Question 1

Successful amendments to the Constitution

Accepted Answer

A)  are usually responses to particular topical problems. 
B)  are most commonly concerned with the structure or composition of the government. 
C)  have often been used to restrict the rights of citizens. 
D)  have typically had little effect on the actual workings of the government. 
E)  have been those designed to promote economic equality. 
A)  are usually responses to particular topical problems. 
B)  are most commonly concerned with the structure or composition of the government. 
C)  have often been used to restrict the rights of citizens. 
D)  have typically had little effect on the actual workings of the government. 
E)  have been those designed to promote economic equality.

Question 2

Describe the causes and effects of the American Revolution. What were the colonists' grievances against the British? What were some of the economic, social, political, and geographic conflicts among the colonists themselves? What kind of new government was established under the Articles of Confederation?

Accepted Answer

The American Revolution was caused by a

Question 3

The electoral college is

Accepted Answer

A)  an expression of direct democracy. 
B)  designed to select the U.S. president. 
C)  established in the Bill of Rights. 
D)  the institution that originally selected U.S. senators. 
E)  the federal organization that oversees the operation of all elections held in the United States. 
A)  an expression of direct democracy. 
B)  designed to select the U.S. president. 
C)  established in the Bill of Rights. 
D)  the institution that originally selected U.S. senators. 
E)  the federal organization that oversees the operation of all elections held in the United States.

Question 4

A ________ is a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for powers expressly delegated to a national government.

Accepted Answer

A)  republic 
B)  confederation 
C)  democracy 
D)  bicameral state 
E)  unitary state 
A)  republic 
B)  confederation 
C)  democracy 
D)  bicameral state 
E)  unitary state

Question 5

The first written constitution for the United States was called the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Magna Carta 
B)  Bill of Rights 
C)  Articles of Confederation 
D)  Constitution 
E)  Declaration of Independence 
A)  Magna Carta 
B)  Bill of Rights 
C)  Articles of Confederation 
D)  Constitution 
E)  Declaration of Independence

Question 6

Describe some of the problems under the Articles of Confederation that led to the drafting of a new constitution. Why were the Articles deemed inadequate for governing the United States during peacetime? What crises, real or potential, did many political actors fear?

Accepted Answer

Some of the problems under the Articles

Question 7

Why was the Declaration of Independence a remarkable political statement for its time?

Accepted Answer

A)  It convinced southern states to abolish slavery. 
B)  It persuaded the British government to give back all of the tax revenue it collected from the colonies. 
C)  It ended the Revolutionary War by offering a compromise with the British government. 
D)  It helped unify colonial groups that were divided along economic, regional, and philosophical lines by identifying shared problems, grievances, and principles. 
E)  It changed the distribution of power between the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. 
A)  It convinced southern states to abolish slavery. 
B)  It persuaded the British government to give back all of the tax revenue it collected from the colonies. 
C)  It ended the Revolutionary War by offering a compromise with the British government. 
D)  It helped unify colonial groups that were divided along economic, regional, and philosophical lines by identifying shared problems, grievances, and principles. 
E)  It changed the distribution of power between the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Question 8

Which statement about government under the Articles of Confederation is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  The armed forces of the United States consisted of state militias. 
B)  The central government could not prevent states from economically discriminating against one another. 
C)  There was no president under the Articles of Confederation. 
D)  Members of Congress had significant independence from their states. 
E)  Each state, regardless of size, had only one vote in Congress. 
A)  The armed forces of the United States consisted of state militias. 
B)  The central government could not prevent states from economically discriminating against one another. 
C)  There was no president under the Articles of Confederation. 
D)  Members of Congress had significant independence from their states. 
E)  Each state, regardless of size, had only one vote in Congress.

Question 9

One reason for the Constitution's longevity is that it

Accepted Answer

A)  did not confer permanent advantage on any one set of economic or social forces. 
B)  immediately outlawed slavery once ratified. 
C)  immediately granted universal suffrage once ratified. 
D)  gave the public the opportunity to directly vote on all laws. 
E)  has been successfully amended by citizens thousands of times. 
A)  did not confer permanent advantage on any one set of economic or social forces. 
B)  immediately outlawed slavery once ratified. 
C)  immediately granted universal suffrage once ratified. 
D)  gave the public the opportunity to directly vote on all laws. 
E)  has been successfully amended by citizens thousands of times.

