Chapter 1
Which of the following party platform statements would the anti-Federalists be MOST likely to agree with?
"We believe government should tax only to raise money for its essential functions."
Which of the following party platform statements would the Federalists be MOST likely to agree with?
"We do believe that government has a role to play in advancing our common prosperity: by providing stable macroeconomic and financial conditions for sustained growth; by demanding transparency; and by ensuring fair competition in the marketplace."
In total, how many amendments have been added to the U.S. Constitution?
27
What was a significant influence on state representative Harry Burn's crucial vote in favor of women's suffrage?
A letter from his mother urging him to "be a good boy" and vote for suffrage appears to have been a significant influence on Harry Burn and his decision to cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
Which of the following is true about the difference in qualifications between a senator and a representative?
A qualification difference between senators and representatives is that senators have to be at least 30 years old, while representatives have to be at least 25 years old.
Why is a strong executive or president necessary, according to the Federalists?
A. It is essential for defense against foreign attacks. B. It is required for good administration of the laws. C. It is necessary for the protection of private property. D. It is crucial for preventing national division and anarchy.
Consider the case of a male U.S. citizen who marries a man from another country. Can his new spouse move to the United States to live with him?
According to the Times graphic, foreigners in same-sex marriages with U.S. citizens will now be able to apply for permanent resident status (i.e., a green card) to live in the United States.
Once an amendment has been successfully proposed, what needs to happen before it can be officially added to the Constitution?
After an amendment has been successfully proposed by either two-thirds of both houses of Congress or two-thirds of the states, it must be ratified by the legislatures or constitutional conventions of three-fourths of the states for it to be officially added to the Constitution.
n the video, the Alice Paul character sings, "Itʼs gotten ugly" in reference to the passage of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. What does she mean by that?
Alice Paul refers to the fact that the passage of the 15th Amendment was a source of frustration to many suffragists because they felt that ensuring suffrage regardless of sex should have been included in the amendment along with race and color.
How does the information in this assignment about the passage of the 19th Amendment illustrate the idea that one person can make a difference? Choose the BEST answer.
Alice Paulʼs leadership and determination as seen in the video and Harry Burnʼs crucial vote as described in "Showdown in Tennessee" both had a direct impact on the passage of the 19th Amendment and demonstrated the power of one.
What type of marriage has it been more common for states to refuse to recognize?
An "evasive" marriage—in which a couple lives in a state where they cannot get married, travels to another state and marries there, and then seeks to have their marriage recognized by their home state when they return—has typically been treated with less sympathy by state governments.
Which article of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court?
Article III establishes the Supreme Court.
Amendment XVIII, XXI (1919, 1933)
Bans the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol; revokes this ban.
What did Chief Justice John Roberts emphasize in his dissenting opinion?
Chief Justice Roberts emphasized that the ruling has no bearing on the constitutionality of state laws banning same-sex marriage; in a separate dissent, however, Justice Antonin Scalia warned that the Supreme Court probably would strike down such bans in the future.
Amendments XIII-XV (1865-1870)
Civil War and Reconstruction. Provides basis for civil rights. Abolishes slavery. Articulates equal protection under the law. Grants voting rights regardless of race.
One-third of the amendments to the U.S. Constitution fall under which of the following categories?
Civil liberties
Who has the power to set up the inferior courts?
Congress has the power to set up the inferior courts.
Which of the following BEST describes the mood among suffragists and anti-suffragists alike during the time period leading up to the special session of the Tennessee House of Representatives?
During the time period leading up to the special session of the Tennessee House of Representatives, suspense and anxiety reigned, as neither side was sure what the outcome would be.
Amendment XII (1804)
Electoral College. Separates elections for president and vice president
Which branch of government does Article II cover?
Executive. Article II covers the executive branch, detailing presidential terms, powers, responsibilities, and how the president is to be elected or removed from office.
Eight of the seventeen amendments added after the Bill of Rights address which of the following issues?
Federal elections
Which of the following couples would be entitled to receive full federal marriage benefits as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling on DOMA?
Full federal marriage benefits will only be given to same-sex couples that both live in and were legally married in a state (such as Vermont) that allows gay marriage.
According to the anti-suffragists (those opposing the right to vote for women), why should women not be allowed to vote?
Good laws concerning the employment of women are passed in states without women's suffrage. Good laws concerning the welfare of children are passed in states without women's suffrage. Women are not disenfranchised because they have never been disenfranchised. Government is man's work.
Amendment XXIII (1961)
Grants three electors to Washington, DC.
Amendment XVI (1913)
Income Tax. Institutes federal tax on personal income.
Amendment XVII (1913)
Introduces direct election of senators.
Which of the following states allows gay couples to marry?
Iowa—along with 35 other states and the District of Columbia—allows gay couples to become legally married.
How many years did it take from the original meeting of proponents of women's rights at the Seneca Falls Convention to the ratification of the 19th Amendment?
It took 72 years from the original call for suffrage at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 until the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920.
