Test 1
The comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and the role of government is known as a. ideology b. value system c. political science d. political socialization e. political culture
a. ideology
The concept in which the Constitution provides the fundamental structure of government and describes what the national government can and cannot do is called a. limited government b. popular sovereignty c. representative democracy d. majority rule e. majoritarianism
a. limited government
____ best explains the underlying reason for the Bill of Rights a. checks and balances b. limited government c. rule by government d. security and order e. separation of powers
b. limited government
The purpose of the first 10 amendments of the Constitution was to a. provide additional power to the national govt b. provide clear limitations on the power of the national govt c. provide clear limitations on the power of the state govts d. limit both the power of the national and state govts e. resolve errors in the original Constitution
b. provide clear limitations on the power of the national govt
____ was defined by political scientist Harold Lasswell as "who gets what, when, and how". a. Politics b. Government c. Institution d. Social Contract e. Initiative
a. Politics
The Great Compromise allowed small states to have political power disproportionate to their size in the a. Senate b. House of Reps c. White House Cabinet d. Supreme Court e. None of the above
a. Senate
The Constitution has remained largely intact for more than 200 years because the principles set forth in the Constitution a. are flexible enough to meet new events and concerns b. are impracticable to amend c. can only be changed in certain parts d. are unchallenged principles of the founding fathers e. are mandated to remain unchanged by the original drafters
a. are flexible enough to meet new events and concerns
The Westboro Baptist Church has successfully defended its right to ___ as free speech. a. demonstrate at the funeral services of military members killed in Afghanistan and Iraq b. march through largely Jewish suburbs of Chicago c. burn copies of the Quran on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks d. distribute information about the church door to door e. protest outside abortion clinics in the states of Mississippi and Kentucky
a. demonstrate at the funeral services of military members killed in Afghanistan and Iraq
While a peaceful settlement with the British Parliament was still being discussed, the Second Continental Congress a. established an army and named George Washington as commander in chief b. established a navy and named John Paul Jones supreme commander c. entered into an agreement with France to go to war with Great Britain d. declared war on Great Britain, France, and Spain e. drafted a treaty that was rejected by Great Britain
a. established an army and named George Washington as commander in chief
The process for deciding whether a law is contrary to the mandates of the Constitution is known as a. judicial review b. supremacy doctrine c. separation of powers d. nullification e. habeas corpus
a. judicial review
James Madison played a vital role at the Constitutional Convention because he a. maintained a personal journal that detailed discussions and votes b. served as president of the convention and led the meetings c. secured the room where meetings were held, ensuring discussion would remain private d. served as a "reporter" relaying each days events to people waiting outside e. maintained order during discussion and debated by serving as parliamentarian
a. maintained a personal journal that detailed discussions and votes
The 3/5 compromise gets its name from the resolution that a. slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person, in determining representation in the House of Reps b. slave owners would be credited at 3/5 for each slave they owned on their taxes c. northern states that didn't count slaves as part of their population would receive 3 additional seats in Senate and 5 additional seats in HOR d. southern states '' e. after 3 years the importation of slaves would be prohibited and after 5 years slavery would be abolished
a. slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person, in determining representation in the House of Reps
Which of the following clauses or doctrines prohibits the national govt from supporting an official religion? a. the establishment clause b. the free exercise clause c. the religious conviction doctrine d. the incorporation claure e. the separation doctrine
a. the establishment clause
A crucial weakness in the Articles of Confederation that forced the political leaders to meet in 1786 was a. the need for policies for economic stability b. the states were unable to raise taxes c. Georgia was considering forming an alliance with Spain d. former militia members had occupied land in PA e. the lack of a central currency
a. the need for policies for economic stability
Which of the following is an example of a concurrent power? a. the power to tax b. the power to declare war c. the power to regulate interstate commerce d. the power to negotiate treaties e. the power to print money
a. the power to tax
The exclusionary rule is part of the 4th Amendments guarantee against a. unreasonable searches and seizures b. unreasonable questioning c. a lengthy and protracted trial d. double jeopardy e. cruel and unusual punishment
a. unreasonable searches and seizures
The ratification of which amendment prompted the government to being applying the Bill of Rights to the states? a. 13th amendment b. 14th amendment c. 15th amendment d. 19th amendment e. 22nd amendment
b. 14th amendment
____ refers to the preeminent institution in which decisions are made that resolve conflicts or allocates benefits and privileges. a.Bureaucracy b. Government c. Democracy d. Politics e. Socialization
b. Government
Chief Justice ____ did much to increase the power of the national govt and to reduce that of the states in the early part of the 19th century a. Warren Burger b. John Marshall c. William Rehnquist d. Roger Taney e. Earl Warren
b. John Marshall
