Practice questions-Constitutional Underpinnings

Which of the following constitutional provisions has been used to strengthen state powers? a. 10th amendment b. Full faith and credit clause c. Necessary and proper clause d. Privilege and immunities clause e. Commerce clause

A. 10th amendment

The following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government? A. The commerce clause of the Constitution b. The habeas corpus of the Constitution c. The bill of attainder clause of the Constitution d. The first amendment e.The fifth amendment

A. The commerce clause of the Constitution

Which of the following best defines the constitutional interpretation of federalism? a. The federal government and the states each have separate and mutually exclusive roles and responsibilities, neither control the other b. The states have some powers reserved to them which they may exercise of the Supreme Court permits c. The federal government and states have separate but overlapping powers; where these powers conflict the federal government prevails d. The states may only exercise these powers delegated to them by Congress e. The federal government may exercise only those powers specifically enumerated in the constitution

C. The federal government and states have separate the overlapping powers; where these powers conflict to the federal government prevails

Which of the following is an advantage of a federal system? a. Local governments are more likely to be dominated by factions b. It is easy to determine which level of government is responsible for a particular problem c. States can experiment with programs, and the successful ones can be adopted to the national level d. A federal system is less expensive than a unitary system because there are fewer national government entities e. States have traditionally protected the rights of minority groups more than the national government has

C.States can experiment with programs, and successful ones can be adapted to the national level

All of the following are consequences of the federal system of the United States except a. Any quality in government services across subnational entities b.Opportunities for extermination in government programs c. Multiple points of access for interest groups d. Decentralization of political conflict e. A strict division of power among levels of government

E. A strict division of power among levels of government

the supreme courts decision in McCulloch v. Maryland concerned what two things? I. the right of the federal govt to control interstate commerce II. the authority of a state to tax an agency of the federal govt III. the right of the states to declare a federal law null and void IV. the right of the federal govt to create the bank of the united states under the necessary and proper clause

II. and IV. only

An important result of McCholluch v. Maryland was to a. Establish the supremacy of the federal government over the states b.Plays limits on the powers of Congress c. Establish the doctrine of judicial review d. Established the doctrine of dual federalism e. Give greater power to the states

a. Establish the supremacy of the federal government over the states

The power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of a law passed by Congress is called a. Judicial review b. Supreme Court review c. Constitutional review d. Congressional review e. Special review

a. Judicial review

Which of the following to the Supreme Court established in Maybury v. Madison a. The SCOTUS can Declare a federal legislation invalid if the legislation violated the Constitution b. Each state has the right to set up and run it's on court system c. All the powers that are not explicitly given by the constitution to congress belong to the states d. Any POTUS who commits treason, bribery, or other higher crimes and misdemeanors can be impeached e. The constitution can be admitted by a 2/3 vote of the members of the House of representatives

a. The SCOTUS can declare federal legislation invalid if the legislation violated the Constitution

Which constitutional provision has expanded the power of the federal government in regulating privately owned businesses? a. The commerce clause b. The 10th amendment c. Full faith and credit clause d. Power to levy and collect taxes e.Power to borrow money

a. The commerce clause

why do states oppose federal laws that require them to provide environmental policy protection? a.because they are unfunded mandates b.because states do not generally agree that protecting the environment is important c.because citizens do not generally agree that protecting the environment is important d.because these laws come in the form of block grants e.because most states would protect the environment, even if federal govt did not require such protection

a.because they are unfunded mandates

under the constitution as ratified, members of the senate were a.chosen by the state legislatures b.appointed by the governor c.elected by the people d.selected by the house of reps e.chosen through the electoral college

a.chosen by the state legislatures

The necessary and proper clause is also known as the __________ clause a.Elastic b.expressed c.implied d.the practice e.congressional

a.elastic

Which of the following actions by the federal government best illustrates the concept of unfunded mandate's? a. Requiring that polling booths remain open be on the hours of the working day b. Require states and municipalities to provide certain services for their citizens without providing resources to pay for those services c. Requiring state governments to guarantee a short term bonds issued by large municipalities in their states d. Requiring all municipalities to impose a minimum property tax to all residential and business properties e. Requiring states and Municipalities to privatize many previously publicly funded services

b. Requiring states and municipalities to provide certain servant his for their citizens without providing resources to pay for those services

an important distinction between a categorical and and block grant is that a.states must provide matching funds for a block grant b.states have more freedom in determining how to use block grants c.block grants are more numerous than categorical grants d.categorical grants have comparatively few differences e.block grants are targeted to very specific program goals

b. states have more freedom in determining how to use block grants

The legislative process at the national level reflects the intent of the framers of the constitution to create a legislator that would a. Be less powerful than executive b.Because 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

