Unit 1 Test

Question 1

The framers of the Constitution intended to establish:

Answer 1

a representative republic

Question 2

In 1974, the House of Representatives approved a resolution granting the Judiciary Committee authority to investigate 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?

Answer 2

Limited Government

Question 3

Which of the following describes the social contract theory as advanced by John Locke?

Answer 3

It is an agreement in which the government promises to protect the natural rights of people.

Question 4

In 2015, the United States Supreme Court decided the case Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which ruled that states must recognize same sex couples’ right to marry. Which of the following ideals of democracy would the attorneys for the same sex couple most likely put forth as their argument?

Answer 4

Natural rights of life and liberty include the right to marry whom you choose.

Question 5

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 British monarchy, which was based on the divine right of kings. For which of the ideals of democracy does this quote provide a foundation?

Answer 5

Popular sovereignty

Question 6

The framers of the Constitution all believed that one of the primary functions of government is:

Answer 6

protecting individual property rights

Question 7

Segment from Declaration of Sentiments- the language in the first paragraph of the selection most closely parallels that of which of the following documents?

Answer 7

The Declaration of Independence

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the influence of social contract theory on the Constitution of the United States?

Answer 8

The framers attempted to legitimize the Constitution through an appeal to popular sovereignty.

Question 9

Two of the important functions of the U.S. government are

Answer 9

to promote the general welfare and to provide order

Question 10

Which of the following best matches a political ideology with that ideology’s position on the proper role of government in regulating the economy?

Answer 10

Conservative—The government should strictly limit its regulation of the marketplace.

Question 11

Of the following, the most significant difference between the Constitution of 1787 and the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution

Answer 11

provided for a strong national government with many powers, while the Articles created a weak central government with few independent powers

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances in action in the United States government?

Answer 12

The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress.

Question 13

All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention EXCEPT

Answer 13

voting qualifications of the electorate

Question 14

Which of the following was a direct outcome of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Answer 14

The number of representatives in the House of Representatives from slaveholding states increased.

Question 15

Constitutional checks and balances, especially applied to the president, are designed to

Answer 15

minimize the threat of tyranny from any one branch of government

Question 16

Which of the following is the best example of results from political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional convention?

Answer 16

the creation of the House and Senate (bicameral legislature)

Question 17

Amending Constitution Process is outlined in which part of US Constitution?

Answer 17

Article V details the amendment process shown in the diagram.

Question 18

In the early part of the twenty-first century, public opinion polls showed that a majority of Americans believed it should be illegal to burn the American flag. As a result, many members of Congress introduced amendments to make it illegal to burn or desecrate the American flag. However, these efforts have been unsuccessful. Which of the following statements best explains why these efforts have been unsuccessful?

Answer 18

The framers made the amendment process difficult in order to protect individual rights.

Question 19

Which of the following is commonly identified as a failure of the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 19

The national government lacked an effective power to raise revenue.

Question 20

Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution does which of the following?

Answer 20

Emphasizes both national sovereignty and federalism.

Question 21

Which of the following is the correct pairing of powers found in the Articles of Confederation and powers found in the Constitution?

Answer 21

Articles of Confederation - Unicameral legislature
United States Constitution - Bicameral legislature

Question 22

As originally ratified, the United States Constitution included provisions designed to

Answer 22

increase the economic powers of the central government

Question 23

After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, its adoption requires

Answer 23

ratification by three-fourths of the states

Question 24

Which of the following was the most important effect of replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution of 1787?

Answer 24

The creation of a strong national government

Question 25

The Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides protections for the disabled, is an example of

Answer 25

a federal mandate

Question 26

Which of the following forms of financial aid from the national government gives the states the broadest discretion in the spending of money?

Answer 26

Block grants

Question 27

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?

Answer 27

A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Question 28

Of the following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government?

Answer 28

The commerce clause of the Constitution

Question 29

Which of the following powers allows both the federal and state governments to make policies involving taxation?

Answer 29

Concurrent powers

Question 30

Cooperative federalism can best be described by which of the following statements?

Answer 30

Different levels of government are involved in common policy areas.

Question 31

Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ?

Answer 31

The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland’s tax was unconstitutional.

Question 32

Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) ?

Answer 32

The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was struck down as unconstitutional because it exceeded the commerce clause.

Question 33

Which of the following constitutional principles most directly addresses the relationship between the national and state governments?

Answer 33

Federalism

Question 34

Which of the following is an example of how separation of powers creates friction between the executive and legislative branches in the policy-making process?

Answer 34

The president threatens to issue an executive order for stricter gun control if Congress continues to refuse to take action.

Question 35

All of the following are ways that the legislative branch can check the powers of the executive branch EXCEPT:

Answer 35

Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional.