Question 1

Until the mid-1700s the 13 colonies often had diverse histories and economies, which provided

Accepted Answer

A)  a strong national unity built upon diversity. 
B)  a unique political environment in which one state's weaknesses were supported by the strengths of another state. 
C)  an environment that was free of jealousies between states. 
D)  little incentive for them to join together to meet shared goals. 
E)  common ground upon which to build consensus.

Question 2

The wording the Declaration of Independence drew heavily upon John Locke's theories of

Accepted Answer

A)  natural rights and social contract. 
B)  royal prerogative. 
C)  anarchy and self-actualization. 
D)  religion as a counterweight to reason. 
E)  self-fulfillment.

Question 3

The Virginia Plan provided for

Accepted Answer

A)  a bicameral legislature with one house elected by the people and a second house selected by the first house. 
B)  a unicameral legislature with the members selected by each state legislature. 
C)  a unicameral legislature elected by the people. 
D)  a bicameral legislature elected by the people. 
E)  a bicameral legislature with one house elected by the people and the second house chosen by state legislatures.

Question 4

A very important aspect of the American constitutional arrangement, which distributes powers between two levels of government (state and federal), is called

Accepted Answer

A)  sovereignty. 
B)  enumeration. 
C)  ratification. 
D)  compromise. 
E)  federalism.

Question 5

With the original Constitution completed on September 17, 1787, how many states were needed to ratify the new governmental structure in order for it to become operative?

Accepted Answer

A)  Zero 
B)  Three 
C)  Six 
D)  Nine 
E)  Thirteen

Question 6

Prior to creation of our current constitutional structure in the 1770s, the 13 colonial governments

Accepted Answer

A)  were recognized as independent, sovereign entities by other world powers. 
B)  mirrored those of England during the same period, including an elected House of Commons. 
C)  had governors who were elected by the qualified voters. 
D)  were completely subordinate to a powerful central government. 
E)  did not exist.

Question 7

Hamilton expressed the view that the executive must be a single person in order to realize "energy," which "is a leading character of good government." Analyze the experience of the United States under the Articles of Confederation to show whether or not events supported Hamilton's position.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hamilton expressed the view that the executive...

Question 8

The Great Compromise provided for

Accepted Answer

A)  a bicameral legislature with one house elected by the people and a second house selected by the first. 
B)  a unicameral legislature with the members selected by each state legislature. 
C)  a unicameral legislature elected by the people. 
D)  a bicameral legislature elected by the people. 
E)  a bicameral legislature with one house elected by the people and the second house chosen by state legislatures.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Federalism divides powers between two levels of government: the state (that deals with local concerns) and the federal government (that deals with national concerns). 
B)  The Framers of the Constitution drafted the Constitution having experienced abuse of government power. 
C)  The Constitution was written with awareness that competing interests would have to compromise to pass desired programs. 
D)  The Framer's detailed list of enumerated powers limits the exercise of power by the national government to those powers. 
E)  Some of the Framers believed that the Constitution should be flexible to meet the varying challenges time would create.

Question 10

Following organized opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765 England's parliament repealed the act but immediately enacted the Declaratory Act, which

Accepted Answer

A)  created a democracy in England and abolished the monarchy. 
B)  recognized the sovereignty and self-government of the American colonies. 
C)  formed the colonies into a free nation. 
D)  declared that the Parliament was now fully subordinate to the king. 
E)  asserted that the king and Parliament had "full power and authority" in the colonies.

Question 11

Unlike our current constitution, the Articles of Confederation could be amended

Accepted Answer

A)  only with the unanimous consent of the states. 
B)  by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the state legislatures. 
C)  only after abolishing the original document and rewriting it. 
D)  at any time with assent of at least two state legislatures. 
E)  only upon the collapse of the government.

Question 12

Hamilton argues that the executive must be a single person to achieve "energy," which is a "leading character in the definition of good government" in

Accepted Answer

A)  Federalist No. 15. 
B)  Federalist No. 46. 
C)  Federalist No. 51. 
D)  Federalist No. 70. 
E)  Federalist No. 78.

Question 13

The Great Compromise, (or the Connecticut Compromise) of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in essence saved the convention and created a new federal government. This compromise created a two-chamber legislature with

Accepted Answer

A)  equal representation in both chambers from each state. 
B)  representation in both chambers determined by population of the state. 
C)  representation in one chamber determined by population of the state and in the other chamber by equal representation. 
D)  one chamber that had effective powers and the second chamber that acted as a figurehead for nobility. 
E)  each state determining the number of representatives that it will send.

Question 14

On behalf of the Continental Congress, the actual wording of the Declaration of Independence was written by

Accepted Answer

A)  Thomas Jefferson. 
B)  John Adams. 
C)  Benjamin Franklin. 
D)  George Washington. 
E)  King George III.

Question 15

The concept of strict construction requires that the Constitution

Accepted Answer

A)  may be changed by the formal amendment process and not by discretionary Congressional actions or judicial rulings. 
B)  remain a flexible and fluid document that changes with the times. 
C)  may be modified only by rulings of the Supreme Court. 
D)  remain true to the intent of the writers of the Constitution and that it remain rigid and without any amendments. 
E)  should be modified as popular opinion changes.

Question 16

The Constitution's specific provision about slavery

Accepted Answer

A)  provided for gradual emancipation. 
B)  provided for counting slaves equally for apportioning taxes among the states. 
C)  provided that Congress could not ban slave importation before 1807. 
D)  Options A, B, and C are true. 
E)  None of the above is true.

Question 17

Hamilton argues that the judiciary is the weakest branch of the government in

Accepted Answer