GOV MC

In McCulloch v. Maryland , the Supreme Court established which of the following principles? (A) States cannot interfere with or tax the legitimate activities of the federal government. (B) The judicial branch cannot intervene in political disputes between the President and Congress. (C) The federal Bill of Rights places no limitations on the states. (D) The federal government has the power to regulate commerce. (E) It is within the judiciary's authority to interpret the constitution.

(A) States cannot interfere with or tax the legitimate activities of the federal government.

Which of the following best describes the reasoning in Baker v. Carr (1961)? (A) Unequal representation of citizens in legislative districts is unconstitutional and may be reviewed by the courts. (B) Political issues such as reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering are to be resolved by the legislative branch. (C) Racial gerrymandering is a violation of the Fourth Amendment's exclusionary clause. (D) Gerrymandering that favors a single party is not subject to legal action because there is no standard to determine how a state legislative district map should be drawn.

(A) Unequal representation of citizens in legislative districts is unconstitutional and may be reviewed by the courts.

In general, Congress is most likely to defer to the President: (A) in the area of foreign policy (B) in the area of fiscal policy (C) in the area of social policy (D) late in the President's term (E) When the economy is strong

(A) in the area of foreign policy

Much of the steady increase in federal government expenditures since 1960 has been caused by (A) increases in entitlement programs (B) higher interest rates caused by an increase in the discount rate (C) the provisions of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act (D) increased purchases of United States government securities by foreign investors (E) the growth of the United States trade imbalance

(A) increases in entitlement programs

The reserved powers of the state governments can best be described as those powers (A) not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states (B) implied in the Fifth Amendment(C) listed specifically in the Tenth Amendment(D) exercised by both national and state governments(E) granted to states as part of the implied powers doctrine

(A) not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states

Which constitutional principle best explains the differences in poverty rates presented in the map? (A) Checks and balances (B) Federalism (C) Equal protection (D) Enumerated powers

(B) Federalism

Based on the passage and your knowledge, which of the following most likely explains how Adam Smith might react to the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ? (A) Smith would approve of the court's decision that limited the scope of the federal government's regulatory authority. (B) Smith would disapprove of the court's decision to expand the federal government's power to regulate the economy. (C) Smith would disapprove of the court's decision allowing private businesses to make unlimited contributions to political campaigns. (D) Smith would approve of the court's decision to expand the power of the federal government to promote economic growth.

(B) Smith would disapprove of the court's decision to expand the federal government's power to regulate the economy.

Which of the following is true under the system of checks and balances? (A) The Supreme Court can overrule the President's policy proposals. (B) The Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become law. (C) A bill becomes law when the House and the Senate pass it, and the Supreme Court declares it constitutional. (D) The Supreme Court can remove members of Congress, and Congress can impeach the President. (E) The House of Representatives appoints justices to the Supreme Court and the Senate approves the appointments.

(B) The Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become law.

The legislative process at the national level reflects the intent of the framers of the Constitution to create a legislature that would (A) be less powerful than the executive (B) be cautious and deliberate (C) involve as many citizens as possible (D) ensure that all groups be equally represented (E) allow majorities virtually unlimited control over policy

(B) be cautious and deliberate

All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention EXCEPT (A) representation in the legislature (B) voting qualifications of the electorate (C) method of electing the President (D) congressional power to override a presidential veto (E) qualifications for members of the House and Senate

(B) voting qualifications of the electorate

Based on the data, which of the following is the most likely consequence for the legislative process in Congress? (A) More competitive races for House seats in the general election (B) A decrease in party-line voting on important legislation introduced in the House (C) An increase in gridlock and failure to compromise on legislation (D) Greater cooperation between Congress and the president on nominations

(C) An increase in gridlock and failure to compromise on legislation

Which of the following is an example of a power exclusively granted to the Senate in Article II of the Constitution? (A) Declaring war (B) Overriding a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority veto (C) Confirming ambassadors (D) Creating spending bills

(C) Confirming ambassadors

All of the following are ways that the legislative branch can check the powers of the executive branch EXCEPT: (A) Congress may remove the president through its impeachment and conviction powers. (B) Congress may override a presidential veto. (C) Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional. (D) The Senate may refuse to approve a presidential appointment. (E) The Senate may refuse to approve a treaty negotiated by the president.

(C) Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional.

Which of the following ideals of United States government is most relevant to this passage? (A) Natural rights (B) Popular sovereignty (C) Limited government (D) Social contract

(C) Limited government

If voters are acting according to the retrospective model of voting, which of the following will be the most important consideration in their decision? (A) The party affiliations of the candidates (B) The campaign promises made by the candidates (C) The effect of recent economic conditions on the voters (D) Whether the candidates will act in the best interest of the voters if elected

(C) The effect of recent economic conditions on the voters

Which of the following enumerated powers would permit Congress to stimulate the economy by hiring unemployed citizens? Test Booklet (A) The power to create immigration policies (B) The power to regulate interstate commerce (C) The power to pass a federal budget (D) The power of legislative oversight

(C) The power to pass a federal budget

The Warren Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) demonstrates which of the following about Supreme Court decisions? (A) Precedents established by the Supreme Court are frequently overturned by lower courts. (B) The Supreme Court has used a colorblind interpretation of the Constitution to guide judicial precedent over time. (C) Precedents established by the Supreme Court decades ago are generally not addressed after a certain period of time. (D) Ideological changes in the composition of the Supreme Court have led to the rejection of an existing precedent.

(D) Ideological changes in the composition of the Supreme Court have led to the rejection of an existing precedent.

Which of the following describes the Twenty-Fourth Amendment? (A) It desegregated places of public accommodation. (B) It required elections for the United States Senate. (C) It reduced barriers to political participation on the basis of gender. (D) It eliminated poll taxes.

(D) It eliminated poll taxes.

The details of legislation are usually worked out in which of the following settings? (A) a party caucus (B) The majority leader's office (C) The floor of the House (D) Legislative hearings (E) A subcommittee

(E) A subcommittee

Federal spending for which of the following is determined by laws that lie outside the regular budgetary process? (A) Military procurement (B) Regulatory agency funding (C) Government-subsidized housing programs (D) Educational assistance programs such as student loans (E) Entitlement programs such as Social Security

(E) Entitlement programs such as Social Security

If Congress adjourns during the ten days the president has to consider a bill passed by both houses of Congress, but which the president has not yet signed, what is the result? (A) Line-item veto (B) Legislative veto (C) Executive veto (D) Judicial review (E) Pocket veto

(E) Pocket veto

Congressional legislative powers include all of the following EXCEPT (A) legislating federal appropriations (B) approval of treaties (C) establishing a lower-court system (D) passing federal laws (E) pardoning felons

(E) pardoning felons

Nominations to the Supreme Court must be approved by a (C) (D) (E) (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) simple majority vote in the Senate only simple majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives only two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives and the Senate and a majority of the sitting justices on the Supreme Court

simple majority vote in the Senate only