Question 1

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Accepted Answer

A)  A three-fifths majority would be necessary to amend the constitution. 
B)  A three-fifths majority would be necessary to appoint members of the Supreme Court. 
C)  Three states would be "slave states," five states would be "free states," and the remaining states would be able to decide their own fate after 1820. 
D)  Five slaves would count as the equivalent of three "free persons" for purposes of taxes and representation. 
E)  An agreement reached by three-fifths of the states to revoke the Articles of Confederation and install the Constitution. 
A)  A three-fifths majority would be necessary to amend the constitution. 
B)  A three-fifths majority would be necessary to appoint members of the Supreme Court. 
C)  Three states would be "slave states," five states would be "free states," and the remaining states would be able to decide their own fate after 1820. 
D)  Five slaves would count as the equivalent of three "free persons" for purposes of taxes and representation. 
E)  An agreement reached by three-fifths of the states to revoke the Articles of Confederation and install the Constitution.

Question 2

When the call went out to all 13 state governments seeking their attendance at the Annapolis Convention in September 1786, how many states sent delegations?

Accepted Answer

A)  None 
B)  Two 
C)  Five 
D)  Ten 
E)  All 13 
A)  None 
B)  Two 
C)  Five 
D)  Ten 
E)  All 13

Question 3

The treaty that ended the French and Indian War was

Accepted Answer

A)  Treaty of Ghent. 
B)  Treaty of Versailles. 
C)  Treaty of Rome. 
D)  Treaty of Paris. 
E)  Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. 
A)  Treaty of Ghent. 
B)  Treaty of Versailles. 
C)  Treaty of Rome. 
D)  Treaty of Paris. 
E)  Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Question 4

Compare and contrast the rhetoric of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist movements. Who made up the body of each group? What did they think about the proposed Constitution? What were some of the primary arguments on each side?

Accepted Answer

The Federalist and Anti-Federalist movem

Question 5

What was the significance of Shays's Rebellion in Massachusetts in early 1787?

Accepted Answer

A)  A centralized arsenal was needed for the new federal army. 
B)  The Revolutionary War did not end all hostile actions in the new colonies. 
C)  Daniel Shays was a powerful military leader who was well-organized. 
D)  A weak and unresponsive federal government carried with it the danger of violence and disorder. 
E)  Whiskey would prove problematic for the new nation. 
A)  A centralized arsenal was needed for the new federal army. 
B)  The Revolutionary War did not end all hostile actions in the new colonies. 
C)  Daniel Shays was a powerful military leader who was well-organized. 
D)  A weak and unresponsive federal government carried with it the danger of violence and disorder. 
E)  Whiskey would prove problematic for the new nation.

Question 6

Under the Articles of Confederation, the office of a chief executive as president of the United States

Accepted Answer

A)  had limited powers. 
B)  did not exist. 
C)  was very much unrestrained in its given powers. 
D)  was also the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. 
E)  was held by a committee of three appointed individuals. 
A)  had limited powers. 
B)  did not exist. 
C)  was very much unrestrained in its given powers. 
D)  was also the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. 
E)  was held by a committee of three appointed individuals.

Question 7

The power of the United States Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of an act of Congress was established in

Accepted Answer

A)  Marbury v. Madison. 
B)  McCulloch v. Maryland. 
C)  Bas v. Tingy. 
D)  Hawkins v. McGee. 
E)  All of the above are true. 
A)  Marbury v. Madison. 
B)  McCulloch v. Maryland. 
C)  Bas v. Tingy. 
D)  Hawkins v. McGee. 
E)  All of the above are true.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT true concerning the Bill of Rights in our U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Bill of Rights was added as the first amendments to the Constitution after it was ratified by the states. 
B)  Several prominent members of the Constitutional Convention, such as James Madison, actually opposed the Bill of Rights. 
C)  Most states already had existing constitutions that enumerated the rights of the individual. 
D)  The Bill of Rights was a prominent element of the new Constitution and it was written into the document early in the process. 
E)  Several states at first refused to ratify the new Constitution because of its lack of a Bill of Rights. 
A)  The Bill of Rights was added as the first amendments to the Constitution after it was ratified by the states. 
B)  Several prominent members of the Constitutional Convention, such as James Madison, actually opposed the Bill of Rights. 
C)  Most states already had existing constitutions that enumerated the rights of the individual. 
D)  The Bill of Rights was a prominent element of the new Constitution and it was written into the document early in the process. 
E)  Several states at first refused to ratify the new Constitution because of its lack of a Bill of Rights.

Question 9

"Checks and balances" helped insure that no one interest could dominate the government through

Accepted Answer

A)  presidential vetoes. 
B)  Senate advice and consent. 
C)  judicial interpretations. 
D)  Options A, B, and C are true. 
E)  None of the above is true. 
A)  presidential vetoes. 
B)  Senate advice and consent. 
C)  judicial interpretations. 
D)  Options A, B, and C are true. 
E)  None of the above is true.

