Ch 3 Constitution Practice Questions

What is federalism?

It means the division of power among a central government and the states.

Which amendment ended slavery after the civil war? a. 13th b. 18th c. 22nd d. 27th

a. 13th

When congress proposed an amendment, who chooses how it will be ratified? a. Congress b. president c. state legislatures d. national convention

a. Congress

In what way is the formal amendment process an example of federalism at work? a. Proposal is at the national level; ratification is state-by-state. b. Amendments are proposed and ratified at the federal level. c. Amendments are approved by a majority of state governors. d. the federal judicial branch proposed all amendments.

a. Proposal is at the national level; ratification is state-by-state.

what did some people fear might happen if a Bill of Rights was not added to the Constitution? a. a too-powerful government might abuse its citizens b. the judicial branch would not ratify the Constitution c. the people would overthrow the national government d. the gov would not be strong enough to be effective

a. a too-powerful government might abuse its citizens

In what way can the executive branch check the power of the legislative branch? a. by vetoing legislation b. by creating lower courts c. by impeaching members of Congress

a. by vetoing legislation

Six constitutional amendments have been proposed and sent to the states but not ratified. which issue was addressed by an unratified amendment? a. equal rights of women b. prohibition of alcohol c. congressional pay raises d. presidential term limits

a. equal rights of women

Six constitutional amendments have been proposed and sent to the states but not ratified. which issue was addresses by an unratified amendment? a. equal rights of women b. prohibition of alcohol c. presidential term limits

a. equal rights of women

What principle is reflected when state legislatures or conventions vote on a constitutional amendment? a. federalism b. limited government c. judicial review d. checks and balances

a. federalism

Which is an example of how congress has used its powers to help explain the meaning of the constitution? a. it created the federal court system b. it interpreted the law in court decisions c. it kept a group of advisors called the cabinet d. it made executive agreements with foreign countries

a. it created the federal court system

What principle holds that no gov is all-powerful and that a gov may do only those things that the people have given it the power to do? a. limited gov b. judicial review c. federalism

a. limited gov

What principle holds that no government is all-powerful and that a gov may only do those things that the people have given it the power to do? a. limited government b. judicial review c. separation of powers d. federalism

a. limited government

Which principle means that government is bound my the rule of law? a. limited government b. judicial review c. separation of powers d. federalism

a. limited government

Which unwritten custom did the 22nd amendment establish as law? a. limiting a president to 2 terms b. limiting a senator to 2 terms c. that congress chooses the cabinet d. that the senate must approve presidential appointments

a. limiting a president to 2 terms

Which unwritten custom did the 22nd Amendment establish as law? a. limiting the President to two terms b. limiting a senator to two terms c. requiring a senator to have been a governor

a. limiting the President to two terms

Which of the following describes a proposed amendment that was not ratified? a. regulation of child labor b. prohibition of alcohol c. the right to bear arms d. reserved powers of the states

a. regulation of child labor

when the constitution is amended, what does that action represent? a. the people's sovereign will b. the president's executive power c. the perfection of the constitution d. the states' check on the federal government

a. the people's sovereign will

how does congress fill in the blanks left by the Framers of the Constitution? a. through basic legislation b. through state conventions c. by reading the Federalist Papers d. by asking the supreme court to decide

a. through basic legislation

Who can the executive branch check the power of the legislative branch? a. veto legislation b. create lower courts c. impeach members d. appoint more judges

a. veto legislation

How had congress clarified the meaning of the constitution? a. by vetoing amendments b. by passing laws to help explain it c. with its power of judicial review d. by rejecting high court judges

b. by passing laws to help explain it

What is the main informal method of modifying the Constitution over time? a. proposing amendments b. changing interpretations c. editing parts of it in congress d. making executive agreements

b. changing interpretations

Which is a criticism of the practice of sending proposed amendments to state legislatures rather than to conventions? a. conventions represent political parties. b. conventions better represent people. c. the governor can veto the amendment. d. state judges can veto the amendment.

b. conventions better represent people.

