Go Po Test 1

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty. Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. . . . It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. George Washington's Farewell Address, 1796 In what respect does the Constitution address Washington's concern regarding the "spirit of encroachment" expressed in the excerpt? A) The Constitution distributes power across national institutions. B) The Constitution provides for equal representation of all citizens in Congress. C) The Constitution requires a simple majority vote in Congress to overturn a veto. D) The Constitution requires the Supreme Court to approve all legislation.

A)

The Declaration of Independence states "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." This was a revolutionary change from the system of British monarchy, which was based on the divine right of kings. For which of the ideals of democracy does this quote provide a foundation? A) Popular sovereignty B) Federalism C) Separation of power D) Limited government

A)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, and to insist upon the institution of a new government . . ." ". . . Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled. The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise. He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice. He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men. . . . Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides. He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead. He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns." Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Seneca Falls Convention, 1848 The language in the first paragraph of the selection most closely parallels that of which of the following documents? A) The Preamble to the United States Constitution B) The Declaration of Independence C) The Federalist 10 D) Brutus 1

B)

Which of the following ideals of democracy is reflected in the procedure for apportionment in the House of Representatives? A) The federal government represents states equally. B) Government is based on the consent of the governed. C) Leaders in Congress are among the most well-informed in society. D) Political power is distributed between the national government and state governments.

B)

Which of the following is a correct comparison between the United States Constitution and the Articles of Confederation? A) United States Constitution | Articles of Confederation Favored stronger national government | Favored a federal system B) United States Constitution | Articles of Confederation Granted Congress the power to levy taxes | Granted states alone the power to levy taxes C) United States Constitution | Articles of Confederation Required approval by three-fourths of Congress for a constitutional amendment | Required unanimity of Congress to amend D) United States Constitution | Articles of Confederation Granted Congress the power to declare war | Granted the Congress power to regulate trade

B)

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances? A) An unpopular Supreme Court ruling can be overturned by a majority vote of both houses of Congress. B) A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. C) A filibuster in the Senate can be ended with a cloture motion that has the support of 60 senators. D) A treaty negotiated by the president with a foreign government must be approved by a majority vote of the House.

B)

In 1974, the House of Representatives approved a resolution granting the Judiciary Committee authority to investigate impeachment of President Nixon for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress. Which constitutional ideal of democracy is demonstrated in this scenario? A) Popular sovereignty B) Judicial review C) Limited government D) Federalism

C)

The next most palpable defect of the subsisting Confederation, is the total want of a SANCTION to its laws. The United States, as now composed, have no powers to exact obedience, or punish disobedience to their resolutions, either by pecuniary [fines], by a suspension or divestiture of privileges, or by any other constitutional mode. There is no express delegation of authority to them to use force against delinquent members; and if such a right should be ascribed to the federal head, as resulting from the nature of the social compact between the States, it must be by inference and construction... There is, doubtless, a striking absurdity in supposing that a right of this kind does not exist. . . Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist 21 In the passage, Hamilton is concerned that under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government does not have sufficient constitutional powers to gain compliance from state governments. Which of the following is a way that the Constitution allows the federal government to address this problem? A) The state governments have reserved powers under the Tenth Amendment. B) The federal government is not permitted to coin money. C) The federal government can pass laws that allow it to fine or tax individuals directly. D) A Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution to protect individual civil liberties.

C)

Which of the following is a consequence of having concurrent powers within a federal system of government? A) The executive branch can expand its control of the policy agenda. B) States can pass laws that override the laws of the federal government. C) Citizens and interest groups seeking policy change can choose from multiple access points. D) Members of Congress can cultivate close relationships with power brokers in their regions.

C)

Concurrent powers have which of the following effects on the United States political system? A) They reinforce the expansion of the power of the national government and the supremacy of the national law. B) They eliminate disputes between the states and the national government by creating completely separate spheres of influence. C) They foster cooperation between the states and the national government by requiring that the two levels of government work together. D) They make it possible for the states and the national government to simultaneously exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.

D)

In the 1780s, proponents of the new Constitution cited Shays' Rebellion as an example in support of which of the following criticisms of the national government under the Articles of Confederation? A) The national government did not provide sufficient protection of individual rights. B) The lack of a centralized judiciary made enforcement of national laws difficult. C) States with larger populations were underrepresented in Congress. D) There was a lack of a national military power to address security concerns.

D)

Too often, we take our form of government for granted, not fully appreciating its unique and exceptional qualities. The framers of our Constitution, having revolted against tyranny, bequeathed to the nation, and to us as its citizens, a form of government with checks and balances intended to assure that we would never, as a nation, be subject to the abuses we experienced as a colony under a monarchy. . . . We should appreciate that the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution was modeled on the constitutions and declarations of the states, where the separation of powers was equally observed. Mirroring our U.S. Constitution, 40 state constitutions now specify that government is to be divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The separation of powers at the state level, with an independent executive, legislature, and judiciary, is also one of the fundamental tenets of our democracy. What often gets lost in translation is how dynamic the competition among the branches of government has been, and how much stronger we are as a country because of that ongoing debate. It has been said that the Constitution is not just a historic document, but a living participant in who we are as a nation. Out of the continuing effort to assure the separation of powers, we have built a system of government that functions remarkably well. Although the powers ascribed to each of the three branches may sometimes appear to swing like a pendulum, we have continuously reconsidered and recentered our understanding of the authority and limitation of each of these branches. Linda Leali, "Reflecting on the Great Gift of the Separation of Powers," Daily Business Review, 2018 Which of the following best explains how the view of the author of the passage compares with The Federalist 51 regarding separation of powers and checks and balances? A) The author of the passage views the structure of government as providing a balance between the branches of government, whereas The Federalist 51 supports the idea of a powerful executive branch. B) The author of the passage views separation of powers as a limitation on the authority of government, whereas The Federalist 51 argues in favor of using separation of powers as a means to expand the role of government. C) Both the author of the passage and The Federalist 51 argue that elections are a sufficient means to ensure good government. D) Both the author of the passage and The Federalist 51 assert that the structure of government helps control ambitions among the branches in such a way as to promote effective government.

D)

Which of the following is a model of democracy that emphasizes the role of interest groups in advocating for public policy? A) Participatory democracy B) Elitist democracy C) Majoritarian democracy D) Pluralist democracy

D)

Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ? A) The federal government exceeded its authority in establishing a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional. B) Maryland was within its authority to tax the federal government, but the Bank of the United States exceeded federal authority. C) The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, but it had to pay Maryland's tax. D) The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional.

D)

court case that ruled regulating interstate commerce is a power reserved to the federal government using the commerce clause

Gibbons v. Ogden

court case that established judicial review

Marbury v. Madison

established a U.S. bank and ruled that a state can't tax a federal entity

McCulloch v. Maryland

the court case that used the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause

McCulloch v. Maryland

court case that was ruled unconstitutional using the commerce clause

U.S. v. Lopez

federal government couldn't charge the person for bringing a gun to school only a crime within the state

U.S. v. Lopez