Question 10

What is the most common method used to amend the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  A two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress 
B)  Simple majority of the voters of the United States 
C)  Approval from two-thirds of the state legislatures and the signature of the president 
D)  Voter approval and the ruling of the Supreme Court on its constitutionality 
E)  Two-thirds of both chambers of Congress or two-thirds of state legislatures, then ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures 
A)  A two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress 
B)  Simple majority of the voters of the United States 
C)  Approval from two-thirds of the state legislatures and the signature of the president 
D)  Voter approval and the ruling of the Supreme Court on its constitutionality 
E)  Two-thirds of both chambers of Congress or two-thirds of state legislatures, then ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures

Question 11

The U.S. Constitution allows some powers while denying others. Such explicitly stated powers are referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  constitutionally mandated powers. 
B)  amended powers. 
C)  natural rights. 
D)  enumerated powers. 
E)  inherent powers. 
A)  constitutionally mandated powers. 
B)  amended powers. 
C)  natural rights. 
D)  enumerated powers. 
E)  inherent powers.

Question 12

Madison declared that a federal system allows the states the ability to counter "ambitious encroachments of the federal government" in

Accepted Answer

A)  Federalist No. 15. 
B)  Federalist No. 46. 
C)  Federalist No. 51. 
D)  Federalist No. 70. 
E)  Federalist No. 78. 
A)  Federalist No. 15. 
B)  Federalist No. 46. 
C)  Federalist No. 51. 
D)  Federalist No. 70. 
E)  Federalist No. 78.

Question 13

The Declaratory Act

Accepted Answer

A)  declared the king to be head of the Church of England. 
B)  declared the king and Parliament to have final authority over the colonies. 
C)  declared the king could not be a Roman Catholic. 
D)  Options A, B, and C are true. 
E)  None of the above is true. 
A)  declared the king to be head of the Church of England. 
B)  declared the king and Parliament to have final authority over the colonies. 
C)  declared the king could not be a Roman Catholic. 
D)  Options A, B, and C are true. 
E)  None of the above is true.

Question 14

By far the most significant result of the Annapolis Convention in September 1786 was

Accepted Answer

A)  a call to all 13 states to attend a convention in Philadelphia the following May to create a constitution for the federal government. 
B)  the emergence of Alexander Hamilton as a leader. 
C)  the formation of the Supreme Court. 
D)  the solidification of George Washington's power as president of the United States. 
E)  its location. 
A)  a call to all 13 states to attend a convention in Philadelphia the following May to create a constitution for the federal government. 
B)  the emergence of Alexander Hamilton as a leader. 
C)  the formation of the Supreme Court. 
D)  the solidification of George Washington's power as president of the United States. 
E)  its location.

Question 15

The most effective complaint raised by the Anti-Federalists against the proposed Constitution in 1788 was

Accepted Answer

A)  the inability of the states to tax the federal government. 
B)  its lack of state power to raise an army. 
C)  its lack of a bill of rights to protect individuals against abuses by the government. 
D)  the creation of the office of president. 
E)  the retention of too much power at the state level. 
A)  the inability of the states to tax the federal government. 
B)  its lack of state power to raise an army. 
C)  its lack of a bill of rights to protect individuals against abuses by the government. 
D)  the creation of the office of president. 
E)  the retention of too much power at the state level.

Question 16

The 1819 Supreme Court ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland seemed like a minor issue, but the ruling had a long-lasting impact. What was the primary impact of this ruling?

Accepted Answer

A)  A national bank was unconstitutional. 
B)  The state of Maryland had every right under the Constitution to tax the federal government's property and assets in the state. 
C)  In some cases certain powers that are not explicitly given to the government in the Constitution may be considered "necessary and proper" and thus they are legitimate under the concept of the "living Constitution." 
D)  Congress acted improperly in creating the U.S. Department of the Treasury. 
E)  In ruling on matters involving the Constitution, the Supreme Court must adopt a "strict constructionist" approach and not read anything into the Constitution that is not explicitly stated. 
A)  A national bank was unconstitutional. 
B)  The state of Maryland had every right under the Constitution to tax the federal government's property and assets in the state. 
C)  In some cases certain powers that are not explicitly given to the government in the Constitution may be considered "necessary and proper" and thus they are legitimate under the concept of the "living Constitution." 
D)  Congress acted improperly in creating the U.S. Department of the Treasury. 
E)  In ruling on matters involving the Constitution, the Supreme Court must adopt a "strict constructionist" approach and not read anything into the Constitution that is not explicitly stated.

Question 17

In opposition to the recommendations of the Virginia delegates during the Constitutional Convention, the New Jersey Plan advocated a single-chamber legislature with

Accepted Answer

A)  equal representation among the states regardless of population. 
B)  slaves counting as three-fifths of a whole person. 
C)  the Supreme Court determining the number of representatives from each state. 
D)  no executive branch. 
E)  lifelong appointments for representatives. 
A)  equal representation among the states regardless of population. 
B)  slaves counting as three-fifths of a whole person. 
C)  the Supreme Court determining the number of representatives from each state. 
D)  no executive branch. 
E)  lifelong appointments for representatives.

