Question 1

Discuss the necessity and significance of the Mayflower Compact.

Accepted Answer

The first New England colony was founded by the Plymouth Company in 1620 at Plymouth in what is today Massachusetts.Most of the settlers at Plymouth were Pilgrims,a group of English Protestants who came to the New World on the ship Mayflower.Even before the Pilgrims went ashore,they drew up the Mayflower Compact,in which they set up a government and promised to obey its laws.​The reason for the compact was that the group was outside the territory assigned to the Virginia Company,which had arranged for them to settle in what is now New York,not Massachusetts.Fearing that some of the passengers might decide that they were no longer subject to any rules of civil order,the leaders on board the Mayflower agreed that some form of governmental authority was necessary.The Mayflower Compact was essentially a social contract.It has historical significance because it was the first of a series of similar contracts among the colonists to establish fundamental rules of government.The Compact reflected the fact that Plymouth was essentially a religious colony,and early colonial attitudes toward religion were different from those of the revolutionary era.

Question 2

The Madisonian Model of government is based on the principle of _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  separation of powers 
B)  representative government 
C)  rule of law 
D)  taxation without representation 
E)  the Great Compromise 
A)  separation of powers 
B)  representative government 
C)  rule of law 
D)  taxation without representation 
E)  the Great Compromise A

Question 3

Summarize the Constitution's principles of limited government and federalism.

Accepted Answer

The Constitution incorporated the principle of limited government,which means that government can do only what the people allow it to do through the exercise of a duly developed system of laws.This principle can be found in many parts of the Constitution.Implicitly,the principle of limited government rests on the concept of popular sovereignty.In other words,it is the people who form the government and decide on the powers that the government can exercise.The idea that no one,including government officers,is above the law is often called the rule of law.Ultimately,the viability of a democracy rests on the willingness of the people and their leaders to adhere to the rule of law.A nation's written constitution may guarantee numerous rights and liberties for its citizens.Yet,unless the government of that nation enforces those rights and liberties,the law does not rule the nation.Rather,the government decides what the rules will be.
The Constitution also incorporated the principle of federalism,or a federal system of government,in which the central (national)government shares sovereign powers with the various state governments.Federalism was the solution to the debate over whether the national government or the states should have ultimate sovereignty.The Constitution gave the national government significant powers-powers that it had not had under the Articles of Confederation.For example,the Constitution expressly states that the president is the nation's chief executive as well as the commander in chief of the armed forces.The Constitution also declares that the Constitution and the laws created by the national government are supreme-that is,they take precedence over conflicting state laws.Other powers given to the national government include the power to coin money,to levy and collect taxes,and to regulate interstate commerce,a power granted by the commerce clause.Finally,the national government was authorized to undertake all laws that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out its expressly delegated powers.
Because the states feared too much centralized control,the Constitution also allowed for many states' rights.These rights include the power to regulate commerce within state borders and generally the authority to exercise any powers that are not delegated by the Constitution to the central government.

Question 4

Which of the following proposals was part of the Virginia Plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  A unicameral legislature with states' representations based on their population 
B)  A national executive branch elected by a bicameral legislature 
C)  A central civil committee appointed by the House of Representatives 
D)  A committee of states based on participation in the Constitutional Convention 
E)  A federal court judge appointed by the president 
A)  A unicameral legislature with states' representations based on their population 
B)  A national executive branch elected by a bicameral legislature 
C)  A central civil committee appointed by the House of Representatives 
D)  A committee of states based on participation in the Constitutional Convention 
E)  A federal court judge appointed by the president

Question 5

Within a year of the signing of the _____,the new nation was suffering from a serious economic depression.

Accepted Answer

A)  Mayflower Compact 
B)  Articles of Confederation 
C)  Treaty of Paris 
D)  Declaration of Independence 
E)  Magna Carta 
A)  Mayflower Compact 
B)  Articles of Confederation 
C)  Treaty of Paris 
D)  Declaration of Independence 
E)  Magna Carta

Question 6

The Mayflower Compact is the first ten amendments to the U.S.Constitution that lists the freedoms-such as the freedoms of speech,press,and religion-that a citizen enjoys and that cannot be infringed on by the government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

In the context of the issues regarding slave importation,which of the following statements is true about the settlement that was reached at the Constitutional Convention?

Accepted Answer

A)  The South won fifty years of unrestricted slave trade by agreeing to its prohibition thereafter. 
B)  Slaves were not considered as part of a state's population. 
C)  Slaves who had fled to the northern states had to be returned to their owners. 
D)  Domestic slave trading was banned immediately after the Convention. 
E)  Slaves who had escaped to the northern states were considered free. 
A)  The South won fifty years of unrestricted slave trade by agreeing to its prohibition thereafter. 
B)  Slaves were not considered as part of a state's population. 
C)  Slaves who had fled to the northern states had to be returned to their owners. 
D)  Domestic slave trading was banned immediately after the Convention. 
E)  Slaves who had escaped to the northern states were considered free.

