Question 1

The delegates feared that the House of Representatives would

Accepted Answer

A)  be too subservient to the president. 
B)  become too powerful due to the long terms of its members. 
C)  eclipse the Senate. 
D)  create and institute a new government. 
E)  grow too large for true deliberations. 
A)  be too subservient to the president. 
B)  become too powerful due to the long terms of its members. 
C)  eclipse the Senate. 
D)  create and institute a new government. 
E)  grow too large for true deliberations. E

Question 2

What is one reason that supporters of the Constitution gave during the ratification debates opposing a bill of rights?

Accepted Answer

A)  A bill of rights would nullify the Constitution. 
B)  The addition of a bill of rights would be a concession to the Anti-Federalists. 
C)  Only monarchies should have bills of rights. 
D)  A bill of rights was not necessary because the national government would have limited powers. 
E)  The enumeration of rights should be left up to the states. 
A)  A bill of rights would nullify the Constitution. 
B)  The addition of a bill of rights would be a concession to the Anti-Federalists. 
C)  Only monarchies should have bills of rights. 
D)  A bill of rights was not necessary because the national government would have limited powers. 
E)  The enumeration of rights should be left up to the states. D

Question 3

How does a presidential government differ from a parliamentary government? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each system?

Accepted Answer

A presidential government differs from a parliamentary government in several key ways. In a presidential government, the executive branch is separate from the legislative branch, with the president serving as the head of state and government. The president is elected independently of the legislature and has significant powers, including the ability to veto legislation. In a parliamentary government, the executive branch is part of the legislative branch, with the prime minister typically being the leader of the majority party in the parliament. The prime minister is elected by the parliament and can be removed from office through a vote of no confidence.

Advantages of a presidential government include clear separation of powers, which can help prevent the concentration of power in a single branch of government. The president is also directly accountable to the people through elections, providing a strong mandate for their leadership. However, a disadvantage is that gridlock can occur if the president and the legislature are controlled by different parties, making it difficult to pass legislation.

Advantages of a parliamentary government include the ability to quickly respond to changing circumstances, as the prime minister can be replaced without the need for a new election. The close relationship between the executive and legislative branches can also facilitate smoother governance. However, a disadvantage is that the prime minister may have too much power, leading to potential abuses of authority.

Ultimately, the choice between a presidential and parliamentary system depends on the specific needs and circumstances of a country. Both systems have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the effectiveness of each depends on the political culture and history of the country in question.

Question 4

What is one of the rights enumerated in the original Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Right to a speedy trial 
B)  Right to bear arms 
C)  Freedom of speech 
D)  Pursuit of happiness 
E)  Writ of habeas corpus 
A)  Right to a speedy trial 
B)  Right to bear arms 
C)  Freedom of speech 
D)  Pursuit of happiness 
E)  Writ of habeas corpus

Question 5

During the ratification process, why did some proponents of the Constitution argue against including a Bill of Rights?

Accepted Answer

Some proponents of the Constitution argu

Question 6

What event brought about the end of organized opposition to the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Election of George Washington 
B)  Final ratification of the Constitution 
C)  Adoption of the Bill of Rights 
D)  War of 1812 
E)  Onset of the Civil War 
A)  Election of George Washington 
B)  Final ratification of the Constitution 
C)  Adoption of the Bill of Rights 
D)  War of 1812 
E)  Onset of the Civil War

Question 7

What is key to the nature of Congress as outlined by the Constitution of 1787?

Accepted Answer

A)  Equal representation of the states 
B)  Representation based on population 
C)  Short term limits 
D)  The bicameral design 
E)  Election by the state legislatures 
A)  Equal representation of the states 
B)  Representation based on population 
C)  Short term limits 
D)  The bicameral design 
E)  Election by the state legislatures

Question 8

The "critical period" that heavily influenced the formation of the Constitution was the

Accepted Answer

A)  Revolutionary War. 
B)  Second Constitutional Convention. 
C)  years between the battles of Bunker Hill and Valley Forge. 
D)  years between the Declaration of Independence and the end of the war. 
E)  years between independence and the convening of the Constitutional Convention. 
A)  Revolutionary War. 
B)  Second Constitutional Convention. 
C)  years between the battles of Bunker Hill and Valley Forge. 
D)  years between the Declaration of Independence and the end of the war. 
E)  years between independence and the convening of the Constitutional Convention.