Which is a criticism of the practice of sending proposed amendments to state legislatures rather than to conventions a. conventions represent political parties b. conventions better represent the people c. the governor can veto the amendment

b. conventions better represent the people

How did it come about that the presidents cabinet is made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments? a. this is outlined in the constitution b. custom and tradition have made it so c. congress wrote legislation requiring it d. the first president demanded this arrangement

b. custom and tradition have made it so

What happens to most proposals for amendments made in Congress? a. most are rejected by states b. most never make it to the states c. most become official amendments d. most just become regular laws

b. most never make it to the states

Congress has clarified provisions of the Constitution by a. using the power of judicial review b. passing laws to flesh out sections c. vetoing constitutional amendments

b. passing laws to flesh out sections

congress has clarified provisions of the constitution by a. vetoing constitutional amendments. b. passing laws to flesh out sections. c. using the power of judicial review. d. rejecting supreme court judges.

b. passing laws to flesh out sections.

Which of the following is not mentioned in the constitution and yet has affected the meaning of the constitution? a. the cabinet b. political parties c. congress d. the supreme court

b. political parties

The nomination of candidates for the presidency a. is in Article II of the constitution. b. takes place at national conventions. c. is a duty of the electoral college. d. is a duty of the state legislatures.

b. takes place at national conventions.

What do the first three articles of the Constitution address? a. the national gov and the states b. the organization of the national gov c. the formal amendment process

b. the organization of the national gov

A constitutional amendment may be proposed by a. a national convention of judges. b. a national convention of governors. c. a 2/3 vote of congress. d. a 2/3 vote of the executive branch.

c. a 2/3 vote of congress.

A constitutional amendment may be proposed by a. a national convention of judges b. a national convention of governors c. a two-thirds vote of Congress

c. a two-thirds vote of Congress

A pact made by the president directly with the head of a foreign state and without the approval of the senate is called a. a treaty. b. a presidential pact. c. an executive agreement. d. a constitutional amendment.

c. an executive agreement.

The bill of rights is a list of a. ways to cancel legislation b. rules for national elections c. basic freedoms and rights

c. basic freedoms and rights

Which is a method by which an amendment to the constitution can be ratified? a. by 2/3 of supreme court justices b. by 3/4 of popular vote c. by 3/4 of the state legislatures d. by the president and vice pres

c. by 3/4 of the state legislatures

How was the power of judicial review established a. by an act of congress b. in Article VII of the Constitution c. by the Marbury v. Madison decision

c. by the Marbury v. Madison decision

What power that is not specifically stated in the Constitution did the Supreme court claim for itself in the case of marbury v. madison in 1803? a. due process b. trial by jury c. judicial review d. checks and balances

c. judicial review

The introduction to the constitution is the a. article b. declaration c. preamble d. provision

c. preamble

The nomination of candidates for the presidency a. is in Article II of the constitution b. is a duty of the state legislatures c. takes place at national conventions

c. takes place at national conventions

the main difference between an executive agreement and a treaty is that a. executive agreements deal only with domestic affairs b. treaties deal only with domestic affairs c. treaties must be approved by the Senate

c. treaties must be approved by the Senate

What is the difference between an executive agreement and a treaty? a. executive agreements deal only with domestic issues b. treaties deal only with domestic issues c. treaties must be approved by the senate d. executive agreements must be approved by the House

c. treaties must be approved by the senate

Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18 in all elections in the US? a. 11th b. 15th c. 22nd d. 26th

d. 26th

The bill of rights is a list of a. ways to cancel legislation. b. rules for national elections. c. ways to amend the Constitution. d. basic freedoms and rights.

d. basic freedoms and rights.

What is the subject of the first three articles of the Constitution? a. a detailed discussion of judicial review b. a guarantee of basic rights and freedoms c. the 6 basic principles of government d. congress, the presidency, and federal courts

d. congress, the presidency, and federal courts

Which basic principle of the constitution means that government can govern only with the consent of the governed? a. federalism b. judicial review c. checks and balances d. popular sovereignty

d. popular sovereignty

Which is an example of the President using executive power to expand the Constitution? a. passing laws to regulate interstate commerce b. casting a vote for legislation in congress c. directing the supreme court to make certain decisions d. sending troops into combat on executive orders alone

d. sending troops into combat on executive orders alone

Which method of ratification was used for almost all the amendments to the constitution? a. two-thirds vote in congress b. state conventions c. national government d. three-fourths of state legislation

d. three-fourths of state legislation