Question 1

The underlying concept of the principle of separation of powers is

Accepted Answer

A)  that all three branches of government are equally powerful. 
B)  that when legislative, judicial, and executive power are not exercised by the same institution, power cannot be so easily abused. 
C)  that the people are responsible to elect the representatives in all three branches of government, including the judicial branch. 
D)  that one branch has a veto power over the other branches. 
E)  that the people's power to elect representatives is separate and different from that of the branches of the government. 
A)  that all three branches of government are equally powerful. 
B)  that when legislative, judicial, and executive power are not exercised by the same institution, power cannot be so easily abused. 
C)  that the people are responsible to elect the representatives in all three branches of government, including the judicial branch. 
D)  that one branch has a veto power over the other branches. 
E)  that the people's power to elect representatives is separate and different from that of the branches of the government.

Question 2

During the writing of the Constitution in 1787 some states had already abolished slavery while other states had large slave populations. Concerning slavery, the new U.S. Constitution

Accepted Answer

A)  allowed it in southern states and upheld its abolition in northern states. 
B)  left the issue for the courts to decide. 
C)  reaffirmed its use as legitimate in the United States. 
D)  said nothing about either preserving or outlawing slavery. 
E)  called for its abolition. 
A)  allowed it in southern states and upheld its abolition in northern states. 
B)  left the issue for the courts to decide. 
C)  reaffirmed its use as legitimate in the United States. 
D)  said nothing about either preserving or outlawing slavery. 
E)  called for its abolition.

Question 3

The Sugar Act of 1764 placed tariffs and duties on goods imported into the colonies by England. However, its political significance was that

Accepted Answer

A)  sugar was a vital staple of all colonists and the tariffs made it much more expensive and inaccessible for the average household. 
B)  as the first law passed by parliament for the purpose of raising money for England at the expense of the colonies, it opened the debate by the colonists of taxation without representation. 
C)  the law created a state of sovereignty in the colonies. 
D)  it unified England's alliances with sugar-producing Caribbean island colonies. 
E)  it unified alliances between the American colonies and the Caribbean nations that also produced and exported sugar. 
A)  sugar was a vital staple of all colonists and the tariffs made it much more expensive and inaccessible for the average household. 
B)  as the first law passed by parliament for the purpose of raising money for England at the expense of the colonies, it opened the debate by the colonists of taxation without representation. 
C)  the law created a state of sovereignty in the colonies. 
D)  it unified England's alliances with sugar-producing Caribbean island colonies. 
E)  it unified alliances between the American colonies and the Caribbean nations that also produced and exported sugar.

Question 4

"Separation of powers" is an application of the political philosophy of

Accepted Answer

A)  Montaigne. 
B)  Montesquieu. 
C)  de Tocqueville. 
D)  Rousseau. 
E)  Locke. 
A)  Montaigne. 
B)  Montesquieu. 
C)  de Tocqueville. 
D)  Rousseau. 
E)  Locke.

Question 5

As evidenced in James Madison's Federalist No. 10, many of the writers of the Constitution were cautious regarding

Accepted Answer

A)  the right of people to vote because they tended to rely on emotion rather than rationality. 
B)  factions, by which he meant groups of people motivated by a common economic and/or political interest. 
C)  the office of president. 
D)  the ability of the people to amend the Constitution and thus, in Madison's opinion, to undermine its authority. 
E)  state powers. 
A)  the right of people to vote because they tended to rely on emotion rather than rationality. 
B)  factions, by which he meant groups of people motivated by a common economic and/or political interest. 
C)  the office of president. 
D)  the ability of the people to amend the Constitution and thus, in Madison's opinion, to undermine its authority. 
E)  state powers.

Question 6

A Founding Father who refused to attend the Constitutional Convention was

Accepted Answer

A)  Benjamin Franklin. 
B)  Thomas Jefferson. 
C)  Alexander Hamilton. 
D)  James Madison. 
E)  Patrick Henry. 
A)  Benjamin Franklin. 
B)  Thomas Jefferson. 
C)  Alexander Hamilton. 
D)  James Madison. 
E)  Patrick Henry.

Question 7

Americans, especially legal scholars, view the U.S. Constitution in different ways. Discuss the differences between the theories of strict constructionism versus the living constitution.

Accepted Answer

Strict constructionism and the living co

Question 8

The Declaration of Independence lists examples of "inalienable rights" as

Accepted Answer

A)  the right of all persons to vote. 
B)  life and due process. 
C)  freedom from the rule of kings. 
D)  life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 
E)  democracy and peace. 
A)  the right of all persons to vote. 
B)  life and due process. 
C)  freedom from the rule of kings. 
D)  life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 
E)  democracy and peace.

Question 9

One of the foundation principles of the U.S. Constitution is popular sovereignty, which means that

Accepted Answer

A)  the people are tightly controlled by the government. 
B)  the president is the ultimate governmental power. 
C)  Congress is supreme. 
D)  the people are ultimately in charge of their political and social destiny. 
E)  the Supreme Court is subordinate to no other agency or group. 
A)  the people are tightly controlled by the government. 
B)  the president is the ultimate governmental power. 
C)  Congress is supreme. 
D)  the people are ultimately in charge of their political and social destiny. 
E)  the Supreme Court is subordinate to no other agency or group.

Question 10

Including the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution has __________ Amendments.

Accepted Answer

A)  twelve 
B)  one 
C)  ten 
D)  twenty-seven 
E)  fifty-three 
A)  twelve 
B)  one 
C)  ten 
D)  twenty-seven 
E)  fifty-three

Question 11

The Stamp Act required

Accepted Answer

A)  payment of a tax on all newspapers. 
B)  payment of a tax on all pamphlets. 
C)  payment of a tax on all commercial and legal documents. 
D)  payment of a tax on all almanacs. 
E)  All of the above are true. 
A)  payment of a tax on all newspapers. 
B)  payment of a tax on all pamphlets. 
C)  payment of a tax on all commercial and legal documents. 
D)  payment of a tax on all almanacs. 
E)  All of the above are true.

Question 12

The core principles of the Virginia Plan were

Accepted Answer

A)  a strong central government and a bicameral legislature. 
B)  a unicameral legislature with representation by population. 
C)  strong state governments and popular election of Supreme Court justices. 
D)  the ideal of one state having one vote and the addition of four new states. 
E)  economic and political features that replicated the European nation-state model. 
A)  a strong central government and a bicameral legislature. 
B)  a unicameral legislature with representation by population. 
C)  strong state governments and popular election of Supreme Court justices. 
D)  the ideal of one state having one vote and the addition of four new states. 
E)  economic and political features that replicated the European nation-state model.

Question 13

The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in May 1787 and had as its original purpose

Accepted Answer

A)  to abolish the Articles of Confederation. 
B)  to discuss amendments to the Articles of Confederation. 
C)  to return the young nation to a monarchy. 
D)  a complete overhaul of the American system of government. 
E)  a covert plan to invade Canada. 
A)  to abolish the Articles of Confederation. 
B)  to discuss amendments to the Articles of Confederation. 
C)  to return the young nation to a monarchy. 
D)  a complete overhaul of the American system of government. 
E)  a covert plan to invade Canada.

Question 14

Thomas Paine is credited with irrevocably turning the tide of popular support toward the cause of American independence with publication of his 1776 booklet entitled

Accepted Answer

A)  War and Peace. 
B)  Of Mice and Men. 
C)  The Pilgrim's Progress. 
D)  Common Sense. 
E)  On Liberty. 
A)  War and Peace. 
B)  Of Mice and Men. 
C)  The Pilgrim's Progress. 
D)  Common Sense. 
E)  On Liberty.

Question 15

John Locke argued in his theory of social contract that

Accepted Answer

A)  the power of the king was supreme. 
B)  while citizens sacrifice certain rights and then consent to be governed, they retain other inalienable rights. 
C)  both parties agree upon conditions of the social order, in this case that England's Parliament would agree on rights for the colonial citizens. 
D)  citizens sacrifice certain rights upon consent of the king or Parliament. 
E)  Parliament rightly held veto power over the Continental Congress. 
A)  the power of the king was supreme. 
B)  while citizens sacrifice certain rights and then consent to be governed, they retain other inalienable rights. 
C)  both parties agree upon conditions of the social order, in this case that England's Parliament would agree on rights for the colonial citizens. 
D)  citizens sacrifice certain rights upon consent of the king or Parliament. 
E)  Parliament rightly held veto power over the Continental Congress.

Question 16

The Tea Act (1773) was passed

Accepted Answer

A)  to impose duties on various items, including tea. 
B)  to raise revenue from the colonies to pay for the costs of colonial defense. 
C)  to provide an alternative source of revenue after the repeal of the Stamp Act. 
D)  to lessen export duties and allow the East India Company to undersell colonial merchants. 
E)  to promote drinking teas as an alternative to colonially produced rum. 
A)  to impose duties on various items, including tea. 
B)  to raise revenue from the colonies to pay for the costs of colonial defense. 
C)  to provide an alternative source of revenue after the repeal of the Stamp Act. 
D)  to lessen export duties and allow the East India Company to undersell colonial merchants. 
E)  to promote drinking teas as an alternative to colonially produced rum.

Question 17

The primary purpose of the system of checks and balances is

Accepted Answer

A)  to ensure that no one interest or faction could easily dominate the government. 
B)  to ensure that the people do not become too powerful and attempt to control the government. 
C)  to protect the executive branch from abuses of the judicial branch. 
D)  to allow the president to be removed from office. 
E)  to ensure that the government remains powerful and supreme. 
A)  to ensure that no one interest or faction could easily dominate the government. 
B)  to ensure that the people do not become too powerful and attempt to control the government. 
C)  to protect the executive branch from abuses of the judicial branch. 
D)  to allow the president to be removed from office. 
E)  to ensure that the government remains powerful and supreme.

