Deck 2: The Revolution and the Constitution

Question 1

Which one of these uprisings convinced Americans to support a stronger national government?

A) Boston Massacre
B) Shays's Rebellion
C) Boston Tea Party
D) The Second Constitutional Convention

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The written constitution was first developed in ___.

A) the writings of John Locke
B) Scotland
C) the United States
D) France

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The assignment of legislative, executive, and judicial powers to different institutions is an example of ___.

A) Federalism
B) Checks and Balances
C) Bicameralism
D) Separation of Powers

Answer 3

D

Question 4

What was the most important consequence of the Seven Years War (aka the French and Indian War) with respect to American political development?

A) It increased the French as a threat to the British colonies in North America
B) It ended the French as a threat to the British colonies in North America.
C) It instantiated Spain as a threat to the British colonies in North America.
D) It indebted the French to American financiers.

Question 5

Did the decision to declare independence from Great Britain happen immediately or did it develop gradually?

A) Gradually
B) Immediately
C) Combination of the two
D) None of the above

Question 6

During the "critical period," what major events occurred that spurred the calling of the Constitutional Convention?

A) The Revolutionary War and Northwest Ordinance
B) The ratification of the Articles of Confederation and the Battle of Yorktown
C) The Annapolis Convention and Shays's Rebellion
D) None of the above

Question 7

From what class of society did the delegates at the Constitutional Convention come and was this class representative of the average American?

A) Social, economic, and political elites who were representative of the average American
B) Social, economic, and political elites who were not representative of the average American
C) Social, economic, and political masses who were representative of the average American
D) Social, economic, but not political elites who were not representative of the average American

Question 8

In what way does a representative government differ from a direct democracy?

A) It doesn't
B) In a representative government the people rule directly
C) In a representative government the people elect representative(s) to conduct the business of government
D) In a representative government the people elect a tyrant to rule on their behalf during times of extended crisis

Question 9

What does bicameralism mean?

A) The executive branch will exist in a plural form.
B) The legislative branch will exist in a dual chamber form.
C) The judicial branch will exist under the conditions of "dual sovereignty."
D) The structure of the government will be conditioned by "dual federalism."

Question 10

What was intent of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution?

A) To declare the Constitution an act of the sovereign people (rather than of sovereign states) and to announce the goals of the proposed government
B) To declare the Constitution an act of sovereign states (rather than the sovereign people) and to announce the goals of the proposed government
C) To declare the Constitution an act of the sovereign people (rather than of sovereign states) and to announce the means that the government will use for realizing its goals
D) To declare the Constitution an act of sovereign states (rather than the sovereign people) and to announce the means that the government will use for realizing its goals

Question 11

Which proposed plan as a model for the Constitution called for a unicameral legislature with equality of representation?

A) The Virginia Plan
B) The New Jersey plan
C) The Connecticut plan
D) None of the above

Question 12

In the Electoral College, the formula contained in the Constitution states that each state's number of electors is equivalent to ___.

A) the proportion of political party affiliation of the state's members in both houses of Congress to ensure proportional representation
B) the number of House and Senate seats in Congress for that state to maintain proportional representation
C) the number of members of the state's Supreme Court to ensure an absolute indirect representation among the electors
D) the number only of Senate seats in Congress for that state to assure equal representation

Question 13

In what sense did the original Bill of Rights protect rights and liberties?

A) It protected individual rights and liberties from actions by the national government.
B) It protected state rights and liberties from the actions of the national government and other state governments.
C) It protected individual rights and liberties from actions taken by the state governments.
D) All of the above

Question 14

In the struggle to ratify the Constitution, how did the Federalists defend their argument that a Bill of Rights was unnecessary?

A) They didn't, inasmuch as they supported the immediate need for a Bill of Rights.
B) By using the "reserved powers theory," they said that powers not expressly granted to the national government by the federal Constitution would be retained by the people and the states.
C) By using the "reserved powers theory," that said that powers not given to the national government would be left in reserve for future consideration.
D) By using "social contract theory," that said that popular agreement was necessary for the constitution of a government.

