AP Gov Khan Academy Questions

Why have there been relatively few constitutional amendments?

A Constitution Amendment Bill requires more than a simple majority to be ratified

A senator wants to incentivize higher education for students from low-income families and wants to provide clear guidelines on how states must implement those incentives. Which type of grant should she propose?

A categorical grant

The Three-Fifths Compromise is best defined as which of the following?

For every five enslaved Africans, three would be counted for representation

"The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States . . . The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative . . . "SECTION 3 "The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote." Sections 2 and 3 of the United States Constitution The excerpt above is the result of which compromise in the Constitutional Convention?

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

An informal group advocating for a $15 minimum wage collects 590,000 signatures from registered voters in their state. In the next election, this initiative appears on the ballot for voters to decide whether it becomes a state constitutional amendment.

Participatory democracy

In June 2017, voters in Puerto Rico voted on a referendum to make Puerto Rico the 51st state of the United States. This is an example of which of the following models of democracy?

Participatory democracy

"In a pure democracy the people are the sovereign, and their will is declared by themselves; for this purpose they must all come together to deliberate, and decide. This kind of government cannot be exercised, therefore, over a country of any considerable extent; it must be confined to a single city, or at least limited to such bounds as that the people can conveniently assemble, be able to debate, understand the subject submitted to them, and declare their opinion concerning it." -Brutus No. 1, 1787

Participatory democracy does not work in large countries

Shana has a daughter in a public school whose students take a national reading test each year. Shana strongly disagrees with the test's methods and believes the test should either be replaced or eliminated. Which of the following is an action Shana could take to influence education policy?

Run for a seat on her local school board in order to influence her district not to use the test

"In a single republic, all the power surrendered by the people is submitted to the administration of a single government; and the usurpations are guarded against by a division of the government into distinct and separate departments. In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself." -Publius (James Madison), Federalist No. 51, 1788 Which of the following principles of US government is most consistent with the author's argument?

Separation of powers

The commerce clause of the Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. Which of the following might be an implied power that Congress would have to complete this task?

Setting a federal minimum wage

"Thus every man, by agreeing with others to make one body politic under one government, puts himself under an obligation to everyone in that society to submit to the decisions of the majority, and to be bound by it. Otherwise—that is, if he were willing to submit himself only to the majority acts that he approved of—the original compact through which he and the others incorporated into society would be meaningless . . ." -John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 1690. Which of the following democratic ideals is described in the passage?

Social contract

Which of the following is a consequence of the allocation of power between the national government and state governments?

Stakeholders and institutions have multiple access points to influence public policy

"Mitt Romney and I ran a long and spirited campaign against one another, but I've always believed that when he was governor here in Massachusetts, he did the right thing on health care. It's because you guys had a proven model that we built the Affordable Care Act on this template of proven bipartisan success. [The Massachusetts' universal health care measure] was the model for the nation's law." President Barack Obama, in a speech in Boston on the Affordable Care Act, 2013 Which of the following statements is most consistent with President Obama's argument in this passage?

State and local governments can become proving grounds for new ideas

Before the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution granted women the right to vote nationwide, 13 states allowed women the right to vote in their state elections. This is an example of which of the following aspects of federalism in the United States?

State and local governments can become proving grounds for new ideas

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government." -Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

A government is only just if citizens have a voice in it

"In a pure democracy the people are the sovereign, and their will is declared by themselves; for this purpose they must all come together to deliberate, and decide. This kind of government cannot be exercised, therefore, over a country of any considerable extent; it must be confined to a single city, or at least limited to such bounds as that the people can conveniently assemble, be able to debate, understand the subject submitted to them, and declare their opinion concerning it." -Brutus No. 1 Which of the following statements best summarizes the author's argument?

A large centralized government is unable to protect individual interests and liberties

"As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed . . . The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties." -Publius (James Madison), Federalist No. 10 Which of the following statements best summarizes Madison's arguments?

A large republic can control the negative aspects of factions

The relationship between the states under the Articles of Confederation could best be described as which of the following?

