American History midterm practice
Which phrase from the Declaration of Independence most clearly reflects the idea that the people are the source of government?
". . . deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . ."
Which statement from the United States Constitution is referred to as the elastic clause?
"Congress shall have power . . . to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. . . . "
Which quotation from the United States Constitution provides for a federal system of government?
"Every bill... shall , before it becomes a law shall be presented to the President of the Unites States, .."
Which newspaper headline shows the operation of the system of checks and balances?
"Senate Rejects President's Choice of Supreme Court Justice"
Which quotation from the United States Constitution best illustrates the balance between order and liberty?
"The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it."
Which is generally considered to be the major shortcoming of the electoral college system for selecting a President of the United States?
A candidate can win the popular vote but lose the Presidency.
Which statement best explains why critics have called for a change in the electoral college system?
A person who did not receive the largest percentage of popular votes can be elected President.
Which idea had a major influence on the authors of the Articles of Confederation?
A strong central government threatens the rights of the people and the states.
I.____________________________________, 1. Nullification crisis, 2. Kansas-Nebraska Act, 3. Dred Scott v. Sanford, 4. Election of Lincoln (1860); Which heading best completes the partial outline?
Causes of Sectional Conflict
Which statement describes a characteristic of democracy that is provided for in the United States Constitution?
Citizens choose their congressional representatives.
Which heading best completes the partial outline below? I. ____________________________________ A. Committees of Correspondence B. Nonimportation Agreements C. Boston Tea Party D. First Continental Congress
Colonial Responses to British Mercantile Policies
Which statement best explains why the Articles of Confederation established a weak rather than a strong central government?
Colonial experiences under Great Britain had created a fear of unlimited government.
When President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent Federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, during the 1957 school integration crisis, he was exercising his constitutional power as
Commander-in-Chief
Which heading best completes the partial outline below?I.____________________________________, 1. Representation, 2. Slave trade, 3. Taxation, 4. Election of the president
Compromises at the Constitutional Convention
A major problem of the government under the Articles of Confederation was that the
Congress depended on the states for men and money to support an army.
When the United States Constitution was written, which compromise was reached by the authors to gain the support of the states with small populations?
Congress would consist of both a House of Representatives and a Senate.
"The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic." -Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.Which interpretation of the Bill of Rights does this statement illustrate?
Constitutional protections of liberty are not absolute.
The right of the people to overthrow a tyrannical government is a main theme of which document?
Declaration of Independence
Which document is best described as a statement of democratic principles rather than a framework for government?
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was based on the ideas of the
Enlightenment
Which argument did the authors of the United States Constitution use when they insisted that revenue bills originate in the House of Representatives?
Frequent elections would make members of the House more responsive to the wishes of the voters.
Which factor has made the strongest contribution to the development of religious freedom in the United States?
Guarantees in the Constitution have encouraged religious expression and toleration.
After the President has proposed the Federal budget, the next step in the process of adopting the budget is to submit it to the
House of Representatives
The authors of the United States Constitution believed that the voice of the people should be heard frequently. Which part of the Government was instituted to respond most directly to the will of the people?
House of Representatives
Which fundamental political idea is expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
If the government denies its people certain basic rights, that government can be overthrown.
Independence were most influenced by
John Locke's social contract theory
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." This quotation reflects beliefs mainly derived from
John Locke's theory of natural rights
Antifederalists criticized the United States Constitution primarily because governing power was concentrated in the
National Government
In which area did good harbors, abundant forests, rocky soil, and a short growing season most influence the colonial economy?
New England colonies
"The only representatives of the people of these colonies are persons chosen therein by themselves; a that no taxes ever have been, or can be constitutionally imposed on them but by their respective legislatures." -Statement by the Stamp Act Congress, 1765. What is a valid conclusion that can be drawn from this quotation?
Only the colonists' elected representatives should have the power to levy taxes.
Which fact best illustrate separation of church and state in the United States?
Organized prayer in public schools is prohibited.