The Constitution would not have been ratified in several important states if the Federalists had not assured the states that a. a ban on the importation fo slaves would be a focus of the first Congress b. amendments to the Constitution would be passed to protect individual liberties against incursions by the national govt c. amendments to the Constitution would be passed to protect the rights of states against incursions by the national govt d. an amendment to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and consumption of liquor would be passed e. slaves that had escaped to free states would not have to be returned to their owners in the slave states
b. amendments to the Constitution would be passed to protect individual liberties against incursions by the national govt
The system consisting of a league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers, and a central govt with the limited powers is known as a ______ system a. unitary b. confederal c. federal d. authoritartian e. Bicameral
b. confederal
Informal methods of changing the US Constitution include a. decisions of the state courts, judicial activism, and presidential action b. congressional legislation, judicial review, and presidential action c. acts of international legislatures, stare decisis, and presidential action d. stare decisis, referendums, and judicial review e. ad hoc juries, judicial review, and bureaucratic action
b. congressional legislation, judicial review, and presidential action
The theory that the states and the national govt should work together in solving the nation's problems is known as ____ federalism a. collaborative b. cooperative c. distinctive d. dual e. categorical
b. cooperative
Although Enlightenment philosophers believed in the inherent equality of all persons, they a. supported the ideals of women's suffrage and abolition, while the Framers did not b. did not define all individuals as full persons c. meant equal in a moral sense, not a political or legal view d. equated a person with royalty e. failed to consider the rights of the monarchy
b. did not define all individuals as full persons
Theoretically, the colonies were governed by England, but the colonists were able to exercise a large measure of self-govt because the a. British crown had little interest in any activities in the colonies b. distance between mother country and the colonies allowed more freedom c. British were more concerned with colonies elsewhere d. colonial representatives in Parliament had lobbied for more freedom e. British had not issued a charter to each of the colonies, thus allowing greater individual rights
b. distance between mother country and the colonies allowed more freedom
After 9/11, the government of the United States acted in a manner that ____ a. emphasized liberty over security b. emphasized security over liberty c. dismissed the significance of both security and liberty d. elevated the significance of both security and liberty e. did not change the balance between security and liberty established prior to 9/11
b. emphasized security over liberty
The concept of a social contract existing between people and the govt first occurred in the US a. during the Civil Rights era b. in the Plymouth colony c. with the Declaration of Independence d. with the Articles of Confederation e. with the Constitution
b. in the Plymouth colony
The view that most liberties and rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights are protected from state govt actions through the due process clause is known as the a. assimilation doctrine b. incorporation theory c. state restrictions exclusion d. supremacy theory e. establishment clause
b. incorporation theory
During the time of the Constitutional Convention, federalism was an appealing compromise because it a. prevented cities and states from being dominated by a single group or faction b. maintained state traditions while creating a strong national govt to handle common problems c. allowed politicians to avoid issues of slavery and womens suffrage d. permitted states to nullify actions of the national govt e. made the national govt the focal point of dissatisfaction
b. maintained state traditions while creating a strong
According to the "Miranda rules" criminal suspects a. are presumed guilty because of their refusal to testify b. must be treated in such a manner that they are not convicted wrongly of crimes which the suspect didn't commit c. have the right to an attorney after the preliminary investigation d. don't have the right to have an attorney provided for them if they decide to appeal their case e. all of the above
b. must be treated in such a manner that they are not convicted wrongly of crimes which the suspect didn't commit
While many point to slavery as the reason the Civil War was fought, many also point out that it was really a battle over a. property rights and excessive taxation b. national govt supremacy vs. the rights of the states c. whether to align with England or France d. instilling term limits at all levels of govt e. expanding US borders and the resulting immigration
b. national govt supremacy vs. the rights of the states
The set of ideas, values, and ways of thinking about government and politics that are shared by all citizens is known as a. politics b. political culture c. political socialization d. socialism e. a social contract
b. political culture
The full faith and credit clause contributes to American unity by a. allowing local governments to exercise only those powers given to them by the central government b. protecting the rights of citizens as they move from state to state c. providing that when state laws conflict with the US Constitution, the Constitution prevails d. requiring states to recognize one another's laws regarding criminal matters e. stating that govt authority will be divided between the national and regional governments
b. protecting the rights of citizens as they move from state to state
The Supreme Court, in Engel vs. Vitale, ruled the Regents Prayer unconstitutional in part because a. opponents weren't provided time to recite their own prayers b. religious persecutions are closely tied to govt-established religions c. many religions believe only in intercessory prayer d. such prayers violate the free exercise clause of the 1st amendment e. the prayer was too broad and lengthy to be understood
