Foundations of American Democracy
Which statement accurately describes the compromise that led to both sides reaching an agreement? At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from larger states argued that each state's representation in the legislature should be proportional to its population. Smaller states argued that each state should have equal representation, regardless of population. The disagreement over representation threatened to derail the ratification of the United States Constitution.
A bicameral legislature with an upper house representing each state equally and a lower house with representation proportional to each state's population
The decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) reflected new ideas about federalism at the time that can be best characterized by which of the following?
A delegation of power from the federal government to state governments, increasing state and local sovereignty
In Federalist #10, which of the following did James Madison argue would best control the negative effects of factions?
A large federal republic
States and localities have the most discretion in establishing policy when federal funding is derived from
Block grants
Pennsylvania passed a law to increase the state tax on gasoline to help fund repairs on highways and bridges. The state tax is in addition to the federal tax on every gallon of gasoline that is sold. Which of the following constitutional provisions does this scenario illustrate?
Concurrent powers
Which of the following resulted from the Supreme Court decision of McCulloch v. Maryland?
Congress alone was given the power to charter banks
This decision of the Supreme Court upheld the principle that: "We are unanimously of opinion, that the law passed by the legislature of Maryland, imposing a tax on the Bank of the United States, is unconstitutional and void... This is a tax on the operation of an instrument employed by the government of the Union to carry its powers into execution. Such a tax must be unconstitutional..."
Congress has the power to make laws to carry out its constitutional duties
Which of the following statements accurately describes the majority opinion of the Supreme Court in United States v. Lopez (1995)?
Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime
Which document does the quote below most closely relate? "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government..."
Declaration of Independence
Cooperative federalism can best be described by which of the following statements?
Different levels of government are involved in common policy areas
In the Constitution, as originally ratified in 1788, the provisions regarding which of the following most closely approximate popular, majoritarian democracy?
Election of the House of Representatives
The Declaration of Independence states "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." This was a revolutionary change from the system of the British monarchy, which was based on the divine right of kings. For which of the ideals of democracy does this quote provide a foundation?
Federalism
Which of the following constitutional principles best explains why there is variation among states on the use of capital punishment?
Federalism
Which of the following constitutional principles most directly addresses the relationship between state and national governments?
Federalism
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of federalism?
Federalism encourages economic equality across the country
The clause that ensures that judicial decrees and contracts made in one state will be binding and enforceable in another is called the ________ clause.
Full faith and credit clause
As a compromise, the framers agreed on a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives elected by popular vote within the states and the Senate selected by state legislatures. The direct election method conforms most to which of the following democratic ideals?
Government should be based on the consent of the governed
Which statement about federal and unitary systems is most accurate?
In a federal system, the constitution allocates powers between states and federal government; in a unitary system, powers are lodged in the national government
The importance of Shays' Rebellion to the development of the United States Constitution was that it:
Indicated that a strong, constitutionally designed national government was needed to protect property and maintain order
Which of the following describes the social contract theory as advanced by John Locke?
It is an agreement in which the government promises to protect the natural rights of people
How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention resolve their disagreement regarding slavery?
It was agreed that 60 percent of a state's slave population would be counted for purposes of both representation and taxation.
What argument did Alexander Hamilton use to convince people that it was not dangerous to place power in the hands of one man?
It was easier to control the actions of one man than the actions of a group
In 1974, the House of Representatives approved a resolution granting the Judiciary Committee authority to investigate the impeachment of President Nixon for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress. Which constitutional ideal of democracy is demonstrated in this scenario?
Judicial Review
According to James Madison, which of the following best controls the effects of faction?
Large republic
Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution lists several powers that are denied to the federal government, such as granting titles of nobility and passing ex post facto laws. This best demonstrates which of the following ideals of democracy?
Limited government
Which type of politics best characterizes social security?
Majoritarian
Which Supreme Court case established the concept of judicial review?
Marbury v. Madison
Which of the following statements would the author of the passage most likely agree with? * "In every free government, the people must give their assent to the laws by which they are governed. This is the true criterion between a free government and an arbitrary one. The former are ruled by the will of the whole, expressed in any manner they may agree upon; the latter by the will of one, or a few. If the people are to give their assent to the laws, by persons chosen and appointed by them, the manner of the choice and the number chosen, must be such, as to possess, be disposed, and consequently qualified to declare the sentiments of the people; for if they do not know, or are not disposed to speak the sentiments of the people, the people do not govern, but the sovereignty is in a few. Now, in a large extended country, it is impossible to have a representation, possessing the sentiments, and of integrity, to declare the minds of the people, without having it so numerous and unwieldy, as to be subject in great measure to the inconveniency of a democratic government...."
Nations with extended territory cannot fairly represent their citizens in a republican form of government
Which of the following clauses in the Constitution justifies the "implied powers doctrine?"
Necessary and Proper Clause
In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court invoked which provisions of the constitution?
Necessary and proper clause and supremacy clause
The reserved powers of the state governments can best be described as those powers
Not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states
Which of the following is a model of democracy that emphasizes the role of interest groups in advocating for public policy?
Participatory democracy
Brutus is most concerned with the conflict between which of the following political ideas?
Participatory democracy and elite democracy
Those who possess a disproportionate share of political power are defined as:
Political elites
Which of the following statements best reflects a pluralist theory of American politics?
Public policies emerge from compromises reached among competing groups
After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, its adoption requires:
Ratification by three-fourths of the states
The procedure in effect some states that permits voters to remove an elected official from office is known as:
Recall
When a branch or agency of government make rules, enforce those rules, and adjudicate disputes arising under those rules, they risk violating the constitutional concept of:
Separation of powers
Which "ideas" of the U.S. Constitution does the quote best illustrate? "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives."
Separation of powers
Expansions of unfunded mandates (Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990) by the national government present difficult funding problems for
State and local governments
Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of the political cartoon?
State governments prefer federal funding but do not want federal oversight over how the money is spent
The United States Constitution says that Congress has the power to declare war. This is an example of
The Courts
Which of the following is an example of the constitutional design of checks and balances?
The Senate rejects a president's nomination for Supreme Court justice
Which of the following best defines the constitutional interpretation of federalism?
The federal government and the states have separate but overlapping powers; where these powers conflict the federal government prevails
The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues?
The scope and power of the central government
The primary source of political authority in the United States is the:
U.S. Constitution
