Unit 1 Study Guide

The text of the Constitution deals with slavery by

not mentioning it directly.

The general conclusion of the Supreme Court in United States v. Lopez was that a. the Second Amendment forbids any government restriction on the right to bear arms. b. there are limits to the national government's ability to regulate behavior based on the commerce clause. c. schools are exclusively a state and local responsibility. d. the right to bear arms extends even to those who are not legal adults. e. entities of the state do not have ability equal to that of the state itself to successfully challenge national law.

b. there are limits to the national government's ability to regulate behavior based on the commerce clause.

How long do bankruptcy judges serve? A. 7 years B. 10 years C. 14 years D. Life E. 5 years

C. 14 years

Compared to citizens in other nations, Americans are more likely to A. choose freedom over equality. B. value equality more than freedom. C. choose equality over order. D. value governmental responsiveness less than order. E. value equality of outcome more than order.

A. choose freedom over equality.

Each citizen having one vote demonstrates A. political equality. B. a republic. C. equality of opportunity. D. social equality. E. mandated freedoms.

A. political equality.

Although public opinion does not fluctuate erratically, change can occur​ A. ​when different generations with different experiences enter the electorate. ​B. when everyone maintains the same opinion about current topics. ​C. when pollsters refine their questions to get the answers they are looking for. D. ​as a result of a presidential state of the union address. E. ​when older voters change their minds collectively on an issue.

A. ​when different generations with different experiences enter the electorate.

A popular election is the primary mechanism for democratic government in which model? A. procedural democracy B. pluralist model C. majoritarian model D. substantive democracy E. integrated model

C. majoritarian model

The Bill of Rights consists of the first __________ amendments to the Constitution. A. twenty B. twenty-two C. ten D. fifteen E. five

C. ten

​Deciding on the legality of marijuana or the right of motorcyclists to not wear helmets through ballot propositions is an example of ​A. citizenship. ​B. oligarchy. ​C. direct democracy. ​D. autocracy. ​E. authoritarianism.

​C. direct democracy.

Americans are likely to think of freedom and equality as​ ​A. conflicting. ​B. inherent in socialist governmental systems. ​C. less important than order. ​D. complementary. ​E. the only values that really matter.

​D. complementary.

Which of the following is NOT categorized as a civil liberty in the United States? A. ​freedom of religion ​B. freedom of assembly ​C. freedom of speech ​D. freedom of equality ​E. freedom of the press

​D. freedom of equality

Among the most undemocratic​ features of the U.S. Constitution is the A. federal supremacy clause​. ​B. executive supremacy clause. C. ​bicameral legislature. D. unicameral legislature. ​E. state equality rule.

​E. state equality rule.

According to the text, political liberals feared stronger states' rights because it​...

​allowed inequality and supported racism.

In Dred Scott, the Supreme Court decided that Congress had no power to...

​prohibit slavery.

Twenty-four states allow for _____ which is a policy question that the state legislature places on the ballot and allows citizens to vote on it. A. primaries B. referenda C. charters D. initiatives E. long ballots

B. referenda

An election on a public policy issue is called a(n) A. ​primary. ​B. referenda. ​C. procedure. ​D. recall. ​E. initiative.

B. referenda.

One similarity between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan was that both plans A. based representation on state population. B. provided for a unicameral legislature. C. provided for a legislature with two houses. D. provided for a plural executive. E. left unspecified how many people might comprise the executive.

E. left unspecified how many people might comprise the executive.

The use of highway construction funds has been an effective means to promote...

cooperative federalism

A constitutional clause that allows for a broad interpretation of implied powers is known as a(n) ____ clause. a. earmark b. reciprocal c. rudimentary d. elastic e. ornate

d. elastic

The process of preclearance is used when states are...

redistricting.

Article VI of the constitution contains provisions establishing​ ​A. the three-fifths compromise and the no religious test clause. ​B. separation of powers and checks and balances. ​C. the commerce power and the full faith and credit clause. ​D. the unitary executive and the supremacy clause. ​E. the supremacy clause and the no religious test clause.

​E. the supremacy clause and the no religious test clause.

Which of the following is NOT a reason that states have improved their ability to govern capably over the last few decades?​

All previously unelected officials, such as those in programs that deal with transportation and social services, are now elected.

A country abiding by the principle "one person, one vote" is practicing A. equal suffrage. B. direct democracy. C. political equality. D. participatory democracy. E. substantive democracy.

C. political equality.

Which of the following philosophers is usually associated with socialism? A. Montesquieu B. E.D. Duboius C. Alexander Hamilton D. John Locke E. Karl Marx

E. Karl Marx

Most democracies give power to A. political parties. B. expatriates. C. citizens. D. business. E. representatives.

E. representatives.

In 1787, a Boston newspaper derisively referred to "Rogue Island" instead of Rhode island because...

Rhode Island was the only state that did not send delegates to the meeting in Philadelphia.

The notion of pay equity—equal pay for jobs of equal value—is an example of a. affirmative action. b. social equity. c. equality of outcome. d. equality of opportunity. e. due process.

c. equality of outcome.

Social order is usually defined as a. the degree of equality in society. b. the methods by which government enforces its authority. c. the pattern of economic ownership. d. THE established patterns of authority and traditional modes of behavior. e. mechanisms for disagreement with government.

d. THE established patterns of authority and traditional modes of behavior.

Medicaid is an example of a(n)...

grant-in-aid

In McCulloch v. Maryland, ​the Court argued that "the power to tax...

involves the power to destroy."

New England town meetings are an example of A. participatory democracy. B. substantive democracy. C. neighborhood government. D. governmental responsiveness. E. civil democracy.

A. participatory democracy.

In the 2011 Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. Whiting decision, the Roberts Court upheld which state law?

Legal Arizona Workers Act

Which of the following is not one of the political principles relied on by the founders

One person, one vote

Foreigners who live in the United States but are not citizens of the United States are known as...

aliens

Competitive grants are awarded based on

an application submitted by prospective recipients.

REAL ID, a federal mandate that imposes security standards for state driver's licenses, is an example of...

an unfunded mandate.

Larger states benefited most under what plan? a. The Articles of Confederation b. The Virginia Plan c. The New Jersey Plan d. The Great Compromise e. The Connecticut Compromise

b. The Virginia Plan

A group of delegates to the Constitutional Convention proposed a powerful national government to replace the weak confederation of states. This was known as the a. Marshall Plan. b. Virginia Plan. c. New Jersey Plan. d. Connecticut Compromise. e. Grand Compromise.

b. Virginia Plan.

A central question in the McCulloch case was whether or not Congress had the power to a. institute a peacetime draft. b. establish a national bank. c. regulate commerce along major waterways. d. investigate the executive branch. e. remove one of its own members.

b. establish a national bank.

A country abiding by the principle "one man, one vote" is practicing a. representative democracy. b. political equality. c. equal suffrage. d. substantive democracy.

b. political equality.

The constitutional provision that allows Congress to override the president's veto is an example of a. federalism. b. implied powers. c. checks and balances. d. separation of powers. e. enumeration.

c. checks and balances.

When a college seeks to increase minority enrollment through affirmative action, the college is trying to achieve a. freedom and order. b. equality of opportunity. c. equality of outcome. d. political equality. e. equal benefits.

c. equality of outcome.

A citizen's group gathers enough signatures on a petition to force a popular vote on a statewide lottery proposal. This proposal would represent a(n) a. recall election. b. referendum. c. initiative. d. popular law. e. citizen's proposal.

c. initiative.

In assigning the powers of government, the Constitution a. identifies the powers the states and national government share. b. lists the powers of the national government but does not address the powers of the states. c. lists the powers given to the national government and the powers denied the states and leaves all other powers to the states. d. specifically identifies all of the powers of the national and state governments. e. enumerates national, state, and local government powers specifically, including all powers that each level of government may not exercise.

c. lists the powers given to the national government and the powers denied the states and leaves all other powers to the states.