b. religious persecutions are closely tied to govt-established religions
When examined together, the 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th amendments establish the a. civil rights of minorities b. rights of criminal defendants c. right to free speech d. right to bear arms e. voting rights of all citizens
b. rights of criminal defendants
The theory that individuals form communities by mutual consent, giving up some of their individual liberty in order to gain the protection of government, is known as a. divine right b. social contract c. the Leviathan agreement d. communitarianism e. elitism
b. social contract
As originally written, the Bill of Rights imposed no restrictions on a. national govt over the rights of individuals b. state govt over the rights and liberties of individuals c. ex post facto lawmaking d. bills of attainder e. the national govt over the liberties of individuals
b. state govt over the rights and liberties of individuals
Which of these statements is correct regarding prohibited powers? a. a state govt is only permitted to enter into a treaty with another country if it borders the country b. the national govt may not impose taxes on exports c. any power not specifically granted to the state govts is prohibited d. state governments are prohibited from establishing supreme courts e. the power to charter banks and corporations is retained solely by the national govt
b. the national govt may not impose taxes on exports
Both the increased spending by the national govt during the Civil War and the nationally imposed income tax a. were immediately ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court b. were precursors to an expanding role for the national govt in the affairs of the nation c. were attempts by the state govts to restrict the role of the national govt d. led to anti-tax riots in major cities e. were ultimately rejected in the form of constitutional amendments
b. were precursors to an expanding role for the national govt in the affairs of the nation
___ theorized that government is formed to protect life, liberty, and property, but if government violates the social contract with the people, the people have the duty to end the abusive government and establish a new government. a. Thomas Hobbes b. Thomas Jefferson c. John Locke d. Harold Lasswell e. Alexander Hamilton
c. John Locke
____ is the belief that government should take an active role in reducing poverty and regulating the economy, support civil rights, and have a tolerance for social change. a. Democratic socialism b. Conservatism c. Liberalism d. Totalitarianism e. Socialism
c. Liberalism
The Articles of Confederation established a voluntary association of independent states that a. relied on the national govt to resolve all regional conflicts b. paid a yearly levy to the national govt to enforce state laws c. agreed to only limited restraint on their freedom of action d. were represented on the basis of population in the Confederate Assembly e. did not collect tariffs on goods coming into the state
c. agreed to only limited restraint on their freedom of action
In Gibbons vs. Ogden, the Supreme Court ruled that a. Congress could not regulate activities that occur exclusively within the jurisdiction of a single state b. the power to regulate interstate commerce is one that is shared between the federal and state govts c. commerce should be interpreted to encompass all commercial business dealings d. although commerce is an exceptionally broad term, it cannot be said to include navigation and the transport of people e. the power of states should supersede that of the national govt in commerce
c. commerce should be interpreted to encompass all commercial business dealings
If the states lacked the power to tax, states would a. need to enter into treaties with foreign countries to obtain funding b. be in violation of the Constitutions provisions regarding interstate commerce c. depend on the federal govt to be able to function d. pass the burden of funding their budgets to local govts e. depend upon private donations from individuals and corporations
c. depend on the federal govt to be able to function
When theorizing who really controls the government, the belief that a small cohesive group makes almost all the important decisions for a nation is called ____ a. limited government b. personality politics c. elitism d. pluralism e. political enlightenment
c. elitism
One exception to the exclusionary rule supported by the Supreme Court is a. probably cause does not need to be established in civil matters b. potential death penalty cases may disregard all standard evidence rules c. good faith exceptions may be made for officers utilizing the incorrect search warrant form d. the homes of witnesses to a crime may be searched without a warrant e. good intention exceptions may be made for veteran officers in felony matters
c. good faith exceptions may be made for officers utilizing the incorrect search warrant form
______ powers constitute a special category of federal power that derives from the fact that the US, as a sovereign power among nations, must be the only level of govt to deal with other nations a. implied b. inferred c. inherent d. expressed e. enumerated
c. inherent
The Virginia plan was favored by a. southern states, since it emphasized the importance of population b. small states, since it treated all states equally c. large states, since it emphasized the importance of population and wealth d. northern states, since it emphasized the location of govt e. slave states, since it allowed slaves to be counted toward the population of the states
c. large states, since it emphasized the importance of population and wealth
McCulloch vs. Maryland, a case about the establishment of a bank and resulting taxation by the state of Maryland, established the doctrine of a. dual federalism b. state sovereignty c. national supremacy d. separate but equal e. no taxation without representation
c. national supremacy
The case of Gideon vs. Wainwright significantly expanded the rights of accused persons when the Supreme Court ruled that a. an individual had to be warned that they had the constitutional right to remain silent b. law enforcement officers needed to obtain a warrant before conducting a search of an individual's property, including automobiles c. people accused of a felony without the means to hire an attorney had to have court-appointed attorneys made available at govt expense d. individuals accused of a crime had the right to one phone call e. only criminal defendants charged with murder had the right to legal counsel
c. people accused of a felony without the means to hire an attorney had to have court-appointed attorneys made available at govt expense
Civil liberties, in simplest terms, are a. defined in detail in the Constitution b. freedoms that civilians have that military personnel do not c. protections of citizens from improper govt action d. guaruntees that all people get treated equally by the govt e. necessary for govt to function
c. protections of citizens from improper govt action
A democratic republic refers to a form of government in which a. single ruler controls all aspects of the govt but not economic and social institutions b. single ruler controls all aspects of the govt as well as economic and social institutions c. representatives are elected by the people to make and enforce laws and policies d. representatives are appointed by a ruler to create laws and policies for the population e. each individual person has an equal voice in the role and responsibilites of govt
c. representatives are elected by the people to make and enforce laws and policies
The publicly stated purpose of the convention to be held in 1787 was to a. develop and write a new Constitution b. revisit the principles established in the Declaration of Independence c. revise the Articles of Confederation d. expand the rights of individuals who did not own property e. create a system of govt that would abolish the institution of slavery
c. revise the Articles of Confederation
Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution establishes that any legitimate exercise of national govt power supersedes any conflicting state action. This is referred to as the a. elastic clause b. reserved powers doctrine c. supremacy clause d. necessary and proper clause e. federalist proposition
c. supremacy clause
The final provision in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, sometimes known as the "elastic clause" states a. the enumerated powers of Congress b. 5 ways that enumerated powers can be carried out c. that Congress can make laws that are necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers d. that Congress can declare war in situations that can be characterized as demanding flexibility e. a flexible procedure for immediate removal of the president from office
c. that Congress can make laws that are necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers
During the Constitutional deliberations, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote 85 essays, known as ____, to sway public opinion a. the Antifederalist papers b. "Common Sense" c. the Federalist Papers d. 85 Shades of Gray e. the Pluralist Papers
c. the Federalist Papers
Constitutional amendments can be proposed by a a. majority vote in both houses of Congress b. majority vote in either house of Congress c. unanimous vote in both houses of Congress d. 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress e. 2/3 vote of either house of Congress
d. 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress
According to the Constitution, a national constitutional convention can be called by ____ to propose an amendment a. a majority of the states b. a majority vote in both houses of Congress c. a 2/3 vote of either the House or the Senate d. Congress at the request of 2/3 of the state legislatures e. 3/4 of the states
d. Congress at the request of 2/3 of the state legislatures
Contrary to the Southern States intention, the Civil War resulted in a. an increase in the political power of individual states b. the expansion of voting rights to all citizens, including blacks and women c. a resurgence of Southern manufacturing and Northern agriculture d. an increase in the political power of the national govt e. thousands of banks failing and widespread unemployment
d. an increase in the political power of the national govt
The New Jersey plan did little to change the Articles of Confederation with the exception of a. allowing for the election of a national executive by the legislature b. creating a national judiciary that would be appointed by the legislature c. permitting the executive office to void any state laws d. asserting national law over state law in the form of a supremacy doctrine e. shifting the ability to regulate trade and impose taxes to each individual state
d. asserting national law over state law in the form of a supremacy doctrine
Democracy in the United States derives its powers from__ a. the Constitution b. the Declaration of Independence c. the US Supreme Court d. citizens e. natural law
d. citizens
The Constitution created a a. confederal system of govt that grants fewer powers to the national govt than Articles b. federal system of govt that grants fewer powers to the national govt than the Articles c. confederal system of govt that divides powers between the states and national govt d. federal system of govt that divides powers between the states and the national govt e. unitary system of govt that divides powers between the states and national govt
d. federal system of govt that divides powers between the states and the national govt
Shay's Rebellion plays an important role in American history because a. it represents the first major battle to occur in a southern colony during the American Revolution b. it anticipated the states rights battle c. it was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War d. it made obvious the weakness of the govt under the Articles of Confederation e. it enabled the colonists to reorganize and gain the upper hand against the British in the Revolutionary War
d. it made obvious the weakness of the govt under the Articles of Confederation
