Question 1

The essential dilemma of a limited government raised by the ratification debates is:

Accepted Answer

A)  a government too weak to do harm also cannot do good 
B)  power sharing is inherently unstable and too often violent 
C)  a government of expressed powers will slip into an oligarchy 
D)  government may promote civil virtue only at the expense of national power 
E)  a government of limited powers will be unable to protect national security 
A)  a government too weak to do harm also cannot do good 
B)  power sharing is inherently unstable and too often violent 
C)  a government of expressed powers will slip into an oligarchy 
D)  government may promote civil virtue only at the expense of national power 
E)  a government of limited powers will be unable to protect national security

Question 2

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 3

Colonial protesters of the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act rallied around what famous political slogan?

Accepted Answer

A)  "No taxation without representation" 
B)  "Give me liberty or give me death" 
C)  "Remember the Alamo" 
D)  "A house divided against itself cannot stand" 
E)  "Don't tread on me" 
A)  "No taxation without representation" 
B)  "Give me liberty or give me death" 
C)  "Remember the Alamo" 
D)  "A house divided against itself cannot stand" 
E)  "Don't tread on me"

Question 4

The Constitution is very difficult to change by amendment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What led the British to raise taxes on the American colonists during the 1760s?

Accepted Answer

A)  the French and Indian Wars 
B)  the cost of war against Napoleon in Europe 
C)  the expenses incurred in colonizing South Africa 
D)  the extensive roads and canals built by the British in North America 
E)  the desire to penalize the colonists for their actions during the Boston Tea Party 
A)  the French and Indian Wars 
B)  the cost of war against Napoleon in Europe 
C)  the expenses incurred in colonizing South Africa 
D)  the extensive roads and canals built by the British in North America 
E)  the desire to penalize the colonists for their actions during the Boston Tea Party

Question 6

During the Philadelphia Convention,the New Jersey Plan was supported by:

Accepted Answer

A)  less-populous states 
B)  slaveholding states 
C)  free states 
D)  urban states 
E)  southern states 
A)  less-populous states 
B)  slaveholding states 
C)  free states 
D)  urban states 
E)  southern states

Question 7

The framers' theory of separation of powers was influenced by Montesquieu's The Spirit of Laws.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Who defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre?

Accepted Answer

A)  Thomas Jefferson 
B)  Samuel Adams 
C)  John Adams 
D)  John Hancock 
E)  George Washington 
A)  Thomas Jefferson 
B)  Samuel Adams 
C)  John Adams 
D)  John Hancock 
E)  George Washington

Question 9

Brutus and Federal Farmer are two pseudonyms used by the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Federalists 
B)  Antifederalists 
C)  Publius 
D)  Monarchists 
E)  Constitutionalists 
A)  Federalists 
B)  Antifederalists 
C)  Publius 
D)  Monarchists 
E)  Constitutionalists

Question 10

The system of shared powers,divided between a central government and the states,is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  the electoral college 
B)  federalism 
C)  statism 
D)  checks and balances 
E)  the separation of powers 
A)  the electoral college 
B)  federalism 
C)  statism 
D)  checks and balances 
E)  the separation of powers

Question 11

The Great Compromise led to the:

Accepted Answer

A)  legalization of slavery 
B)  creation of a bicameral Congress 
C)  creation of the Supreme Court 
D)  peaceful conclusion of Shays' Rebellion 
E)  abolition of the slave trade 
A)  legalization of slavery 
B)  creation of a bicameral Congress 
C)  creation of the Supreme Court 
D)  peaceful conclusion of Shays' Rebellion 
E)  abolition of the slave trade

Question 12

To amend the Constitution requires a ______ vote by Congress,and approval by ______ of the states.

Accepted Answer

A)  majority; a majority 
B)  two-thirds; three-fourths 
C)  three-fourths; a majority 
D)  majority; two-thirds 
E)  three-fourths; three-fourths 
A)  majority; a majority 
B)  two-thirds; three-fourths 
C)  three-fourths; a majority 
D)  majority; two-thirds 
E)  three-fourths; three-fourths

Question 13

Why was the decision to assign jurisdiction over controversies between citizens of different states to the Supreme Court significant?

Accepted Answer

A)  It meant that the federal judiciary, rather than the state courts, would ultimately become the primary venue for resolving disputes. 
B)  It meant that the state courts, rather than the federal judiciary, would ultimately become the primary venue for resolving disputes. 
C)  It meant that courts at both the state and federal level would become irrelevant to the operating of the American political system. 
D)  It meant that the federal courts would not be allowed to use the power of judicial review on cases involving economic disputes. 
E)  It meant that the state courts would be allowed to use the power of judicial review on cases involving economic disputes. 
A)  It meant that the federal judiciary, rather than the state courts, would ultimately become the primary venue for resolving disputes. 
B)  It meant that the state courts, rather than the federal judiciary, would ultimately become the primary venue for resolving disputes. 
C)  It meant that courts at both the state and federal level would become irrelevant to the operating of the American political system. 
D)  It meant that the federal courts would not be allowed to use the power of judicial review on cases involving economic disputes. 
E)  It meant that the state courts would be allowed to use the power of judicial review on cases involving economic disputes.

Question 14

The Virginia Plan would have created a federal legislature in which representation was based solely on the population of each state.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The Three-fifths Compromise:

Accepted Answer

A)  determined that three out of every five slaves would be counted for purposes of representation and taxation 
B)  determined the ratio between free states and slave states 
C)  created a bicameral legislature 
D)  declared that the states would pay three-fifths of the Revolutionary War debt and the federal government would pay the rest 
E)  determined that all American citizens would pay three-fifths of their income to the federal government in taxes every year 
A)  determined that three out of every five slaves would be counted for purposes of representation and taxation 
B)  determined the ratio between free states and slave states 
C)  created a bicameral legislature 
D)  declared that the states would pay three-fifths of the Revolutionary War debt and the federal government would pay the rest 
E)  determined that all American citizens would pay three-fifths of their income to the federal government in taxes every year

Question 16

Which of the following statements about the House and the Senate is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Senate has the power to ratify treaties while the House does not. 
B)  The Senate has the power to approve presidential appointments while the House does not. 
C)  The House has the power to overturn a president's veto while the Senate does not. 
D)  The House has the power to originate revenue bills while the Senate does not. 
E)  Members of the House have two-year terms, while senators have six-year terms. 
A)  The Senate has the power to ratify treaties while the House does not. 
B)  The Senate has the power to approve presidential appointments while the House does not. 
C)  The House has the power to overturn a president's veto while the Senate does not. 
D)  The House has the power to originate revenue bills while the Senate does not. 
E)  Members of the House have two-year terms, while senators have six-year terms.

Question 17

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 18

The Constitution gives Congress the power to recognize other nations,and to accept ambassadors from foreign countries.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

As a constitution,the Articles of Confederation were concerned primarily with:

Accepted Answer

A)  creating a national government that had significant power and authority 
B)  creating a federal form of government 
C)  creating a form of government in which the states were largely subservient to the national government 
D)  limiting the powers of the central government 
E)  creating a strong and unified national armed forces 
A)  creating a national government that had significant power and authority 
B)  creating a federal form of government 
C)  creating a form of government in which the states were largely subservient to the national government 
D)  limiting the powers of the central government 
E)  creating a strong and unified national armed forces

Question 20

Whose "political gospel" inspired the framers to adopt the concept of the separation of powers?

Accepted Answer

A)  Aristotle 
B)  Voltaire 
C)  Machiavelli 
D)  Montesquieu 
E)  Hobbes 
A)  Aristotle 
B)  Voltaire 
C)  Machiavelli 
D)  Montesquieu 
E)  Hobbes

The essential dilemma of a limited government raised by the ratification debates is:

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

Colonial protesters of the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act rallied around what famous political slogan?

The Constitution is very difficult to change by amendment.

What led the British to raise taxes on the American colonists during the 1760s?

During the Philadelphia Convention,the New Jersey Plan was supported by:

The framers' theory of separation of powers was influenced by Montesquieu's The Spirit of Laws.

Who defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre?

Brutus and Federal Farmer are two pseudonyms used by the:

The system of shared powers,divided between a central government and the states,is called:

The Great Compromise led to the:

To amend the Constitution requires a vote by Congress,and approval by of the states.

Why was the decision to assign jurisdiction over controversies between citizens of different states to the Supreme Court significant?

The Virginia Plan would have created a federal legislature in which representation was based solely on the population of each state.

The Three-fifths Compromise:

Which of the following statements about the House and the Senate is FALSE?

What is the term length of a federal judge?

The Constitution gives Congress the power to recognize other nations,and to accept ambassadors from foreign countries.

As a constitution,the Articles of Confederation were concerned primarily with:

Whose "political gospel" inspired the framers to adopt the concept of the separation of powers?

Introduction: The Citizen and the Government

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Parties,Participation,and Elections

Interest Groups

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy

The Federal Courts

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 2: The Founding and the Constitution

The essential dilemma of a limited government raised by the ratification debates is:

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

Colonial protesters of the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act rallied around what famous political slogan?

The Constitution is very difficult to change by amendment.

What led the British to raise taxes on the American colonists during the 1760s?

During the Philadelphia Convention,the New Jersey Plan was supported by:

The framers' theory of separation of powers was influenced by Montesquieu's The Spirit of Laws.

Who defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre?

Brutus and Federal Farmer are two pseudonyms used by the:

The system of shared powers,divided between a central government and the states,is called:

The Great Compromise led to the:

To amend the Constitution requires a ______ vote by Congress,and approval by ______ of the states.

Why was the decision to assign jurisdiction over controversies between citizens of different states to the Supreme Court significant?

The Virginia Plan would have created a federal legislature in which representation was based solely on the population of each state.

The Three-fifths Compromise:

Which of the following statements about the House and the Senate is FALSE?

What is the term length of a federal judge?

The Constitution gives Congress the power to recognize other nations,and to accept ambassadors from foreign countries.

As a constitution,the Articles of Confederation were concerned primarily with:

Whose "political gospel" inspired the framers to adopt the concept of the separation of powers?

Introduction: The Citizen and the Government

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Parties,Participation,and Elections

Interest Groups

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy

The Federal Courts

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

To amend the Constitution requires a vote by Congress,and approval by of the states.