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- 1. Multiple Choice
Which is the process by which a society decides how government is run and how the leaders are chosen?
divine right
executive power
politics
judicial power
- 2. Multiple Choice
Who holds the governmental power in a dictatorship?
the judicial branch of government
the people's elected representatives
the people themselves
one person or small group of people
- 3. Multiple Choice
What is the main political unit in the world?
the state
the township
the city
the county
- 4. Multiple Choice
In which governmental system does the central government lack the power to make laws?
autocracy
unitary government
confederate government
federal government
- 5. Multiple Choice
What is the relationship between the legislative and the executive branches of a presidential government?
the judicial branch has more power
the legislative branch has more power
the brances are separate but equal
the executive branch has more power
- 6. Multiple Choice
What is one of the basic ideas of democracy
the executive branch is the source of all power
the government is more important than the individual
property should be given to people according to their needs
all people are equal under the law
- 7. Multiple Choice
Which important document was signed by King John in the 1200s granting certain rights to the English people and limiting the king’s power?
Charter of English Rights
Petition of Right
English Bill of Rights
Magan Carta
- 8. Multiple Choice
In 1765, which group of American colonists protested “taxation without representation” by sending a protest to the British King?
Stamp Act Congress
minutemen
New Albany Patriots
New England Confederation
- 9. Multiple Choice
Which group suggested that all American trade with Britain be stipped as a way of protesting the Intolerable Acts?
US House of Rep
American Parliament
Second Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
- 10. Multiple Choice
The meeting of delegates in Philadelphia in 1787, which later became known as the Constitutional Convention, was for the purpose of revising which document?
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Rights
The Articles of Confederation
The Stamp Act of 1765
- 11. Multiple Choice
What was one of the weaknesses of the Articles of the Confederation?
Congress could not raise money from the states
Congress could not tax the states without representation
The Articles placed no limits on the powers of congress
The Articles would not allow Congress to make war
- 12. Multiple Choice
Describe the Connecticut Compromise, or Great compromise, that took place at the Constitutional Convention?
one congress with states represented equally
In a 2 part legislature, members of one part of the legislature would be chosen by pop; the other part would have 2 reps from each state
one part legislature with reps from each state chosen by pop
new govt. would have 3 branches, leg, exec and judicial.
- 13. Multiple Choice
Describe those states that benefited the most from the ⅗ Compromise.
larger states because they got greater representation in the Senate
mid atlantic states because they held claims to western lands
northern states because they could avoid a tax on slaves
southern states because they had greater representation in congress
- 14. Multiple Choice
What compromise was made at the Constitutional Convention so that Congress could get the power to control foreign trade?
Congress could not regulate interstate trade
congress could not tax slaves
congress could not tax exports
congress could not tax imports
- 15. Multiple Choice
What was an important message in the Federalist Papers in favor of the Constitution?
there would be a one house legislature
the national govt would rule the state
govt leaders must respect the rule of law
the military should not be under civilian control
- 16. Multiple Choice
What argument did Anti-Federalists such as Patrick Henry make against the new Constitution?
the national govt should not be under military control
the national govt should have a system of checks and balances
the national govt would be too powerful
the national govt would be too weak
- 17. Multiple Choice
What information is provided in the first three articles of the Constitution?
a lengthy introduction called the preamble
an outline of the 3 branches of the federal govt.
an explanation of how amendments are added to the Constitution
the 27 amendments to the constitution
- 18. Multiple Choice
Describe judicial review.
the courts may declare an act of Congress unconstitutional
Congress may decide if a decision of the courts is constitutional
Congress may check the power of the president
the executive branch may reject a decision of the courts
- 19. Multiple Choice
Describe federalism.
the states are idependent with the little to hold them together
power is divided between the federal government and the states
most power is held by the state govt
most power is held by the national govt
- 20. Multiple Choice
Why did the Framers divide government powers between the national government and the states?
dividing national govt powers created more political jobs
they wanted 2 levels of govt with exactly the same powers
one level of govt could not handle all responsibilities
dividing govt powers would prevent an abuse of power
- 21. Multiple Choice
Which government powers are not written in the Constitution but exist because the US is a sovereign state?
