Question 1

Discuss the amendment process for the Constitution as laid out in Article V.

Accepted Answer

The amendment process for the Constitution is laid out in Article V. This article outlines two methods for proposing amendments and two methods for ratifying them.

The first method for proposing amendments is for two-thirds of both houses of Congress to vote in favor of the amendment. The second method is for two-thirds of the state legislatures to call for a constitutional convention to propose amendments.

Once an amendment is proposed, it must be ratified by either three-fourths of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states.

This process ensures that amending the Constitution is a deliberate and difficult process, requiring broad support from both the national government and the states. It also allows for the possibility of amending the Constitution to reflect changing societal values and needs while still maintaining a high bar for making such changes.

Question 2

What is the Philadelphia or Federal Convention also referred to as?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Annapolis Convention 
B)  The Constitutional Convention 
C)  The Continental Convention 
D)  The state Convention 
A)  The Annapolis Convention 
B)  The Constitutional Convention 
C)  The Continental Convention 
D)  The state Convention B

Question 3

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention representing northern commercial interests were quite determined to shape national _______and _______policy.

Accepted Answer

A)  trade 
B)  slavery 
C)  commercial 
D)  agricultural 
A)  trade 
B)  slavery 
C)  commercial 
D)  agricultural C , A

Question 4

Which of the following statements accurately delineates the branches of government established by the first three Articles of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Article I established the executive branch, Article II established the legislative branch, and Article III established the judicial branch. 
B)  Article I established the executive branch, Article II established the judicial branch, and Article III established the legislative branch. 
C)  Article I established the legislative branch, Article II established the executive branch, and Article III established the judicial branch. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  Article I established the executive branch, Article II established the legislative branch, and Article III established the judicial branch. 
B)  Article I established the executive branch, Article II established the judicial branch, and Article III established the legislative branch. 
C)  Article I established the legislative branch, Article II established the executive branch, and Article III established the judicial branch. 
D)  None of the above

Question 5

Frustrations with the Confederation Congress included which of the following:

Accepted Answer

A)  Inability to secure unanimous consent of the states to amend the Articles of Confederation 
B)  Equality of votes between the large states and the small states 
C)  Failure to resolve commercial disputes among the states 
D)  All of the above. 
A)  Inability to secure unanimous consent of the states to amend the Articles of Confederation 
B)  Equality of votes between the large states and the small states 
C)  Failure to resolve commercial disputes among the states 
D)  All of the above.

Question 6

Which of the following is an institutional check on power that violates the pure principle of separation of powers?

Accepted Answer

A)  Executive veto of legislative acts 
B)  Federalism 
C)  Bicameralism 
D)  None of the above 
A)  Executive veto of legislative acts 
B)  Federalism 
C)  Bicameralism 
D)  None of the above

Question 7

The Constitution provides for the structure and jurisdiction of the federal courts below the level of the Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of these statements accurately describes the proposal and ratification of the Bill of Rights?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was proposed by the first Federal Congress and ratified by the state legislatures in 1791 
B)  It was proposed with the original Constitution in 1787, but it was ratified separately (in 1789) according to the wishes of the Anti-Federalists. 
C)  It was proposed by the second Constitutional Convention in 1790 and approved by state ratification conventions in 1790-1 
D)  None of the above statements is accurate. 
A)  It was proposed by the first Federal Congress and ratified by the state legislatures in 1791 
B)  It was proposed with the original Constitution in 1787, but it was ratified separately (in 1789) according to the wishes of the Anti-Federalists. 
C)  It was proposed by the second Constitutional Convention in 1790 and approved by state ratification conventions in 1790-1 
D)  None of the above statements is accurate.

Question 9

The assignment of legislative, executive, and judicial powers to different institutions is an example of ___.

Accepted Answer

A)  Federalism 
B)  Checks and Balances 
C)  Bicameralism 
D)  Separation of Powers 
A)  Federalism 
B)  Checks and Balances 
C)  Bicameralism 
D)  Separation of Powers

Question 10

By _______both New York and Massachusetts had adopted new constitutions that re-empowered their ___.

Accepted Answer

A)  1776 
B)  1780 
C)  governors and upper houses 
D)  lower houses of the legislature 
A)  1776 
B)  1780 
C)  governors and upper houses 
D)  lower houses of the legislature

Question 11

In a so-called "representative government," who conducts the business of government?