In writing for the Supreme Court's 5-4 majority, how did Justice Anthony Kennedy describe the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)?
Justice Kennedy characterized DOMA as fundamentally discriminatory, arguing that its effect was "to impose a disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma upon all who enter into same-sex marriages."
Amendment XXII (1951)
Limits presidents to two full terms of office.
Amendment XXVI (1971)
Lowers the voting age to 18.
How many states had to ratify the Constitution for it become the law of the land?
Nine. The approval of nine states was required for the Constitution to become law, though all thirteen of the original states eventually voted in favor of ratification.
Amendment XXV (1967)
Permits temporary replacement of president and the process for replacement of vice president
Amendment XXVII (1992)
Prohibits members of Congress from raising their salaries during their term of office.
Amendment XXIV (1964)
Prohibits the requirement of poll tax for voting.
Which of the following is NOT a possible ratification path for a proposed amendment?
Proposal by a three-quarters vote in Congress and approval by ratification conventions held in two-thirds of the states is not a possible ratification path for a proposed amendment.
Bill of Rights
Provides basis for civil liberties First Amendment freedoms Right to bear arms Due process Power of the people Power of the states
Which stage of the amendment process requires a greater majority for passage?
Ratification of an amendment requires a three-fourths majority, larger than the two-thirds majority required for an amendment to be successfully proposed. "Drafting," "committee," and "publication" stages are not officially part of the amendment process.
Amendment XI (1795)
Sovereign Immunity. Prohibits suits brought in federal court against states by citizens of other states
According to the text, which amendment has the Supreme Court largely ignored?
Sovereign immunity
Amendment XX (1933)
Specifies dates of inauguration of presidents and members of Congress
According to the "Recognition" section of the article, in what situation does the full faith and credit clause most strongly compel a state to recognize a marriage from another state?
States face the strongest compulsion to recognize out-of-state marriages under the full faith and credit clause in situations where a court has issued a judgment, usually involving an insurance claim or child-custody arrangement.
By what path was the suffrage amendment ratified and added to the Constitution?
The 19th Amendment was ratified through approval by three-fourths of the state legislatures.
Which amendment(s) may be considered "coercive" in regard to the states?
The Civil War amendments
"The supreme law of the land" includes which of the following?
The Constitution is considered the supreme law of the land.
Another case was brought before the Court regarding California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state. What happened in this case?
The Court declared the case outside its jurisdiction and declined to hear it, thus sidestepping a definitive ruling on the major constitutional issues surrounding state bans on same-sex marriage. This allowed a lower federal court ruling that struck down Prop 8 to stand, effectively legalizing gay marriage in the state of California.
Which of the following types of federal policies will have to be reviewed and rewritten as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling?
The Court's ruling affects more than a thousand federal statutes and regulations, including laws on taxes, bankruptcy, housing, Social Security, and veterans' benefits
Which of the following seems to most closely reflect the philosophical roots of the Federalists? Choose the BEST answer.
The Democratic position on energy.
Where did the Federalists and the anti-Federalists stand on the question of the Union?
The Federalists felt that a Union was necessary, while the anti-Federalists felt that it was unnecessary.
Which of the following BEST summarizes the overall disagreement between the Federalists and the anti-Federalists?
The Federalists felt that the Constitution established a good balance of power, while the anti-Federalists felt that it gave too much power to the national government at the expense of the states.
Which of the following BEST describes the likely reason why the approval of three-fourths of the states is required for an amendment to be ratified?
The Founders deliberately made it difficult to amend the Constitution—requiring a three-fourths majority of the states for ratification—in order to ensure that any changes to the document would have extensive support throughout the nation.
Which of the following provides the BEST explanation for why the Framers specified in the first sections of both Article II and Article III that Congress couldn't diminish the salaries of the president or the Supreme Court justices while they're in office?
The Framers specified in two different articles that Congress couldn't diminish the salaries of the president or the Supreme Court justices while they're in office in order to keep Congress from using pay changes as a method of bribery or intimidation.
The Full Faith and Credit Clause was intended for which purpose?
The Full Faith and Credit Clause was intended to ensure that states respect the laws of other states.
Which of the following accurately characterizes the Necessary and Proper Clause?
The Necessary and Proper Clause gives Congress the authority to carry out other vague powers.
Which of the following seems to most closely reflect the philosophical roots of the anti-Federalists? Choose the BEST answer.
The Republican position on health care
Which of the following explains the legislative events leading up to the actual vote on the amendment by the Tennessee House on August 18, 1920?
The Senate had approved the amendment, and the evenly divided House of Representatives had tied on its vote to table the amendment, but the Speaker of the House called for a vote thinking it would be a tie and thus fail to be ratified.
How many senators from each state serve in the United States Senate?
The Senate is composed of two senators from each state.
Who serves as president of the Senate?
The U.S. vice president also serves as president of the Senate.
Why does the text describe the amendment process as a decision tree? Choose the BEST answer.
The amendment process is comprised of a series of decisions made by various actors.
How do the anti-suffragists distinguish disqualification by sex from disqualification by race, religion, or property?
The anti-suffragists distinguish disqualification by sex from disqualification by race, religion, or property qualification by arguing that differences in gender roles are not merely social constructs, but based on biological differences.
Which of the following BEST summarizes the anti-suffragistsʼ response to the suffragist argument that an inability to vote keeps women from being citizens?
The anti-suffragistsʼ response to the suffragist argument that an inability to vote keeps women from being citizens is that women already are citizens; they do not vote because their work as citizens is in the domestic sphere, not the political sphere.
According to the article, all of the following were lobbying activities engaged in by both suffragists and anti-suffragists EXCEPT:
The article does not mention suffragists or anti-suffragists holding concerts for lobbying purposes.
Which of the following is established in Article I of the Constitution?
The enumerated powers of Congress are established in Article I of the Constitution.
Which of the following statements about the amendment process is accurate?
The failure of the Equal Rights Act demonstrates the difficulty of amending the Constitution.
Which constitutional guarantee(s) did the Court find DOMA to be in violation of?
The federal government's refusal to recognize same-sex marriages legally granted by certain states, the Court found, violated constitutional protections of liberty, equality, and equal dignity.
If a court in Massachusetts issues you a driver's license, you can use it to legally drive in Idaho. Which clause of the Constitution guarantees this?
The full faith and credit clause of Article IV requires that states recognize and respect the laws of other states; thus a driver's license issued in one state is still considered valid in any other state.
Which of the following accurately captures the anti-Federalists' arguments concerning the proposed Constitution?
The judiciary will interpret the Constitution.
The majority of states now have what policy regarding gay marriage?
The majority of states now recognize same-sex marriages; many of these states recently had their bans of the practice overturned in federal court.
Which of the following does the text consider an advantage of the amendment process?
The text considers the vague language an advantage because it allows for flexibility and diversity in interpretation.
Which of the following provides the BEST explanation regarding the significance of the wording of the Preamble?
The use of the phrases "United States," "Union," and "United States of America" in the Preamble without any mention of state sovereignty suggests that the emphasis is on a strong central government.
According to the information included with the chart, how have the vast majority of constitutional amendments been passed?
The vast majority of amendments have been passed through proposal by a two-thirds vote in Congress and approval by three-fourths of the state legislatures. Approval by conventions held in three-fourths of states has only been done once, and proposal by a national convention called by Congress in response to petitions from two-thirds of the states has never been done.
Why was Tennessee a pivotal state in the amendment process?
The vote approving the 19th Amendment by the Tennessee legislature provided the necessary 36th vote to ratify the 19th Amendment and add it to the U.S. Constitution.
In the music video, the legislators voting on the amendment are portrayed wearing roses pinned to their jackets. Based on the article, what was the significance of those flowers?
The flowers on the legislatorsʼ jackets in the music video refers to the practice of wearing a red rose to oppose suffrage and wearing a yellow rose to support suffrage.
Why did the Framers make it relatively difficult to amend the Constitution? Choose the BEST answer.
They intended for all ratified amendments to have widespread support.
Two women that were legally married in New York but now live in North Carolina would receive marriage benefits from which of the following federal agencies?
They would receive marriage benefits from the Department of Defense (assuming one of them is a current or former member of the U.S. military), since that department only considers where they were married, not where they live. The IRS and the SSA, on the other hand, base benefits on a couple's current state of residence rather than the one in which they were married.
In the "Freedom to Marry" section, Wolff reviews the variety of state laws regarding same-sex marriage. Historically, which of the following types of marriage laws have also caused disputes among the states?
Throughout American history, states have struggled with differences over laws on marriages between people of different races, marriages between people from the same family, marriages following a divorce, and marriages involving teenagers.
What is the public policy exception?
Under the public policy exception, state courts that might otherwise recognize an out-of-state marriage can refuse to do so if the type of marriage would violate their state's strongly held public policies.
Which of the following states recently had its law banning same-sex marriage overturned by a federal court decision?
Utah is among a number of states that have recently had their laws or constitutional bans on same-sex marriage overturned by decisions of federal appeals courts.
Which of the following statements is MOST plausible given the relative length of each article of the Constitution and the order in which they are arranged?
While all the branches of government are vital, the legislative branch is the most important.
Which of the following BEST summarizes the main thesis of Wolff's article?
Wolff argues that even if DOMA is repealed in full, states will still have some discretion to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.
According to Wolff, what has often been the outcome of such historical disputes over marriage laws?
Wolff argues that the courts have a long tradition of working out "sensible solutions" to disputes over marriage laws.
According to Tobias Wolff, what is the "core function" of the full faith and credit clause?
Wolff writes, "It has been well established for more than a century that Full Faith and Credit does not require mandatory recognition of marriages around the country in the same way that it requires mandatory recognition of judgments by courts (which is its core function)."
Amendment XIX (1920)
Women's Suffrage Grants voting rights regardless of gender.