Question 10

Which of the following statements best describes the motivations of the Founders in writing the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system consistent with the dominant philosophical and moral principles of the day while also promoting commerce and protecting private property from radical state legislatures. 
B)  The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system that would lead to their own personal enrichment. 
C)  The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system of direct democracy that maximized popular sovereignty. 
D)  The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system that concentrated authority in one branch of government. 
E)  The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system that ended slavery. 
A)  The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system consistent with the dominant philosophical and moral principles of the day while also promoting commerce and protecting private property from radical state legislatures. 
B)  The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system that would lead to their own personal enrichment. 
C)  The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system of direct democracy that maximized popular sovereignty. 
D)  The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system that concentrated authority in one branch of government. 
E)  The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system that ended slavery.

Question 11

The most important political value for the framers of the Constitution was ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  democracy 
B)  political equality 
C)  economic equality 
D)  individual liberty 
E)  civic virtue 
A)  democracy 
B)  political equality 
C)  economic equality 
D)  individual liberty 
E)  civic virtue

Question 12

Whose "political gospel" inspired the framers to adopt the concept of the separation of powers?

Accepted Answer

A)  Aristotle 
B)  Voltaire 
C)  Machiavelli 
D)  Montesquieu 
E)  Hobbes 
A)  Aristotle 
B)  Voltaire 
C)  Machiavelli 
D)  Montesquieu 
E)  Hobbes

Question 13

Describe some of the principles behind the Constitution. Discuss how separation of powers and checks and balances are supposed to operate. How did the Constitution arrange the power relationships between the national government and the states?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution of the United States is

Question 14

According to the authors of the text, the writing of the Constitution demonstrates the

Accepted Answer

A)  marriage of interests and principles. 
B)  triumph of self-interest over the common good. 
C)  epitome of civic virtue. 
D)  inability of leaders to forge political compromises. 
E)  triumph of the common good over self-interest. 
A)  marriage of interests and principles. 
B)  triumph of self-interest over the common good. 
C)  epitome of civic virtue. 
D)  inability of leaders to forge political compromises. 
E)  triumph of the common good over self-interest.

Question 15

The events that led to the Revolutionary War were triggered by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  The British raised revenue by increasing the tax rate of the colonies. 
B)  The British had established suspicious alliances with Indian tribes during the French and Indian Wars. 
C)  American separatists assassinated King George III. 
D)  Protestant fundamentalists in New England attempted to establish a theocracy. 
E)  The British attempted to end slavery in the colonies. 
A)  The British raised revenue by increasing the tax rate of the colonies. 
B)  The British had established suspicious alliances with Indian tribes during the French and Indian Wars. 
C)  American separatists assassinated King George III. 
D)  Protestant fundamentalists in New England attempted to establish a theocracy. 
E)  The British attempted to end slavery in the colonies.

Question 16

The most common method of passing an amendment to the Constitution is

Accepted Answer

A)  passage in both houses of Congress by a two-thirds vote, followed by a majority vote in three-fourths of the state legislature. 
B)  passage in both houses of Congress by a two-thirds vote, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state supreme courts. 
C)  proposal by the president, which is supported by two-thirds of the state legislatures. 
D)  passage by a constitutional convention, called by three-fourths of the states. 
E)  passage by the initiative process in three-fourths of the states and unanimous approval by the Supreme Court. 
A)  passage in both houses of Congress by a two-thirds vote, followed by a majority vote in three-fourths of the state legislature. 
B)  passage in both houses of Congress by a two-thirds vote, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state supreme courts. 
C)  proposal by the president, which is supported by two-thirds of the state legislatures. 
D)  passage by a constitutional convention, called by three-fourths of the states. 
E)  passage by the initiative process in three-fourths of the states and unanimous approval by the Supreme Court.

Question 17

During the national debate over ratification of the new Constitution, the Federalists

Accepted Answer

A)  supported a return to the Articles of Confederation. 
B)  opposed the Constitution and preferred decentralized government. 
C)  supported the Constitution and preferred a strong national government. 
D)  supported a return to British rule. 
E)  refused to support the Constitution unless a Bill of Rights was added. 
A)  supported a return to the Articles of Confederation. 
B)  opposed the Constitution and preferred decentralized government. 
C)  supported the Constitution and preferred a strong national government. 
D)  supported a return to British rule. 
E)  refused to support the Constitution unless a Bill of Rights was added.

Question 18

Which of the following was a ramification of the Three-fifths Compromise?