Formula grants and project grants are both types of _________ grants.

categorical

In a system of participatory democracy,

citizens govern themselves, without electing representatives.

Documents leaked by Edward Snowden showed that the National Security Agency had...

collected data on domestic phone conversations of ordinary Americans

The assignment in the Constitution of lawmaking, law-enforcing, and law-interpreting functions to the legislative, executive, and judicial branches respectively is known as: a. judicial review. b. direct democracy. c. inherent powers. d. a separation of powers. e. none of the above.

d. a separation of powers.

The division of authority in the U.S. Constitution among competing branches and levels of government has encouraged the development of a. elitism. b. majoritarian democracy. c. indirect democracy. d. pluralism. e. divided government institutions.

d. pluralism.

The fact that Congress has two chambers, one in which states have equal representation and one in which state representation is based on population, is a result of a. the Virginia Plan. b. British influence over the federal convention. c. the New Jersey Plan. d. the Connecticut Compromise. e. the Federalist Plan.

d. the Connecticut Compromise.

The Great Depression represented a shift away from __________ and toward...

dual federalism; cooperative federalism.

Liberals are more likely to favor generous government support for a. education. b. wildlife protection. c. public transportation. d. a whole range of social programs. e. All of these

e. All of these

Under separation of powers, the U.S. system keeps power among branches balanced by enabling one branch to counter the actions of another by the use of a. federalism. b. republicanism. c. authority. d. economic manipulation. e. checks and balances.

e. checks and balances.

According to John Marshall's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), the elastic clause might be interpreted to mean that Congress can take a particular action not specified in the Constitution if that action is a. approved by both houses of Congress. b. strictly related to accomplishment of a national priority. c. requested by a state government. d. generally in the public interest. e. plainly adapted to achieving a legitimate constitutional end.

e. plainly adapted to achieving a legitimate constitutional end.

If universities increase funding for women's sports so that they receive comparable funding to men's, that is an example of...

equality of outcome

During the 1990s, Congress prohibited private businesses from discriminating in employment, public services, and public accommodations on the basis of physical or mental disabilities. This act creates a clash between...

freedom and equality

Communist regimes that gave their police great powers to arrest and imprison suspicious people raised a conflict between...

freedom and order

A notable trend in the backgrounds of recent presidents is experience as a...

governor

The right of municipal governments to enact their own legislation in certain administrative areas is

home rule

Numerous recent preemptions have focused on...

homeland security

Under Chief Justice John Marshall, the early Supreme Court generally...

increased national power.

Under the US Constitution, the national government...

lacks a general police power

In 2014, voters in Switzerland approved an initiative to...

limit immigration

A requirement that a state undertake an activity or provide a service that maintains a minimum national standard is called a(n)

mandate

A requirement that a state undertake an activity or provide a service that maintains a minimum national standard is called a(n)...

mandate

In recent years, the Supreme Court has denied states the power to execute individuals who are...

mentally disabled and/or seventeen years old.

When Roger B. Taney became chief justice in 1836, the Court imposed firm limits on the powers of

national government

Portland's incorporation of neighborhood associations into its municipal government is an example of...

participatory democracy

The power of Congress to enact laws by which the national government assumes complete or partial responsibility for a state government function is known as...

preemption.

The process of redrawing boundaries for electoral jurisdictions is known as...

redistricting.

A government unit created to perform particular functions, such as fire protection and water purification and distribution is known as a(n)...

special district.

The lines that define congressional districts are usually drawn by...

state legislatures.

From the 1930s to the mid-1990s, the Supreme Court...

tended to support expansion of national authority.

Conflicts related to power-sharing between states and the national government​ are settled by...

​the supreme court

What rules govern the use of referenda at the federal level? A. They can only be used to propose constitutional amendments. B. No provisions exist for the use of referenda at the federal level. C. They must be approved by a two-thirds vote of Congress. D. They can only be used for a declaration of war. E. They require a two-thirds vote of all Americans.

