The Constitution

Question 1

In the 1780’s, mqany Americans distrusted a strong central government. This distrust is best shown by the

1) lack of debate over the ratification of the United States Constitution
2) plan of government set up by the Articles of Confederation
3) development of a Federal court system
4) constitutional provision for a strong President

Answer 1

plan of government set up by the Articles of Confederation

Question 2

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; . . .”

This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of Independence were

1) limitations of the principles underlying most European governments of the 1700’s.
2) adaptations of the laws of Spanish colonial governments in North America.
3) adoptions of rules used by the Holy Roman Empire.
4) reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment.

Answer 2

Reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment.

Question 3

The authors of the United States Constitution believed that the voice of the people should be heard frequently. Which part of the Government was instituted to respond most directly to the will of the people?

1) Senate
2) House of Representatives
3) Supreme Court
4) Presidency

Answer 3

House of Representatives

Question 4

In the United States, the use of implied powers, the amending process, and Supreme Court interpretations have resulted in

1) a general loss of individual rights
2) a strengthening of the principle of separation of powers
3) the Constitution being adapted to fit changing times
4) the limiting of Presidential power in domestic affairs

Answer 4

the Constitution being adapted to fit changing times

Question 5

Which quotation from the United States Constitution provides for a Federal system of government?

1) “He shall have power . . . with the advice and consent of the Senate, . . . and . . . shall appoint . . .“
2) “Every bill . . . shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President of the United States; . . .”
3) “The powers not delegated to the United States . . . are reserved to the states . . .“
4) “Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.”

Answer 5

3) “The powers not delegated to the United States . . . are reserved to the states . . .“

Question 6

The system of checks and balances is best illustrated by the power of

1) the President to veto a bill passed by Congress
2) Congress to censure one of its members
3) a governor to send the National Guard to stop a riot
4) state and Federal gov-ernments to levy and collect taxes

Answer 6

1) the President to veto a bill passed by Congress

Question 7

A lasting impact of the United States Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall is that the Court’s decisions

1) extended the Bill of Rights to enslaved persons
2) expanded the power of the Federal Government
3) restricted the authority of Congress
4) promoted the views of the President

Answer 7

2) expanded the power of the Federal Government

Question 8

Adherence to a strict interpretation of the Constitution would have prevented President Thomas Jefferson from

1) making the Louisiana Purchase
2) writing “State of the Union” messages
3) receiving ambassadors
4) commissioning military officers

Answer 8

1) making the Louisiana Purchase

Question 9

Which factor has made the strongest contribution to the development of religious freedom in the United States?

1) Most citizens have shared the same religious beliefs.
2) Religious groups have remained politically unified.
3) School prayer has been ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court.
4) Guarantees in the Constitution have encouraged religious expression and toleration.

Answer 9

4)Guarantees in the Constitution have encouraged religious expression and toleration.

Question 10

Which phrase from the Declaration of Independence most clearly reflects the idea that the people are the source of government?

1) “. . . that all men are created equal,…”
2) “. .. all men are . . . endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights
3) “. . . deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . .“
4) “. . . governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes . . .

Answer 10

3) “. . . deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . .“

Question 11

One way in which the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution

1) created a national government having three branches
2) provided for the direct election of the President by the voters
3) made the amendment process more difficult
4) increased the powers of the states

Answer 11

1) created a national government having three branches

Question 12

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from the small states most strongly supported the idea of

1) establishing a strong national executive
2) levying taxes on exports
3) popular election of Senators
4) equal representation for the states in the national legislature

Answer 12

equal representation for the states in the national legislature

Question 13

One way in which the authors of the Constitution tried to create “limited government” was by providing for
1) a loyal opposition through a two-party system
One way in which the authors of the Constitution tried to create “limited government” was by providing for
a loyal opposition through a two-party system
a division of power between the national and state governments
the establishment of naturalization laws
the popular election of Federal judges

3) the establishment of naturalization laws
4) the popular election of Federal judges

Answer 13

a division of power between the national and state governments

Question 14

Which action was necessary to change from the indirect to the direct election of United States Senators?
1)ratification of a constitutional amendment
2(passage of a Federal law
3) a Supreme Court decision
4)a national referendum

Answer 14

1)ratification of a constitutional amendment

Question 15

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

This quotation reflects beliefs mainly derived from

1) the Magna Carta
2) the divine right monarchs of Europe
3) John Locke’s theory of natural rights
4) Marxist philosophy

Answer 15

ohn Locke’s theory of natural rights

Question 16

The United States Government is considered a federal system because

1) the people elect national officials
2) both national and state governments exist within the nation
3) foreign policy is handled by state governments
4) each state has equal represen-tation in the United States Senate

Answer 16

2) both national and state governments exist within the nation

Question 17

The flexibility of the original United States Constitution is due mainly to

1) its provision for the amending process and judicial interpretation
2) its guarantees of freedom and justice for all people
3) the ability to create new branches of government as needed
4) the willingness of the states to accept Federal control

Answer 17

1)its provision for the amending process and judicial interpretation

Question 18

Antifederalists criticized the United States Constitution primarily because governing power was concentrated in the
1)State legislatures
2) President’s Cabinet
3) delegates to the Constitutional Convention
Antifederalists criticized the United States Constitution primarily because governing power was concentrated in the
State legislatures
President’s Cabinet
delegates to the Constitutional Convention
National Government

Answer 18

National Government

Question 19

A member of the United States Congress must resign from Congress if elected or appointed to a position in the executive or judicial branch. This requirement is an example of

1) limited terms for Federal officials
2) judicial review
3) Separation of powers
4) States’ rights

Answer 19

separation of powers

Question 20

The United States Constitution grants certain powers only to the Federal Government. For example, only Congress can declare war. These powers are called

1) police powers
2) reserved powers
3) delegated powers
4) concurrent powers

Answer 20

)delegated powers