A loose league of friendship

Which of the following is one example of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Amending the Articles required a unanimous vote of the states, which was nearly impossible

"In a pure democracy the people are the sovereign, and their will is declared by themselves; for this purpose they must all come together to deliberate, and decide. This kind of government cannot be exercised, therefore, over a country of any considerable extent; it must be confined to a single city, or at least limited to such bounds as that the people can conveniently assemble, be able to debate, understand the subject submitted to them, and declare their opinion concerning it." -Brutus No. 1 Which of the following political parties would have agreed with the ideological perspectives in the passage when it was written?

Anti-Federalists

In 1974, Congress created a program that grants money to state and local governments to help revitalize low-income communities. State and local governments can decide how best to use their money and used it to rebuild streets, fund libraries, and fix drinking water systems. This is an example of which of the following types of federal aid?

Block grants

In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the federal government authorized the Justice Assistance Grant in order to provide states and local governments with the funding necessary to support a range of law enforcement and crime prevention programs. Which response illustrates the best rationale for the type of grant fitting this scenario?

Block grants provide states with a great deal of flexibility in using federal funds to address specific local needs

In 1972, the federal government established the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Recipients of aid must be women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or children under the age of 5 whose family income falls below 185% of the federal poverty line. This is an example of which of the following types of federal aid?

Categorical grants

A president issues an executive order banning newspapers from printing articles critical of the US government. The Supreme Court declares the executive order unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment right to freedom of the press. This is an example of which of the following principles of US government?

Checks and balances

Removal of a public official for crimes or abuse of power is an example of which of the following principles of American government?

Checks and balances

"In so extensive a republic, the great officers of government would soon become above the control of the people, and abuse their power to the purpose of aggrandizing themselves, and oppressing them. The trust committed to the executive offices, in a country of the extent of the United States, must be various and of magnitude." -Brutus No. 1 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

Citizens cannot hold distant elected representatives accountable for their actions

Which of the following describes an exclusive power of the federal government?

Coining money

During the 1980s, members of the Republican Party advocated for devolution (transferring responsibilities for programs from the federal government to state and local governments). Which of the following describes a difficulty Congress might face in implementing devolution?

Due to the concurrent powers of state and national government, many programs are administered by both state and federal agencies

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the views of the authors of Federalist No. 10 and Brutus No. 1? Federalist No. 10 Brutus No. 1 A A large republic will prevent factions from developing Only a small republic can truly serve citizens' needs B Factions will inevitably develop, no matter the system of government A strong central government will prevent abuses of power by local governments C A large republic will control factions by pitting them against each other A large republic endangers personal liberties D A decentralized government will preserve liberty better than a strong federal government The federal government is too far removed from citizens to understand their needs

Comparison C James Madison, the author of Federalist No. 10, argues that the many factions in a large republic will serve to control their influence. The author of Brutus No. 1 argues that a strong central government will endanger personal liberties.

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the exclusive and concurrent powers of the federal government? Exclusive powers of the federal government Concurrent powers shared with the states A Make laws Conduct elections B Regulate commerce Establish local governments C Charter banks and corporations Regulate the postal system D Declare war Levy taxes Choose 1 answer:

Comparison D Only the US federal government can declare war, but both the federal government and state governments can levy taxes.

Why did the Framers decide to include Article V of the Constitution, detailing an amendment process?

Concerns about protecting self-government

Which of the following statements best summarizes the decision in United States v. Lopez (1995)?

Congress cannot use the commerce clause to regulate the possession of firearms in public schools

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of "separation of powers" in the US Constitution?

Congress has authority over the federal budget, while the president appoints Supreme Court justices

Which of the following statements best summarizes the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Congress has implied powers not listed in the Constitution in order to implement its enumerated powers

The necessary and proper clause is best defined as which of the following?

Congress has the power to carry out its enumerated powers

Which of the following scenarios would violate the Tenth Amendment?

Congress passing a law raising the minimum driving age to 21 States, not the federal government, have the reserved power to create policies on issuing driver's licenses as granted under the Tenth Amendment.

Which of the following policies is an example of a present-day debate about the balance of power between the federal government and state governments?

Congress passing the Every Student Succeeds (ESSA) Act that decreased the number of standardized tests

Participatory democracy is best defined as which of the following?

Direct individual participation by citizens in political decisions that affect their daily lives

The government of Maryland is considering increasing its welfare benefits significantly. Which of the following describes a difficulty that the state government may face in the policy implementation process?

Due to the "privileges and immunities" clause of Article IV, poorer citizens of other states might move to Maryland in order to take advantage of the benefits

"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

Elite democracy

"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

Based on the ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), what is the difference between enumerated powers and implied powers?

Enumerated powers are powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government, whereas implied powers are not explicitly written but are necessary for carrying out enumerated powers

Which of the following scenarios is an example of a present-day constitutional issue about democracy and governmental power?

FBI agents being able to obtain phone records without a judge's approval

"As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed . . . The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties." -Publius (James Madison), Federalist No. 10 Which of the following statements is most consistent with the author's argument in this passage?

Factions, while inevitable, can be controlled

Which two were weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? I. The federal government could not levy taxes. II. The executive branch was more powerful than Congress. III. The federal government could not raise an army. IV. Each state had two votes in a bicameral Congress.

I and III

Which of the following may Congress do to limit the power of the executive?

Impeach the president

Which of the following describes a way that the federal government could influence state spending on education?

Issuing a mandate tying federal block grants to the amount of state spending per pupil

Which of the following was a way in which Shays's Rebellion demonstrated the weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation?

It could not raise money to pay a militia to put down the rebellion

Which statement accurately summarizes the impact of the United States v. Lopez (1995) decision?

It established limits to federal power under the commerce clause

Which of the following statements best explains the compromise behind the creation of the Electoral College?

It was a compromise between big and small states so that states with a larger population cannot control presidential elections

"When the Articles of Confederation were drafted, Americans had little experience of what a national government could do for them and bitter experience of what an arbitrary government could do to them. In creating a central government they were therefore more concerned with keeping it under control than with giving it the means to do its job." -Edmund S. Morgan, The Birth of the Republic, 1763-89, 1956 Which of the following concepts is most consistent with the author's argument?

Limited government

"In a pure democracy the people are the sovereign, and their will is declared by themselves; for this purpose they must all come together to deliberate, and decide. This kind of government cannot be exercised, therefore, over a country of any considerable extent; it must be confined to a single city, or at least limited to such bounds as that the people can conveniently assemble, be able to debate, understand the subject submitted to them, and declare their opinion concerning it." -Brutus No. 1 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

Local and state governments are better equipped to deal with issues affecting people's daily lives

In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, stipulating that states must have a minimum drinking age of 21 in order to receive federal highway funding. This is an example of which of the following aspects of federal incentives?

Mandates

Which of the following Supreme Court cases established that federal laws have supremacy over state laws?

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees people of the same sex the right to marry in the same manner as opposite-sex couples. Following this ruling, the National Organization for Marriage appealed to members of Congress encouraging them to pass an amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. This is an example of which of the following principles of American government?

Multiple access points for stakeholders to influence policymaking

Members of the National Organization for Women (NOW) protest a congressional bill that eliminates protections for pregnant workers. After the bill passes, they form a letter-writing campaign hoping to influence the president to veto the bill. This is an example of which of the following principles of American government?

Multiple access points for stakeholders to influence policymaking

Which of the following is a consequence of federalism in the United States?

National policymaking is held in check Diffusing political power between states and the federal government helps to reign in government and keeps each level from becoming too powerful.

Which of the following actions by the federal government would most likely be considered an implied power based on the precedent established by McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Outlawing the recreational use of marijuana Congress has the power to regulate drugs through the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). As decided in Gonzalez v. Raich (2005), the commerce clause gives Congress the power to prohibit cultivation and use of marijuana at the local level.

"The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular states, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other states: a religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it, must secure the national councils against any danger from that source: a rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project, will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the union." -Publius (James Madison), Federalist No. 10, 1787

Pluralist democracy

After Congress proposes a bill to allow businesses to purchase land that was once a national park, several people form an environmental interest group. They reach out to several senators to get their support to block the bill. This is an example of which of the following models of democracy?

