.

The U.S government is more restrictive of press freedom

How would the framers of the U.S. Constitution most likely react to the structure of government outlined in the Russian constitution? Select one: a. They would criticize it for not including judicial review. b. They would praise it for giving the executive the powers necessary to ensure political and economic stability. c. They would criticize it for giving too much power to the executive. d. They would praise it for giving the State Duma more power than the executive.

They would criticize it for giving too much power to the executive

Japan's constitution was drafted by the United States in __________. Select one: a. 1964 b. 1946 c. 1920 d. 1988

1946

How many votes are needed to overcome the filibuster in the U.S. Senate? Select one: a. 60 b. 67 c. 75 d. 50

60

Which of the following, if true, best supports the argument that campaign contributions are a form of protected speech? Select one: a. Politicians rely on campaign contributions from large institutions. b. Corporations and Super-PACs do not represent the will of the people. c. Associations of citizens express their views through monetary donations. d. Advocacy groups need to raise money in order to pursue their mission.

Associations of citizens express their views through monetary donations

Which statement explains how civil rights differ from human rights? Select one: a. Civil rights are more difficult to enforce than human rights. b. Civil rights block government mistreatment while human rights grant resources to individuals. c. Civil rights only arose with the advent of modern democracy but are essential for ensuring human rights. d. Civil rights relate to voting while human rights relate to individual choice.

Civil rights only arose with the advent of modern democracy but are essential for ensuring human rights

Which of these is a risk inherent in the American concept of judicial review? Select one: a. Supreme Court justices typically have little or no experience as elected officials. b. The Constitution does not have a procedure for removing judges who abuse their power. c. Controversial cases often center on issues that divide the major political parties. d. Conservative or liberal judges may rule based on their political ideology.

Conservative or liberal judges may rule based on their political ideology

A written document outlining the structure of a political system is a __________. Select one: a. constitution b. referendum c. statute d. precedent

Constitution

Which of these questions is most likely to arise as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller? Select one: a. Does the Second Amendment protect the right to hunt? b. Does the Second Amendment establish procedures for the government to seize illegally-owned guns? c. Does the Second Amendment ban laws against carrying concealed weapons? d. Does the Second Amendment apply to people on active military duty?

Does the Second Amendment ban laws against carrying concealed weapons

Given the history of legal disputes over the First Amendment, what is the most likely fate of First Amendment issues in the future? Select one: a. Free speech controversies are likely to continue, especially given the openness of the Internet. b. Few free speech issues are likely to arise in the future, given that most legal questions have been resolved. c. Press freedom is less of an issue now that the Internet allows for a variety of media sources. d. Freedom of assembly is the only area likely to see continued legal disputes, given concerns about terrorism.

Free speech controversies are likely to continue, especially given the openness of the internet

What was Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes's example of yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater intended to illustrate? Select one: a. The right to free speech is an absolute right in the eyes of the court. b. All places of commerce must be equipped with emergency fire escapes. c. People tend to overreact when caught in dangerous situations. d. Freedom of speech is not an unlimited right.

Freedom of speech is not and unlimited right

Why would a country such as Great Britain not have a formal written constitution? Select one: a. Great Britain's unique history established customs and legal practices that made a written constitution unnecessary. b. Great Britain's history of ruling overseas territories made a written constitution too complicated to apply to every region. c. The political culture of Great Britain favors unlimited government over constitutional restraints. d. The homogenous population of Great Britain allows the people to agree on a basic set of rules without writing a constitution.

Great Britain's unique History established customs and legal practices that made a written constitution unnecessary

How did the UN General Assembly react to Nazi and Japanese actions during World War II? Select one: a. It adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. b. It revoked Germany's and Japan's membership. c. It sent UN troops to oversee the political reorganization of Germany and Japan. d. It authorized a relocation program for refugees displaced by the fighting.

It adopted the Universal declaration on Human Rights

Which of these is a weakness of the Brazilian constitution? Select one: a. It does not give the government effective national security tools. b. It creates an electoral system that is too difficult for most citizens to understand. c. It confers too many rights for the government to realistically guarantee. d. It weighs aristocracy more heavily than democracy.

It confers too many rights for the government to realistically guarantee

In what way does the U.S. Constitution differ from most other constitutions? Select one: a. Unlike other constitutions, the U.S. Constitution has never been amended. b. The U.S. Constitution contains more economic rights such as right to work and minimum pay. c. It is shorter and more vague than most other constitutions. d. It contains many more rights and liberties than other constitutions.

It is shorter and more vague than most other constitutions

What did the Magna Carta do? Select one: a. It brought representative democracy to Great Britain. b. It established a British constitutional court. c. It made the British monarchy purely symbolic. d. It limited the power of the British monarchy.

It limited the power of the British monarchy

Why was it significant that the Bush administration deemed suspected terrorists as "unlawful enemy combatants"? Select one: a. It allowed the United States to treat these suspects as criminals, which guaranteed them a right to trial. b. It brought U.S. law in line with the Geneva Conventions. c. It was the first time the government held prisoners under a different standard than the "clear and present danger" test. d. It made it intentionally unclear how the suspects would be treated.

It made it intentionally unclear how the suspects would be treated

Which statement best describes how the Japanese constitution differs from the U.S. constitution? Select one: a. Japan's constitution is more detailed and provides a large set of individual rights. b. Japan's constitution is older and more democratic. c. Japan's constitution is shorter but more specific about individual rights. d. Japan's constitution is less detailed and identifies fewer specific rights.

Japan's constitution is shorter but more specific about individual rights

The ability of courts to decide if laws are constitutional is called __________. Select one: a. court activism b. federalism c. judicial review d. code law

Judicial Review

Jeremy Bentham would have been most likely to agree with which of the following statements? Select one: a. Rights come from God. b. Democracy tends to undermine rights. c. Rights are granted by society. d. Economic rights are natural rights.

Rights are granted by society

The State Duma is the legislature in what country? Select one: a. Sweden b. Germany c. Ireland d. Russia

Russia

Suppose that a law had been passed in the United States that made English the sole official language of the entire nation. Which statement accurately describes how such a law would relate to the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Select one: a. The law violates the Declaration's limits on the legislative power of national governments. b. The law violates the Declaration's assertion that minorities have the right to preserve their cultures. c. The law is consistent with the Declaration's emphasis on assimilation of minority groups into the mainstream population. d. The law is consistent with the Declaration's emphasis on the importance of national unity.

The law violates the Declaration's assertion that minorities have the right to preserve their cultures

Which of these is an assumption underlying "constitutionalism"? Select one: a. The nation must be protected from the whims of the people. b. The people need written laws to prevent violations of their basic freedoms. c. The rights of the people must be limited in order to allow the state to govern effectively. d. Democratic procedures will guarantee the protection of individual liberty.

The people need written laws to prevent violations of their basic freedoms

Which idea did the Code of Hammurabi contribute to the modern concept of constitutionalism? Select one: a. Constitutions should be vague enough to allow for evolving interpretations. b. The values of democracy and liberty must be evenly balanced. c. The supreme law of the land should be clear and written down. d. Constitutions should be easily adjusted to reflect social change.

The supreme law of the land should be clear and written down

Which of these was the first to establish judicial review? Select one: a. Great Britain b. The European Union c. France d. The United States

The united states

Algerians in France and Pakistanis in Great Britain have what in common? Select one: a. They have both been placed in internment camps. b. They are pressured to conform to the dominant culture. c. They generally have greater protections of civil liberties than majorities do. d. They speak the same native language.