Question 18

Hamilton attacked the Articles of Confederation based on the impossibility of governing if each state is essentially sovereign in

Accepted Answer

A)  Federalist No. 15. 
B)  Federalist No. 46. 
C)  Federalist No. 51. 
D)  Federalist No. 70. 
E)  Federalist No. 78. 
A)  Federalist No. 15. 
B)  Federalist No. 46. 
C)  Federalist No. 51. 
D)  Federalist No. 70. 
E)  Federalist No. 78.

Question 19

Following France's defeat in the French and Indian War, the Treaty of Paris in 1763 settled the dispute by

Accepted Answer

A)  ceding all lands west of the Appalachian Mountains to Spain. 
B)  forcing France to accept and pay all debts to the new territories that were gained by England. 
C)  declaring a total truce and leaving all territories in the hands of those who held them prior to the war. 
D)  awarding to England all of the territories between the Arctic Circle and the Gulf of Mexico. 
E)  equally distributing territories between the nations of France and England. 
A)  ceding all lands west of the Appalachian Mountains to Spain. 
B)  forcing France to accept and pay all debts to the new territories that were gained by England. 
C)  declaring a total truce and leaving all territories in the hands of those who held them prior to the war. 
D)  awarding to England all of the territories between the Arctic Circle and the Gulf of Mexico. 
E)  equally distributing territories between the nations of France and England.

Question 20

The Articles of Confederation

Accepted Answer

A)  depended on voluntary contributions from the states. 
B)  required a unanimous vote for amendment. 
C)  gave each state delegation one vote. 
D)  Options A, B, and C are true. 
E)  None of the above is true. 
A)  depended on voluntary contributions from the states. 
B)  required a unanimous vote for amendment. 
C)  gave each state delegation one vote. 
D)  Options A, B, and C are true. 
E)  None of the above is true.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

When the call went out to all 13 state governments seeking their attendance at the Annapolis Convention in September 1786, how many states sent delegations?

The treaty that ended the French and Indian War was

Compare and contrast the rhetoric of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist movements. Who made up the body of each group? What did they think about the proposed Constitution? What were some of the primary arguments on each side?

What was the significance of Shays's Rebellion in Massachusetts in early 1787?

Under the Articles of Confederation, the office of a chief executive as president of the United States

The power of the United States Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of an act of Congress was established in

Which of the following is NOT true concerning the Bill of Rights in our U.S. Constitution?

"Checks and balances" helped insure that no one interest could dominate the government through

What is the most common method used to amend the U.S. Constitution?

The U.S. Constitution allows some powers while denying others. Such explicitly stated powers are referred to as

Madison declared that a federal system allows the states the ability to counter "ambitious encroachments of the federal government" in

The Declaratory Act

By far the most significant result of the Annapolis Convention in September 1786 was

The most effective complaint raised by the Anti-Federalists against the proposed Constitution in 1788 was

The 1819 Supreme Court ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland seemed like a minor issue, but the ruling had a long-lasting impact. What was the primary impact of this ruling?

In opposition to the recommendations of the Virginia delegates during the Constitutional Convention, the New Jersey Plan advocated a single-chamber legislature with

Hamilton attacked the Articles of Confederation based on the impossibility of governing if each state is essentially sovereign in

Following France's defeat in the French and Indian War, the Treaty of Paris in 1763 settled the dispute by

The Articles of Confederation

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

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

When the call went out to all 13 state governments seeking their attendance at the Annapolis Convention in September 1786, how many states sent delegations?

The treaty that ended the French and Indian War was

Compare and contrast the rhetoric of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist movements. Who made up the body of each group? What did they think about the proposed Constitution? What were some of the primary arguments on each side?

What was the significance of Shays's Rebellion in Massachusetts in early 1787?

Under the Articles of Confederation, the office of a chief executive as president of the United States

The power of the United States Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of an act of Congress was established in

Which of the following is NOT true concerning the Bill of Rights in our U.S. Constitution?

"Checks and balances" helped insure that no one interest could dominate the government through

What is the most common method used to amend the U.S. Constitution?

The U.S. Constitution allows some powers while denying others. Such explicitly stated powers are referred to as

Madison declared that a federal system allows the states the ability to counter "ambitious encroachments of the federal government" in

The Declaratory Act

By far the most significant result of the Annapolis Convention in September 1786 was

The most effective complaint raised by the Anti-Federalists against the proposed Constitution in 1788 was

The 1819 Supreme Court ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland seemed like a minor issue, but the ruling had a long-lasting impact. What was the primary impact of this ruling?

In opposition to the recommendations of the Virginia delegates during the Constitutional Convention, the New Jersey Plan advocated a single-chamber legislature with

Hamilton attacked the Articles of Confederation based on the impossibility of governing if each state is essentially sovereign in

Following France's defeat in the French and Indian War, the Treaty of Paris in 1763 settled the dispute by

The Articles of Confederation

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