Question 9

Which three men were most important to the actual drafting of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington 
B)  George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison 
C)  James Madison, James Wilson, and Gouverneur Morris 
D)  James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton 
E)  John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Madison 
A)  Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington 
B)  George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison 
C)  James Madison, James Wilson, and Gouverneur Morris 
D)  James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton 
E)  John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Madison

Question 10

How was the sovereignty dispute discussed in the text finally settled between Vermont and New York?

Accepted Answer

A)  New York ceded the land to Vermont. 
B)  The Confederation Congress threatened military force. 
C)  George Washington met with leaders of both sides to reach a compromise. 
D)  The national government compensated New York for the land, and then admitted Vermont as the fourteenth state. 
E)  Vermont feared losing commerce ties while the dispute dragged on, so the legislature conceded. 
A)  New York ceded the land to Vermont. 
B)  The Confederation Congress threatened military force. 
C)  George Washington met with leaders of both sides to reach a compromise. 
D)  The national government compensated New York for the land, and then admitted Vermont as the fourteenth state. 
E)  Vermont feared losing commerce ties while the dispute dragged on, so the legislature conceded.

Question 11

According to the text, what is most striking about the Virginia Plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was nearly identical to the Articles of Confederation. 
B)  It was actually written by the delegates from New Jersey. 
C)  It advocated absolute executive veto power over state laws. 
D)  It embraced the British form of government. 
E)  It completely rejected the state-based Articles of Confederation. 
A)  It was nearly identical to the Articles of Confederation. 
B)  It was actually written by the delegates from New Jersey. 
C)  It advocated absolute executive veto power over state laws. 
D)  It embraced the British form of government. 
E)  It completely rejected the state-based Articles of Confederation.

Question 12

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention adopted a rule of secrecy in order to

Accepted Answer

A)  keep out British spies. 
B)  protect their families from retaliation. 
C)  prevent the national Congress from stopping their progress. 
D)  protect themselves as the meeting was illegal. 
E)  reduce political pressures. 
A)  keep out British spies. 
B)  protect their families from retaliation. 
C)  prevent the national Congress from stopping their progress. 
D)  protect themselves as the meeting was illegal. 
E)  reduce political pressures.

Question 13

What did the Second Continental Congress declare must happen before the Articles of Confederation would go into effect?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nine of the thirteen states must concur. 
B)  All of the thirteen states must ratify it. 
C)  Each state must write a new constitution. 
D)  A new representative must be elected from each state. 
E)  Each state must submit suggested modifications to the document. 
A)  Nine of the thirteen states must concur. 
B)  All of the thirteen states must ratify it. 
C)  Each state must write a new constitution. 
D)  A new representative must be elected from each state. 
E)  Each state must submit suggested modifications to the document.

Question 14

If the Republican party controls Congress and the president is a Democrat, this is a case of

Accepted Answer

A)  divided government. 
B)  liberal democracy. 
C)  democratic government. 
D)  division of labor. 
E)  separation of powers. 
A)  divided government. 
B)  liberal democracy. 
C)  democratic government. 
D)  division of labor. 
E)  separation of powers.

Question 15

What was the argument against the new Constitution from opponents of a strong central government? What was the response of those who advocated fundamental change?

Accepted Answer

The opponents of a strong central govern

Question 16

How were the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan similar?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both gave the national government the power to veto state laws. 
B)  Both had a true separation of powers system. 
C)  Both had governing institutions that represented the states rather than the people. 
D)  Both increased the powers of the national government relative to the Articles of Confederation. 
E)  Both were drafted by James Madison. 
A)  Both gave the national government the power to veto state laws. 
B)  Both had a true separation of powers system. 
C)  Both had governing institutions that represented the states rather than the people. 
D)  Both increased the powers of the national government relative to the Articles of Confederation. 
E)  Both were drafted by James Madison.

Question 17

When Alexander Hamilton spoke for the first time at the Constitutional Convention, he told the delegates that he

Accepted Answer

A)  wished both plans could be adopted, as they were both commendable. 
B)  believed neither plan was sufficient to correct the problems of the Articles of Confederation. 
C)  preferred the Virginia Plan. 
D)  preferred the New Jersey Plan. 
E)  preferred to keep the Articles of Confederation. 
A)  wished both plans could be adopted, as they were both commendable. 
B)  believed neither plan was sufficient to correct the problems of the Articles of Confederation. 
C)  preferred the Virginia Plan. 
D)  preferred the New Jersey Plan. 
E)  preferred to keep the Articles of Confederation.

Question 18

What was the effect of requiring the new constitution to be ratified by popularly elected assemblies?