Accepted Answer

A)  It allowed for a political agreement between the North and the South. 
B)  It exacerbated conflicts between merchants and planters. 
C)  It allowed for a political agreement between large states and small states. 
D)  It permanently outlawed the slave trade. 
E)  It temporarily outlawed slavery. 
A)  It allowed for a political agreement between the North and the South. 
B)  It exacerbated conflicts between merchants and planters. 
C)  It allowed for a political agreement between large states and small states. 
D)  It permanently outlawed the slave trade. 
E)  It temporarily outlawed slavery.

Question 19

The Three-fifths Compromise

Accepted Answer

A)  determined that three out of every five slaves would be counted for purposes of representation and taxation. 
B)  determined the ratio between free states and slave states. 
C)  created a bicameral legislature. 
D)  declared that the states would pay three-fifths of the Revolutionary War debt and the federal government would pay the rest. 
E)  determined that all American citizens would pay three-fifths of their incomes to the federal government in taxes every year. 
A)  determined that three out of every five slaves would be counted for purposes of representation and taxation. 
B)  determined the ratio between free states and slave states. 
C)  created a bicameral legislature. 
D)  declared that the states would pay three-fifths of the Revolutionary War debt and the federal government would pay the rest. 
E)  determined that all American citizens would pay three-fifths of their incomes to the federal government in taxes every year.

Question 20

On the subject of representation, Antifederalists wanted

Accepted Answer

A)  representative bodies that resembled those represented to the highest degree. 
B)  representatives to exercise independent judgment and wisdom. 
C)  representatives who would reflect commercial interests. 
D)  as few representatives as possible. 
E)  representatives who were significantly more educated and wealthier than the majority of the public. 
A)  representative bodies that resembled those represented to the highest degree. 
B)  representatives to exercise independent judgment and wisdom. 
C)  representatives who would reflect commercial interests. 
D)  as few representatives as possible. 
E)  representatives who were significantly more educated and wealthier than the majority of the public.

Successful amendments to the Constitution

The electoral college is

A ________ is a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for powers expressly delegated to a national government.

The first written constitution for the United States was called the ________.

Describe some of the problems under the Articles of Confederation that led to the drafting of a new constitution. Why were the Articles deemed inadequate for governing the United States during peacetime? What crises, real or potential, did many political actors fear?

Why was the Declaration of Independence a remarkable political statement for its time?

Which statement about government under the Articles of Confederation is FALSE?

One reason for the Constitution's longevity is that it

Which of the following statements best describes the motivations of the Founders in writing the U.S. Constitution?

The most important political value for the framers of the Constitution was ________.

Whose "political gospel" inspired the framers to adopt the concept of the separation of powers?

Describe some of the principles behind the Constitution. Discuss how separation of powers and checks and balances are supposed to operate. How did the Constitution arrange the power relationships between the national government and the states?

According to the authors of the text, the writing of the Constitution demonstrates the

The events that led to the Revolutionary War were triggered by which of the following?

The most common method of passing an amendment to the Constitution is

During the national debate over ratification of the new Constitution, the Federalists

Which of the following was a ramification of the Three-fifths Compromise?

The Three-fifths Compromise

On the subject of representation, Antifederalists wanted

American Political Culture

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

Exam 2: The Founding and the Constitution

Successful amendments to the Constitution

The electoral college is

A ________ is a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for powers expressly delegated to a national government.

The first written constitution for the United States was called the ________.

Describe some of the problems under the Articles of Confederation that led to the drafting of a new constitution. Why were the Articles deemed inadequate for governing the United States during peacetime? What crises, real or potential, did many political actors fear?

Why was the Declaration of Independence a remarkable political statement for its time?

Which statement about government under the Articles of Confederation is FALSE?

One reason for the Constitution's longevity is that it

Which of the following statements best describes the motivations of the Founders in writing the U.S. Constitution?

The most important political value for the framers of the Constitution was ________.

Whose "political gospel" inspired the framers to adopt the concept of the separation of powers?

Describe some of the principles behind the Constitution. Discuss how separation of powers and checks and balances are supposed to operate. How did the Constitution arrange the power relationships between the national government and the states?

According to the authors of the text, the writing of the Constitution demonstrates the

The events that led to the Revolutionary War were triggered by which of the following?

The most common method of passing an amendment to the Constitution is

During the national debate over ratification of the new Constitution, the Federalists

Which of the following was a ramification of the Three-fifths Compromise?

The Three-fifths Compromise

On the subject of representation, Antifederalists wanted

American Political Culture

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters