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1. (p. 30) The idea that government should be restricted in its lawful uses of power and hence in its ability to deprive people of their liberty is expressed by the term
A. federalism.
B. self-government.
C. judicial review.
D. limited government.
E. natural rights.
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D. limited government.
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2. (p. 33) The European philosopher whose concept of natural rights had a great impact on American politics is
A. Montesquieu.
B. Locke.
C. Hobbes.
D. Aristotle.
E. Burke.
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B. Locke.
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3. (p. 57) President John Adams publicly indicated that
A. the federal government would not use force against common people that were simply seeking their inalienable rights.
B. the Constitution was designed for a governing elite.
C. dissent against the federal government would be welcomed as part of the birthing pangs of a republic.
D. he disagreed with the concept of a republic and preferred more direct democratic rule.
E. he felt he was the president of the "common folk".
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B. the Constitution was designed for a governing elite.
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4. (p. 33) The words of the Declaration of Independence reflected
A. Aristotle’s conception of democracy.
B. Montesquieu’s view of constitutionalism.
C. Hobbes’s idea of the state of nature.
D. Locke’s philosophy of inalienable rights.
E. Madison’s view of factions.
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D. Locke’s philosophy of inalienable rights.
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5. (p. 31) Early Americans’ preference for limited government was strengthened by
A. their exposure to life under the British Parliament and some of the "rights of Englishmen".
B. Lockean philosophy.
C. Britain’s treatment of the colonies after the French and Indian War.
D. taxation without representation.
E. All these answers are correct.
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E. All these answers are correct.
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6. (p. 57) All but one state constitution formed after the American Revolution
A. provided for choosing governors in direct annual elections.
B. provided for a less direct form of self-government than the national-level framers intended.
C. provided for annual legislative elections.
D. included more severe checks and balances than the U.S. Constitution.
E. drastically limited the power of the executive in comparison to the legislature.
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C. provided for annual legislative elections.
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7. (p. 45-46) Through the grants of power in the Constitution, the framers sought to
A. define the powers of state governments.
B. create a government in which sovereignty was invested in the national government only.
C. both empower government and limit it.
D. enumerate the rights of individuals.
E. abolish slavery.
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C. both empower government and limit it.
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8. (p. 46) The Constitution prevents the government from suspending the writ of habeas corpus, meaning that the government cannot
A. prosecute persons for acts that were legal at the time they were committed.
B. establish a state religion based on Christian beliefs.
C. enact laws that would legalize the practice of indentured servitude.
D. jail a person without a court hearing to determine the legality of his or her imprisonment.
E. silence freedom of the press.
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D. jail a person without a court hearing to determine the legality of his or her imprisonment.
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9. (p. 32) Which of the following chronologies is correct?
A. Boston Tea Party (1773); First Continental Congress (1774); and beginning of the American Revolution (1775)
B. Shays’ Rebellion (1773); Annapolis Convention (1774); and Declaration of Independence (1776)
C. Stamp Act (1775); Declaration of Independence (1776); and Philadelphia Convention (1788)
D. Common Sense (1769); Declaration of Independence (1776); and The Federalist Papers (1783)
E. Declaration of Independence (1776); Articles of Confederation (1787); Constitution (1791); and Federalist No. 10 (1795)
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A. Boston Tea Party (1773); First Continental Congress (1774); and beginning of the American Revolution (1775)
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10. (p. 47) The principle of checks and balances is based on the notion that
A. leaders are the trustees of the people.
B. a weak government is always preferable to a strong government.
C. all legislative and executive action should be controlled through judicial power.
D. power must be used to offset power.
E. legislators and executives cannot be trusted, but judges are trustworthy.
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D. power must be used to offset power.
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11. (p. 48) The framers’ most significant modification of the traditional doctrine of the separation of powers was to
A. include federalism.
B. include a two-chamber legislature.
C. define legislative power precisely, while defining executive and judicial power only in general terms.
D. ensure that the powers of the separate branches overlap, so that each could better act as a check on the others.
E. grant the power of judicial review to the judiciary.
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D. ensure that the powers of the separate branches overlap, so that each could better act as a check on the others.
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12. (p. 50-51) In practice, the most significant restraint imposed by Congress on the president is its
A. ability to override presidential vetoes.
B. power of impeachment.
C. power to make the laws and appropriate money, for these determine the programs the executive can implement.
D. power to approve presidential appointees.
E. power to investigate presidential activities.
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C. power to make the laws and appropriate money, for these determine the programs the executive can implement.
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13. (p. 51-52) The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution
A. by the framers during the Philadelphia convention.
B. in stages, from 1789 to 1798.
C. in response to the freeing of the slaves during the Civil War.
D. in response to the ideals of Jacksonian democracy.
E. None of these answers is correct.
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E. None of these answers is correct.
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14. (p. 47) The origin of the concept of separation of powers is most associated with
A. Montesquieu.
B. Aristotle.
C. Hobbes.
D. Locke.
E. Jefferson.
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A. Montesquieu.
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15. (p. 53) Marbury v. Madison is a landmark Supreme Court decision because it
A. established national supremacy.
B. set the precedent for judicial review.
C. defined the scope of state powers under the Tenth Amendment.
D. affirmed the necessary and proper clause.
E. helped to end Thomas Jefferson’s political career.
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B. set the precedent for judicial review.
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16. (p. 53) Marbury v. Madison was an ingenious decision because it
A. turned a case that involved the issue of states’ rights into one that asserted national power.
B. redefined the constitutional relationship between the president and Congress.
C. asserted the power of the judiciary without creating the possibility of its rejection by either the executive or the legislative branch.
D. turned a case that involved the issue of states’ rights into one that asserted judicial power over the institutions of society.
E. gave more power to the presidency, at the expense of Congress.
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C. asserted the power of the judiciary without creating the possibility of its rejection by either the executive or the legislative branch.
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17. (p. 57) ________ referred to his victory in the presidential election as the "Revolution of 1800".
A. John Adams
B. Andrew Jackson
C. John Marshall
D. Thomas Jefferson
E. James Madison
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D. Thomas Jefferson
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18. (p. 54) To the framers, the great danger of democratic government was the risk of
A. tyranny of the majority.
B. elite rule.
C. special-interest politics.
D. a weak presidency.
E. judicial imperialism.
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A. tyranny of the majority.
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19. (p. 55) The writers of the Constitution used the term ________ to describe a form of government that consists of carefully designed institutions that are responsive to the majority but not captive to it.
A. democracy
B. republic
C. federalism
D. majoritarianism
E. separation of power
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B. republic
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20. (p. 55) Edmund Burke’s idea of representatives as trustees was based on the claim that
A. representatives should follow their own judgment of the public interest.
B. representatives should follow the voters’ judgment of the public interest.
C. indirect election is a more trustworthy means of discovering the public interest.
D. direct election is a more trustworthy means of discovering the public interest.
E. None of these answers is correct.
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A. representatives should follow their own judgment of the public interest.
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21. (p. 56) The framers entrusted the selection of U.S. senators to
A. specially chosen electors.
B. state legislatures.
C. direct vote of the people.
D. state governors.
E. federal magistrates.
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B. state legislatures.
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22. (p. 56) The writers of the Constitution devised the Electoral College as the method of choosing presidents because
A. direct election was impractical due to the poor systems of communication and transportation that existed in the late 1700s.
B. that method would shield executive power from direct linkage to popular majorities.
C. that method guaranteed a majority winner.
D. that method would give weight to the preferences of ordinary people.
E. the framers had a great deal of faith in the wisdom of the masses.
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B. that method would shield executive power from direct linkage to popular majorities.
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23. (p. 56) The term of office for a U.S. senator is ________ years, while that of a member of the U.S. House is ________ years.
A. six; two
B. four; two
C. six; four
D. four; four
E. eight; four
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A. six; two
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24. (p. 56) The writers of the Constitution justified different methods of selection and varying terms of office for the president, Senate, and House as a means of
A. increasing popular influence.
B. protection against rapid control by an impassioned majority.
C. preventing elite control of government.
D. maintaining experienced leadership.
E. increasing voter turnout.
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B. protection against rapid control by an impassioned majority.
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25. (p. 47) In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that
A. government is most dangerous when a single group is powerful enough to gain full political control.
B. monarchies are preferable to democracies.
C. America was not diverse enough to prevent powerful interest groups from exercising too much political power.
D. interest groups should be heavily regulated in America.
E. interest groups are less troublesome than political parties.
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A. government is most dangerous when a single group is powerful enough to gain full political control.
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26. (p. 58) Andrew Jackson persuaded the states to choose their presidential electors
A. on the basis of the popular vote.
B. by a vote of the state legislature.
C. by a vote of Congress.
D. by a presidential convention.
E. on the basis of one state, one elector.
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A. on the basis of the popular vote.
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27. (p. 33) The first plan of government for the United States was a
A. confederation.
B. federalist system.
C. unitary form of government.
D. monarchy.
E. theocracy.
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A. confederation.
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28. (p. 58) Progressive reforms included
A. primary elections.
B. direct election of U.S. senators.
C. the initiative and referendum.
D. recall elections.
E. All these answers are correct.
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E. All these answers are correct.
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29. (p. 59) In his criticism of the Constitution, the economist Charles Beard argued that
A. the Constitution’s elaborate systems of power and representation were designed to protect the interests of the rich.
B. the Constitution failed to protect the economic interests of the poorer states.
C. the Constitution’s commerce clause was inadequate to meet the nation’s economic needs.
D. the Constitution did not provide for sufficient protection of property.
E. the Constitution gave too much power to the illiterate.
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A. the Constitution’s elaborate systems of power and representation were designed to protect the interests of the rich.
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30. (p. 33-34) Which of the following was NOT provided for by the Articles of Confederation?
A. a national Congress
B. each state having one vote in Congress
C. unanimous approval by the states to amend the Articles
D. a federal government subordinate to the states
E. an independent federal executive
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E. an independent federal executive
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31. (p. 33) The inalienable rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence are
A. life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
B. liberty, equality, and fraternity.
C. life, liberty, and property.
D. life and property only.
E. equality and liberty only.
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A. life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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32. (p. 43) ________ presided over the Philadelphia convention of 1787.
A. Benjamin Franklin
B. Gouverneur Morris
C. Edmund Randolph
D. James Madison
E. George Washington
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E. George Washington
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33. (p. 46) The Constitution forbids Congress from
A. proposing constitutional amendments.
B. passing ex post facto laws.
C. declaring war.
D. proposing the repeal of constitutional amendments.
E. creating a national university.
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B. passing ex post facto laws.
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34. (p. 49) Which of the following is NOT among the checks Congress has on the executive?
A. power to ratify treaties
B. power to approve executive appointments
C. power to appropriate funding
D. power to impeach
E. power to declare an executive action unlawful
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E. power to declare an executive action unlawful
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35. (p. 51) Which of the following nations is often noted as an example of a government that has a system of checks and balances but is often plagued by political extremes?
A. France
B. Japan
C. Mexico
D. Great Britain
E. Canada
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C. Mexico
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36. (p. 38) Under the original Constitution, Congress could not ban the slave trade until ________.
A. 1808
B. 1828
C. 1848
D. 1865
E. 1887
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A. 1808
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37. (p. 42) The Federalist Papers were written by
A. Washington, Adams, and Jefferson.
B. Franklin, Washington, and Lee.
C. Jefferson, Locke, and Montesquieu.
D. Madison, Hamilton, and Jay.
E. Marshall, Jefferson, and Adams.
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D. Madison, Hamilton, and Jay.
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38. (p. 39-40) The Constitution was ratified by
A. the people.
B. local referendums.
C. the states.
D. the Supreme Court.
E. the Continental Congress.
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C. the states.
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39. (p. 42) The document explaining the ideas of the Constitution and urging its ratification is
A. the Mayflower Compact.
B. the Declaration of Independence.
C. The Anti-Federalist Papers.
D. The Federalist Papers.
E. the Declaration of Conscience.
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D. The Federalist Papers.
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40. (p. 42) Presidents are
A. directly selected by the people.
B. selected by votes of the state legislatures.
C. selected by votes of the Electoral College.
D. subject to recall elections.
E. subject to confidence votes by Congress.
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C. selected by votes of the Electoral College.
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41. (p. 48-49) Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?
A. the veto
B. the impeachment process
C. approval of treaties
D. judicial review
E. All these answers are correct.
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E. All these answers are correct.
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42. (p. 46) Where is the Bill of Rights found in the Constitution?
A. Article I, Section 8
B. Article II
C. the first ten amendments
D. amendments 17 through 26
E. Article III
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C. the first ten amendments
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43. (p. 30) ________ was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
A. John Locke
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. James Madison
D. George Washington
E. Alexander Hamilton
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B. Thomas Jefferson
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44. (p. 48) Judicial review is the power of the American courts to
A. declare a law unconstitutional.
B. suspend the writ of habeas corpus.
C. impeach the president.
D. give advisory opinions to Congress.
E. give advice and counsel to the president.
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A. declare a law unconstitutional.
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45. (p. 58) Which of the following developments in the national political system did NOT provide for more popular control?
A. primary elections
B. direct election of U.S. senators
C. recall elections
D. initiative and referendum
E. judicial review
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E. judicial review
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46. (p. 62) Which of the following aspects of U.S. government might be used as part of an argument that the U.S. is less democratic than some other democracies?
A. the extension of popular direct election to office
B. the frequency of election of its larger legislative body
C. its extensive reliance on primary elections
D. the frequency of election of its chief executive
E. its staggered terms of office of members of the legislature
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E. its staggered terms of office of members of the legislature
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47. (p. 36) Shays’ Rebellion
A. was a successful revolt.
B. convinced many political leaders that the national government was too powerful.
C. convinced many political leaders that the national government was too weak.
D. reinforced public support for the Articles of Confederation.
E. occurred after the Philadelphia convention of 1787.
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C. convinced many political leaders that the national government was too weak
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48. (p. 53) Who was serving as chief justice of the Supreme Court when it decided the case of Marbury v. Madison?
A. John Marshall
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. John Adams
D. James Madison
E. Edmund Burke
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A. John Marshall
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49. (p. 53) How did Congress retaliate to the Supreme Court’s reprimand, in Marbury v. Madison, that it had passed legislation that exceeded its constitutional authority?
A. It passed legislation to reduce the power of judicial review.
B. It forced the Court to accept the power to issue writs of mandamus.
C. Congress had no way to retaliate.
D. It voted to impeach the Chief Justice.
E. It completely disregarded the Court’s ruling.
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C. Congress had no way to retaliate.
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50. (p. 38) The "Three-Fifths Compromise" was a response to
A. conflict over the institution of slavery.
B. the concerns of small states.
C. apportionment in the U.S. Senate.
D. the Electoral College.
E. the demands of large states.
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A. conflict over the institution of slavery.
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51. (p. 59) The direct election of U.S. senators came about due to
A. passage of the Second Amendment.
B. political pressure from the Progressives.
C. Jeffersonian democracy.
D. Jacksonian democracy.
E. the fact that state legislators no longer desired to select them.
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B. political pressure from the Progressives.
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52. (p. 37) The Great Compromise produced
A. checks and balances.
B. the abolition of slavery.
C. a bicameral Congress.
D. separation of powers.
E. federalism.
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C. a bicameral Congress.
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53. (p. 49) Presidential appointments and treaties must be approved by
A. Congress.
B. only the president.
C. the Senate.
D. the Supreme Court.
E. the secretary of state.
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C. the Senate.
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54. (p. 55) A contemporary legislator who voted for a bill because of a belief in its benefit, even though his constituents back home overwhelmingly opposed the bill, would be performing the Edmund Burke role of
A. trustee.
B. delegate.
C. statesperson.
D. politician.
E. oversight.
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A. trustee.
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55. (p. 55) The framers of the Constitution preferred which of the following political arrangements?
A. a republic as opposed to a pure democracy
B. a monarchy as opposed to a constitutional system
C. a pure democracy over a republic
D. a pure democracy over a representative democracy
E. socialism over capitalism
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A. a republic as opposed to a pure democracy
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56. (p. 33) According to John Locke, inalienable rights in a social contract
A. belong to the government only.
B. belong to individuals but can be denied by government.
C. belong to individuals and cannot be denied by government.
D. cannot be guaranteed by any governmental body.
E. are no longer as important to the individual as in a state of nature.
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C. belong to individuals and cannot be denied by government.
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