expressed powers
complementary powers
inherent powers
absolute powers
- 22. Multiple Choice
Which part of the Constitution allows the Supreme Court to declare a state law unconstitutional when it conflicts with the powers of the national government?
concurrent clause
superiority clause
diplomacy clause
supremacy clause
- 23. Multiple Choice
In a democracy, with whom does the supreme authority reside?
president
congress
people
supreme court
- 24. Multiple Choice
Which political idea holds that the state was born when one person or a small group claimed control over an area and its people?
evolutionary theory
social contract theory
force theory
divine right theory
- 25. Multiple Choice
Which term describes the type of government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self appointed elite?
autocracy
oligarchy
military junta
monarchy
- 26. Multiple Choice
What is a benefit of a confederate government?
it has absolute authority and the power to embrace all matters of human concern
the people are the source for all the govt power
several states can cooperate in matters of common concern and still retain their separate identities
all pwers held by the govt belong to a single contral agency
- 27. Multiple Choice
What principles are essential to a balanced democracy?
absolute power and equality
accountability and diversity
coalition and compromise
majority rule and minority rights
- 28. Multiple Choice
What document was not considered a landmark documents of English history?
English Bill of Rights
Magna Carta
Virginia Bill of Rights
Petition of Right
- 29. Multiple Choice
What was B. Franklin’s proposal for the creation of an annual congress of delegates from each of the 13 colonies called?
Albany plan of union
Mayflower Compact
League of Friendship
First Constitutional Congress
- 30. Multiple Choice
Supported by the force of public opinion and practical necessity, our nation’s first national government was called?
First Continental Congress
New England Compromise
Second Continental Congress
Stamp Act Congress
- 31. Multiple Choice
What event highlighted the period of economic and political weakness following the American Revolution?
writing of the Declaration of Independence
the convening of the Consittutional Convention
The Maryland and Virginia negotiations
Shay's Rebellion
- 32. Multiple Choice
The effectiveness of the Second Continental Congress was severely limited by the lack of powers to what?
make treaties and borrow money
build a navy and raise an army
settle state disputes
tax and regulate trade
- 33. Multiple Choice
Which proposal finally moved the Philadelphia Convention to create a Congress composed of 2 houses?
Virginia Plan
Connecticut Compromise
The 3/5 Compromise
New Jersey Plan
- 34. Multiple Choice
In the process of creating the Constitution, the delegates never wavered on what idea?
need for bicameral legislature
importance of States' rights
wisdom of representative govt
giving Congress teh power to tax
- 35. Multiple Choice
Which feature of the Constitution was eventually created as a result of Anti-Federalists’ efforts?
bill of rights
provisions for State Sovereignty
preample
provisions for elections
- 36. Multiple Choice
Which states were essential to the ratification of the Constitution and the success of the new government?
Penn and NJ
Virginia and NY
NC and Delaware
Massachussetts and Connecticut
- 37. Multiple Choice
The Constitution provides for separation of powers among the 3 branches of government. What keeps one branch from having more power than the others?
bicameral legislature
regular elections
justices of the Supreme Court
system of checks and balances
- 38. Multiple Choice
The principle of federalism helped the Framers of the Constitution do what?
shape a strong central government whil epreserving local self-govt
concentrate power in the states
provide a model of govt similar to England
preserve national govt power
- 39. Multiple Choice
The 27th Amendment to the Constitution, added in 1992, forbids sitting members of Congress from raising their pay while in session. Who wrote this Amendment and when was it written?
John Breckenridge 1802
FDR 1951
James Madison 1789
Barbara Boxer 1989
- 40. Multiple Choice
The “no-third-term” tradition became an amendment as a direct result of the 4th term of which president?
FDR
John Adams
Harry S. Truman
Thomas Jefferson
- 41. Multiple Choice
What term describes the powers that the Constitution does not grant to the National Government and does not, at the same time, deny to the states?
exclusive powers
reserved powers
inherent powers
implied powers
- 42. Multiple Choice
What acts are part of the process of an area seeking to become a state?
voting act and admissions act
enabling act and approval act
petition act and approval act
enabling act and act of admission
- 43. Multiple Choice
What is the legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state can be returned to that state?
interstate compact
probating
privileges and immunities
extradition
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