Question 1

The principle of giving each branch of government its own constituency is what Montesquieu calls a

Accepted Answer

A)  tyranny. 
B)  democracy. 
C)  mixed regime. 
D)  republic. 
E)  system of federalism. 
A)  tyranny. 
B)  democracy. 
C)  mixed regime. 
D)  republic. 
E)  system of federalism.

Question 2

How many proposed amendments to the Constitution have been formally offered to Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  fewer than 50 
B)  fewer than 100 
C)  between 100 and 200 
D)  between 1,000 and 1,500 
E)  over 11,000 
A)  fewer than 50 
B)  fewer than 100 
C)  between 100 and 200 
D)  between 1,000 and 1,500 
E)  over 11,000

Question 3

The Boston Tea Party started as a reaction to the British imposing an embargo of tea and coffee trade on the colonies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The Stamp Act was a

Accepted Answer

A)  tax on commerce. 
B)  prohibition on all unofficial mail. 
C)  law permitting the Crown to open mail. 
D)  prohibition on alcohol. 
E)  tax on sugar, molasses, and other commodities. 
A)  tax on commerce. 
B)  prohibition on all unofficial mail. 
C)  law permitting the Crown to open mail. 
D)  prohibition on alcohol. 
E)  tax on sugar, molasses, and other commodities.

Question 5

Compared with the Articles of Confederation, federalism under the Constitution has led to

Accepted Answer

A)  greater centralization of power. 
B)  increased state autonomy. 
C)  the establishment of unitary government. 
D)  more local autonomy, at the expense of the states. 
E)  a weaker national military. 
A)  greater centralization of power. 
B)  increased state autonomy. 
C)  the establishment of unitary government. 
D)  more local autonomy, at the expense of the states. 
E)  a weaker national military.

Question 6

Shays's Rebellion was an attempt to

Accepted Answer

A)  prevent the state of Massachusetts from foreclosing on the lands of debt-ridden farmers. 
B)  invade New England by Loyalists from Canada. 
C)  overthrow the federal government under the Articles of Confederation. 
D)  bring a Georgian slave revolt to Virginia. 
E)  force the British government to rescind the Tea Act. 
A)  prevent the state of Massachusetts from foreclosing on the lands of debt-ridden farmers. 
B)  invade New England by Loyalists from Canada. 
C)  overthrow the federal government under the Articles of Confederation. 
D)  bring a Georgian slave revolt to Virginia. 
E)  force the British government to rescind the Tea Act.

Question 7

The decision to give the national government control over commerce and finance was motivated primarily by the framers' desire to

Accepted Answer

A)  end slavery in the United States. 
B)  eliminate state and local governments. 
C)  promote economic development and protect property from radical state legislatures. 
D)  build international alliances. 
E)  guarantee economic equality for all citizens. 
A)  end slavery in the United States. 
B)  eliminate state and local governments. 
C)  promote economic development and protect property from radical state legislatures. 
D)  build international alliances. 
E)  guarantee economic equality for all citizens.

Question 8

A conference held to analyze perceived flaws in the Articles of Confederation was called the

Accepted Answer

A)  Annapolis Convention. 
B)  New York Delegation. 
C)  Boston Massacre. 
D)  Philadelphia Story. 
E)  Shays's Rebellion. 
A)  Annapolis Convention. 
B)  New York Delegation. 
C)  Boston Massacre. 
D)  Philadelphia Story. 
E)  Shays's Rebellion.

Question 9

Which of the following was a way the framers tried to make the Senate a check against excessive democracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Senate has staggered terms of office. 
B)  Senators have shorter terms than members of the House of Representatives. 
C)  Senators were directly elected by the people. 
D)  Senators are the only officials immune from impeachment. 
E)  Only the Senate has the power to create revenue bills. 
A)  The Senate has staggered terms of office. 
B)  Senators have shorter terms than members of the House of Representatives. 
C)  Senators were directly elected by the people. 
D)  Senators are the only officials immune from impeachment. 
E)  Only the Senate has the power to create revenue bills.

Question 10

Shays's Rebellion was significant because it

Accepted Answer

A)  convinced many observers that the government of the Confederation had become dangerously inefficient and indecisive. 
B)  led to the admission of Vermont into the Union. 
C)  led to the abolition of slavery. 
D)  convinced Congress to approve the Louisiana Purchase. 
E)  led to the start of the Civil War. 
A)  convinced many observers that the government of the Confederation had become dangerously inefficient and indecisive. 
B)  led to the admission of Vermont into the Union. 
C)  led to the abolition of slavery. 
D)  convinced Congress to approve the Louisiana Purchase. 
E)  led to the start of the Civil War.

Question 11

Which was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rhode Island 
B)  Massachusetts 
C)  Virginia 
D)  Connecticut 
E)  New York 
A)  Rhode Island 
B)  Massachusetts 
C)  Virginia 
D)  Connecticut 
E)  New York

Question 12

What is the term length of a federal judge?

Accepted Answer

A)  two years 
B)  four years 
C)  six years 
D)  ten years 
E)  barring impeachment, life 
A)  two years 
B)  four years 
C)  six years 
D)  ten years 
E)  barring impeachment, life

Question 13

Judicial review is the power of

Accepted Answer

A)  the courts to decide on the constitutionality of actions taken by the other branches of government. 
B)  Congress to review the decisions of the federal courts. 
C)  the president to appoint judges to the federal courts. 
D)  the states to review the constitutionality of federal actions and laws. 
E)  the courts to review and edit pieces of legislation before they are voted on in Congress. 
A)  the courts to decide on the constitutionality of actions taken by the other branches of government. 
B)  Congress to review the decisions of the federal courts. 
C)  the president to appoint judges to the federal courts. 
D)  the states to review the constitutionality of federal actions and laws. 
E)  the courts to review and edit pieces of legislation before they are voted on in Congress.

Question 14

The Federalists believed that the most apparent source of tyranny was

Accepted Answer

A)  the king of Great Britain. 
B)  the popular majority. 
C)  the northern merchants. 
D)  George Washington. 
E)  the landowning elite. 
A)  the king of Great Britain. 
B)  the popular majority. 
C)  the northern merchants. 
D)  George Washington. 
E)  the landowning elite.

Question 15

The Boston Tea Party resulted in all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  the closure of Boston Harbor by the British. 
B)  the restrictions of colonists' movement to the west. 
C)  a change in colonial government. 
D)  the Boston Massacre. 
E)  the removal of accused persons to Britain for trial. 
A)  the closure of Boston Harbor by the British. 
B)  the restrictions of colonists' movement to the west. 
C)  a change in colonial government. 
D)  the Boston Massacre. 
E)  the removal of accused persons to Britain for trial.

Question 16

On the subject of representation, Antifederalists wanted

Accepted Answer

A)  representative bodies that resembled those represented to the highest degree. 
B)  representatives to exercise independent judgment and wisdom. 
C)  representatives who would reflect commercial interests. 
D)  as few representatives as possible. 
E)  representatives who were significantly more educated and wealthier than the majority of the public. 
A)  representative bodies that resembled those represented to the highest degree. 
B)  representatives to exercise independent judgment and wisdom. 
C)  representatives who would reflect commercial interests. 
D)  as few representatives as possible. 
E)  representatives who were significantly more educated and wealthier than the majority of the public.

Question 17

Why was the Declaration of Independence a remarkable political statement for its time?

Accepted Answer

A)  It convinced southern states to abolish slavery. 
B)  It persuaded the British government to give back all of the tax revenue it collected from the colonies. 
C)  It ended the Revolutionary War by offering a compromise with the British government. 
D)  It helped unify colonial groups that were divided along economic, regional, and philosophical lines by identifying shared problems, grievances, and principles. 
E)  It changed the distribution of power between the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. 
A)  It convinced southern states to abolish slavery. 
B)  It persuaded the British government to give back all of the tax revenue it collected from the colonies. 
C)  It ended the Revolutionary War by offering a compromise with the British government. 
D)  It helped unify colonial groups that were divided along economic, regional, and philosophical lines by identifying shared problems, grievances, and principles. 
E)  It changed the distribution of power between the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

Question 18

Who orchestrated the Boston Tea Party?

Accepted Answer

A)  John Adams 
B)  Samuel Adams 
C)  Samuel Lipton 
D)  Alexander Hamilton 
E)  Paul Revere 
A)  John Adams 
B)  Samuel Adams 
C)  Samuel Lipton 
D)  Alexander Hamilton 
E)  Paul Revere

Question 19

All of the following are constitutional powers of the president except the power to

Accepted Answer

A)  officially recognize other nations. 
B)  grant pardons. 
C)  veto bills. 
D)  regulate commerce between the states. 
E)  convene Congress in special session. 
A)  officially recognize other nations. 
B)  grant pardons. 
C)  veto bills. 
D)  regulate commerce between the states. 
E)  convene Congress in special session.

Question 20

Describe some of the problems under the Articles of Confederation that led to the drafting of a new constitution. Why were the Articles deemed inadequate for governing the United States during peacetime? What crises, real or potential, did many political actors fear?

Accepted Answer

Some of the problems under the Articles

Exam 2: The Founding and the Constitution

The principle of giving each branch of government its own constituency is what Montesquieu calls a

How many proposed amendments to the Constitution have been formally offered to Congress?

The Boston Tea Party started as a reaction to the British imposing an embargo of tea and coffee trade on the colonies.

The Stamp Act was a

Compared with the Articles of Confederation, federalism under the Constitution has led to

Shays's Rebellion was an attempt to

The decision to give the national government control over commerce and finance was motivated primarily by the framers' desire to

A conference held to analyze perceived flaws in the Articles of Confederation was called the

Which of the following was a way the framers tried to make the Senate a check against excessive democracy?

Shays's Rebellion was significant because it

Which was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention?

What is the term length of a federal judge?

Judicial review is the power of

The Federalists believed that the most apparent source of tyranny was

The Boston Tea Party resulted in all of the following except

On the subject of representation, Antifederalists wanted

Why was the Declaration of Independence a remarkable political statement for its time?

Who orchestrated the Boston Tea Party?

All of the following are constitutional powers of the president except the power to

Describe some of the problems under the Articles of Confederation that led to the drafting of a new constitution. Why were the Articles deemed inadequate for governing the United States during peacetime? What crises, real or potential, did many political actors fear?

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