Chapter 2 Quiz

All of the following statements are true EXCEPT : a. John Locke's idea that certain things were beyond the realm of government contrasted sharply with the traditional notion that kings possessed divinely granted absolute rights over their subjects. b. The Three-Fifths Compromise specified that only three-fifths of slaves could vote. c. The Declaration of Independence asserts that the people have a right to revolt against an oppressive government. d. Most of the Framers believed that the principal objective of government is an economic one: the preservation of individual rights to acquire and hold wealth. e. The New Jersey Plan proposed a one-house legislature with one vote for each state.

B) The Three-Fifths Compromise specified that only three-fifths of slaves could vote.

The colonists rebelled against the unilateral imposition by the British government of which of the following? a) religious laws b)healthcare c) curfews d) military draft e) taxes

E) Taxes

What is the principle that each branch of the federal government has the means to thwart or influence actions by other branches of government? a. Checks and balances b. Checks and freedom c. Weights and measures d. Freedom and power e. Balance of power

a

Which of the following philosophers belief in natural rights greatly influenced the colonists' views on the role of government? a) john Locke b) Thomas Paine c) Thomas Hobbes d)George Berkely

a) John Locke

The colonists generally believed that a constitution should mark the limits of what type of government power? a) Legitimate b)Defined c) Inherent d)Implied e)Natural

a) Legitimate: the powers the government actually has (granted by Constitution)

A constitution accomplishes all of the following EXCEPT: a) ensures all decisions will reflect of the majority b) creates political institutions c) establishes a body of national rules d)

a) ensures all decisions will reflect of the majority

What was the greatest fear of the Anti-Federalists during the Constitutional Convention and subsequent debate? a. That a powerful judiciary would restrict freedom of religion b. That a strong national government would infringe on the essential liberties of the people c. that powerful state governments would never assent to the new Constitution. d. That a weak national government would undermine the survival of the United States e. That a weak judiciary would be unable to enforce the new Constitution

b

Which of the following is a reason for the separation of powers? a. To create gridlock in government b. To prevent tyranny by any one branch c. To improve international relations d. To ensure the power of the executive

b

In what crucial aspect did the Constitution improve upon the failed Articles of Confederation? a. Strengthened support for capitalism b. Strengthened democratic principles c. Strengthened federal government d. Strengthened individual rights e. Strengthened states rights

c

In which of the following systems is government by representatives of the people instead of directly by the people themselves? a. Utopia. b. Democracy. c. Republic d. Monarchy e. Oligarch

c

Thomas Paine's Common Sense resulted in: a. convincing Northern delegates that they had to compromise on the issue of slavery in order to get Southern support for the Declaration of Independence, b. the establishment of a bicameral legislature and Supreme Court. c. galvanizing the colonists' belief that reconciliation with Great Britain was impossible. d. rallying support for a convention to improve or replace the ineffective Articles of Confederation. e. garnering enough support to allow the Constitution to be ratified.

c

Which of the following advocates for limited government that is based on popular consent, but protects against majority tyranny? a. Federalism b. Democracy c. Republicanism d. libertarianism e. Constitutionalism

c

__________ of the governed made the exercise of political power in the new American system legitimate. a. Submission b. Control c. Consent d. Participation e. Exploitation

c

The primary purpose of including the Bill of Rights was to: a. protect the states against the potential for abuses by the federal government. b. ensure that the Constitution would have the support of the Federalists. c. satisfy Madison's concerns about factions and to check their effects. d. allay fears that the Constitution would restrict freedom. e. guarantee that Congress had sufficient authority to address national economic crisis.

d

When James Madison wrote in Federalist 10, "The most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property," he was referring to what as the source of political conflict? a. Collection of Taxes b. Existence of Slavery c. Distribution for Political Power d. Distribution of Wealth e. Democratic vs. Socialistic Ideologies

d

While working on the Constitution, what aspect of the new government most concerned James Madison? a. political parties. b. democratic institutions. c. taxation without representation. d. tyranny of the majority. e. elitist control.

d

The Great Compromise addressed the issue of: a. the legality of slavery. b. the number of states in the Union. c. the number of Supreme Court justices. d. the form of the executive branch. e. the form of the legislative branch

e

The system of governance set up in the United States constitutional republic tends to: a. centralize power. b. encourage direct democracy. c. do all of the above. d. be relatively efficient in producing political results. e. favor the status quo and limit political change.

e

Which of the following remains a compelling source for determining the intent of the Framers? a. Minutes of the Constitutional Convention b. Treatise on Government c. Declaration of Independence d. Common Sense e. The Federalist Papers

e

John Locke's concept of which of the following inspired the phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"? a. Limited Government b. The consent of the governed c. The right to vote d. Equality e. Natural Rights

e) Natural Rights