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- 1. Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements can be supported from information in the table above?
I. Federal grants to state and local governments have increased substantially in total dollar amount since 1950.
II. In 1994 the federal government devoted a larger percentage of outlays to grants than in 1980.
III. Between 1980 and 1990, grants decreased as a percentage of federal outlays.
IV. In 1994 states were more dependent on federal grants for revenue than in 1990, 1970, or 1960.
IV only
I and III only
II and III only
II and IV only
I, III, and IV only
- 2. Multiple Choice
The use of ballot initiatives and referendums is most consistent with which model of democracy?
Participatory Democracy
Pluralist Democracy
Elite Democracy
Illiberal Democracy
- 3. Multiple Choice
In a pluralist democracy, who has the most influence on government policy
The wealthy and elite
The average voter
Interest Groups
The Elderly
- 4. Multiple Choice
Which event demonstrated the weakness of the central government under the Articles of Confederation?
Whiskey Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion
Civil War
The War of 1812
- 5. Multiple Choice
Which of the following was not a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
There was no national military
Congress could not directly tax the people
There was no national currency
States had to vote unanimously to pass laws
- 6. Multiple Choice
The Great (Connecticut) Compromise created a
Bicameral Legislature
An independent court system
The electoral college
A single executive
- 7. Multiple Choice
If a presidential candidate earns 52% of the vote in New Jersey, how many of New Jersey's 14 electoral college votes would the candidate receive?
7
8
14
It is impossible to know without knowing how many votes other candidates received?
- 8. Multiple Choice
What power gives the Supreme Court the ability to limit the power of the other branches?
Impeachment
Judicial Review
Writs of Certiorari
Writs of Habeas Corpus
- 9. Multiple Choice
Levying and Collecting taxes is an example of a
Delegated Power
Reserved Power
Concurrent Power
Denied Power
- 10. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the source of Congress' implied powers?
Marbury v. Madison
Necessary and Proper Clause
Due Process Clause
10th Amendment
- 11. Multiple Choice
Which of the following was designed to address Anti-federalist concerns about the Constitution?
Bill of Rights
14th Amendment
Necessary and Proper Clause
Commerce Clause
- 12. Multiple Choice
In Federalist No. 10, which of the following does Madison argues prevents tyranny of the majority?
Direct Democracy
A Confederation of Small Republics
A large Republic
An absolute monarchy
- 13. Multiple Choice
If the president vetoes a bill, how can the veto be overridden?
By a majority vote of the Supreme Court
By a 2/3 vote of the Senate
By a 2/3 vote of both house of Congress
By a majority vote in both houses
- 14. Multiple Choice
Who has the power of advice and consent to confirm presidential nominees?
Senate
House of Representatives
Both houses of Congress
Supreme Court
- 15. Multiple Choice
The concept that the government's powers should be predefined and restricted by a constitution
Limited Government
Popular sovereignty
National Supremacy
Natural rights
- 16. Multiple Choice
Powers of Congress that are clearly stated in the constitution are known as
Implied Powers
Enumerated Powers
Reserved powers
Inherent Powers
- 17. Multiple Choice
Which provision of the constitution protects state powers?
10th Amendment
14th Amendment
Necessary and Proper Clause
Commerce Clause
- 18. Multiple Choice
Which constitutional provision requires other states to recognize a New Jersey driver's license?
Commerce Clause
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Necessary and Proper Clause
10th Amendment
- 19. Multiple Choice
Which of the following tools can the federal government use most effectively to shape state policies?
Revenue Sharing
Block Grants
Categorical Grants
Mandates
- 20. Multiple Choice
Which of the following do state governments prefer
Categorical Grants
Block Grants
Mandates
- 21. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is an attempt to return reserved powers to the states?
Devolution
Decentralization
Communism
Socialism
- 22. Multiple Choice
US v Lopez limited Congress' power under the
Commerce Clause
Necessary and Proper Clause
14th Amendment
Due Process Clause
- 23. Multiple Choice
Differences in educational funding among the states is best explained by
Federalism
Logrolling
Pork Barrel Spending
Mandates
- 24. Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements about Congress is true?
Congress cannot override a presidential veto.
A proposed constitutional amendment must be approved by 2/3 of the delegates of both house of Congress.
Congress can establish an official church of the United States.
Congressional power over the bureaucracy is less than that of the president.
- 25. Multiple Choice
The struggle of competing interest groups for govermental influence is called ____.
pluralism
direct action politics
direct democracy
oligarchy
grassroots mobilization
- 26. Multiple Choice
The belief that political authority should rest with the people themselves is called ____.
political culture
political equality
pluralism
popular sovereignty
federalism
- 27. Multiple Choice
The Constitution's Preamble, beginning with the words "We the People," is an illustration of ____.
laissez-faire capitalism
political equality
popular sovereignty
minority rights
political rights
- 28. Multiple Choice
All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention EXCEPT
representation in the legislature
voting qualifications of the electorate
method of electing the President
congressional power to override a presidential veto
qualifications for members of the House and Senate
- 29. Multiple Choice
In the early part of the twenty-first century, public opinion polls showed that a majority of Americans believed it should be illegal to burn the American flag. As a result, many members of Congress introduced amendments to make it illegal to burn or desecrate the American flag. However, these efforts have been unsuccessful. Which of the following statements best explains why these efforts have been unsuccessful?