In the United States Government, members of the Cabinet are directly responsible to the
President
According to the Declaration of Independence, the fundamental purpose of government is to
Protect people's natural rights
Which statement is most accurate about the movement for independence in the thirteen colonies?
Protests against British colonial policies gradually led to demands for independence.
Which feature of the federal government is specifically described in the United States Constitution?
Senate approval of nominations to the Supreme Court
Which historical event best demonstrates the operation of checks and balances?
The Senate approved the appointment of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.
Which is an important reason that the American colonists rebelled against England in the 1770s?
The colonists desired the right to control the basic aspects of their economy.
"New Congress to Have Two Houses" "Slaves to Count as Three-Fifths of a Person" "President to be Chosen by Electoral Vote" . Which conclusion about the Constitutional Convention is best supported by these headlines?
The framers of the Constitution were able to compromise on important issues.
Which fundamental political idea is expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
The government should guarantee every citizen economic security.
Which statement is an example of the system of federalism?
The national government coins money, but states cannot.
Which statement best describes governmental power under the Articles of Confederation?
The states had much greater power than the central government.
The Constitution assigns the power to ratify treaties exclusively to the
United States Senate
The Mayflower Compact is important to the concept of a democratic society because it represents
a clear step toward self-government
One way in which the authors of the Constitution tried to create "limited government" was by providing for
a division of power between the national and state governments
One similarity between the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution is that both documents provide for
a national legislature to make laws
A major criticism of the electoral college system has been that
a president may be elected without receiving the majority of the popular vote
Which characteristic is most essential to a democratic society?
a respect for individual rights
Which action would be unconstitutional?
a state levying a tax on products from another state
"In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this, you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself." This passage from the Federalist Papers refers to the need for
a system of checks and balances
The majority of cases heard by the United States Supreme Court come to the Court because of its constitutional power to
act on decisions appealed from lower courts
Delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 agreed to create a bicameral legislature as a way to
address the issue of population differences among the states
In the United States Congress, differences between Senate and House of Representatives versions of a bill are usually resolved by accepting the version that is
agreed to by a joint conference committee of both Houses
In United States history, the phrase "a government of laws, not of men" has been used to express the idea that
all laws should apply equally to all persons
The elastic clause was included in the United States Constitution to
allow Congress to make laws to reflect changing conditions.
The amendment process was included in the United States Constitution in order to
allow government to meet the changing needs of society
New York State and the United States have republican forms of government because both have
an elected legislature
The main reason Great Britain established the Proclamation Line of 1763 was to
avoid conflicts between American colonists and Native American Indians
Which issue discussed at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 continues to be a major concern in the United States?
balance of power between state and national governments
One of the principles stated in the Declaration of Independence is that government should
be based upon the consent of the governed
The United States Government is considered a federal system because
both national and state governments exist within the nation
The British benefited from their mercantilist relationship with the American colonies primarily by
buying raw materials from the colonies and selling them finished products
The clash between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the United States Supreme Court over New Deal laws best illustrates the operation of
checks and balances
• Congress proposes an amendment legalizing an income tax. • The Supreme Court rules that the income tax is unconstitutional. These events illustrate the use of
checks and balances
"President Nixon Plans Trip to China To Meet with Chairman Mao", "President Carter Signs New Panama Canal Treaty", "President Clinton Concludes Trade Agreement with Japan". Each headline illustrates an action of a President fulfilling his role as
chief diplomat
Which feature must a nation have to be considered a democracy?
citizen participation in government
In the eighteenth century, the British colonies in North America were most similar to Great Britain in their
common law legal system.
Which concept from the European Enlightenment was included in the United States Constitution?
consent of the governed
Cases that reach the United States Supreme Court from lower courts are generally cases that concern
constitutional law.
In stating the principle of a "clear and present danger" in Schenck v. United States, the Supreme Court established that
constitutional rights are not absolute
The "clear and present danger" ruling in the Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States (1919) confirmed the idea that
constitutional rights are not absolute
Which Presidential action is an example of the unwritten constitution?
consulting with the Cabinet
The Virginia House of Burgesses and the Mayflower Compact had a similar effect in that both
contributed to the development of representative democracy.
During the Revolutionary War period, Thomas Paine's Common Sense was important because it
convinced many Americans who had been undecided to support independence
One way in which the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution
created a national government having three branches
The United States Constitution corrected a weakness of the Articles of Confederation by
creating three branches of government
Before the Civil War, the principle of popular sovereignty was proposed as a means of
deciding the legalization of slavery in a new state
Which method resulted in both "separate but equal" public facilities (1896) and Miranda warnings against self-incrimination (1966)?
decisions of the United States Supreme Court
In the United States, informing suspects of their legal rights during an arrest procedure is required as a result of
decisions of the United States Supreme Court.
The United States Constitution grants certain powers only to the Federal Government. For example, only Congress can declare war. These powers are called
delegated powers
The two major political parties make their final selection of a Presidential candidate through
delegates' votes at a national party convention
A major argument for American independence found in the Declaration of Independence was that the British
deprived Americans of their natural rights
According to the United States Constitution, a nationwide census is conducted every ten years in order to
determine the number of Representatives each state will have in Congress.
In 1862, the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railway Act were passed primarily to
develop the Midwest and western parts of the country
What was an important accomplishment of the central government under the Articles of Confederation?
development of guidelines for the admission of new states into the Union
An example of the unwritten constitution is the
development of political parties
An example of the unwritten constitution in the United States is the
development of the political party system
Which action is most consistent with the practices of seventeenth century mercantilism?
difference in the function of the public and private sectors of the economy
Which constitutional provision was intended to give the people the most influence over the Federal Government?
direct election of members of the House of Representatives for two-year terms
The writers of the United States Constitution created a federal form of government primarily to
divide power between levels of government
Federalism is best described as the
division of power between a national government and state governments.
During the debates over the ratification of the United States Constitution, Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed most strongly over the
division of powers between the national and state governments
The Mayflower Compact, New England town meetings, and the Virginia House of Burgesses are examples of
early colonial efforts in self-government
Congress established a minimum wage for workers and regulations on radio broadcasts by combining its delegated power to regulate interstate commerce with the
elastic clause
The due process clause in the 5th Amendment and the right to an attorney in the 6th Amendment were designed to
ensure fair treatment for those accused of crimes
Which provision of the United States Constitution would a group most likely use as the basis for bringing legal action to end discriminatory practices?
equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment
At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from the small states most strongly supported the idea of
equal representation for the states in the national legislature
During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the plans for Congress proposed by delegates from New Jersey and Virginia differed mainly over the issue of
equal state representation or proportionate state representation
A significant compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was the agreement to
establish a bicameral legislature
The significance of the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison is that the decision
established the power of judicial review
"The Congress shall have Power . . . To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested [granted] by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. . . .". This section of the United States Constitution was frequently used during the 20th century to
expand federal control of interstate commerce
Manifest Destiny was used to justify an American desire to
expand the United States to the Pacific Ocean
A lasting impact of the United States Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall is that the Court's decisions
expanded the power of the Federal Government
The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 was mainly concerned with
expanding women's rights
Under Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Supreme Court was considered "activist" because of its
expansion of individual rights in criminal cases
As the United States acquired more land between 1803 and 1850, controversy over these territories focused on the
expansion of slavery
The primary purpose of the United States Declaration of Independence is to
explain and justify why the American colonists revolted against their mother country.
The Mayflower Compact of 1620 is considered an important step in the development of democracy in America because it
expressed the importance of self-government
"Compromise Enables Maine and Missouri To Enter Union" (1820), "California Admitted to Union as Free State" (1850), "Kansas-Nebraska Act Sets Up Popular Sovereignty" (1854). Which issue is reflected in these headlines?
extension of slavery
The most serious weakness of the Articles of Confederation was brought about by the authors'
fear of concentration of power in national government.
