Unit I Sample Questions-1

8/3/2019 Unit I Sample Questions-1

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Unit I Constitutional Underpinnings

1. 0All of the following statements support the pluralist view of American politics EXCEPT:a0. No elites exist in a modern representative democracy.b0. Many groups compete for control of public policy, with no one group or set of groups

dominating.c0. Bargaining and compromise among groups are essential ingredients in a democratic policy

processd0. While claiming to represent the general welfare, groups tend to represent narrow interests.e0. Some people do have more power than others, but their influence tends to be limited to

particular issues and areas.

2. 0The document which includes 27 paragraphs that list specific complaints of the colonists againstGeorge III and his ministers wasa0. The Constitutionb0. Common Sensec0. the Declaration of Independenced0. Federalist #10e0. Second Treatise of Civil Government

Questions 3-4 refer to the following passage:

If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neitherexternal nor internal controls on government would be necessary. A dependence on the peopleis, no doubt, the primary control on the government, but experience has taught mankind thenecessity of auxiliary precautions.

3. 0The author of the passage was

a0. Benjamin Franklinb0. Thomas Jeffersonc0. John Locked0. James Madisone0. Samuel Adams

4. 0The passage intended to support which of the following principles of government?a0. federalismb0. rule by an elitec0. direct democracyd0. majoritariane0. minority rights

5. 0Which of the following was a provision ofBOTH the Articles of Confederation AND theConstitution?a0. A president enforces the law.b0. Congress may regulate interstate commerce.c0. Congress may declare war.d0. Certain cases are decided by the Supreme Court.e0. Congress may not levy taxes.

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6. 0All of the following conditions characterized the United States under the Articles ofConfederation EXCEPT:a0. Sovereignty was left to the states.b0. Expanded political participation brought a new middle class more power.c0. Economic turmoil brought economic issues to the top of the political agenda.d0. A series of attacks on courthouse in Massachusetts called attention to the demands of

debtors.e0. Several states were on the verge of rebellion because of harsh new restrictions placed by the

national government on interstate trade.

7. 0The 55 members of the Constitutional Convention generally held which view of human nature?a0. Man, by nature, wants to be ruled by government.b0. Humans are naturally good, and are only corrupted by societyc0. Human nature is most characterized by conflict and chaosd0. Humans are motivated by self interest and therefore cannot be trusted with political power.e0. Common people can be trusted with power, but rulers cannot.

8. 0For Madison, in the Federalist #10, the most common and durable source factions has beena0. unequal natural abilities of peopleb0. the unequal distribution of propertyc0. religion and ideologyd0. the various regional interests within the countrye0. the various political views held by the elites

9. 0The Connecticut Compromise addressed which of the following issues at the ConstitutionalConvention?a0. representation of the states in a bicameral legislatureb0. slaveryc0. imports and exportsd0. political equality of individualse0. the national debt

10.0 All of the following individual rights were protected in the Constitution BEFORE the Bill of Rightswas added EXCEPT:a0. prohibition of the suspension of the writ of habeas corpusb0. right to a speedy and public trialc0. prohibition of bills of attainderd0. right to trial by jury in criminal casese0. prohibition of ex post facto laws

11.0With which of the following goals for government would the founders most likely disagree?a0. controlling the tyranny of the majorityb0. protecting private propertyc0. protecting political freedomd0. reconciling economic inequality with political freedome0. ensuring economic equality

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12.0In the original Constitution, which of the following elements of government was placed withindirect control of the votes of the majority?a0. the Senateb0. the presidencyc0. the Supreme Courtd0. the House of Representatives

e0. the vice presidency

13.0The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in 1791 largely becausea0. most of the founders believed that individual rights were not adequately addressed at the

conventionb0. the southern states insisted that additional safeguards for individual rights were neededc0. the Anti-Federalist attacks were so strong that the founders feared the Constitution would not

be ratifiedd0. the Federalist majority in the state legislatures proposed a strong argument for protection of

enumerated rightse0. Alexander Hamilton lobbied the state legislatures of New York and new Hampshire until he

convinced them to support a Bill of Rights

14.0All but one of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have followed the amending process ofa0. proposal by 2/3 vote in each house of Congress and ratification by special conventions called

3/4 of the statesb0. proposal by a national convention called by Congress and ratification by special conventions

called in 3/4 of the statesc0. proposal by 2/3 vote in each house of Congress and ratification by of the state legislaturesd0. proposal by a national convention called by Congress and ratification by of the state

legislaturese0. proposal by of the state legislature and ratification by 2/3 vote in each house of Congress

15.0A federal system of government differs from a confederation in that in a federal systema0. state governments are stronger than the central governmentb0. the central and state governments are more clearly distinct and separatec0. the state governments have no distinct and separate powersd0. the central government shares governing powers with constituent statese0. all policy making power is concentrated in a central government

16.0The Constitution Convention of 1787 included all of the following issues EXCEPTa0. Those who wanted a significantly stronger government argued with those who wanted to

retain the Articles of Confederation.b0. Leaders from state with large populations argued with representatives from states with

small population over the new form of Congress.c0. Leaders from Rhode Island refused to attend.d0. Localists feared the creation of a new dictatorship.e0. Virginias leaders initially wanted a parliamentary system.