Which of the following is not a basic principle of government found in the constitution a. Popular sovereignty b. Conservatism c. Limited government d. Judicial review e.Federalism

b.Conservatism

the great compromise also knows as the Connecticut compromise, concerned a. the power of the president b.representation in congress c.continuation of the slave trade d.the organization of the federal courts e.the right to vote

b.representation of congress

One example of constitutional checks and balances is a. The POTUS declares war, but the Congress appropriates military funds b. The POTUS nominates cabinet members, and the household confirmation hearings c. The house can impeach federal judges and the POTUS, and the senate holds for impeachment trial d. Congress can override a SCOTUS decisions on the constitutionality of laws e. Presidential vetoes of laws can be overridden by simple majority vote in both House and the Senate

c. The house can impeach federal judges and the POTUS, and the senate holds the impeachment trial

In Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court assumed the power to a. Decide whether internal congressional procedures are constitutional b. Advise Congress on the constitutionality of a proposed law c. Regulate slavery d. Decide on the constitutionality of a law or an executive action e. Approve executive agreements

d. Decide on the constitutionality of a law or an executive action

What kind of federal grants are used for building airports, roads, schools, and other specific undertakings? a. Formula grants b. Block grants c. Revenue sharing d. Categorical grants e. Broad based aid

d. Categorical grants

The Congress shall have power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all powers vested by this constitution in the government of the United States, or any department of officer thereof Interpretations of this clause have been central to attempt to define the nature of which of the following aspects of the United States political system? a. Republicanism b. Pluralism c. Due process law d. Federalism e. Judicial review

d. Federalism

Which of the following was the most important effect of replacing the articles of confederation with the constitution of 1787? a. The protection of free speech b. The guarantee of states rights c. The establishment of direct democracy d. The creation of a strong national government e. Establishment of judicial review

d. The creation of a strong national government

Constitutional amendments may be ratified by a. State conventions called by Congress b.national convention c.A 2/3 vote of each house of the congress d. Legislator of 3/4 of the state e. A legislator of 2/3 of the state

d. legislator of 3/4 of the state

Which of the following forms of financial aid from the national government gives the states the broadest direction in the spending of money? a. Categorical grants in aid b. Foreign aid c. Unfunded mandate's d. Block grants e.Military funding

d.Block grants

what is a policy area that states are not responsible for? a.education b.police c.health d.interstate commerce e.taxation

d.interstate commerce

The Congress shall have power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying out execution The foregoing powers, and all powers vested in this constitution in the government of the United States or any department of officer thereof The practical effect of this clause has to be to a. Make the legislator the most powerful branch of the national government b. Allow the state governments to know if I federal laws within their borders c. Give the president uncontested powers in the area of foreign-policy d. Ensure there any powers not delegated by the constitution of the United States government are reserved to the states in the people e. Allow the national convention to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution

e. Allowed the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution

The Connecticut compromise provided for a. All revenue bills to originate in the Senate b. All judicial opponents to be nominated by the POTUS c. The illumination of the importation of slaves d. And electoral college and rules for the removal of the POTUS e. A bicameral legislator with one houses composition based upon it states population in another's on equal state representation

e. The bicameral legislator with one houses composition based upon states population in another's on equal state representation

what is judicial review? a.the review of judicial appointments by members of the senate, who have the power to confirm nominees b.the ability to the supreme court to overturn rulings by federal district court judges c. The power to the Supreme Court overturn rulings by federal appeals court judges d. The power to the chief justice of Supreme Court to preside over impeachment hearings e. The power of the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress or the states unconstitutional

e. The power of the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress or the states unconstitutional

Which of the following is not true federalism? a.A state may not unreasonably discriminate against the resident of another state b. The federal government handles matters of national concern c. States may extradite fugitives from one state to another d. States must honor another states public acts, laws and records e. State and federal powers are completely compartmentalized never interfere with each other

e.State and federal powers are completely compartmentalized and never interfere with each other

the cooperative federalism model was a response to a. the need to pass civil rights legislation b.the increasing number of immigrants coming into the country c.conditions in the south after the civil war d.the end of the cold war e.the economic conditions the country faced after the depression

e.the economic conditions the country faced after the depression

what was the biggest problem with the articles of confederation a.the national govt imposed heavy taxes on the wealthy b.the states did not have enough power c.individual states could not control their economies d.the national govt did not have the power to regulate interstate commerce e.the national govt could not levy and collect taxes

e.the national govt could not levy and collect taxes