Accepted Answer

A)  The central government lost much of its power. 
B)  The new government was sunk more deeply into the people. 
C)  Several new states were created. 
D)  More delegates were required to attend the convention. 
E)  The Declaration of Independence was overturned. 
A)  The central government lost much of its power. 
B)  The new government was sunk more deeply into the people. 
C)  Several new states were created. 
D)  More delegates were required to attend the convention. 
E)  The Declaration of Independence was overturned.

Question 19

What effect did Shays's Rebellion have on the nation?

Accepted Answer

A)  It nearly bankrupted the national government. 
B)  It nearly resulted in the secession of several states from the confederation. 
C)  It showed the central and state governments to be too powerful. 
D)  It demonstrated the weakness of the government. 
E)  It violated the terms of the Treaty of Paris, jeopardizing alliances with European allies. 
A)  It nearly bankrupted the national government. 
B)  It nearly resulted in the secession of several states from the confederation. 
C)  It showed the central and state governments to be too powerful. 
D)  It demonstrated the weakness of the government. 
E)  It violated the terms of the Treaty of Paris, jeopardizing alliances with European allies.

Question 20

The ___________ Convention was the first convention called to address commercial problems in September 1786.

Accepted Answer

A)  Annapolis 
B)  Baltimore 
C)  New Jersey 
D)  Philadelphia 
E)  Washington 
A)  Annapolis 
B)  Baltimore 
C)  New Jersey 
D)  Philadelphia 
E)  Washington

The delegates feared that the House of Representatives would

What is one reason that supporters of the Constitution gave during the ratification debates opposing a bill of rights?

How does a presidential government differ from a parliamentary government? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each system?

What is one of the rights enumerated in the original Constitution?

During the ratification process, why did some proponents of the Constitution argue against including a Bill of Rights?

What event brought about the end of organized opposition to the Constitution?

What is key to the nature of Congress as outlined by the Constitution of 1787?

The "critical period" that heavily influenced the formation of the Constitution was the

Which three men were most important to the actual drafting of the Constitution?

How was the sovereignty dispute discussed in the text finally settled between Vermont and New York?

According to the text, what is most striking about the Virginia Plan?

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention adopted a rule of secrecy in order to

What did the Second Continental Congress declare must happen before the Articles of Confederation would go into effect?

If the Republican party controls Congress and the president is a Democrat, this is a case of

What was the argument against the new Constitution from opponents of a strong central government? What was the response of those who advocated fundamental change?

How were the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan similar?

When Alexander Hamilton spoke for the first time at the Constitutional Convention, he told the delegates that he

What was the effect of requiring the new constitution to be ratified by popularly elected assemblies?

What effect did Shays's Rebellion have on the nation?

The ___________ Convention was the first convention called to address commercial problems in September 1786.

Deliberation and Citizenship in Service of Freedom and Democracy

Federalism

American Citizenship and Civic Culture

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and Political Participation

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy and the Administrative State

The Judiciary

Social Policy and the Welfare State

Economic Policy

National Security and Foreign Policy

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Exam 2: The American Constitution

The delegates feared that the House of Representatives would

What is one reason that supporters of the Constitution gave during the ratification debates opposing a bill of rights?

How does a presidential government differ from a parliamentary government? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each system?

What is one of the rights enumerated in the original Constitution?

During the ratification process, why did some proponents of the Constitution argue against including a Bill of Rights?

What event brought about the end of organized opposition to the Constitution?

What is key to the nature of Congress as outlined by the Constitution of 1787?

The "critical period" that heavily influenced the formation of the Constitution was the

Which three men were most important to the actual drafting of the Constitution?

How was the sovereignty dispute discussed in the text finally settled between Vermont and New York?

According to the text, what is most striking about the Virginia Plan?

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention adopted a rule of secrecy in order to

What did the Second Continental Congress declare must happen before the Articles of Confederation would go into effect?

If the Republican party controls Congress and the president is a Democrat, this is a case of

What was the argument against the new Constitution from opponents of a strong central government? What was the response of those who advocated fundamental change?

How were the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan similar?

When Alexander Hamilton spoke for the first time at the Constitutional Convention, he told the delegates that he

What was the effect of requiring the new constitution to be ratified by popularly elected assemblies?

What effect did Shays's Rebellion have on the nation?

The ___________ Convention was the first convention called to address commercial problems in September 1786.

Deliberation and Citizenship in Service of Freedom and Democracy

Federalism

American Citizenship and Civic Culture

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and Political Participation

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy and the Administrative State

The Judiciary

Social Policy and the Welfare State

Economic Policy

National Security and Foreign Policy

Filters