The lack of a national executive and judiciary under the Articles of Confederation suggests that the founders of the American republic
feared a strong central government
In the United States, activities such as Cabinet meetings and political party conventions are best described as
features of the unwritten constitution
Which United States governmental principle includes the concepts of reserved powers, delegated powers, and concurrent powers?
federalism
The necessary and proper clause, the amendment process, and the unwritten constitution are evidence that our constitutional system of government provides for
flexibility
The Louisiana Purchase had great geographic significance for the United States because it
focused the United States on westward expansion
"It is not the cause of one poor printer, nor of New York alone, which you are now trying. No! It may in its consequence affect every free man that lives under a British government on the main [continent] of America. It is the best cause. It is the cause of liberty. . . . Nature and the laws of our country have given us a right to liberty of both exposing and opposing arbitrary power (in these parts of the world at least) by speaking and writing the truth." — Andrew Hamilton, 1735 This courtroom summation helped establish which democratic principle in colonial America?
freedom of the press
Court decisions in the trial of John Peter Zenger (1735) and the case of New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) strengthened
freedom of the press
Which geographic advantage did the United States gain by purchasing the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803?
full control of the Mississippi River
The ideals of the Athenian State, Roman law, and the Mayflower Compact contributed most significantly to the growth of the principles of
government under law and the consent of the governed.
The purpose of most of the amendments to the United States Constitution is to
guarantee individual civil and political rights.
The basic purpose of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution is to
guarantee the rights of individuals
"President Delivers State of the Union Address to Congress." "President Mobilizes the National Guard To Quell Riots." "President's Appointee Will Enforce Federal Guidelines." These headlines are evidence that the President of the United States
has specific executive, legislative, and military powers
A major objection to many lobbying groups is that they
have too much influence on government
In the United States, the most significant way that political party primaries have helped to increase public interest in the political process is by enabling voters to
help select party candidates.
One reason for the importance of the Federalist Papers in United States history is that these writings
helped persuade some states to ratify the United States Constitution.
Senate ratification of treaties negotiated by the President is required by the United States Constitution as a way of
implementing the principle of checks and balances
". . . Congress shall have power . . . to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States. . . ." . This statement from the United States Constitution is the source of
implied powers
The quotation: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution... are reserved to the states..." describes the principle of
implied powers.
One reason the United States Constitution is considered a flexible document is that it
includes the elastic clause
The main purpose of lobbying is to
influence legislation on behalf of special interest groups
The Supreme Court has the power to
interpret the Constitution
The flexibility of the original United States Constitution is due mainly to
its provision for the amending process and judicial interpretation
The constitutional guarantee of the writ of habeas corpus makes it unlawful for a citizen of the United States to be
jailed for an extended period without a hearing before a judge.
Which feature of the unwritten constitution is part of the system of checks and balances?
judicial review
Which power is shared by the federal government and the New York State government?
levying taxes
Under the United States Constitution, state governments have the power to
license teachers
During the colonial period, the British Parliament used the policy of mercantilism to
limit manufacturing in America
A major intention of the framers of the Articles of Confederation was to
limit the central government's opportunities to infringe upon the people's liberties.
Which governmental practice established under the unwritten constitution was later included in the written Constitution by an amendment?
limiting the President's time in office to two terms
In its economic relationship with its North American colonies, Great Britain followed the principles of 18th-century mercantilism by
limiting the colonies' trade with other nations
". . . no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, . . . and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." this statement supports what?
limits on governmental power
In the United States, only the Federal Government has the power to
make treaties.
Adherence to a strict interpretation of the Constitution would have prevented President Thomas Jefferson from
making the Louisiana Purchase
The United States Constitution requires that a census be taken every ten years to reapportion
membership in the House of Representatives
" . . . I challenge the warmest advocate [supporter] for reconciliation, to shew [show], a single advantage that this continent can reap [gain], by being connected with Great Britain. I repeat the challenge, not a single advantage is derived [acquired]. Our corn will fetch its price in any market in Europe, and our imported goods must be paid for, buy them where we will. . . . — Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776 This speaker is most likely opposed to
mercantilism
The phrase "by military conquest, treaty, and purchase" best describes the
methods used to expand the territory of the United States
Anti-Federalists criticized the United States Constitution primarily because governing power was concentrated in the
national government.
In writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson was influenced most by John Locke's idea of
natural rights
The major role of political parties in the United States is to
nominate candidates for public office and conduct campaigns
Which information on the writing of the Constitution is considered a primary source?
notes from the Constitutional Convention taken by James Madison
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 agreed to the Three-Fifths Compromise as a solution to the problem of how to determine the
number of representatives in the House from each state
A system of checks and balances was included in the United States Constitution because the authors were concerned about
one branch of government becoming too strong
Which action illustrates the president's power as commander in chief ?
ordering American troops into a foreign country
The pamphlet Common Sense, by Thomas Paine, aided the American cause in the Revolutionary War because it
persuaded individuals who were undecided to support independence
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in Congress Assembled, We the undersigned, citizens of the United States, but deprived of some of the privileges and immunities of citizens among which, is the right to vote, beg leave to submit the following resolution: Resolved; that we the officers and members of the National Woman Suffrage Association, in convention assembled, respectfully ask Congress to enact appropriate legislation during its present session to protect women citizens in the several states of this Union, in their right to vote. — Susan B. Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Gage, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1873) Source: National Archives and Records Administration. This resolution illustrates the constitutional right to
petition for redress of grievances
Which group had the most influence on the ideas stated in the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution?
philosophers of the Enlightenment
The British system of mercantilism was opposed by many American colonists because it
placed restrictions on trading
in the 1780's, many Americans distrusted a strong central governement. This distrust is best shown by the
plan of government set up by the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation are best described as a
plan of union for the original thirteen states
The legal basis for the United States purchase of the Louisiana Territory was the
power granted to the President to make treaties
The United States Government is considered a federal system because
powers are divided between the State and National Governments
The implied powers suggested by the United States Constitution show that the writers recognized the
powers of government needed to be able to adapt to change
The unwritten constitution is best defined as the
practices of the government that are based on custom and tradition
The authors of the Articles of Confederation established a decentralized political system mainly to
prevent the abuses of power that had existed under British rule
The Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses were important to the development of democracy in colonial America because they
promoted self-government
In the 1850s, the phrase "Bleeding Kansas" was used to describe clashes between
proslavery and antislavery groups
The major reason the Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution was to
protect individual liberties against abuse by the Federal Government
The Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution to
protect individuals' civil liberties
The purpose of adding the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution was to
protect the people from abuse by the Federal Government.
Soon after the Constitution of the United States was ratified, the first ten amendments were added because many citizens felt the need for
protecting their liberties from abuses by the federal government
"Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in a court of law." This statement is based on a person's constitutional right to
protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
The main criticism of the Articles of Confederation was that they failed to
provide adequate powers for the central government
The system shown in the diagram was developed under the Articles of Confederation in order to
provide an orderly system of development for the Northwest Territory
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was important because it
provided a process for admission of new states to the Union
The Declaration of Independence (1776) has had a major influence on peoples throughout the world because it
provides justification for revolting against unjust governments
Which action could eliminate the electoral college?
ratification of a constitutional amendment
Which action was necessary to change from the indirect to the direct election of United States Senators?
ratification of a constitutional amendment
Which action would be necessary before the government could deny a person a public trial by an impartial jury?
ratification of a constitutional amendment
The Federalist Papers were a series of newspaper articles published in 1787 and 1788 to win support for the
ratification of the United States Constitution
Once an amendment has been added to the United States Constitution, which process must be used to change that amendment?
ratifying a new amendment
. "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; . . ." This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of Independence were
reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment
The writers of the United States Constitution included the requirement for a census every ten years primarily to
regulate numbers of immigrants
At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Great Compromise resolved the issue of
representation
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 adopted the Great Compromise to settle differences over
representation in Congress
At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which issue was resolved by the Great Compromise?
representation of large and small states in Congress
A republican form of government is described as one in which
representatives are elected by the people
An example of the unwritten constitution in the United States is the
rise of the two-party political system
Which action is an example of the unwritten constitution?
selection of a Presidential candidate by a nominating convention
One similarity between the United States Constitution and the New York State Constitution is that both
separate the branches of government
A member of the United States Congress must resign from Congress if elected or appointed to a position in the executive or judicial branch. This requirement is an example of
separation of powers
French Enlightenment philosopher Baron De Montesquieu praised the British political system because it divided the power of government between the monarch and the two houses of Parliament. Which principle included in the United States Constitution shows that the framers agreed with Montesquieu?
separation of powers
Constitutional amendments have been proposed to ban forced busing, forbid abortion, and prohibit burning the United States flag. These proposals indicate that
some people disagree with certain Supreme Court decisions
Which concept found in the United States Constitution was a belief held by the social contract philosophers of the Enlightenment period?
sovereignty of the people
Which aspect of lawmaking is a result of the unwritten constitution?
special-interest groups lobbying to try to influence legislation
The United States Constitution is best described as a
statement of rules and procedures for government.
In the Colonial Era, developments such as the New England town meetings and the establishment of the Virginia House of Burgesses represented
steps in the growth of representative democracy
The Mayflower Compact and the Virginia House of Burgesses are examples of
steps toward representative government
One similarity between the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights is that both documents
stress the importance of individual liberty
The Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are similar in that both
support limitations on governmental power
In the United States, the use of implied powers, the amending process, and Supreme Court interpretations have resulted in
the Constitution being adapted to fit changing times
The elastic clause, the amending process, and judicial review are all methods by which
the Constitution may be adapted to meet changing conditions
When President Thomas Jefferson acquired the Louisiana Territory from France, he demonstrated that he had modified his belief that
the Constitution should be strictly interpreted
The Supreme Court's power of judicial review is a result of
the Court's own interpretation of the Constitution
According to the original United States Constitution, before the addition of amendments, which Federal official was to be directly elected by the voters?
the President
Which governmental action illustrates the system of checks and balances?
the Senate ratifying a peace treaty
The rapid westward migration caused by the discovery of gold in California led directly to
the adoption of the Compromise of 1850
The change to the direct election of senators, the lowering of the voting age to eighteen, and the establishment of a two-term limit for presidents are all examples of the use of
the amendment process
The major political parties in the United States obtain most of their national campaign funds from
the contributions of individuals and special-interest groups
Which action in the process of electing a President of the United States is provided for in the Federal Constitution?
the electoral college casting ballots
The 14th Amendment provides that no "state [shall] deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." A direct result of this amendment was that
the guarantees in the Bill of Rights were applied to state actions
During the early 1800s, the United States placed few restrictions on immigration because
the industrial economy was creating new jobs
The United States Constitution has survived for more than 200 years primarily because
the language of the Constitution allows for a variety of interpretations.
John Locke's theory of the social contract, as developed in the United States Declaration of Independence, stated that
the people should revolt against a government that did not protect their rights
The system of checks and balances is best illustrated by the power of
the president to veto a bill passed by congress
The Federalist Papers were published in 1787 and 1788 to help gain support for
the ratification of the Constitution
To avoid having too much power concentrated in one branch of government, the framers of the Constitution established
the system of checks and balances
The equal protection clause of the 14th amendment has been used to challenge the death penalty on the grounds that
tremendous differences exist from state to state in the application of capital punishment laws
Which feature of the Presidency is a result of a constitutional amendment?
two term limit in office
Which feature of the Presidency is a result of a constitutional amendment?
two-term limit in office
The Mayflower Compact, House of Burgesses, and Fundamental Orders of Connecticut are all examples of the efforts of colonial Americans to
use democratic practices in government
The Louisiana Purchase initially presented a dilemma for President Thomas Jefferson because he believed it would
violate his strict constructionist view of the Constitution
According to the Declaration of Independence, the people have the right to alter or abolish a government if that government
violates natural rights
"The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it." This provision is evidence that the writers of the United States Constitution
wanted to balance individual liberty with the needs of the nation
