Unit 1 Test Flashcards
The framers of the Constitution intended to establish:
a representative republic
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?
Limited Government
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.
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?
Natural rights of life and liberty include the right to marry whom you choose.
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?
Popular sovereignty
The framers of the Constitution all believed that one of the primary functions of government is:
protecting individual property rights
Segment from Declaration of Sentiments- the language in the first paragraph of the selection most closely parallels that of which of the following documents?
The Declaration of Independence
Which of the following best describes the influence of social contract theory on the Constitution of the United States?
The framers attempted to legitimize the Constitution through an appeal to popular sovereignty.
Two of the important functions of the U.S. government are
to promote the general welfare and to provide order
Which of the following best matches a political ideology with that ideology’s position on the proper role of government in regulating the economy?
Conservative—The government should strictly limit its regulation of the marketplace.
Of the following, the most significant difference between the Constitution of 1787 and the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution
provided for a strong national government with many powers, while the Articles created a weak central government with few independent powers
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances in action in the United States government?
The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress.
All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention EXCEPT
voting qualifications of the electorate
Which of the following was a direct outcome of the Three-Fifths Compromise?
The number of representatives in the House of Representatives from slaveholding states increased.
Constitutional checks and balances, especially applied to the president, are designed to
minimize the threat of tyranny from any one branch of government
Which of the following is the best example of results from political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional convention?
the creation of the House and Senate (bicameral legislature)
Amending Constitution Process is outlined in which part of US Constitution?
Article V details the amendment process shown in the diagram.
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?
The framers made the amendment process difficult in order to protect individual rights.
Which of the following is commonly identified as a failure of the Articles of Confederation?
The national government lacked an effective power to raise revenue.
Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution does which of the following?
Emphasizes both national sovereignty and federalism.
Which of the following is the correct pairing of powers found in the Articles of Confederation and powers found in the Constitution?
Articles of Confederation - Unicameral legislature
United States Constitution - Bicameral legislature
As originally ratified, the United States Constitution included provisions designed to
increase the economic powers of the central government
After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, its adoption requires
ratification by three-fourths of the states
Which of the following was the most important effect of replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution of 1787?
The creation of a strong national government
The Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides protections for the disabled, is an example of
a federal mandate
Which of the following forms of financial aid from the national government gives the states the broadest discretion in the spending of money?
Block grants
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?
A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Of the following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government?
The commerce clause of the Constitution
Which of the following powers allows both the federal and state governments to make policies involving taxation?
Concurrent powers
Cooperative federalism can best be described by which of the following statements?
Different levels of government are involved in common policy areas.
Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ?
The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland’s tax was unconstitutional.
Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) ?
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was struck down as unconstitutional because it exceeded the commerce clause.
Which of the following constitutional principles most directly addresses the relationship between the national and state governments?
Federalism
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?
The president threatens to issue an executive order for stricter gun control if Congress continues to refuse to take action.
All of the following are ways that the legislative branch can check the powers of the executive branch EXCEPT:
Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional.
