Review Session 1

Constitutional Underpinnings

Political Beliefs/Political Behaviors

Underpinnings Key Terms

•Bicameral legislature•Block Grant•Categorical Grant•Centralists•Checks and balances•Commerce clause•Concurrent powers•Confederation•Decentralists

Continued…

•Direct democracy•Elastic clause•Enumerated powers•Federalism

• Dual• Cooperative

•Federalist papers•Implied powers•Indirect/representative democracy•Inherent powers•Judicial review

Cont…

•Mandates•Marbury v. Madison•McCulloch v. Maryland•Popular sovereignty•Reserved powers•Separation of powers•Shays’ Rebellion•Supermajority•Unicameral legislature

Constitution questions

•All of the following were weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation EXCEPT

A. The national government could not resolve state boundary disputes

B. Currency was not accepted outside local areasC. The military could not put down even small

rebellionsD. The national government had too much powerE. There was no national judicial system

Answer: D—most power under the Articles was given to the states

2.What was the result of the Great Compromise?

A. States were represented in the upper house, and individuals were represented in the lower house

B. Individuals were represented in the upper houseC. Individuals were given proportional

representation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate

D. All members of Congress were selected by direct election

E. Slaves were not counted in the census

Answer: A—under the Great Compromise, the House of Representatives is proportional and elected directly; and there are two senators per state. Senators were originally chosen by state legislators; they are now chosen by direct election

3.Under the original Constitution, which branch or branches of government were selected directly by the citizens?

I. The president and vice presidentII. The Supreme CourtIII. The SenateIV. The House of Representatives

A. I and IIB. I, III, and IVC. III and IVD. III onlyE. IV only

Answer: E—Under the original Constitution, only members of the House of Representatives were elected directly. Senators were not elected directly until ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913. The president is chosen through the electoral college, and the Supreme Court is appointed

4.What is the main result of judicial review?

A. The Supreme Court is protected from interference by the executive

B. The Supreme Court has the power to revise state laws

C. The Constitution is safeguarded from popular passions

D. The Supreme Court has the power to advise Congress in drafting of bills

E. The Supreme Court provides supervision of the lower courts

Answer: C—Because Supreme Court justices are not popularly elected and are appointed for life, they can exercise independence and, through judicial review, protect the Constitution from the passions of the majority

5.All of the following are part of the amendment process EXCEPT

A. A proposal accepted by a two-thirds vote of Congress

B. A proposal accepted at a national convention called by Congress as requested by two-thirds of the states

C. A national referendum (by popular vote) with two-thirds voter approval

D. ratification by ¾ of state legislaturesE. ratification by ¾ of states in special conventions

Answer: C—A proposed amendment must receive a 2/3 vote in Congress or in a specially held national convention. It must then be approved by a ¾ vote in state legislatures or through special state ratifying conventions

6.How does the Constitution provide an executive check on the judicial branch?

A. By allowing the president to remove Supreme Court justices from office

B. By permitting bureaucrats to ignore a decision of the Supreme Court

C. By allowing the president to propose a bill to Congress to overturn a decision by the Supreme Court

D. By nominating federal judges, subject to Senate confirmation

E. By appointing federal judges

Answer: D—the president nominates federal judges who must then be confirmed by the Senate

7.How did the Antifederalists differ from the Federalists?

A. The Antifederalists wanted a stronger central government

B. The Federalists wanted to protect state sovereignty

C. The Antifederalists had a more positive view of human nature

D. The Antifederalists believed that a strong central government would be too distant from the people

E. The Antifederalists were opposed to representative democracy

Answer: D—The Antifederalists argued that a strong national government would be too distant from the people and would take away powers that belong to the states

8.Which of the following guarantees of individual liberties is found in the original Constitution?

A. Freedom of speech, press, and assembly

B. No official state religion

C. A prohibition against double jeopardy

D. No unreasonable searches and seizures

E. No religious tests to hold office

Answer: E—Under the original Constitution, there may be no religious qualification or test to hold office. The rest of the protections are contained in the Bill of Rights

9.Which of the following is NOT a criticism of separation of powers?

A. It creates a gridlock in policy-makingB. It makes it difficult for the government to act

decisively in times of crisisC. It results in prompt, but hasty, decision makingD. It makes it difficult to stimulate economic growthE. It damages our position of international

leadership

Answer: C—Separation of powers results in slow and deliberate decision-making. This can make it difficult to act quickly regarding foreign affairs, crises, and the economy.

10.What would be the impact of the line-item veto on the separation of powers?

A. It would weaken the presidency and strengthen Congress

B. It would strengthen the presidency in relation to Congress

C. It would prevent the Supreme Court from using judicial review

D. It would strengthen the power of the states

E. It is not clear how the line-item veto would affect the separation of powers

Answer: B—The line-item veto would strengthen the president by allowing him to veto a part of a bill.

11.The concept that the national government is supreme in its own sphere while the states are equally supreme in theirs is known as

A. Cooperative federalismB. Balanced federalismC. Home ruleD. Emerging federalismE. Dual federalism

Answer: E—Dual federalism is the idea that the national and state governments are supreme in their own respective spheres. This has been replaced with cooperative federalism, with each level of government sharing overlapping powers.

12.Why do states prefer block grants to categorical grants?

A. Categorical grants require the states to spend matching funds.

B. Block grants allow states to spend funds on any governmental purpose.

C. Categorical grants are often rescinded.D. The amounts given in block grants are stable

from year to year.E. Block grants allow local officials to satisfy the

needs of interest groups.

Answer: B—Block grants allow states to spend federal money on any governmental purpose, although they are coming with more strings attached. Categorical grants require the states to spend the money on a specific purpose, like building an airport.

13.The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires states and local governments to provide equal access for the disabled. This is an example of a(n)

A. Categorical grantB. Block grantC. Revenue sharingD. MandateE. Administrative regulation

Answer: D—A mandate tells the state government what it must do. Under the ADA, states are required to make buildings accessible to the disabled. When federal funding does not accompany the requirement, this is known as an “unfunded mandate”.

14.All of the following statements about the beliefs of the framers of the Constitution are true EXCEPT

A. They favored representative democracy over direct democracy

B. They believed that most citizens did not have the time, information, and expertise to make informed choices

C. They believed that government decisions should mirror popular viewpoints

D. They recognized that representative democracy would proceed slowly

E. They insisted on the protection of civil rights and civil liberties

Answer: C—The framers believed that government should mediate, not mirror, popular views

Political Beliefs/Behaviors

•Balancing the ticket•Caucus•Closed primary•Coattail effect•Direct election•Direct primary•Front loading•Gender gap•General election•Hard money•Incumbent•Independent (leaners/pure)

Cont.

•Issue advocacy ads•Open primary•Party platform•Plurality•Political socialization•Realigning “critical” election•Safe seat•Single member district system•Soft money•Split ticket voting•Straight ticket voting•Superdelegate•Swing state

•What is the effect of a college education on political attitudes?

A. People with college degrees tend to be more conservative, because they have higher than average incomes.

B. People who have attended college tend to vote more as independents because they think more ideologically.

C. People with college degrees are not as liberal as their parents.

D. People with college degrees are more likely to describe themselves as liberal.

E. There is no correlation between a college education and political attitudes.

Answer: D—Although people who attend college are not as liberal as they used to be, they are still more likely to describe themselves as liberal.

2.Which of the following voters will most likely prefer a Republican candidate?

A. A black woman with a college degree and high income.

B. A middle-class Asian man who belongs to a labor union.

C. A southern white male business ownerD. A Hispanic employee of the federal governmentE. A white “soccer mom” who lives in the suburbs.

Answer: C—While many of the voters mentioned have some factors that influence conservative voting, the southern white male business owner has the most. He is white and male. In addition, many business owners prefer to vote Republican, as do southerners.

3.A conservative would support which of the following measures?

I. Less government regulation of the economyII. Affirmative action programs for underrepresented

groupsIII. Increased spending on social programs, such as

welfareIV. The death penalty

A. I and IIB. I, II, and IVC. II and IVD. II, III, and IVE. I and IV

Answer: E—Conservatives tend to oppose affirmative action and increased social spending. They tend to support the death penalty and prefer less government regulation of the economy.

4.A voter who wants less government control over the economy as well as the personal lives of its citizens is

A. RepublicanB. DemocraticC. IndependentD. LibertarianE. Populist

Answer: D—Libertarians prefer a small, weak government that has little control over the economy or the personal lives of its citizens.

5.The most important influence on political socialization is

A. Peer group

B. Family

C. Political events

D. Education

E. Political leaders

Answer: B—Family contributes more to a person’s political beliefs than friends, education, or political events and leaders.