Question 8

Describe the four possible ways for an amendment to be added to the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

Since the Constitution was written,more

Question 9

All the amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by:

Accepted Answer

A)  a vote by two-thirds of the state legislatures. 
B)  a vote by three-fourths of the state legislatures. 
C)  a two-thirds vote in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. 
D)  a three-fourths vote in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. 
E)  a three-fourths vote in the House of Representatives. 
A)  a vote by two-thirds of the state legislatures. 
B)  a vote by three-fourths of the state legislatures. 
C)  a two-thirds vote in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. 
D)  a three-fourths vote in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. 
E)  a three-fourths vote in the House of Representatives.

Question 10

The principle of limited government in the U.S.constitution implicitly rests on the concept of popular sovereignty.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The colonists began using the word American to describe themselves:

Accepted Answer

A)  after writing the Articles of Confederation. 
B)  when the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts. 
C)  after adopting the Declaration of Independence. 
D)  after the conclusion of the Seven Years' War. 
E)  when the British Parliament refused to repeal the Stamp Act. 
A)  after writing the Articles of Confederation. 
B)  when the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts. 
C)  after adopting the Declaration of Independence. 
D)  after the conclusion of the Seven Years' War. 
E)  when the British Parliament refused to repeal the Stamp Act.

Question 12

The battle over the ratification of the Constitution was fought chiefly by two opposing groups,_____.

Accepted Answer

A)  the Nationalists and the Federalists. 
B)  the Republicans and the Conservatives. 
C)  the Anti-Federalists and the Confederates. 
D)  the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. 
E)  the Conservatives and the Libertarians. 
A)  the Nationalists and the Federalists. 
B)  the Republicans and the Conservatives. 
C)  the Anti-Federalists and the Confederates. 
D)  the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. 
E)  the Conservatives and the Libertarians.

Question 13

As the colonies transformed themselves into sovereign states,republican sentiment was so strong in many of them that the _____ became all-powerful.

Accepted Answer

A)  legislatures 
B)  courts 
C)  executive branches 
D)  national government 
E)  bureaucracies 
A)  legislatures 
B)  courts 
C)  executive branches 
D)  national government 
E)  bureaucracies

Question 14

After the British victory in the Seven Years' War:

Accepted Answer

A)  the relationship between the colonists and the British greatly improved. 
B)  the British government began imposing taxes on colonists and expanded control over colonial trade. 
C)  the colonists began to enjoy more independence from British control. 
D)  the colonists convened for the First Continental Congress to discuss an alliance with the French. 
E)  the colonists strategized for a war against the Native Americans. 
A)  the relationship between the colonists and the British greatly improved. 
B)  the British government began imposing taxes on colonists and expanded control over colonial trade. 
C)  the colonists began to enjoy more independence from British control. 
D)  the colonists convened for the First Continental Congress to discuss an alliance with the French. 
E)  the colonists strategized for a war against the Native Americans.

Question 15

Which of the following is true of the Mayflower Compact?

Accepted Answer

A)  It served as a draft of America's first national constitution. 
B)  It declared British colonists' independence from their home country. 
C)  It was a petition to the British Crown to remove taxation. 
D)  It was essentially a bill of rights which became the first ten amendments to the Constitution. 
E)  It was written by the Pilgrims who were a group of Protestants. 
A)  It served as a draft of America's first national constitution. 
B)  It declared British colonists' independence from their home country. 
C)  It was a petition to the British Crown to remove taxation. 
D)  It was essentially a bill of rights which became the first ten amendments to the Constitution. 
E)  It was written by the Pilgrims who were a group of Protestants.

Question 16

The _________ consists of the first ten amendments to the U.S.Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) Bill of Rights 
B) Mayflower Compact 
C) Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges 
D) Declaration of Independence 
A) Bill of Rights 
B) Mayflower Compact 
C) Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges 
D) Declaration of Independence

Question 17

Following Paine's publication of Common Sense,the Second Continental Congress:

Accepted Answer

A)  suggested that all colonies establish state governments separate from Britain. 
B)  voted for free trade at all American ports with all countries including Britain. 
C)  immediately accepted the resolution for independence proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. 
D)  appointed Paine as the commander in chief of its army. 
E)  was convened to declare war on Britain. 
A)  suggested that all colonies establish state governments separate from Britain. 
B)  voted for free trade at all American ports with all countries including Britain. 
C)  immediately accepted the resolution for independence proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. 
D)  appointed Paine as the commander in chief of its army. 
E)  was convened to declare war on Britain.

Question 18

At the Constitutional Convention,in exchange for a ban on export taxes,the South agreed to let Congress have the power to _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  impose import taxes 
B)  regulate voting rights 
C)  appoint an independent executive 
D)  ban slavery 
E)  regulate interstate commerce 
A)  impose import taxes 
B)  regulate voting rights 
C)  appoint an independent executive 
D)  ban slavery 
E)  regulate interstate commerce

Question 19

Kayla,a government rehabilitation center counsellor,refused to pay a fine for violating a traffic rule.She claimed that she had the right to drive as she pleased because she worked for the government.However,according to the principle of _____,Kayla was obligated to pay the fine.

Accepted Answer

A)  representative government 
B)  federalism 
C)  liberty 
D)  separation of powers 
E)  rule of law 
A)  representative government 
B)  federalism 
C)  liberty 
D)  separation of powers 
E)  rule of law

Question 20

The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention:

Accepted Answer

A)  guaranteed freedom of speech to Americans of all races. 
B)  resolved the small-state and large-state controversy by giving something to both sides. 
C)  resolved the issue of slavery. 
D)  guaranteed land for Native Americans. 
E)  provided guidelines for the separation of powers among the government's branches. 
A)  guaranteed freedom of speech to Americans of all races. 
B)  resolved the small-state and large-state controversy by giving something to both sides. 
C)  resolved the issue of slavery. 
D)  guaranteed land for Native Americans. 
E)  provided guidelines for the separation of powers among the government's branches.

Discuss the necessity and significance of the Mayflower Compact.

The Madisonian Model of government is based on the principle of _____.

Summarize the Constitution's principles of limited government and federalism.

Which of the following proposals was part of the Virginia Plan?

Within a year of the signing of the _____,the new nation was suffering from a serious economic depression.

The Mayflower Compact is the first ten amendments to the U.S.Constitution that lists the freedoms-such as the freedoms of speech,press,and religion-that a citizen enjoys and that cannot be infringed on by the government.

In the context of the issues regarding slave importation,which of the following statements is true about the settlement that was reached at the Constitutional Convention?

Describe the four possible ways for an amendment to be added to the Constitution.

All the amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by:

The principle of limited government in the U.S.constitution implicitly rests on the concept of popular sovereignty.

The colonists began using the word American to describe themselves:

The battle over the ratification of the Constitution was fought chiefly by two opposing groups,_____.

As the colonies transformed themselves into sovereign states,republican sentiment was so strong in many of them that the _____ became all-powerful.

After the British victory in the Seven Years' War:

Which of the following is true of the Mayflower Compact?

The _________ consists of the first ten amendments to the U.S.Constitution.

Following Paine's publication of Common Sense,the Second Continental Congress:

At the Constitutional Convention,in exchange for a ban on export taxes,the South agreed to let Congress have the power to _____.

Kayla,a government rehabilitation center counsellor,refused to pay a fine for violating a traffic rule.She claimed that she had the right to drive as she pleased because she worked for the government.However,according to the principle of _____,Kayla was obligated to pay the fine.

The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention:

America in the Twenty-First Century

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Public Opinion and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

Politics and the Media

The Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 2: The Constitution

Discuss the necessity and significance of the Mayflower Compact.

The Madisonian Model of government is based on the principle of _____.

Summarize the Constitution's principles of limited government and federalism.

Which of the following proposals was part of the Virginia Plan?

Within a year of the signing of the _____,the new nation was suffering from a serious economic depression.

The Mayflower Compact is the first ten amendments to the U.S.Constitution that lists the freedoms-such as the freedoms of speech,press,and religion-that a citizen enjoys and that cannot be infringed on by the government.

In the context of the issues regarding slave importation,which of the following statements is true about the settlement that was reached at the Constitutional Convention?

Describe the four possible ways for an amendment to be added to the Constitution.

All the amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by:

The principle of limited government in the U.S.constitution implicitly rests on the concept of popular sovereignty.

The colonists began using the word American to describe themselves:

The battle over the ratification of the Constitution was fought chiefly by two opposing groups,_____.

As the colonies transformed themselves into sovereign states,republican sentiment was so strong in many of them that the _____ became all-powerful.

After the British victory in the Seven Years' War:

Which of the following is true of the Mayflower Compact?

The _________ consists of the first ten amendments to the U.S.Constitution.

Following Paine's publication of Common Sense,the Second Continental Congress:

At the Constitutional Convention,in exchange for a ban on export taxes,the South agreed to let Congress have the power to _____.

Kayla,a government rehabilitation center counsellor,refused to pay a fine for violating a traffic rule.She claimed that she had the right to drive as she pleased because she worked for the government.However,according to the principle of _____,Kayla was obligated to pay the fine.

The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention:

America in the Twenty-First Century

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Public Opinion and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

Politics and the Media

The Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters