Deck 4: Federal Legislative Powers

Question 1

Government cannot impose taxes with a regulatory purpose.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Income tax requirements cannot deprive a person of his or her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The federal government can tax state activities

A)under any circumstance because the federal government is supreme.
B)when a state is involved in a nongovernmental activity, such as bottling water.
C)never, because of the doctrine of sovereign immunity.
D)never, because of the doctrine of federalism.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Because of Congress's war powers, the president must obtain the prior consent of
Congress before committing troops to foreign soil.

Question 5

The Necessary and Proper Clause is an important source of congressional power.

Question 6

The federal government has the power to spend for the "general welfare."

Question 7

The primary purpose of the power to tax is to be able to raise revenue necessary to run the government.

Question 8

Congress has used the Interstate Commerce Clause to enact legislation affecting

A)civil rights.
B)the environment.
C)communication including the Internet.
D)All of the above.

Question 9

Which of the following would not be the proper subject of a congressional investigation?

A)an allegation of domestic abuse lodged against a federal judge
B)qualifications of candidates for government appointments
C)conduct of the president
D)proposed legislation

Question 10

Congress can delegate its responsibilities

A)to the president, but to no one else.
B)to the president or an administrative agency as long as Congress establishes a principle to which the president or agency is directed to conform.
C)to the courts.
D)whenever it wants.

Question 11

At one time, the Supreme Court held that the income tax was a direct tax, and because it was not in proportion to state population, it was unconstitutional.

Question 12

The power to impose an income tax is found in

A)Article 1 §8.
B)Article 1 §9.
C)the Sixteenth Amendment.
D)Supreme Court decisions.

Question 13

The Supreme Court has found that a law making it a crime to possess a gun near a school is part of Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce.

Question 14

Under the original articles of the Constitution, Congress was not given the power to enact which type of tax?

A)duty
B)a direct tax that was not based on state population
C)an excise tax
D)an impost tax

Question 15

Among the enumerated powers of Congress is the power to

A)tax and borrow money.
B)regulate immigration.
C)declare war.
D)All of the above.

Question 16

According to the Supreme Court, the power to regulate interstate commerce did not include

A)the power to regulate all child pornography on the Internet through the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996.
B)the power to regulate racial discrimination by businesses involved in interstate commerce.
C)the power to regulate telephone service under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
D)the power to pass a law making it a crime for a parent to fail to pay child support under certain situations.

Question 17

Using its power to regulate money, which of the following can Congress not do?

A)punish counterfeiting
B)establish a national bank
C)coin money
D)Congress can do all of the above.

Question 18

The lawmaking power of Congress is found exclusively in Article 1, section 8 of the
Constitution.

Question 19

Under the Constitution, the federal government is given the power to regulate

A)all matters dealing with foreign relations.
B)all matters of domestic concern.
C)Both a and b.
D)Neither a nor b.

Question 20

A major problem with the Articles of Confederation was the inability of the national government to tax.