Accepted Answer

A)  Representatives elected by the people 
B)  All citizens who are subjected to the laws passed by government 
C)  An unelected group or individual who claims to rule on behalf of the people 
D)  None of the above 
A)  Representatives elected by the people 
B)  All citizens who are subjected to the laws passed by government 
C)  An unelected group or individual who claims to rule on behalf of the people 
D)  None of the above

Question 12

In all of the state constitutions of ___, most power was lodged in the ___.

Accepted Answer

A)  1776 
B)  1780 
C)  governors and upper houses 
D)  lower houses of the legislature 
A)  1776 
B)  1780 
C)  governors and upper houses 
D)  lower houses of the legislature

Question 13

What was the Confederation Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  The national government created by the Constitution 
B)  The executive branch component of the national government during the Revolutionary War 
C)  The central government created by the Articles of Confederation 
D)  The central government established by the Confederate Constitution 
A)  The national government created by the Constitution 
B)  The executive branch component of the national government during the Revolutionary War 
C)  The central government created by the Articles of Confederation 
D)  The central government established by the Confederate Constitution

Question 14

Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

What was the most important consequence of the Seven Years War (aka the French and Indian War) with respect to American political development?

Accepted Answer

A)  It increased the French as a threat to the British colonies in North America 
B)  It ended the French as a threat to the British colonies in North America. 
C)  It instantiated Spain as a threat to the British colonies in North America. 
D)  It indebted the French to American financiers. 
A)  It increased the French as a threat to the British colonies in North America 
B)  It ended the French as a threat to the British colonies in North America. 
C)  It instantiated Spain as a threat to the British colonies in North America. 
D)  It indebted the French to American financiers.

Question 16

Which of the following statements accurately describes the process by which the Constitution was ratified?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Constitution required approval from nine state conventions in order to be ratified and Massachusetts was the ninth state to approve. 
B)  The Constitution required approval from all thirteen state conventions in order to be ratified and Rhode Island was the thirteenth state to approve. 
C)  The Constitution required approval from ten state conventions in order to be ratified and New York was the tenth state to approve. 
D)  None of the above is accurate 
A)  The Constitution required approval from nine state conventions in order to be ratified and Massachusetts was the ninth state to approve. 
B)  The Constitution required approval from all thirteen state conventions in order to be ratified and Rhode Island was the thirteenth state to approve. 
C)  The Constitution required approval from ten state conventions in order to be ratified and New York was the tenth state to approve. 
D)  None of the above is accurate

Question 17

In the Electoral College, the formula contained in the Constitution states that each state's number of electors is equivalent to ___.

Accepted Answer

A)  the proportion of political party affiliation of the state's members in both houses of Congress to ensure proportional representation 
B)  the number of House and Senate seats in Congress for that state to maintain proportional representation 
C)  the number of members of the state's Supreme Court to ensure an absolute indirect representation among the electors 
D)  the number only of Senate seats in Congress for that state to assure equal representation 
A)  the proportion of political party affiliation of the state's members in both houses of Congress to ensure proportional representation 
B)  the number of House and Senate seats in Congress for that state to maintain proportional representation 
C)  the number of members of the state's Supreme Court to ensure an absolute indirect representation among the electors 
D)  the number only of Senate seats in Congress for that state to assure equal representation

Question 18

In what context does the phrase "advice and consent" appear in the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  In the preamble, where it is declared that the U.S. government is a system of "rule according to the advice and consent of the people" 
B)  The requirement that the President may commit troops into combat "only with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives" 
C)  The requirement that the Congress "may declare war only with the advice and consent of the President" 
D)  None of the above 
A)  In the preamble, where it is declared that the U.S. government is a system of "rule according to the advice and consent of the people" 
B)  The requirement that the President may commit troops into combat "only with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives" 
C)  The requirement that the Congress "may declare war only with the advice and consent of the President" 
D)  None of the above

Question 19

Which of the following was not a political principle or institutional arrangement that was supported by most of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

Accepted Answer

A)  Strong unitary national executive 
B)  Limited government and the idea of a written constitution 
C)  Representative government 
D)  Separation of powers 
A)  Strong unitary national executive 
B)  Limited government and the idea of a written constitution 
C)  Representative government 
D)  Separation of powers

Question 20

Trace the key steps in the constitutional amendment process.

