Question 1

Why did the framers fear excessive democracy? Through what means were the framers able to limit its influence on the structure of government?

Accepted Answer

The framers of the Constitution feared excessive democracy because they were concerned about the potential for majority rule to lead to tyranny and the suppression of minority rights. They believed that unchecked democracy could result in the government becoming too responsive to the whims of the majority, potentially leading to instability and the erosion of individual liberties.

To limit the influence of excessive democracy on the structure of government, the framers implemented several measures. One of the key means was the establishment of a system of checks and balances, which divided the powers of government among three branches – the legislative, executive, and judicial – to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. This system was designed to ensure that no single group or individual could dominate the government and that decisions would require broad consensus.

Additionally, the framers created a federal system of government, in which power was divided between the national government and the states. This division of authority was intended to prevent the concentration of power in a central government and to allow for local control over certain issues.

Furthermore, the framers also established indirect methods for selecting key government officials, such as the Electoral College for choosing the president, and the appointment of federal judges by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. These mechanisms were designed to insulate the selection of leaders from direct popular influence and to ensure that individuals with the necessary qualifications and experience would hold positions of power.

Overall, the framers sought to limit the influence of excessive democracy on the structure of government through a combination of checks and balances, federalism, and indirect methods of selecting leaders, in order to safeguard against the potential dangers they saw in unchecked majority rule.

Question 2

The Constitution does not explicitly mention the principle of the separation of powers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

During the winter of 1786-1787,John Adams of Massachusetts was sent to negotiate a new treaty with the British to cover disputes left over from the war.The British government responded that it would:

Accepted Answer

A) set a blockade around Boston Harbor 
B) relinquish control over the lands to the west 
C) negotiate with each of the thirteen states separately 
D) require war reparations before signing any new treaty 
E) need France's approval before suspending war reparations 
A) set a blockade around Boston Harbor 
B) relinquish control over the lands to the west 
C) negotiate with each of the thirteen states separately 
D) require war reparations before signing any new treaty 
E) need France's approval before suspending war reparations C

Question 4

The political significance of the Great Compromise and the Three-fifths Compromise was to:

Accepted Answer

A) confirm the immorality of slavery 
B) affirm the principle of checks and balances 
C) support the unalienable rights of individuals 
D) ensure that the United States would continue to expand westward 
E) reinforce the unity of the mercantile and planter forces 
A) confirm the immorality of slavery 
B) affirm the principle of checks and balances 
C) support the unalienable rights of individuals 
D) ensure that the United States would continue to expand westward 
E) reinforce the unity of the mercantile and planter forces

Question 5

Under the Articles of Confederation,the nation's armed forces were composed of the state militias.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

During the Constitutional Convention,the motion to include a bill of rights was:

Accepted Answer

A) tabled at the insistence of delegates from Rhode Island 
B) approved almost unanimously 
C) incorporated as part of the full faith and credit clause after lengthy debate 
D) included in the section enumerating the powers of the national government with little floor debate 
E) overwhelmingly rejected 
A) tabled at the insistence of delegates from Rhode Island 
B) approved almost unanimously 
C) incorporated as part of the full faith and credit clause after lengthy debate 
D) included in the section enumerating the powers of the national government with little floor debate 
E) overwhelmingly rejected

Question 7

The idea that the federal government can exercise only the powers specifically articulated in the Constitution is known as the doctrine of:

Accepted Answer

A) implied powers 
B) expressed powers 
C) separation of powers 
D) necessary and proper powers 
E) original limits 
A) implied powers 
B) expressed powers 
C) separation of powers 
D) necessary and proper powers 
E) original limits

Question 8

How did the cleavages between small states and large states,and between slave states and nonslave states,shape the institutional design of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How did the cleavages between small states...

Question 9

Each branch of the government of the United States is responsible to a different constituency.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Among the sectors of society that were important in colonial politics prior to the American Revolution,the more radical forces were represented by:

Accepted Answer

A) New England merchants 
B) holders of lands,offices,and patents 
C) Southern planters and shipbuilders 
D) shopkeepers,laborers,and small farmers 
E) well-organized labor unions 
A) New England merchants 
B) holders of lands,offices,and patents 
C) Southern planters and shipbuilders 
D) shopkeepers,laborers,and small farmers 
E) well-organized labor unions

Question 11

In November 1777,the Continental Congress adopted the United States' first written constitution.It was known as the:

Accepted Answer

A) Virginia Plan 
B) Annapolis Convention 
C) Declaration of Independence 
D) Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union 
E) Seneca Falls Declaration 
A) Virginia Plan 
B) Annapolis Convention 
C) Declaration of Independence 
D) Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union 
E) Seneca Falls Declaration

Question 12

The framers developed four constitutional principles that prevent the threat of "excessive democracy": bicameralism,checks and balances,staggered terms of office,and indirect election.What are these principles,and how do they prevent the federal government from directly reflecting the will of the people?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The framers developed four constitutional principles that...

Question 13

In the system devised by the framers of the Constitution,sovereignty was vested in:

Accepted Answer

A) the federal government only 
B) state governments only 
C) both the federal and state governments 
D) local governments 
E) the executive branch 
A) the federal government only 
B) state governments only 
C) both the federal and state governments 
D) local governments 
E) the executive branch

Question 14

The Three-fifths Compromise established the principle,new in republican theory,that a man who lives among slaves had a greater share in the election of representatives than the man who did not.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

In order to protect federal judges from political influence from citizens and other branches,the framers:

Accepted Answer

A) ordered that federal judges be selected in democratic elections 
B) prohibited the selection of federal judges that share the sitting president's party identification 
C) ruled that judges cannot run for reelection at the end of their terms 
D) prohibited Congress from impeaching federal judges 
E) granted federal judges lifetime appointments to their offices 
A) ordered that federal judges be selected in democratic elections 
B) prohibited the selection of federal judges that share the sitting president's party identification 
C) ruled that judges cannot run for reelection at the end of their terms 
D) prohibited Congress from impeaching federal judges 
E) granted federal judges lifetime appointments to their offices

Question 16

How did the founders ultimately balance the need for an effective national government with the need to protect the rights of states and individuals?

Accepted Answer

The founders ultimately balanced the nee

Question 17

The framers intended an active and powerful government,so they included language to signify that the enumerated powers were meant to be a source of strength to the national government,not a limitation on it.This "elastic clause" is most commonly known as the:

Accepted Answer

A) national supremacy clause 
B) separation of powers clause 
C) necessary and proper clause 
D) privileges and immunities clause 
E) federal caveat 
A) national supremacy clause 
B) separation of powers clause 
C) necessary and proper clause 
D) privileges and immunities clause 
E) federal caveat

Question 18

Under the Articles of Confederation,the presiding officer of the executive branch was appointed through a nomination and voting process of the assembled delegates in the Electoral College.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

In the absence of an amendment,any power not specifically enumerated in the Constitution is conceived to be reserved to the national government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The Boston Tea Party was led by:

Accepted Answer

A) Patrick Henry 
B) Thomas Payne 
C) Samuel Adams 
D) Alexander Hamilton 
E) John Burgoyne 
A) Patrick Henry 
B) Thomas Payne 
C) Samuel Adams 
D) Alexander Hamilton 
E) John Burgoyne

Why did the framers fear excessive democracy? Through what means were the framers able to limit its influence on the structure of government?

The Constitution does not explicitly mention the principle of the separation of powers.

During the winter of 1786-1787,John Adams of Massachusetts was sent to negotiate a new treaty with the British to cover disputes left over from the war.The British government responded that it would:

The political significance of the Great Compromise and the Three-fifths Compromise was to:

Under the Articles of Confederation,the nation's armed forces were composed of the state militias.

During the Constitutional Convention,the motion to include a bill of rights was:

The idea that the federal government can exercise only the powers specifically articulated in the Constitution is known as the doctrine of:

How did the cleavages between small states and large states,and between slave states and nonslave states,shape the institutional design of the Constitution?

Each branch of the government of the United States is responsible to a different constituency.

Among the sectors of society that were important in colonial politics prior to the American Revolution,the more radical forces were represented by:

In November 1777,the Continental Congress adopted the United States' first written constitution.It was known as the:

In the system devised by the framers of the Constitution,sovereignty was vested in:

The Three-fifths Compromise established the principle,new in republican theory,that a man who lives among slaves had a greater share in the election of representatives than the man who did not.

In order to protect federal judges from political influence from citizens and other branches,the framers:

How did the founders ultimately balance the need for an effective national government with the need to protect the rights of states and individuals?

The framers intended an active and powerful government,so they included language to signify that the enumerated powers were meant to be a source of strength to the national government,not a limitation on it.This "elastic clause" is most commonly known as the:

Under the Articles of Confederation,the presiding officer of the executive branch was appointed through a nomination and voting process of the assembled delegates in the Electoral College.

In the absence of an amendment,any power not specifically enumerated in the Constitution is conceived to be reserved to the national government.

The Boston Tea Party was led by:

Introduction: Making Sense of Government and Politics

Federalism and the Separation of Powers

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Congress: The First Branch

The Presidency

The Executive Branch

The Federal Courts

Public Opinion and the Media

Elections

Political Parties

Groups and Interests

Introduction to Public Policy

Foreign Policy

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Exam 2: The Founding and the Constitution

Why did the framers fear excessive democracy? Through what means were the framers able to limit its influence on the structure of government?

The Constitution does not explicitly mention the principle of the separation of powers.

During the winter of 1786-1787,John Adams of Massachusetts was sent to negotiate a new treaty with the British to cover disputes left over from the war.The British government responded that it would:

The political significance of the Great Compromise and the Three-fifths Compromise was to:

Under the Articles of Confederation,the nation's armed forces were composed of the state militias.

During the Constitutional Convention,the motion to include a bill of rights was:

The idea that the federal government can exercise only the powers specifically articulated in the Constitution is known as the doctrine of:

How did the cleavages between small states and large states,and between slave states and nonslave states,shape the institutional design of the Constitution?

Each branch of the government of the United States is responsible to a different constituency.

Among the sectors of society that were important in colonial politics prior to the American Revolution,the more radical forces were represented by:

In November 1777,the Continental Congress adopted the United States' first written constitution.It was known as the:

In the system devised by the framers of the Constitution,sovereignty was vested in:

The Three-fifths Compromise established the principle,new in republican theory,that a man who lives among slaves had a greater share in the election of representatives than the man who did not.

In order to protect federal judges from political influence from citizens and other branches,the framers:

How did the founders ultimately balance the need for an effective national government with the need to protect the rights of states and individuals?

The framers intended an active and powerful government,so they included language to signify that the enumerated powers were meant to be a source of strength to the national government,not a limitation on it.This "elastic clause" is most commonly known as the:

Under the Articles of Confederation,the presiding officer of the executive branch was appointed through a nomination and voting process of the assembled delegates in the Electoral College.

In the absence of an amendment,any power not specifically enumerated in the Constitution is conceived to be reserved to the national government.

The Boston Tea Party was led by:

Introduction: Making Sense of Government and Politics

Federalism and the Separation of Powers

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Congress: The First Branch

The Presidency

The Executive Branch

The Federal Courts

Public Opinion and the Media

Elections

Political Parties

Groups and Interests

Introduction to Public Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters