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Anti-Federalist
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an individual who opposed the ratification of the new Constitution in 1787; opposed to a strong central government
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bicameral legislature
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(two-chamber); a legislature made up of two parts called chambers; U.S. Congress (HOR and Senate) is a ___________ legislature
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checks and balances
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a major principle of the American system of government whereby each branch of government can check the actions of the others
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confederation
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a political system in which states or regional governments retain ultimate authority except for those powers they expressly delegate to a central government; a voluntary association of independent states, in which the member states agree to limit restraints on their freedom of action
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electoral college
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a group of persons called electors selected by the voters in each state and the D.C.; group officially elects the president and vice president of the US; the number of electors in each state is equal to the number of each stat;s representatives in both chambers of Congress; 23rd amendment to the Constitution grants DC as many electors as the state with the smallest population
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executive agreement
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an international agreement between chiefs of state that does not require legislative approval
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executive order
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a rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of law; implemented and give administrative effect to provisions in the U.S. Constitution, treaties, or statutes
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federal system
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a system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional, or subdivisional, governments; each level must have some domain in which its policies are dominant and some genuine political or constitutional guarantee of its authority
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Federalist
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the name given to one who was in favor of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and the creation of a federal union with a strong central government – more knowledgeable than Anti-Federalists
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Great Compromise
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the compromise between the New Jersey and Virginia Plans that created one chamber of Congress based on population and one chamber, representing each state equally; a.k.a. Connecticut Compromise
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judicial review
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the power of the Supreme Court and other courts to declare unconstitutional federal or state laws and other acts of government
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Madisonian model
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a structure of government proposed by James Madison in which the powers of the government are separated into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial; no branch had enough power to dominate the others; Congress=pass laws; president=enforce and administer laws; Court=interpret laws in individual circumstances
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natural rights
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rights held to be inherent in natural law, not dependent on governments; John Locke stated that natural law, being superior to human law, specifies certain rights of "life, liberty, and property." ; rights were altered to become "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," are asserted in the Declaration of Independence
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ratification
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formal approval
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representative assembly
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a legislature composed of individuals who represent the population
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separation of powers
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the principle of dividing governmental powers among different branches of government
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social contract
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a voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules
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state
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a group of people occupying a specific area and organized under one government; may be either a nation or a subunit of a nation
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supremacy doctrine
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a doctrine that asserts the priority of national law over state laws; principle is rooted in Article VI of the Constitution, which provides that the Constitution, the laws passed by the national government under its constitutional powers, and all treaties constitute the supreme law of the land
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unicameral legislature
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(one body) a legislature with only one legislative chamber, as opposed to a bicameral (two-chamber) legislature, such as the U.S. Congress; Nebraska is the only state to have this type of legislature
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The Jamestown colonists set a political precedent by
A. allowing the governor to use a line-item veto
B. instituting a direct democracy
C. instituting a representative assembly
D. creating a judicial system
E. writing a constitutional document
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C. instituting a representative assembly
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The major historical and political significance of the Mayflower Compact was that it
A. served as a prototype for many similar compacts
B. Was the start of the first settlement in America
C. depended on the consent of the individuals involved
D. established the colony of Massachusetts
E. both a and c
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E. both a and c
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During the colonial period, all of the following developments took place EXCEPT
A. the colonists developed a concept of limited government
B. the colonists exercised a large measure of self-government
C. the colonists adopted a variety of bills, such as the Massachusetts Body of Liberties and the Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges, that protected civil liberties
D. Louisiana was established as the last of the colonies
E. the colonists acquired crucial political experience
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D. Louisiana was established as the last of the colonies
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Taxes were imposed on the colonists to
A. pay for the coronation of King George III
B. pay for the establishment of more colonies
C. pay the costs of Britain’s defense of the colonies during the French & Indian War
D. purchase Canada (Quebec) from the French
E. none of the above
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C. pay the costs of Britain’s defense of the colonies during the French & Indian War
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Taxes that the British attempted to impose in the years leading up to the Revolution included all of the following EXCEPT
a) the Sugar Act, which imposed a tax on sugar
b) the Stamp Act, which taxed, among other things, legal documents
c) duties on glass, lead, and paint
d) a tax on ta
e) an income tax
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e) an income tax
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A colonists’ fury over taxation climaxed in
a) the French and Indian War
b) the First Continental Congress
c) the appointment of the USA president
d) the Boston Tea Party
e) none of the above
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d) the Boston Tea Party
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The 1st Continental Congress
a) was called by the colonies to seek independence from Britain
b) called for the abdication of King George III
c) asked the colonies to boycott British trade and raise troops
d) was ignored by the British
e) was only attended by delegates from six colonies
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c) asked the colonies to boycott British trade and raise troops
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One of the main actions of the 2nd Continental Congress was
a) to establish an army and appoint a commander in chief
b) to sign a treaty with Britain prohibiting armed conflict
c) to sign a treaty with France to declare war on Britain
d) the creation of a unitary government in America
e) to bring the remaining seven colonies into the Congress
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a) to establish an army and appoint a commander in chief
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Thomas Pain’s pamphlet "Common Sense" advocated
a) the formation of a new government that would still be loyal to the king
b) establishment of a government that would limit further immigration
c) an end of hostilities toward Britain
d) the idea that a government of our own is our natural right
e) the repeal of all taxes including those the colonists had imposed on themselves
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d) the idea that a government of our own is our natural right
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The first draft of the Declaration of Independence was written by
a) John Locke
b) John Adams
c) Thomas Jefferson
d) George Washington
e) Benjamin Frankline
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c) Thomas Jefferson
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"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal" are the first words of the
a) US Constitution
b) Declaration of Independence
c) Magna Carta
d) United Nations Charter
e) Bill of Rights
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b) Declaration of Independence
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A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules is called a
a) confederation
b) social contract
c) syndicate
d) constitution
e) constitution
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b) social contract
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The inalienable rights stipulated in the Declaration of Independence included the right
a) of free speech and free press
b) to freely associate and assemble
c) to life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
d) to privacy from governmental intervention
e) to freedom of religion
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d) to privacy from governmental intervention
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The term "confederation" or "confederal" refers to a
a) system in which most power is with the central government
b) a voluntary association in which states have most of the power
c) a system in which state and local governments have equal power with the central government
d) national legislature
e) the southern states where slavery was legal
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b) a voluntary association in which states have most of the power
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Which of the following was not true of the Articles of Confederation?