Question 18

Under the Articles of Confederation the number of votes for each state in the Continental Congress was determined by

Accepted Answer

A)  the population of the state. 
B)  a pro-rated formula that took into account population and taxes paid. 
C)  the method of one vote for each state delegation regardless of population. 
D)  a system whereby northern states had two votes whereas southern states had one vote. 
E)  the president. 
A)  the population of the state. 
B)  a pro-rated formula that took into account population and taxes paid. 
C)  the method of one vote for each state delegation regardless of population. 
D)  a system whereby northern states had two votes whereas southern states had one vote. 
E)  the president.

Question 19

The New Jersey Plan provided for

Accepted Answer

A)  a bicameral legislature with one house elected by the people and a second house selected by the first. 
B)  a unicameral legislature with the members selected by each state legislature. 
C)  a unicameral legislature elected by the people. 
D)  a bicameral legislature elected by the people. 
E)  a bicameral legislature with one house elected by the people and the second house chosen by state legislatures. 
A)  a bicameral legislature with one house elected by the people and a second house selected by the first. 
B)  a unicameral legislature with the members selected by each state legislature. 
C)  a unicameral legislature elected by the people. 
D)  a bicameral legislature elected by the people. 
E)  a bicameral legislature with one house elected by the people and the second house chosen by state legislatures.

Question 20

The U.S. Constitution was created through much compromise. Discuss some of the important compromises that developed during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. How did these compromises impact our structure of government and its daily functions?

Accepted Answer

The Constitutional Convention in Philade

The underlying concept of the principle of separation of powers is

During the writing of the Constitution in 1787 some states had already abolished slavery while other states had large slave populations. Concerning slavery, the new U.S. Constitution

The Sugar Act of 1764 placed tariffs and duties on goods imported into the colonies by England. However, its political significance was that

"Separation of powers" is an application of the political philosophy of

As evidenced in James Madison's Federalist No. 10, many of the writers of the Constitution were cautious regarding

A Founding Father who refused to attend the Constitutional Convention was

Americans, especially legal scholars, view the U.S. Constitution in different ways. Discuss the differences between the theories of strict constructionism versus the living constitution.

The Declaration of Independence lists examples of "inalienable rights" as

One of the foundation principles of the U.S. Constitution is popular sovereignty, which means that

Including the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution has __________ Amendments.

The Stamp Act required

The core principles of the Virginia Plan were

The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in May 1787 and had as its original purpose

Thomas Paine is credited with irrevocably turning the tide of popular support toward the cause of American independence with publication of his 1776 booklet entitled

John Locke argued in his theory of social contract that

The Tea Act (1773) was passed

The primary purpose of the system of checks and balances is

Under the Articles of Confederation the number of votes for each state in the Continental Congress was determined by

The New Jersey Plan provided for

The U.S. Constitution was created through much compromise. Discuss some of the important compromises that developed during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. How did these compromises impact our structure of government and its daily functions?

The More Things Changethe More They Stay the Same

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights, Equality and Social Movements

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Public Opinion

Interest Groups

The Media and American Politics

Political Parties and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

American Domestic Policy

American Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 2: The Founding and the Constitution

The underlying concept of the principle of separation of powers is

During the writing of the Constitution in 1787 some states had already abolished slavery while other states had large slave populations. Concerning slavery, the new U.S. Constitution

The Sugar Act of 1764 placed tariffs and duties on goods imported into the colonies by England. However, its political significance was that

"Separation of powers" is an application of the political philosophy of

As evidenced in James Madison's Federalist No. 10, many of the writers of the Constitution were cautious regarding

A Founding Father who refused to attend the Constitutional Convention was

Americans, especially legal scholars, view the U.S. Constitution in different ways. Discuss the differences between the theories of strict constructionism versus the living constitution.

The Declaration of Independence lists examples of "inalienable rights" as

One of the foundation principles of the U.S. Constitution is popular sovereignty, which means that

Including the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution has __________ Amendments.

The Stamp Act required

The core principles of the Virginia Plan were

The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in May 1787 and had as its original purpose

Thomas Paine is credited with irrevocably turning the tide of popular support toward the cause of American independence with publication of his 1776 booklet entitled

John Locke argued in his theory of social contract that

The Tea Act (1773) was passed

The primary purpose of the system of checks and balances is

Under the Articles of Confederation the number of votes for each state in the Continental Congress was determined by

The New Jersey Plan provided for

The U.S. Constitution was created through much compromise. Discuss some of the important compromises that developed during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. How did these compromises impact our structure of government and its daily functions?

The More Things Changethe More They Stay the Same

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights, Equality and Social Movements

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Public Opinion

Interest Groups

The Media and American Politics

Political Parties and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

American Domestic Policy

American Foreign Policy

Filters