17.0The Federalist Paperwerea0. aimed at convincing readers that the Constitution would properly limit the powers of the

new federal systemb0. aimed at convincing the public that Jefferson and Adam would support the Constitution

once they returned from Europe

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c0. not successful in keeping opportunities from demanding a Bill of Rightsd0. key in swaying state votes in Virginia could organize itselfe0. critical of how the new government could organize itself

18.0The development of political parties in the early republica0. can be traced to the leadership of Washington

b0. was developed independently by early American politiciansc0. was dominated by the conflict between Adams and Hamiltond0. was rooted in English traditions of liberal and conservative viewse0. gave the Federalists a long period of dominance

19.0Madisons role in the early political development of the United States included all of the followingEXCEPTa0. drafting the bulk of the Constitutional planb0. leading the debates supporting the new planc0. staying loyal to the Federalist programd0. helping create the goals of Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicanse0. writing the great essay on the power of the central government

20.0Early Nationalists supported____________, Localists supported___________.a. conservative agenda; a liberal agendab. Jefferson; Hamiltonc. Washington; Adamsd. A liberal agenda; a conservative agendae. Trade with our ally, France; trade with England

21.0Federalism originally meant thata. The national government would protect minimal rights in states.b. State governments would have relatively equal sets of rights.c. The national and state governments would protect similar rights.d. Layers of government could have unique forms of rights.e. States would join the union only if they adopted the Constitution.

22.0All of the following are evidence of the original dominance of Congress EXCEPTa. Presidential veto powersb. The length and detail of Article Ic. Checks on presidential appointmentsd. Presidential recess appointment powerse. All are examples of Congressional dominance

23.0Which power was NOT included in the Constitution?a. The vice presidents position in two federal branchesb. Congresss power to declare the punishment for treasonc. Congresss power to filibuster bills to death

d. Congresss power to suspend writs of habeas corpuse. Congresss inability to tax products sold from states.

24.0A major point of power disputes between presidents and Congress centers ona. Presidents assuming powers given to Congress in Article Ib. Presidents acting without actual Constitutional authority

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c. Congresss unwillingness to allow presidents to be a real Commander-in-Chiefd. Congresss giving presidents power to control rules of the militarye. Congresss refusal to protect the states in times of crisis.

25.0Congress has all of the following powers EXCEPTa. The right to set salaries for themselves

b. The right to remove members of Congressc. The right to create a huge national debtd. The power to serve temporarily as members of the Electoral Collegee. The right not to pay the military

26.0Federalism contains the idea that our two major forms of government are botha. Sovereignb. Republicsc. Electedd. Checked and balancede. Equal

27.0In the early days of the republic, federalism was meant toa. Allow for strong local governmentsb. Guarantee general equality of laws in the countryc. Protect the overall liberties of the nationd. Encourage voting by all eligible voterse. Strengthen the power of the national capital

28.0One major goal of recent Republican administrations and majorities has been toa. Return more control of federal monies to statesb. Return more control of civil rights to statesc. Return the administration of policies to the statesd. Return more tax authority to statese. All of the above

29.0Major shifts in the scope of federalism were caused bya. States failing to protect civil rightsb. The inability of capitalist economies to avoid major collapsesc. Conflicts between republics and totalitarian nationsd. Changes in attitudes about the general rights of minoritiese. All of the above

30.0After the Great Depression and the Civil Rights era, interstate commerce powers of Congresscame to include

a.The movement of goods and services across state lines

b. The movement of goods, but not of laborersc. The general movement of goods anywhere in the U.S.d. Activities related to economic trade across statese. Criminal acts inside states

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Answers to Unit Exam #1

Practice Exam #1

1. a

2. c3. d4. a5. c6. e7. d8. b9. a10.b11.e12.d13.c14.c15.d16.e17.a18.b19.c20.a21.d22.e23.c24.a25.d26.a27.c28.c29.e30.d31.32.

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Unit I Sample Questions-1