B. No provisions exist for the use of referenda at the federal level.

The original procedure for selecting the vice president, under the electoral college, was A. the vice president would be selected by the Senate. B. the candidate with the next-greatest number of votes would become vice president. C. the president would select a vice president after being elected. D. the vice president would be selected by the Supreme Court. E. the vice president would be selected by the House.

B. the candidate with the next-greatest number of votes would become vice president.

Since the 1990s the Court has typically favored states, however, the best example of a decision in which the court did NOT defend state prerogatives is...

Bush v. Gore.

When one person has the same chance to succeed in life as another, this is called A. equality of outcome. B. equality of results. C. political equality. D. equality of opportunity. E. social order.

D. equality of opportunity.

The national government can act on individuals if​ A. the issue is important enough. B. the action is intended to promote safety. C. the individual is an especially prominent person. D. the action is based on a constitutionally delegated power. E. the action would promote equality.

D. the action is based on a constitutionally delegated power.

The power of the president to veto laws is an example of A. the substantial powers clause. B. the supremacy clause. C. implied powers. D. suffrage. E. checks and balances.

E. checks and balances

Unless they are impeached, federal judges serve A. for two years. B. for twenty years. C. for ten years. D. on the grace of the executive. E. for life.

E. for life.

Article I of the Constitution refers to the A. preamble. B. executive branch. C. judicial branch. D. Bill of Rights. E. legislative branch.

E. legislative branch.

Which of the following is a power granted to Congress under the Constitution? A. power to appoint government officers, diplomats and judges B. power to make treaties C. power to veto D. power to convene Congress E. power to declare war

E. power to declare war

Which of the following is not a power granted to the president under the Constitution? A. power to appoint government officers, diplomats and judges B. power to make treaties C. power to veto D. power to convene Congress E. power to declare war

E. power to declare war

If all citizens in a society are given access to higher education, but a particular social class experiences a high dropout and failure rate, that society is failing to provide a. equality of outcome. b. equality of opportunity. c. equal protection under the law. d. social equality. e. economic fairness.

a. equality of outcome.

The principle of responsiveness requires that legislators a. follow the general contours of public opinion. b. cast their ballots on the basis of what the people think back home. c. pay especial attention to groups that are highly organized. d. support public opinion in all matters related to electoral politics. e. consider the views of their fellow legislators more than the views of constituents.

a. follow the general contours of public opinion.

An underlying assumption of the text is that perfect freedom, order, and equality can never be achieved because a. no government structure is perfectly designed. b. some political officials will always be corrupt or incompetent. c. these three values are inherently in conflict and cannot be provided simultaneously. d. these three terms refer essentially to the same thing. e. upper-class citizens do not want parity with lower- class citizens.

c. these three values are inherently in conflict and cannot be provided simultaneously.

According to the New Jersey Plan, how was representation to be structured in Congress? a. There would be population-based representation in both houses. b. There would be one house, and representation in it would be based on population. c. States would have equal representation in one house and population-based representation in the other. d. There would be one house, and all states would have equal representation in it. e. Representation was to be based on the three-fifths compromise.

d. There would be one house, and all states would have equal representation in it.

Capitalism is best described as a(n) a. economic system in which the means of production are owned by the state. b. system that guarantees rights of speech and political participation. c. system in which the use of property is controlled by majority will. d. economic system in which production and property are privately owned, with a minimum of government interference. e. good idea in theory but not practically applicable.

d. economic system in which production and property are privately owned, with a minimum of government interference.

If a state's drinking laws allowed eighteen-year-olds to drink alcoholic beverages in violation of the federal government's age requirement of twenty-one, the federal government's age restriction would supersede the state's law based upon the a. hold harmless clause. b. elastic clause. c. establishment clause. d. implied law clause. e. supremacy clause.

e. supremacy clause.