Question 15

Which of these statements accurately describes the proposal and ratification of the Bill of Rights?

A) It was proposed by the first Federal Congress and ratified by the state legislatures in 1791
B) It was proposed with the original Constitution in 1787, but it was ratified separately (in 1789) according to the wishes of the Anti-Federalists.
C) It was proposed by the second Constitutional Convention in 1790 and approved by state ratification conventions in 1790-1
D) None of the above statements is accurate.

Question 16

In what context does the phrase "advice and consent" appear in the Constitution?

A) In the preamble, where it is declared that the U.S. government is a system of "rule according to the advice and consent of the people"
B) The requirement that the President may commit troops into combat "only with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives"
C) The requirement that the Congress "may declare war only with the advice and consent of the President"
D) None of the above

Question 17

Which of the following was NOT a provision or characteristic of the Virginia plan?

A) Based on popular sovereignty
B) Bicameralism
C) Strictly enumerated federal legislative powers
D) Broad federal judicial powers

Question 18

In a so-called "representative government," who conducts the business of government?

A) Representatives elected by the people
B) All citizens who are subjected to the laws passed by government
C) An unelected group or individual who claims to rule on behalf of the people
D) None of the above

Question 19

What is the "take care clause?"

A) The clause in Article I, section 10, of the Constitution that says Congress must "take care that its enumerated powers be not used in betrayal of the public trust"
B) The clause in Article II, section 1, of the Constitution that says the Supreme Court shall "take care that the Constitution and rule of law be upheld"
C) The clause in Article III, section 1, of the Constitution that says the president shall "take care to preserve the Constitution and security of the nation"
D) The clause in Article II, section 3, of the Constitution that says the president shall "take care that the laws be faithfully executed"

Question 20

In the struggle for ratification of the Constitution, which side opposed ratification?

A) The Federalists
B) The Anti-Federalists
C) The Democratic-Republicans
D) The Loyalists

Question 21

To which branch of government does the necessary and proper clause apply?

A) The Congress
B) The Presidency
C) The Supreme Court
D) All of the above

Question 22

Federalism is a constitutional arrangement whereby governmental powers are ___.

A) divided between national and international governments
B) strictly divided between national and lower levels of government
C) assigned to a national government, some are assigned to lower levels of government, and some are exercised concurrently by both levels of government
D) concentrated at the national level

Question 23

Which of the following is an institutional check on power that violates the pure principle of separation of powers?

A) Executive veto of legislative acts
B) Federalism
C) Bicameralism
D) None of the above

Question 24

What impact did Shays's Rebellion have on public opinion during the "Critical Period?"

A) It convinced many that the states required more power in order to check the power of the central government.
B) It convinced many that the U.S. Constitution was in need of amendment.
C) It convinced many that the United States was going to win independence in the Revolutionary War.
D) It convinced many that the states were unstable and that a stronger national government was needed.

Question 25

What is the Philadelphia or Federal Convention also referred to as?

A) The Annapolis Convention
B) The Constitutional Convention
C) The Continental Convention
D) The state Convention

Question 26

Why was the Annapolis Convention of 1786 held?

A) To discuss problems related to interstate commerce
B) To discuss problems arising out of foreign policy security dilemmas
C) To discuss problems arising out of state diplomatic relations with Indian tribes
D) To discuss reconciliation with the British Empire

Question 27

What was the Confederation Congress?

A) The national government created by the Constitution
B) The executive branch component of the national government during the Revolutionary War
C) The central government created by the Articles of Confederation
D) The central government established by the Confederate Constitution

Question 28

Which of the following statements accurately describes the process by which the Constitution was ratified?

A) The Constitution required approval from nine state conventions in order to be ratified and Massachusetts was the ninth state to approve.
B) The Constitution required approval from all thirteen state conventions in order to be ratified and Rhode Island was the thirteenth state to approve.
C) The Constitution required approval from ten state conventions in order to be ratified and New York was the tenth state to approve.
D) None of the above is accurate

Question 29

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the growth of democracy in the world over the past 180 years?

A) In 1900, about 10 percent of the world's countries were democratic; in 1975, just over 50 percent of countries were democratic; and in 2008, about 75 percent of countries were democratic.
B) In each period between 1820 and 1990, the vast majority of the world's countries were not democratic. In 2008, however, a sizeable majority of countries were democratic.
C) In each period prior to 1950, the vast majority of the world's countries were not democratic. From 1950 to 1975, the proportion of countries that were democratic increased to about 60 percent. Since then, however, the proportion of countries that were democratic has declined, and in 2008 it was around 45 percent.
D) None of the above

Question 30

Which of the following statements accurately delineates the branches of government established by the first three Articles of the Constitution?

A) Article I established the executive branch, Article II established the legislative branch, and Article III established the judicial branch.
B) Article I established the executive branch, Article II established the judicial branch, and Article III established the legislative branch.
C) Article I established the legislative branch, Article II established the executive branch, and Article III established the judicial branch.
D) None of the above

Question 31

Which of the following was not a political principle or institutional arrangement that was supported by most of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

A) Strong unitary national executive
B) Limited government and the idea of a written constitution
C) Representative government
D) Separation of powers

Question 32

Which political philosopher (and idea) had the strongest impact on the theory expressed in the Declaration of Independence?

A) Locke and his idea of natural rights
B) Montesquieu and his idea about the separation of powers
C) Blackstone and his notion of legislative sovereignty
D) Hobbes and his idea of a social compact

Question 33

What did the Declaratory Act of 1766 state regarding the authority of the British King and Parliament over the colonies?

A) Their power to make laws binding on the colonies in America was absolute.
B) Their power to make laws binding on the colonies in America was subject to colonial review.
C) Their power to make laws binding on the colonies in America was subject to international arbitration.
D) Their power to make laws binding on the colonies in Africa was absolute.

Question 34

The Intolerable Acts were passed by the British parliament in response to what event?

A) The start of the American Revolution
B) The Boston Tea Party
C) The start of the War of 1812
D) The Stamp Act Congress of 1765

Question 35

Why did the British impose the Stamp Act in 1765 and the Sugar Act in 1764?

A) To offset colonial revolutionary ambitions
B) To raise revenue for waging a planned war with France
C) To raise revenues to pay off the debts incurred in the Seven Years War
D) To re-distribute wealth from the home country back to the colonies

Question 36

Between 1700 and the start of the American Revolution, what did the population of the colonies do every twenty years?

A) It tripled
B) It stayed approximately the same
C) It doubled
D) It decreased exponentially

Question 37

Frustrations with the Confederation Congress included which of the following:

A) Inability to secure unanimous consent of the states to amend the Articles of Confederation
B) Equality of votes between the large states and the small states
C) Failure to resolve commercial disputes among the states
D) All of the above.

Question 38

Which of the following is not a "Con" position regarding those who were opposed to enacting a Bill of Rights?

A) The Constitution's structure already protects rights.
B) Some rights might be left off any list.
C) Protecting some rights is better than none.
D) Powers not granted cannot be abused.

Question 39

Which one of the following statements is true regarding the Founders respect for or trust of the common people?

A) Most of the Founders, though not all, respected the common people even if they did not fully trust them.
B) All of the Founders respected the common people and fully trusted them.
C) Most of the Founders, though not all, did not respect the common people nor trust them.
D) All of the Founders did not respect the common people nor trust them.

Question 40

Which one of the following delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was most skeptical of the people's ability to play a constructive role in government?

A) Thomas Jefferson
B) Benjamin Franklin
C) Alexander Hamilton
D) James Madison

Question 41

Which one of the following delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was least skeptical of the people's ability to play a constructive role in government?

A) Thomas Jefferson
B) Benjamin Franklin
C) Alexander Hamilton
D) James Madison

Question 42

Which one of the following delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 held a moderate view of the people's ability to play a constructive role in government?

A) Thomas Jefferson
B) Benjamin Franklin
C) Alexander Hamilton
D) James Madison

Question 43

Madison advocated popular election of members of the ___.

A) House of Representatives
B) Senate
C) Supreme Court
D) All of the above

Question 44

In ancient Athens, Plato and Aristotle defined democracy as ___.

A) indirect democracy
B) representative democracy
C) direct democracy
D) guardian democracy

Question 45

The "privileges and immunities clause" of Article IV, section 2, _______normal social and economic transactions across state lines.

A) guarantees
B) prohibits
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 46

Article VI of the Constitution declares that the _______are the supreme law of the land.

A) treaties, Supreme Court decisions, and Constitution
B) federal laws, treaties, and Supreme Court decisions
C) Constitution, federal laws, and treaties
D) Supreme Court decisions, Constitution, and federal laws

Question 47

In all of the state constitutions of ___, most power was lodged in the ___.

A) 1776
B) 1780
C) governors and upper houses
D) lower houses of the legislature

Question 48

By _______both New York and Massachusetts had adopted new constitutions that re-empowered their ___.

A) 1776
B) 1780
C) governors and upper houses
D) lower houses of the legislature

Question 49

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention representing northern commercial interests were quite determined to shape national _______and _______policy.

A) trade
B) slavery
C) commercial
D) agricultural

Question 50

Despite the _______in the number of democracies in recent years, there has been some _______globally in authoritarian regimes.

A) slippage
B) lack of growth
C) lack of slippage
D) growth

Question 51

Which two of the following characteristics of American government are discussed in the Constitution?

A) The role of political parties
B) The selection of bureaucratic leadership
C) The internal organization of Congress
D) The regulation of the economy

Question 52

Which two of the following institutions are required to amend the Constitution?

A) Congress
B) State governors
C) State legislatures
D) The president

Question 53

The intolerable acts were passed by the colonists to expose the unfairness of the British taxation system.

Question 54

The declaratory act announced the colonists' intention to withdraw from the crown's jurisdiction.

Question 55

The greatest growth in the number of democracies has happened in the last twenty years.

Question 56

Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution.

Question 57

The New Jersey Plan called for a much stronger national government than did the Virginia Plan.

Question 58

During the colonial period, governors, backed by the power and majesty of the British King and Parliament, ruled the colonies with practically no limitations on their power.

Question 59

Separation of powers was present in the colonial governments on the eve of the America Revolution.

Question 60

The Founders believed that stable government rested on the consent of the governed and that the people could or should govern directly.

Question 61

On the eve of the Constitutional Convention, some of the governments of the states, at least as colonies, had been in existence for 150 years.

Question 62

The Constitution provides for the structure and jurisdiction of the federal courts below the level of the Supreme Court.

Question 63

What ideas from John Locke appeared in the Declaration of Independence?

Question 64

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? Could they have succeeded with more minor modifications?

Question 65

If you could have only chosen one of the plans proposed at the Constitutional Convention, would you have preferred the New Jersey or Virginia plan? Why?

Question 66

Trace the key steps in the constitutional amendment process.

Question 67

During the ratification debates surrounding the proposed constitution, would you have sided with the federalists or anti-federalists? Why?

Question 68

Discuss the separation of powers and checks and balances within the framework provided by the first three articles of the U.S. Constitution.

Question 69

Discuss the debate between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists over the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Question 70

Discuss the amendment process for the Constitution as laid out in Article V.

Question 71

How is Article I of the Constitution unique relative to Articles II and III?

Question 72

Which plan ultimately served as the most influential model for the Constitution and what were some of its major features?

Question 73

Discuss the Great Compromise as fully yet succinctly as possible.

Question 74

Discuss the relationship between a republican form of government and constitutional democracy.

Question 75

Discuss the Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise; what did the North gain and what did the South gain?

Question 76

Explain what it means to say that the Articles of Confederation produced a "league" of states, not a nation of citizens.

Question 77

How did the meanings of the terms federal and federalism change over the course of the founding and early national periods?

Question 78

Have the complexities and dangers of the twenty-first century rendered our government essentially national, or do state and local governments still have important roles to play?