The Bill of Rights guarantees rights of the people to peaceably assemble, but the Supreme Court has allowed local govts to a. regulate the size of any and all assemblies on public or private property b. limit the duration and loudness of demonstrations allowing officials to eliminate business disruptions c. prohibit demonstrations by religious or hate groups d. require permits for parades and demonstrations allowing officials to control traffic or prevent demonstrations from turning into riots e. prohibit demonstrations staged in religious enclaves
d. require permits for parades and demonstrations allowing officials to control traffic or prevent demonstrations from turning into riots
The 2 major accomplishments that occured under the Articles of Confederation were a. passage of the Northwest Ordinance and ending the French and Indian War b. ending the French and Indian War, and passage of the Bill of Rights c. passage of the Bill of Rights, and settlement of states claims to western lands d. settlement of states claims to western lands, and passage of the Northwest Ordinance e. establishment of the Supreme Court, and payment of damages that occured during the revolutionary War
d. settlement of states claims to western lands, and passage of the Northwest Ordinance
Totalitarianism means a. a government of independent states unified under a single ruler b. a condition of having no government and no laws c. people elect officials to make decisions for them for a specific period of time d. that govt controls all facets of the religious, business, educational, and political lives of the people e. the ultimate authority is vested in the people
d. that govt controls all facets of the religious, business, educational, and political lives of the people
The Federalists had an advantage over the Anti-Federalists during the ratification process for the Constitution becuase a. the Federalists stood for the status quo b. wide public support for the Constitution had already been obtained through the publication of press updates c. the Federalists were men of little power and property, and the public found that appealing d. the Federalists had been apart of the deliberations surrounding the Constitution and understood the plan for the new govt better than the Anti-Federalists e. the Federalists were supported by King George III
d. the Federalists had been apart of the deliberations surrounding the Constitution and understood the plan for the new govt better than the Anti-Federalists
Which statement about Marbury vs. Madison is true? a. the court case centered on the formation of political parties and their protection under the 1st amendment b. William Marbury was an Anti-Federalist that was awarded a judicial appt by Presidetn Thomas Jefferson c. Chief Justice John Marshall issued a decision that found Marbury's rights had been denied d. the court found that Marbury had sought a solution from the Supreme Court but that was not within the court's constitutional power e. the case of Marbury vs. Madison involves a minor issue when compared with intense cases of today like Roe vs. Wade
d. the court found that Marbury had sought a solution from the Supreme Court but that was not within the court's constitutional power
As a political value, equality is defined as the idea that all people a. should make the same amount of money b. should be in a position to succeed economically c. should have equal access to their elected representatives d. have access to the courts to enforce their rights e. are of equal worth
e. are of equal worth
The era of dual federalism ended when a. the federal govt tried to impose a national income tax b. President Hayes ordered federal troops to remain in the South for at least 2 more decades c. the Supreme Court upheld legislation that outlawed child labor d. the United States entered WWI and national security became paramount e. citizens looked to the federal govt to address problems created by the Great Depression
e. citizens looked to the federal govt to address problems created by the Great Depression
A major deficiency of the govt under the Articles of Confederation was that a.the state legislatures had to approve every act of Congress b. Congress should regulate coinage c. the costs of the military became a major expenditure d. Congress could regulate the militia of each state e. each state retained its own sovereignty
e. each state retained its own sovereignty
The right to privacy is a. explicitly referenced in Article X of the Constitution b. explicitly referenced in the Preamble to the Constitution c. explicitly referenced in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution d. explicitly referenced in the 1st Amendment e. not explicitly referenced in the Constitution
e. not explicitly referenced in the Constitution
Which of the following statements is true about the Ratification of the Constitution? a. Ratification was a speedy and uncontroversial process b. distance between mother country and the colonies allowed more freedom c. British were more concerned with colonies elsewhere d. colonial representatives in Parliament had lobbied for more freedom e. the struggle for ratification included 13 separate campaigns conducted in each state
e. the struggle for ratification included 13 separate campaigns conducted in each state
The Framers of the Constitution did not create a direct democracy because a. it wasn't the best way to resist manipulative politicians b. direct democracy had never been used before c. the people had expressed support for a government similar to a monarchy d. they were worried about the efficiency of ballot counting mechanisms e. they believed the rights of the minority would be supressed by the dominating majority
e. they believed the rights of the minority would be suppressed by the dominating majority
As a political document, the Mayflower Compact a. was a detailed constitution governing the settlement b. was a compact between the signers and the King of England c. was a constitution of general principles d. established a pluralist political system for the settlement e. was a political agreement reflecting the 17th century ideas of a social contract
e. was a political agreement reflecting the 17th century ideas of a social contract
