Government Unit 1

Question 1

what were the two major legislative problems with the articles of confederation?

Answer 1

tax collection, inter-state commerce

Question 2

why did the Continental Congress convene in 1787?

Answer 2

correcting problems of the articles revealed the need for a completely new document that would come to be known as the constitution

Question 3

what underlying truth was enforced with the 3/5 compromise

Answer 3

all men are not created equal implying that white men are worth more than black men, and thus owning someone is ok

Question 4

the origin of the constitution came primarily from which of the following sources?

Answer 4

enlightenment

Question 5

division of power between the national government and the state governments

Answer 5

federalism

Question 6

why is popular sovereignty the ultimate check on a democratic form of government?

Answer 6

power of the government rests with the people

Question 7

principle that the government is not all powerful but can do only what the people say it can do according to the constitution.

Answer 7

limited government

Question 8

division of the operations of the natural government into three branches, each with its own powers and responsibilities

Answer 8

separation of powers

Question 9

which of the following is not one of the purposes of government according to the Bible?

Answer 9

insure equality

Question 10

which of the following was not a purpose of government according to the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 10

all of these are purposes of government according to the Declaration

Question 11

which of the following might a colonist have thought of in relation to the Boston Tea Party?

Answer 11

we’re british citizens, and parliament can’t tax us without representation; british citizens acting in rebellion to the crown

Question 12

which of the following were reasons for British colonization?

Answer 12

religious freedom, mercantilism, conquest

Question 13

Shay’s rebellion revealed what about the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 13

the ability of a few to rebel, and the inability of the federal government to do anything about it

Question 14

why did the passing of the 3/5 compromise create another problem for the constitutional convention that must be solved by the convention?

Answer 14

slave owners could import more slaves and control congress

Question 15

why is federalism a central tenet to the constitution?

Answer 15

the articles failed because the states didnt share their power with the federal government and in order for the Federal government to not make the same mistake, they must share power with the states

Question 16

today in questions of disputes between the levels of government, who has the final say?

Answer 16

federal government

Question 17

a limit on the importation of slaves was agreed upon under which compromise?

Answer 17

slavery compromise

Question 18

in their modern context, why would federalists of the 1780s have claimed liberty meant unchecked chaos?

Answer 18

federalists believed organization and common good were paramount. for example: shay’s rebellion was an example of unchecked liberty

Question 19

means by which each branch of the national government is able to control or limit the power of two other branches

Answer 19

checks and balances

Question 20

a legislative act finding a person guilty of treason or felony without a trial

Answer 20

bill of attainder

Question 21

power to take private property for public use, following compensation to the owner for that property

Answer 21

eminent domain

Question 22

means i cant be tried again for something i have already been acquitted of doing

Answer 22

double jeopardy

Question 23

prevents being jailed illegally (must get your day in court)

Answer 23

writ of habeas corpus

Question 24

t/f - while the articles of confederation created a problem internally, they presented a unified front to the rest of the world

Answer 24

false

Question 25

t/f - shay’s rebellion was caused by a heavy direct tax

Answer 25

true

Question 26

t/f - in a democracy, compromise is necessary

Answer 26

true

Question 27

t/f - the articles of confederation merely established a loose relationship between the states

Answer 27

true

Question 28

t/f - a smaller issue under the articles of confederation was that the states that did ratify the articles of confederation couldnt enforce laws in states that didnt ratify the articles

Answer 28

true

Question 29

t/f - james madison is known as the “father of the constitution”

Answer 29

true

Question 30

t/f- federalists wanted a strong centralized government

Answer 30

true

Question 31

t/f - the main debate at the constitutional convention centered around liberty verse order

Answer 31

true

Question 32

a law assessing or increasing the penalty for a crime after it is committed

Answer 32

ex post facto

Question 33

commentaries on the laws of england

Answer 33

William Blackstone

Question 34

social contract

Answer 34

rousseau

Question 35

spirit of laws

Answer 35

baron de montesquieu

Question 36

government is a contract between rulers and the people

Answer 36

rousseau

Question 37

atheist that espoused the idea of religious toleration

Answer 37

voltaire

Question 38

natural rights

Answer 38

john locke

Question 39

“people are bad by nature and cannot be trusted to make decisions for themselves”

Answer 39

thomas hobbes

Question 40

commentaries on the Laws of England

Answer 40

William Blackstone

Question 41

espoused the idea of checks and balances

Answer 41

baron de montesquieu

Question 42

“if the government is not dong its job, it should be overthrown”

Answer 42

john locke

Question 43

t/f - the court is the institution through which society makes and enforces its public policies

Answer 43

false

Question 44

t/f - the rule of the people is what set the united states government apart from other governments of its day

Answer 44

true

Question 45

t/f - the attitude of the declaration of independence reflects an attempt at reconciliation between the colonists and the king

Answer 45

false