Congress and the states have agreed to add this amendment; however, recent presidents have refused to sign it.
The framers made the amendment process difficult in order to protect individual rights.
The Supreme Court has stated such an amendment is unconstitutional, thus blocking its ratification.
The framers specifically wrote the amendment process to prevent using it to limit freedom of expression.
- 30. Multiple Choice
Brutus was an example of an Anti-Federalist because he
believed a centralized government posed a major threat to individual rights
argued that a national military force was needed to deal with insurrections
argued that the laws passed by the national government were supreme over state laws
believed that compromise between the branches of government would ensure a limited government
- 31. Multiple Choice
Constitutional checks and balances, especially applied to the president, are designed to
provide for a balanced budget
minimize the threat of tyranny from any one branch of government
ensure that the states do not become too powerful
ensure efficient government
ensure that the federal government is militarily strong
- 32. Multiple Choice
Cooperative federalism can best be described by which of the following statements?
Different levels of government are involved in common policy areas
Government must have cooperation from the people in order to make legislative decisions.
Local levels of government can make decisions on issues more efficiently than state and national governments can
The federal government must make regulations that can be applied across every state in the same way
Business and government can work together to more effectively accomplish shared goals.
- 33. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ?
The federal government exceeded its authority in establishing a national bank, and Maryland’s tax was unconstitutional.
Maryland was within its authority to tax the federal government, but the Bank of the United States exceeded federal authority.
The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, but it had to pay Maryland’s tax.
The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland’s tax was unconstitutional.
- 34. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) ?
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was upheld as constitutional because regulating arms is an enumerated power.
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was upheld as constitutional because any interstate commerce is implied in the commerce clause
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was struck down as unconstitutional because it exceeded the commerce clause.
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was struck down because it exceeded the state’s power to regulate guns.
- 35. Multiple Choice
Diversity of public policy throughout the United States is primarily a consequence of
separation of powers
innovation within bureaucratic agencies
decentralization in the Senate
lack of party discipline in the House
federalism
- 36. Multiple Choice
Despite the Fifteenth Amendment, which extended the right to vote to African American males, Southern states were able to block black voting for many years because
the Fifteenth Amendment did not apply to all states
Congress passed legislation that restricted the application of the Fifteenth Amendment to placate Southerners
the framers allowed the individual states to create voting processes and voter qualifications
the Supreme Court had declared the Fifteenth Amendment unconstitutional
- 37. Multiple Choice
Which is not an Enumerated powers of the federal government?
coin money
declare war
regulate interstate commerce
regulate intrastate commerce
tax
- 38. Multiple Choice
Many scholars argue that categorical grants-in-aid do which of the following?
Give states far too much power over national monies
Broaden state power beyond that outlined in the Constitution
Strengthen the impact of the Tenth Amendment
Give new life to the idea of dual federalism
Weaken the power of state governors and legislators
- 39. Multiple Choice
Of the following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government?
A B C D
The commerce clause of the Constitution
The habeas corpus clause of the Constitution
The bill of attainder clause of the Constitution
The First Amendment
The Fifth Amendment
- 40. Multiple Choice
States and localities have the most discretion in establishing policy when federal funding is derived from
categorical grants
matching grants
block grants
project grants
grant-in-aid
- 41. Multiple Choice
The Americans with Disabilities Act was widely unpopular with governors and mayors because it
required that people with disabilities be given equal access to public facilities
required that buildings be retrofitted or remodeled to give equal access to people with disabilities
did not go far enough to establish equal access to public facilities
applied only to federal facilities and did nothing to accommodate people in municipal buildings
required that states and cities pay for federally mandated construction and remodeling
- 42. Multiple Choice
Which congressional power has been contested most frequently in the federal courts?
establish post offices
coin money
levy taxes
regulate commerce with foreign nations
regulate interstate commerce
- 43. Multiple Choice
The reserved powers of the state governments can best be described as those powers
not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states
implied in the Fifth Amendment
listed specifically in the Tenth Amendment
exercised by both national and state governments
granted to states as part of the implied powers doctrine
- 44. Multiple Choice
Which of the following actions by the federal government best illustrates the concept of unfunded mandates?
Requiring that polling booths remain open beyond the hours of the workday
Requiring states and municipalities to provide certain services for their citizens without providing resources to pay for those services
Requiring state governments to guarantee short-term bonds issued by large municipalities in their states
Requiring all municipalities to impose a minimum property tax on all residential and business properties
Requiring states and municipalities to privatize many previously publicly funded services
- 45. Multiple Choice
Which of the following clauses in the Constitution justifies the “implied powers doctrine” ?
The executive power clause
The privileges and immunities clause
The necessary and proper clause
The debts and engagements clause
The contract clause
- 46. Multiple Choice
Which of the following constitutional principles best explains why there is variation among states on the use of capital punishment?
Separation of powers
Judicial review
Checks and balances
Federalism
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