Pluralist democracy

Anthony is concerned by his state government's efforts to decrease regulations on pesticides that could hurt the bee population. He decides to join the League of Conservation Voters to help them lobby against deregulating pesticides. This is an example of which of the following models of democracy?

Pluralist democracy

The National Rifle Association (NRA) testifies in front of Congress to advocate for several laws, including one that would protect gun manufacturers from lawsuits concerning violence committed with weapons they made. This is an example of which of the following models of democracy?

Pluralist democracy

"As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed . . . The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties." -Publius (James Madison), Federalist No. 10

Political liberty is best protected by the fragmentation of political power in a large republic

"As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed . . . The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties." -Publius (James Madison), Federalist No. 10 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

Political liberty is best protected by the fragmentation of political power in a large republic

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government." -Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence Which of the following ideas does the author of the passage advocate?

Popular sovereignty

After a House of Representatives member supports an unpopular tax despite protests from his constituents, he loses his bid for reelection. This is an example of which of the following democratic ideals?

Popular sovereignty

In the 1960s, the federal government passed the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, which compelled state and local governments to desegregate public schools and public places. This is an example of which of the following aspects of federalism in the United States?

Pressure at the national level can force state and local policy changes

Which of the following scenarios would be considered an unconstitutional use of state power?

Requiring Amish students to attend school until age 16 despite their religious beliefs

"Because of our two-party system, voters often find themselves voting for the 'lesser of two evils,' rather than a candidate they really feel would do the best job. . . . "Since most states distribute their electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis, the smaller party has no chance to gain support without seeming to take this support from one of the major parties. Few people will support a party that never wins, especially when they are supporting that party at the possible expense of their least favorite candidate taking power." Which of the following governmental policies would the author of this passage most likely support?

Reforming or eliminating the Electoral College

A member of the Senate makes a statement to the press that she is unsure of how she is going to vote on a bill. After numerous calls from her constituents asking her to vote for the bill, she votes in support of the bill.

Republicanism

Several oil companies donate to a pro-fracking interest group after hearing that the federal government plans to pass a law banning fracking in the United States . The interest group then appeals to members of Congress in attempt to get them to vote against the bill. Which of the following democratic ideals does this scenario best exemplify?

Republicanism

Which of the following statements best explains how the Fourteenth Amendment has been interpreted to enhance federal power?

The Fourteenth Amendment gave Congress the right to regulate discrimination in states In section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, Congress was given the power to make laws to uphold the other four provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment.

"Given the increasing difference in size between the largest and smallest states, combined with other changes in the American political context[,] any effects of Senate apportionment are greater today than in the past. By reference to the one person, one vote standard, the Senate is the most malapportioned legislature in the world . . . Currently Wyoming, with fewer than half a million residents, enjoys the same level of representation as California, with more than 30 million." -Frances E. Lee and Bruce I. Oppenheimer, Sizing Up the Senate: The Unequal Consequences of Equal Representation, 1999 Which of the following statements best summarizes the author's argument?

The Great Compromise failed to anticipate growing population differences in small and large states, leaving matters unresolved

"Given the increasing difference in size between the largest and smallest states, combined with other changes in the American political context[,] any effects of Senate apportionment are greater today than in the past. By reference to the one person, one vote standard, the Senate is the most malapportioned legislature in the world . . . Currently Wyoming, with fewer than half a million residents, enjoys the same level of representation as California, with more than 30 million." Which of the following statements best summarizes the author's argument?

The Great Compromise failed to anticipate growing population differences in small and large states, leaving matters unresolved

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of limited government?

The Supreme Court ruled that a law passed by Congress was unconstitutional

"In revising the federal system we ought to inquire 1. into the properties, which such a government ought to possess, 2. the defects of the confederation, 3. the danger of our situation & 4. the remedy. "The Character of such a government ought to secure 1. against foreign invasion, 2. against dissensions between members of the Union, or seditions in particular States, 3. to procure to the several States various blessings, of which an isolated situation was incapable, 4. to be able to defend itself against encroachment, & 5. to be paramount to the state constitutions." -Edmund Randolph, as recorded in James Madison's journal, 1787 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

The United States would benefit from a stronger central government

"In so extensive a republic, the great officers of government would soon become above the control of the people, and abuse their power to the purpose of aggrandizing themselves, and oppressing them. The trust committed to the executive offices, in a country of the extent of the United States, must be various and of magnitude." -Brutus No. 1 Which constitutional provision would the author most likely support?

The addition of a Bill of Rights

Social contract is best defined as which of the following?

The agreement between people and the government defining the rights and duties of each

A member of the House of Representatives proposes a Constitutional amendment that would force the president and Congress to balance the budget every year. Which of the following accurately describes the amendment process?

The bill must pass both the House and the Senate with a two-thirds majority

A member of the House of Representatives proposes a Constitutional amendment that would force the president and Congress to balance the budget every year. Which of the following accurately describes the amendment process?

The bill must pass both the House and the Senate with a two-thirds majority

The National Recovery Act of 1933, enacted by Franklin Roosevelt's administration to combat the Great Depression, vastly expanded the power of the federal government to regulate wages and labor standards. This scenario is an example of which of the following aspects of federalism?

The changing balance of power between the states and federal government in response to societal needs

"In revising the federal system we ought to inquire 1. into the properties, which such a government ought to possess, 2. the defects of the confederation, 3. the danger of our situation & 4. the remedy. The Character of such a government ought to secure 1. against foreign invasion, 2. against dissensions between members of the Union, or seditions in particular States, 3. to procure to the several States various blessings, of which an isolated situation was incapable, 4. to be able to defend itself against encroachment, & 5. to be paramount to the state constitutions." -Edmund Randolph, as recorded in James Madison's journal, 1787 Which of the following was a consequence of the ideas described in the passage?

The development of a new national Constitution

In Federalist No. 10, Madison argues that the Constitution delegates authority to elected representatives. Which of the following constitutional provisions does this?

The election of members of the House of Representatives in Article I

Which of the following was a strength of the Articles of Confederation that the Constitution retained?

The federal government could negotiate treaties with other countries

"When land-forces are raised by any state for the common defence, all officers of or under the rank of colonel, shall be appointed by the legislature of each state respectively, by whom such forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such state shall direct, and all vacancies shall be filled up by the State which first made the appointment." -Articles of Confederation, Article VII, 1777 Which of the following is a consequence of the policy described in the passage above?

The federal government did not have the power to create a centralized military during peace times

"When land-forces are raised by any state for the common defence, all officers of or under the rank of colonel, shall be appointed by the legislature of each state respectively, by whom such forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such state shall direct, and all vacancies shall be filled up by the State which first made the appointment." -Articles of Confederation, Article VII, 1777. Which of the following is a consequence of the policy described in the passage above?

The federal government did not have the power to create a centralized military during peace times

"When the Articles of Confederation were drafted, Americans had had little experience of what a national government could do for them and bitter experience of what an arbitrary government could do to them. In creating a central government they were therefore more concerned with keeping it under control than with giving it the means to do its job." -Edmund S. Morgan, The Birth of the Republic, 1763-89, 1956 Which of the following pieces of evidence would best support the author's conclusion?

The lack of centralized military power under the Articles of Confederation

"The insurgents who were assembled at Worcester in Massachusetts have disbanded. The people at Boston seem to be glad at this event and say it was the effect of fear. But the fact is that the insurgents effected their object . . . "The commotions of Massachusetts have wrought prodigious changes in the minds of men in that State [with regard to] the Powers of Government. Everybody says they must be strengthened and that unless this shall be effected there is no Security for liberty or Property. Such is the State of things in the east, that much trouble is to be apprehended in the course of the ensuing year." -Henry Knox, letter to his former commander George Washington, 1786 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

The lack of centralized military power under the Articles of Confederation poses a serious threat to the stability of the United States

