Chapter 2 Test

In Federalist 70, Alexander Hamilton states that "energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of a good government." In this statement, Hamilton is arguing in favor for the need for A. A single executive who can response quickly to crisis. B. A president who has a good understanding of public policy. C. An electoral college in the selection of the president. D. A president who is youthful and assertive.

A. A single executive who can response quickly to crisis.

Once proposed, how is a constitutional amendment ratified? A. Either by three-fourths of state legislatures or by special state conventions in three-fourths of the states. B. Either by two-thirds of the U.S. Congress of by two-thirds of the U.S. senate. C. Either by two-thirds of state legislatures or by special state conventions in two-thirds of the states. D. Either by two-thirds of both U.S. chambers or by two-thirds of state legislatures.

A. Either by three-fourths of state legislatures or by special state conventions in three-fourths of the states.

Which of the following constitutional provisions limits the power of the national government in Hamilton's argument? A. Enumerated Powers in Article 1 B. Faithful execution of the laws in Article 2 C. Judicial Review in Article 2 D. Supremacy Clause in Article 6

A. Enumerated Powers in Article 1

The U.S. Constitution failed to outlaw slavery because A. Southern support was essential to the adoption of the documents. B. No one at the convention saw slavery as a moral evil. C. The opponents of slavery lacked the courage of their convictions. D. The Framers had no such mandate from those who had selected them.

A. Southern support was essential to the adoption of the documents.

The primary economic failure of the Articles of Confederation was that A. national debt needed to be paid off by the individual states, B. Congress could not collect taxes. C. there was no system for states to pay back their debts. D. indivisuals were taxed directly by the national government.

B. Congress could not collect taxes.

The importance of the Great Compromise was that it A. Created a legislature similar in structure to that under the Article of Confederation. B. Ensured support for a strong national government from small as well as large states. C. Establishes a single one-state-one-vote formula under which all states would benefit. D. Strengthened the power larger states at the expense of smaller states.

B. Ensured support for a strong national government from small as well as large states.

The Anti-Federalists' opposition to the Constitution was predicated to the belief that a strong central government would A. empower the general public and undermine government officials. B. strip states and individuals of their rights and authority to make laws. C. create states that were free to act in their own interests. D. not be an effective way to deal with other nations.

B. strip states and individuals of their rights and authority to make laws.

Which of the following scenarios would be considered an unconstitutional use of state power? A. A state passes a law that increases the pay of state legislators. B. A state enacts a law prohibiting smoking in all public places. C. A state places a tax on furniture made overseas. D. A state raises the drinking age to 25 years of age.

C. A state places a tax on furniture made overseas.

Three-fifths of the slaves were counted for purposes of A. Electing states legislatures B. Apportioning delegates to presidential conventions C. Allotting seats in the House of Representatives D. Allotting seats in the Senate

C. Allotting seats in the House of Representatives

Collecting taxes, building roads, borrowing money, and establishing courts would be examples of _________ powers. A. Enumerated B. Reserved C. Concurrent D. Complicit

C. Concurrent

All of the following are ways that the legislative branch can check the powers of the executive branch EXCEPT: A. Congress may remove the president through its impeachment and conviction powers. B. Congress may override a presidential vote. C. Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional. D. The Senate may refuse to approve a presidential appointment.

C. Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional.

Separation of powers and federalism were two key principles in the framing of the U.S. Constitution. These two principles are related in that each A. Requires a strong control government elected by popular majority. B. Grants power to a political elite that acts on behalf of the people. C. Involves a system of checks and balances in which power is dispersed. D. Implied that it is sometimes necessary to exercise unrestrained power.

C. Involves a system of checks and balances in which power is dispersed.

The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution was intended to limit the power of A. state government over citizens. B. citizens to amend the U.S. Constitution. C. the federal government. D. legislatures to amend the U.S. Constitution.

C. the federal government.

Which of the following constitutional principles most directly addresses the relationship between the national and state governments? A. Checks and Balances B. The Bill of Rights C. Representation D. Federalism

D. Federalism

The New Jersey Plan was a reaction by some states primarily to the fear that A. The legislatives veto power called for by the Virginia Plan would seriously undermine individual states' rights. B. The weak central government devised by the Virginia Plan would grant too much power to rural states, C. The strong central government devised by the Virginia Plan would grant too much power to the small states. D. The Virginia Plan gave too much power to populous states.

D. The Virginia Plan gave too much power to populous states.

The debates between Federalists and Antifederalists were primarily about which of the following issues? A. The right of the people to rebel. B. The existence of slavery. C. The need to establish a standard currency. D. The scope of power of the central government.

D. The scope of power of the central government.

In the 1780's, proponents of the new Constitution cited Shay's Rebellion as an example in support of which of the following criticisms of the national government under the Articles of Confederation? A. The national government did not provide sufficient protection of individual rights. B. The lack of centralized judiciary made enforcements of national laws. C. States with larger populations were underrepresented in Congress. D. There was a lack of national military power to address security concerns.

D. There was a lack of national military power to address security concerns.

Concurrent powers have which of the following effects on the United States political system? A. They reinforce the expansion of the power of the national government and the supremacy of the national law. B. They eliminate disputes between the states and the national government by creating completely separate spheres of influence. C. They foster cooperation between the states and the national government by requiring that the two levels of government work together. D. They make it possible for the states and the national government to simultaneously exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.

D. They make it possible for the states and the national government to simultaneously exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.