a) Congress was a unicameral body
b) The national government did not have an executive branch
c) The states retained most of the power
d) The president was chosen by Congress
e) There was no system of national courts
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d) The president was chosen by Congress
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Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
a) Congress lacked the power to collect taxes directly from the people
b) there was no executive branch
c) Congress lacked the power to coin money
d) each state had one vote regardless of size
e) all the above
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e) all the above
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The Constitutional Convention in 1787 was brought on by the
a) tyranny of the British king
b) request of President Washington
c) failure of the Articles of Confederation
d) publication of the Declaration of Independence
e) end of the Revolutionary War
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c) failure of the Articles of Confederation
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At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia,
a) delegates talked openly with other people to let them know what was happening at the convention
b) most delegates represented the poor farmers and the tradesmen
c) there were few important leaders of the country in attendance
d) all the states were represented
e) there were different views among the delegates about the powers that should be given to the national government
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e) there were different views among the delegates about the powers that should be given to the national government
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The Virgina Plan
a) called for a bicameral legislature
b) worked to the advantage of small states
c) provided for the direct election of a president by the people
d) settled all controversy
e) both b and d
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a) called for a bicameral legislature
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The New Jersey Plan called for all of the following EXCEPT
a) Congress to elect several people to form an executive office
b) the creation of a new and very powerful central government
c) the ability of Congress to regulate trade and impose taxes
d) acts of Congress to be the supreme law of the land
e) the principle of one state, one vote
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b) the creation of a new and very powerful central government
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The supremacy doctrine asserts the superiority of
a) large states over small states
b) non-slave states over slave states
c) national law over state law
d) natural law over man-made law
e) none of the above
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c) national law over state law
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Under the supremacy clause of the Constitution
a) state laws can’t conflict with city ordinances
b) federal laws can’t conflict with state laws
c) state and local laws are superior to the state’s constitution
d) local, sate, and federal laws can’t conflict with the Constitution
e) none of the above
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d) local, sate, and federal laws can’t conflict with the Constitution
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The Great Compromise
a) was advanced by the delegates from Georgia
b) proposed a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate
c) was presented too late to be considered
d) was proposed by Texas
e) proposed a unicameral legislature in which each state would have one vote
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b) proposed a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate
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The three-fifths compromise did all of the following EXCEPT
a) illustrate the power of the southern states at the convention
b) partially apportion the HOR and the Electoral College on the basis of the property
c) give African Americans representation that was equal to what free white received
d) give more voting power to southern slave owners
e) fail to address the slave trade directly
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c) give African Americans representation that was equal to what free white received
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All of the following were compromises in the Constitution EXCEPT that
a) there was no ban on the importation of slaves before 1808
b) there were to be no export taxes on goods leaving the US
c) slavery was outlawed
d) representation in the HOR was based on a state’s population
e) states were equally represented in the Senate
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c) slavery was outlawed
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The USA is among he few countries that don’t tax their exports because
a) it doesn’t need the money
b) it encourages exports
c) the South obtained a promise that export taxes would not be imposed
d) the World Trade Organization prohibits it from doing so
e) the US president vetoed the bill
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c) the South obtained a promise that export taxes would not be imposed
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The concept of separation of powers was included in the Constitution to prevent
a) disputes between the federal and state governments
b) the imposition of export taxes
c) a major dispute over power between the House and the Senate
d) disputes over power between Congress and the president
e) tyranny either of the majority or the minority
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e) tyranny either of the majority or the minority
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Which of the following in NOT correct under the concept of separation of powers?
a) the president executes and carries out the law
b) the Supreme Curt uses judicial review
c) the legislative branch’s job is lawmaking
d) Congress has the right to interpret law
e) non of the above is correct
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d) Congress has the right to interpret law
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The concept of checks and balances allows
a) each branch of government to be able to check the actions of others
b) the president to veto judicial decisions
c) the president to pass laws during a time of crisis
d) Congress the power to select justices of the Supreme Court
e) both a and c
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a) each branch of government to be able to check the actions of others
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The group that actually elects the president of the United States is called
a) the Presidential Election Commission
b) the Congressional Election Forum
c) the Association of State Legislatures
d) the Electoral College
e) the Electorate at large
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d) the Electoral College
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The Constitution that was to be ratified established the following fundamental principles EXCEPT
a) popular sovereignty, or control by the people
b) a republican government in which the people choose representatives to make decisions for them
c) limited government with written laws
d) a federal system that allows for states’ rights, because the states feared too much centralized control
e) presidential infallibility
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e) presidential infallibility
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Compared to the Articles of Confederation, the federal government under the Constitution is
a) stronger
b) weaker
c) unchanged
d0 more like Great Britain’s constitution
e) little different from the Articles
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a) stronger
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Ratification of the Constitution was to occur by
a) approval of the thirteen state legislatures
b) approval by nine out of thirteen state conventions
c) approval of thirteen state legislatures and two-thirds of Congress
d) approval by popular vote in nine states
e) none of the above
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b) approval by nine out of thirteen state conventions
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The Federalists advocated
a) the status quo
b) return to the Articles of Confederation
c) ratification of the new Constitution
d) strong state government system
e) both a and b
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c) ratification of the new Constitution
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The Anti-Federalists advocated
a) the status quo
b) a strong central government
c) the new Constitution
d) an end to slavery
e) both b and c
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a) the status quo
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The Bill of Rights was important for ratification of the Constitution because
a) all state constitutions had such rights, and this would have made the US constitution void without a national bill
b) such rights were stipulated int he Articles of Confederation
c) some states would not have voted to ratify the Constitution without the promise of the Bill of Rights
d) none of the above
e) all of the above
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c) some states would not have voted to ratify the Constitution without the promise of the Bill of Rights
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The Bill of Rights provided for
a) the protection of individual liberties from state governments
b) the protection of individual liberties from the national government
c) equal protection under the law
d) protect protection against state infringements on the freedoms of conscience, the press and jury trial
e) both b and d
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e) both b and d
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The Bill of Rights is an example of the way in which government power is
a) dictatorial
b) limited
c) delegated to the states
d) without controls
e) always right
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b) limited
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A constitutional amendment can be proposed by
a) National convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the state legislatures
b) a 2/3 vote in each chamber of Congress
c) the legislatures in 2/3 the states
d) majority vote in both chambers of Congress, provided the amendment is not vetoed by the president
e) both a and b
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e) both a and b
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A constitutional amendment can be ratified by
a) a positive vote in conventions in 3/4 of the states
b) a positive vote in the legislatures of 3/4 of the states
c) a 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress
d) the legislatures in 2/3 of the states
e) both a and b
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e) both a and b
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Which groups are involved in proposing and ratifying amendments to the Constitution
a) states, president, and Congress
b) Senate, Supreme Court, and HOR
c) Congress, president, and people
d) Senate, HOR, and states
e) HOR, president, and Senate
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d) Senate, HOR, and states
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The only method used so far to propose an amendment to the Constitution is
a) the popular vote of the people
b) a 2/3 vote in favor of it by both houses of Congress
c) state legislatures or conventions in 3/4 of the states
d) a national convention
e) a proposal by the president
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b) a 2/3 vote in favor of it by both houses of Congress
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Judicial review is
a) a method by which the president can check the judiciary
b) the process of confirmation of federal judges by Congress
c) the ability of the courts to declare acts of the legislative and executive branches of government unconstitutional
d) not applicable to actions by state governments
e) none of the above
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c) the ability of the courts to declare acts of the legislative and executive branches of government unconstitutional
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The voting age of eighteen was set by
a) Congress
b) the Constitution
c) political parties
d) the Supreme Court
e) the states
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b) the Constitution
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According to "Federalist #51" it is important to guard the society against the oppression of
a) the rulers
b) the majority
c) foreign nations
d) the wealthy classes
e) both a and b
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e) both a and b
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Informal methods of constitutional change include
a) Congress proposing an amendment with a 3/4 majority of both houses
b) state governments changing their constitutions to give them supremacy
c) the use of judicial review by the courts
d) state governments agreeing to hold conventions to amend the Constitution
e) all of the above
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c) the use of judicial review by the courts
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The power of the Supreme Court to declare actions of the other branches of government to be unconstitutional is known as
a) judicial review
b) judicial activism
c) legislative ratification
d) the supremacy doctrine
e) the Madisonian model
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a) judicial review
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The right to carry a gun in places like school campuses and churches is
a) addressed by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution
b) addressed by the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution
c) addressed by the 5th Amendment to the Constitution
d) addressed by the 8th Amendment to the Constitution
e) not addressed by the Constitution
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b) addressed by the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution
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International agreements between the president and other nations that do not require the approval of the Senate are known as
a) treaties
b) executive agreements
c) contracts
d) memoranda of understanding
e) executive orders
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b) executive agreements
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