"The insurgents who were assembled at Worcester in Massachusetts have disbanded. The people at Boston seem to be glad at this event and say it was the effect of fear. But the fact is that the insurgents effected their object . . . "The commotions of Massachusetts have wrought prodigious changes in the minds of men in that State [with regard to] the Powers of Government. Everybody says they must be strengthened and that unless this shall be effected there is no Security for liberty or Property. Such is the State of things in the east, that much trouble is to be apprehended in the course of the ensuing year." -Henry Knox, letter to his former commander George Washington, 1786. Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

The lack of centralized military power under the Articles of Confederation poses a serious threat to the stability of the United States

"Our Debts being unfunded and unprovided for, the Interest cannot be paid. Those therefore who trusted us in the Hour of Distress are defrauded. To expect that under such Circumstances others will confide in the Government would be Folly, and to expect that Foreigners will Trust a Government which has no Credit with its own Citizens must be madness . . . "The United States have call'd for eight Million of Dollars early in November last, of which the first quarterly Payment was to have been made on the first Day of April next. But I cannot find that a single State has laid the Taxes." -Robert Morris, letter to the president of Congress, 1782 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

The national government under the Articles lacks necessary tax enforcement power

Which of the following aspects of the US Constitution best illustrates the concept of elite democracy?

The original wording of the Constitution regarding the selection of US senators

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of "separation of powers" in the US Constitution?

The president commands the nation's armed forces, while Congress has the power to ratify treaties

Which of the following is the most immediate consequence of impeaching a president?

The president is tried in the Senate

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of limited government?

The president vetoing a bill from Congress

Which of the following aspects of the US Constitution best illustrates the concept of participatory democracy?

The process for choosing members of the House of Representatives

In 1972, both houses of Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights for all citizens regardless of sex. However, the amendment failed, as three-quarters of the states did not ratify it before the deadline expired. This is an example of which of the following aspects of federalism in the United States?

The sharing of power between states and the federal government constrains national policymaking

"To what expedient, then, shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the Constitution? The only answer that can be given is, that as all these exterior provisions are found to be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places." -Publius (James Madison), Federalist No. 51, 1788 Which of the following statements best summarizes Madison's argument?

The structure of the government itself should limit its powers

Republicanism is best defined as which of the following?

The system by which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders

In 1993, Congress passed the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which required background checks for gun purchases from licensed gun dealers. The bill required local chief law enforcement officers to perform background checks on prospective handgun purchasers until the Attorney General created a federal system to do this task. Two country sheriffs sued the United States, arguing that the law was an unconstitutional use of federal power. The case, Printz v. United States, went to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the county sheriffs. The Court ruled that the necessary and proper clause does not give the federal government the power to require local law enforcement to fulfill the federal task of performing background checks. This is an example of which of the following aspects of federalism in the United States?

The system of checks and balances between the branches of the federal government constrains policymaking

"Our Debts being unfunded and unprovided for, the Interest cannot be paid. Those therefore who trusted us in the Hour of Distress are defrauded. To expect that under such Circumstances others will confide in the Government would be Folly, and to expect that Foreigners will Trust a Government which has no Credit with its own Citizens must be madness . . . "The United States have call'd for eight Million of Dollars early in November last, of which the first quarterly Payment was to have been made on the first Day of April next. But I cannot find that a single State has laid the Taxes." -Robert Morris, letter to the president of Congress, 1782. Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

The taxation structure under the Articles poses a serious threat to the economic well-being of the United States

Which of the following is a consequence of the principle of separation of powers?

There are multiple access points for stakeholders and institutions to influence public policy

Why are the compromises that were necessary to secure ratification of the Constitution still debated today?

They left some matters unresolved

"As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed . . . The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties." -Publius (James Madison), Federalist No. 10. According to the author, what is the purpose of government?

To control factions

Which of the following procedures results in the addition of an amendment to the Constitution?

Two-thirds of state legislatures propose a Constitution Amendment Bill, which is ratified by three-fourths of the states

In Federalist No. 10, Madison argues that the Constitution disperses power between the federal government and state governments. Which of the following describes a constitutional provision in the newly-ratified Constitution that does that?

US senators were chosen by state legislatures