AP Government Test Review

When was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution? In 1865, following the Union victory over the Confederacy in the Civil War Immediately before the final ratification of the Constitution After the ratification of the Constitution, to fulfill a promise to Anti-Federalists Informally, piece by piece, during the early years of the nation During the Constitutional Convention, at the insistence of Thomas Jefferson

After the ratification of the Constitution, to fulfill a promise to Anti-Federalists

Why did the Framers create the electoral college? Because they did not trust the masses to elect the president directly So that ordinary Americans could influence the selection of the president To prevent partisan bickering about who would be president To ensure that the public could fully evaluate all presidential and vice presidential candidates To placate the British Parliament

Because they did not trust the masses to elect the president directly

The most common method for amending the Constitution has been approval by ________. the state legislatures and the Senate Congress and a national referendum both the Senate and House of Representatives Congress and the state legislatures Congress, the state legislatures, and the president

Congress and the state legislatures

How does the electoral college work? Congress selects presidential candidates; voters then elect the president. Each state determines how it will select its electors; electors then elect the president. Voters elect electors; electors then select convention delegates, who in turn elect the president. Congress selects a slate of electors; voters then select electors, who in turn elect the president. Voters elect electors to state conventions; state conventions then elect the president.

Each state determines how it will select its electors; electors then elect the president.

A common critique of the Constitution is that its wording is vague. But this also appears to be one of its strengths. What is the most likely reason that vague language is important for the Constitution to have lasted so long as a viable framework of government? It allows the Constitution to absorb governmental ideas from other countries. It allows the Constitution to adapt more easily to changing times. It makes it possible for everyone to find things they like in it. It allows the country to adopt a parliamentary system if necessary. It prevents the concentration of power in the hands of the few.

It allows the Constitution to adapt more easily to changing times.

What was one objection the Anti-Federalists made to the Constitution? It limited the role of the central government. It provided for a weak central government. It did not list rights, thereby restricting personal freedoms. It provided for a government that would tax the citizens heavily. It would strengthen the power of the states.

It did not list rights, thereby restricting personal freedoms.

When the Framers constructed a federal government in which each branch has specific powers that are checked by the other two branches, what was one advantage they intended? It ensured that the federal government was less powerful than state governments in all situations. It gave citizens a strong voice in elections. It protected against government tyranny by one branch or by all three acting together. It promoted a more effective national government. It ensured that only the most qualified officials would serve in office.

It protected against government tyranny by one branch or by all three acting together.

Which of the following statements is true of the Constitution's separation of powers? A) It was a new concept of government at the time the Constitution was being drafted. B) It was accomplished by splitting the government into three branches. C) It means that no one branch of government could become more powerful than the president, who must answer to voters. D) The writers of the Constitution overlooked its importance in their earliest drafts. E) It means that the states are equal in power to the federal government.

It was accomplished by splitting the government into three branches.

Which of the following represents the appropriate actions of each branch of the government in regard to laws? Legislative branch passes laws; executive branch enforces laws; and judicial branch interprets laws. Judicial branch passes laws; executive branch enforces laws; and legislative branch interprets laws. Legislative branch passes laws; judicial branch enforces laws; and executive branch interprets laws. Judicial, executive, and legislative branches all write and pass laws. Executive branch passes laws; legislative branch enforces laws; and judicial branch interprets laws.

Legislative branch passes laws; executive branch enforces laws; and judicial branch interprets laws.

The Framers were practical politicians. They knew that, to prevent tyranny in their young country, they would have to craft a constitution that "checks power with power." What does this concept mean? Power would need to be distributed to several branches of the government so that the power of one branch could be checked by the other branches. The Framers were concerned that one branch of the government might go to war against another branch. Most of the power should remain with state governments because a national government is more likely to oppress people. There was a great likelihood that the branches of government would block one another so that nothing could be done. The Framers were more concerned with military threats from foreign powers.

Power would need to be distributed to several branches of the government so that the power of one branch could be checked by the other branches.

In Madison's plan of the Constitution, which body could elect senators? The president Congress State legislatures Municipalities The public

State legislatures

Which part of the New Jersey Plan became part of the Connecticut Compromise? The Senate would have two members from each state. The Congress would have two members from each state. The number of senators each state will have would be determined by the state's population. Each state would have one representative in Congress and one senator. Senate members would be appointed by Congress.

The Senate would have two members from each state.

Which provision concerning slavery appeared in the Constitution? The Great Compromise Congress could forbid the importation of slaves before 1808. States could ban the importation of slaves. The Three-Fifths Compromise Slaves escaping to a free state were not required to be returned to their owners.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

Which of the following is an example of an informal amendment to the Constitution? The presence of a two-party system in the United States No cruel or unusual punishments The passage of voting rights to those between eighteen and twenty The right to bear arms Women's right to vote

The presence of a two-party system in the United States

The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was ________. Benjamin Franklin George Washington Thomas Paine Thomas Jefferson John Hancock

Thomas Jefferson

Which of the following powers did Congress have under the Articles of Confederation? To regulate interstate commerce To maintain an army and navy To levy taxes on citizens The sole power to print money To overturn state laws

To maintain an army and navy

The ________ Amendment lowered the voting age to eighteen. Sixteenth Twenty-seventh Twentieth Nineteenth Twenty-sixth

Twenty-sixth

Constitutions can be changed only by ________. articles of amendment rules of law ordinary acts of government ratification a process of general popular consent

a process of general popular consent

The first method for proposing amendments to the Constitution—and the only one used so far—is ________. a constitutional convention held by a minimum of nine states a two-thirds approval vote of the states a two-thirds approval vote in the House of Representatives a Supreme Court ruling a two-thirds approval vote of Congress

a two-thirds approval vote of Congress

One of the freedoms that the new government wanted to protect against the intrusions of a tyrannical government was the right of the people to ________. acquire and enjoy private property vote run for elected office privacy education

acquire and enjoy private property

The Constitution contains ________ where each branch of the government has to obtain consent from the others for its actions. several amendments separation of powers checks and balances the Bill of Rights the necessary and proper clause

checks and balances

John Locke believed that natural rights were inherent of humans and not dependent on ________. socio-economics religion governments parliament faith

governments

The major weakness of the Articles of Confederation was its ________. lack of a national court in which British loyalists could sue Americans overlapping set of bureaucracies powerful revenue-collecting agency lack of a strong national government powerful executive branch

lack of a strong national government

The power to informally amend the Constitution by judicial interpretation is held by ________. the legislative branch the Supreme Court state governments the president voting citizens

the Supreme Court