They are pressured to conform to the dominant culture

Which of the following would make the Universal Declaration on Human Rights more effective? Select one: a. greater consistency among its provisions b. widespread ratification by democratic nations c. inclusion of a broader set of voting rights d. a feasible mechanism for enforcement

a feasible mechanism for enforcement

A constituent assembly is __________. Select one: a. a meeting of citizen legislators b. a judicial body elected by the people c. a protest against an authoritarian government d. a legislature convened to draft a new constitution

a legislature convened to draft a new constitution

The Pentagon Papers case is generally seen as a victory for those who support __________. Select one: a. the military-industrial complex b. government surveillance c. an activist press d. jailing terrorists without a trial

an activist press

Which of the following would be expected in a state that practices constitutionalism? Select one: a. Citizens' individual rights are guaranteed. b. The constitution is never amended. c. Courts rarely overturn laws. d. The constitution is frequently amended.

citizens' individual rights are guaranteed

The right to vote is usually viewed as a __________ right. Select one: a. property b. human c. natural d. civil

civil

The Supreme Court rulings in District of Columbia v. Heller and Miller v. the United States show that __________. Select one: a. constitutions are subject to reinterpretation over time b. constitutional interpretations are consistent with broad public sentiment c. constitutional interpretations are fairly consistent over time d. constitutions should be written more carefully

constitutions are subject to reinterpretation over time

In most European countries, __________ is an illegal form of speech. Select one: a. criticizing the president or prime minister b. drawing offensive cartoons c. denying the Holocaust d. supporting the right to own guns

denying the Holocaust

The UN's Universal Declaration on Human Rights has helped to further the cause of human rights globally by __________. Select one: a. providing a consistent framework for military intervention in order to prevent human rights violations b. establishing norms of human rights conduct that nations are reluctant to violate openly c. providing a process for revoking the UN membership of any member nation that violates human rights. d. providing a standard for the imposition of economic sanctions on any nations that commit human rights violations

establishing norms of human rights conduct that nations are reluctant to violate openly

The "clear and present danger" doctrine was an early interpretation of the limits on __________. Select one: a. property rights b. freedom of speech c. gun rights d. personal privacy

freedom of speech

Germany's constitution contains provisions that __________. Select one: a. prevent joining a military alliance b. give the public control over the economy c. limit government involvement in economic matters d. allow government spying on citizens

gives the public control over the economy

Which doctrine allows detainees to argue their innocence before a judge? Select one: a. judicial activism b. habeas corpus c. constitutionalism d. separation of powers

habeas corpus

What is one common feature of the Japanese and U.S. constitutions? Select one: a. It is difficult for candidates to win a simple majority in both countries. b. Both have a highly detailed list of civil liberties and civil rights. c. Both contain provisions that retain elements of monarchy. d. It is difficult for constitutional amendments to be passed in both countries.

it is difficult for constitutional amendments to be passes in both countries

The Founding Fathers created a separation of powers system in the U.S. Constitution because they wanted to __________. Select one: a. give citizens numerous opportunities to elect public officials b. create a system reflecting the will of the majority c. limit the power of the government d. design a government capable of swift action

limit the power of the government

Which statement explains why the interpretation of the Second Amendment as an individual right to bear arms is controversial? Select one: a. Guns were relatively new inventions at the time the amendment was written. b. Several of the original thirteen states never ratified by the Second Amendment. c. The text of the amendment refers only to "well-regulated militias." d. Most of the other rights in the Bill of Rights are collective rights.

the text of the amendment refers only to "well-regulated militias

British citizens have had a clear set of rights and freedoms since __________. Select one: a. the year 2000 b. the tenth century c. the American Revolution d. the end of World War II

the year 2000

It can be said that "almost all nations have constitutions" because __________. Select one: a. most nations have a population with a shared identity b. they operate according to some set of rules c. international law applies to all nations d. most nations on earth are democratic

they operate according to some set of rules

It is dangerous for a country to keep introducing new constitutions because this __________. Select one: a. undermines the legitimacy of government and the rule of law b. reduces the effectiveness of the bureaucracy c. makes it easier for criminals to escape from police custody d. leads to economic instability.

undermines the legitimacy of government and the rule of law

Gitlow v. New York and Scales v. the United States both __________. Select one: a. upheld limits on free speech when the government is under threat b. affirmed that terrorism suspects have no right to free speech c. struck down laws that censored newspapers d. overturned restrictions on political speech

upheld limits on free speech when the government is under threat