Accepted Answer

The key steps in the constitutional amen

Discuss the amendment process for the Constitution as laid out in Article V.

What is the Philadelphia or Federal Convention also referred to as?

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention representing northern commercial interests were quite determined to shape national _and _policy.

Which of the following statements accurately delineates the branches of government established by the first three Articles of the Constitution?

Frustrations with the Confederation Congress included which of the following:

Which of the following is an institutional check on power that violates the pure principle of separation of powers?

The Constitution provides for the structure and jurisdiction of the federal courts below the level of the Supreme Court.

Which of these statements accurately describes the proposal and ratification of the Bill of Rights?

The assignment of legislative, executive, and judicial powers to different institutions is an example of ___.

By _____both New York and Massachusetts had adopted new constitutions that re-empowered their _.

In a so-called "representative government," who conducts the business of government?

In all of the state constitutions of _, most power was lodged in the _.

What was the Confederation Congress?

Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution.

What was the most important consequence of the Seven Years War (aka the French and Indian War) with respect to American political development?

Which of the following statements accurately describes the process by which the Constitution was ratified?

In the Electoral College, the formula contained in the Constitution states that each state's number of electors is equivalent to ___.

In what context does the phrase "advice and consent" appear in the Constitution?

Which of the following was not a political principle or institutional arrangement that was supported by most of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

Trace the key steps in the constitutional amendment process.

The Origins of American Political Principles

Federalism and American Political Development

Political Socialization and Public Opinion

The Mass Media and the Political Agenda

Interest Groups: The Politics of Influence

Political Parties: Winning the Right to Govern

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Congress: Partisanship, Polarization, and Gridlock

The President: Governing in Uncertain Times

Bureaucracy: Redesigning Government for the Twenty-First Century

The Federal Courts: Activism Versus Restraint

Civil Liberties: Ordered Liberty in America

Civil Rights: Where Liberty and Equality Collide

Government, the Economy, and Domestic Policy

Americas Global Role in the Twenty-First Century

Filters

Exam 2: The Revolution and the Constitution

Discuss the amendment process for the Constitution as laid out in Article V.

What is the Philadelphia or Federal Convention also referred to as?

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention representing northern commercial interests were quite determined to shape national _______and _______policy.

Which of the following statements accurately delineates the branches of government established by the first three Articles of the Constitution?

Frustrations with the Confederation Congress included which of the following:

Which of the following is an institutional check on power that violates the pure principle of separation of powers?

The Constitution provides for the structure and jurisdiction of the federal courts below the level of the Supreme Court.

Which of these statements accurately describes the proposal and ratification of the Bill of Rights?

The assignment of legislative, executive, and judicial powers to different institutions is an example of ___.

By _______both New York and Massachusetts had adopted new constitutions that re-empowered their ___.

In a so-called "representative government," who conducts the business of government?

In all of the state constitutions of ___, most power was lodged in the ___.

What was the Confederation Congress?

Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution.

What was the most important consequence of the Seven Years War (aka the French and Indian War) with respect to American political development?

Which of the following statements accurately describes the process by which the Constitution was ratified?

In the Electoral College, the formula contained in the Constitution states that each state's number of electors is equivalent to ___.

In what context does the phrase "advice and consent" appear in the Constitution?

Which of the following was not a political principle or institutional arrangement that was supported by most of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

Trace the key steps in the constitutional amendment process.

The Origins of American Political Principles

Federalism and American Political Development

Political Socialization and Public Opinion

The Mass Media and the Political Agenda

Interest Groups: The Politics of Influence

Political Parties: Winning the Right to Govern

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Congress: Partisanship, Polarization, and Gridlock

The President: Governing in Uncertain Times

Bureaucracy: Redesigning Government for the Twenty-First Century

The Federal Courts: Activism Versus Restraint

Civil Liberties: Ordered Liberty in America

Civil Rights: Where Liberty and Equality Collide

Government, the Economy, and Domestic Policy

Americas Global Role in the Twenty-First Century

Filters

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention representing northern commercial interests were quite determined to shape national _and _policy.

By _____both New York and Massachusetts had adopted new constitutions that re-empowered their _.

In all of the state constitutions of _, most power was lodged in the _.