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Q:
Which Amendment provides the basis for the incorporation doctrine?
A.12th Amendment
B.14th Amendment
C.16th Amendment
D.18th Amendment
E.20th Amendment
Q:
What is the stance of the Supreme Court in regard to the death penalty?
A.The death penalty is unconstitutional, though states may use it if their state courts approve.
B.If one state has a death penalty statute, then all states must also have such a statute.
C.The death penalty is not considered unconstitutional unless it is used for a juvenile under the age of eighteen or a mentally retarded person.
D.The Supreme Court has encouraged the use of the death penalty as punishment and deterrence.
E.The Supreme Court has consistently ruled that nothing in the Constitution can be used to address the issue of the death penalty.
Q:
Which of the following is NOT a right guaranteed by the Eighth Amendment?
A.the right to bail that is not excessive
B.freedom from excessive fines
C.freedom from cruel and unusual punishment
D.the right to a jury trial
E.the ability to reasonably obtain release from secure confinement, pending disposition of the criminal charges
Q:
One of the most well-known interpretations of the Fifth Amendment by the Supreme Court is the case of Miranda v. Arizona in 1966. The "Miranda warning" is often quoted in popular media. Which of the following is NOT a right that is advised during the Miranda warning?
A.the right to remain silent
B.surrender of the right to remain silent, which may result in statements being used as evidence against accused
C.the right of the suspect to be released from jail or police custody if an attorney is not readily available
D.the right to an attorney during questioning
E.the right to an appointed attorney free of charge if the suspect cannot afford to retain one
Q:
The Fifth Amendment also protects the accused from being tried twice for the same crime. To do so would constitute what the Constitution refers to as
A.illegal subpoena.
B.judicial unrestraint.
C.judicial exclusion.
D.double jeopardy.
E.indictment.
Q:
The Fifth Amendment creates several rights in regard to the criminally accused. One such right is the grand jury review. What is the purpose of this process?
A.The grand jury reviews probable cause and, if it finds such, will return a formal indictment of the accused.
B.The grand jury decides the guilt or innocence of the accused.
C.The grand jury serves as an advisory board to the judge.
D.The grand jury serves in place of the prosecutor in states where the position does not exist.
E.The grand jury monitors the trial of the accused and reports observed violations to the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Q:
In recent years, the Supreme Court has allowed some illegally seized evidence to be admitted under very narrow circumstances, such as when the police were not at fault (for example, the judge signing the warrant did not have jurisdiction). Such an example of the relaxing of rules is referred to as
A.blind obedience.
B.the ignorance rule.
C.the good faith exception.
D.judicial malfeasance.
E.judicial oversight.
Q:
What is the most frequently expressed complaint about the use of the exclusionary rule?
A.The federal government exerts too much power over the state governments.
B.The judiciary branch is attempting to circumvent and impose its preferences over the legitimate powers of the elected legislature.
C.Allowing the use of the exclusionary rule opens the door to far too much discretion on the part of the individual judges.
D.Even though the police may have erred in seizing the evidence, a potential criminal is freed.
E.The Supreme Court has not clearly defined the conditions in which the rule is to be used.
Q:
The 1961 Supreme Court decision in Mapp v. Ohio created the exclusionary rule. What impact does the exclusionary rule have on the American legal system?
A.The Bill of Rights does not apply to state criminal procedures, thus excluding state and local police from Fourth Amendment restrictions.
B.Blatantly obvious evidence against a suspect excludes the police from having to secure a warrant.
C.Any evidence obtained by police in violation of the Bill of Rights must be excluded from admission in a court of law.
D.The police may never legally arrest anyone without a properly issued warrant in his or her possession.
E.Individuals who enter the country illegally have no rights under the Constitution or statutory criminal procedures.
Q:
The Fourth Amendment has had a very strong impact on the American legal system and has been a source of many Supreme Court rulings. The Fourth Amendment deals with
A.the right to bear arms.
B.the right to peaceably assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
C.the right of the people to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures.
D.the powers of the state governments in relation to the federal government.
E.the right to an attorney.
Q:
Criminal laws that are retroactively applied to those who engaged in activities when they were not yet illegal are called
A.backdoor laws.
B.fascist laws.
C.civil subpoenas.
D.bill of attainder.
E.ex post facto laws.
Q:
The Second Amendment concerns American citizens' "right to bear arms" yet this amendment has long been a source of heated debate, confusion, and litigation. What has been the stance of the Supreme Court on Second Amendment issues in the past few decades?
A.The Supreme Court has refused to rule on Second Amendment matters on the grounds that it is perceived as a state issue instead of a federal issue.
B.Generally the Supreme Court has refused to restrict the right to bear arms, with only few exceptions, such as in the use of assault rifle bans.
C.The Supreme Court has consistently chipped away at private ownership and use of guns.
D.The Supreme Court has historically avoided the subject of private gun ownership, but recently appointed justices have signaled a dramatic shift toward strict gun control.
E.The Supreme Court believes that retreat on the Second Amendment will set a dangerous precedent that will create a "slippery slope" on which retreat on First Amendment issues will be imminent.
Q:
In various opinions over several decades the Supreme Court has protected what it refers to as "symbolic speech." Which of the following is NOT an example of symbolic speech?
A.publicly desecrating or burning the American flag
B.burning a draft card during a time of war
C.wearing black armbands in school or work as a sign of political protest
D.invoking symbols or actions that target a particular person or group with the intent of causing harm
E.flying the American flag upside down
Q:
With its ruling in Reno v. ACLU in 1997, the Supreme Court invalidated a federal law passed to protect minors from "indecent" and "patently offensive" communications via the Internet. What was the Court's rationale in its invalidation of the federal law?
A.The Internet is impossible to police.
B.To restrict Internet speech in the United States would also restrict it in other countries.
C.In denying minors access to potentially harmful speech, the law suppressed a large amount of speech that adults have a constitutional right to receive.
D.The Internet is no standard group or vehicle by which to define "decency," much less to enforce the standard.
E.Control of Internet speech is a role for the state governments, not the federal government.
Q:
In very limited cases, the courts may impose a limit on publication before certain material has actually been published, based on the argument that the material will be libelous if published. This order not to publish is called
A.judicial censorship.
B.cease and desist.
C.prior restraint.
D.judicial discretion.
E.libel diversion.
Q:
The First Amendment also guarantees freedom of the press. The press is considered speech but it does have some limitations. One such exception of speech or press that is restricted is in the case of libel, which is defined as
A.the crime of printing or disseminating false statements that harm someone.
B.the unethical action of making light of someone in the presence of others.
C.the crime of lying in a public document.
D.any behavior that offends or creates an uncomfortable relationship.
E.the crime of embezzling readers with false information.
Q:
The Supreme Court issued its 1919 ruling in the case of Schenck v. United States. Charles Schenck, a leader of the American Socialist Party, was jailed for distributing anti-draft leaflets during time of massive military build-up in the early months of American involvement in World War I. The Supreme Court rejected Schenck's request for release and in doing so established what precedent as a test of free speech?
A.During war, a citizen is forbidden to criticize the government's actions.
B.Speech may be restricted when a "clear and present danger" exists that the words will have a broad negative effect on the citizenry.
C.During times of war, the president's administration approves all exceptions to free speech.
D.The issue of restricting free speech is a state issue and is therefore out of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
E.When state court rulings and the Supreme Court rulings are in conflict, the state ruling will become law since states are closer to the people.
Q:
The First Amendment right to free speech or free expression is a revered and fundamental right in the American political system. Which of the following is NOT one of the often-cited justifications for protecting free speech?
A.Most other societies allow free speech, so to disallow it in the United States would create undue tensions among citizens.
B.Free speech creates a "marketplace of ideas."
C.Self-governance is dependent upon free speech.
D.Free speech can lead to self-fulfillment.
E.Free speech is a "safety valve" that balances the need for order with reform.
Q:
The issue of prayers at school graduations and ball games has also been addressed by the Supreme Court as recently as 2000 in Santa Fe v. Doe. What is the stance of the Court in regard to prayers at such events where attendance is voluntary?
A.Since attendance is voluntary and the participation in the prayer is not required, then the prayers do not violate the Constitution's protections.
B.The prayers are allowed because these events are attended by more adults than minors.
C.The Court failed to rule on the specific issue of prayer but discouraged it because of the public nature of the event.
D.Even though attendance is voluntary, the prayer is unconstitutional because the attendees are forced to participate and because it appears to be a state endorsement of religion.
E.The prayers are unconstitutional because not all religions have equal time allotted to offer their prayers.
Q:
The 1971 Supreme Court ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman created what is often referred to as the Lemon test in determining the appropriate level of separation of church and state. Which of the following is NOT a standard or condition of the Lemon test?
A.The statute must have a secular purpose.
B.The statute's principal effect must be one that neither advances nor inhibits religion.
C.The statute must not foster excessive entanglement with religion.
D.The role of state governments does not apply under the Lemon test, therefore, states may authorize religious cooperation.
E.The role of the government is to ensure that it takes a neutral stance regarding religion, so it does not prohibit it but also does not advocate for it.
Q:
As a compromise to the prayer in schools ban, many districts instituted "moments of silence." The 1985 Supreme Court case of Wallace v. Jaffree addressed this issue. What was the Court's ruling?
A.Moments of silence are fine so long as students are not coerced into participating.
B.Moments of silence are an acceptable alternative to prayer in school since there is no coercion toward a certain religion.
C.Moments of silence are unconstitutional because they are mandatory and are usually authorized in order to encourage religious prayers.
D.The Court skirted the issue and left the matter to the discretion of each state's courts.
E.Moments of silence are acceptable if led by a student rather than a school official.
Q:
In several landmark cases in 1962, 1963, and 1985, the Supreme Court addressed the issue of prayer in public school classrooms. What is and has been the opinion of the Supreme Court in this matter?
A.Each school district must look to its community standards concerning religion and follow the majority of public opinion.
B.Community religious leaders have a limited right to advise school officials on religious activities and teachings in the public schools.
C.Public schools may not allow any activities or speech that would advocate or advance a particular religious belief, but instead the schools must act with a secular purpose.
D.Elementary schools may not advocate or require participation in prayer or bible study, but high schools are exempt because of the maturity level of the students.
E.Though such prayer was once disallowed, the conservative sweep of the Supreme Court after the 2004 presidential elections has led to its overturning the ban on school prayer.
Q:
In a series of well-publicized Supreme Court rulings in 2005, Kentucky was required to remove the Ten Commandments posted in some of its county courtrooms. However, Texas was allowed to keep a monument on the state capital grounds that had the Ten Commandments listed. How did the Supreme Court rationalize the Kentucky circumstance as unconstitutional, but not the Texas case?
A.Texas was a sovereign nation prior to becoming a state and was allowed to retain some of its religious sovereignty.
B.Kentucky did not have the level of adequate legal representation during the proceedings as did Texas.
C.The Texas case used a newer, more modern interpretation of the Ten Commandments that was considered less controversial by the Supreme Court.
D.The Kentucky case involved religious displays inside of public courtrooms that are involuntarily visible to anyone, whereas the Texas case involved a monument with a historical context that is located on the grounds of the capitol building.
E.The Supreme Court showed its bias toward western states.
Q:
What is the purpose of the establishment clause of the First Amendment?
A.It requires Congress to establish a national religion to be used as a foundation for other religious efforts.
B.It prohibits the display of any religious symbols, gestures, or thoughts at any level of government.
C.It prohibits the government from enacting any law "respecting the establishment of religion."
D.It establishes Christianity as the national religion, in keeping with the beliefs of the founding fathers.
E.It ensures that any and all religious beliefs have equal and full support of the federal government.
Q:
In 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Employment Division v Smith established what important precedent concerning freedom of religion?
A.The ruling strongly encouraged active religious practice in the United States but was later overturned by legislation.
B.The Supreme Court intended to force religious inclusion into the workforce.
C.The Supreme Court attempted to create a constitutional amendment that would further strengthen the First Amendment.
D.The ruling gave social conservatives an inroad with which to file more lawsuits against the government.
E.The ruling required state governments only to establish a "legitimate state interest" in restricting religious freedoms.
Q:
Which of the following is NOT an example of an opinion in which the Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious groups using the First Amendment's free exercise clause?
A.It ruled that the state of Wisconsin cannot require Amish children to attend school beyond the eighth grade.
B.It required the state of South Carolina to pay unemployment benefits to a Seventh Day Adventist who refused to work on Saturdays.
C.It refused to recognize a claim by a Mormon in 1878 of his right to practice polygamy.
D.It ruled that the state of North Carolina could require students to participate in public school prayer.
E.It refused to recognize the right of two Oregon Native Americans to ingest the drug peyote as part of a religious ritual after the two had been fired from their jobs as drug rehabilitators.
Q:
Who makes the determination that a particular action or law is in violation of the free exercise clause of the First Amendment?
A.the president
B.Congress
C.state legislatures
D.the U.S. Supreme Court
E.the voters
Q:
The First Amendment's free exercise clause bans government laws that prohibit the free exercise of religion. An excellent example of applying this standard is the one faced by Jehovah's Witnesses in 1943. What was that challenge?
A.The Supreme Court ruled that Jehovah's Witnesses could not go door-to-door to advocate for their beliefs.
B.The Supreme Court ruled that Jehovah's Witnesses were out of the mainstream of religious belief and were therefore not protected by the First Amendment.
C.The Supreme Court ruled that Jehovah's Witnesses are not observing a "legitimate" religion.
D.In West Virginia v. Barnette the Supreme Court ruled that the public school system could not suspend students who as Jehovah's Witnesses refused to salute the flag in their classrooms.
E.In Brown v. Board of Education the Supreme Court upheld a law which banned prayer in school by students who were Jehovah's Witnesses.
Q:
Americans often hear the metaphor of a "wall of separation between church and state" when referring to the First Amendment's right to freedom of religion. When was this metaphor first used?
A.In the 1960s, by the Supreme Court when it became increasingly liberal and turned on "the church"
B.In the second half of the twentieth century, when atheists began to influence Congress
C.During the Civil War, when religious groups demanded protection from government abuses
D.In 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson, based in part on his fear of a national and official church
E.Several thousand years ago, as a biblically based standard
Q:
There are still a handful of rights and issues in the Bill of Rights that the Supreme Court has not, by court ruling and opinion, required that the state governments recognize. One of the most well-known rights that serves as such an example is
A.the First Amendment's freedom of speech.
B.the First Amendment's freedom of religion.
C.the Second Amendment's right to bear arms.
D.the Sixth Amendment and the speedy trial requirement.
E.the Sixth Amendment and the right to an attorney.
Q:
How has the Supreme Court consistently used the Fourth Amendment in applying the Bill of Rights to the state governments?
A.President Lincoln interpreted that the amendment required states to observe the "due process" clause and by executive order required states to abide by it, which the Supreme Court has since upheld.
B.Congress passed an "enforcement statute" that forced the Supreme Court to begin recognizing the due process clause.
C.The Bill of Rights does not apply to state governments and their actions so the Supreme Court has not referred to it in this regard.
D.The Supreme Court has applied the "due process" clause, ruling that the failure to recognize any right in the Bill of Rights is a violation of this clause.
E.The Fourteenth Amendment explicitly requires that states recognize and enforce the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution, which the Supreme Court has upheld.
Q:
For well over 100 years, many Americans advocated that the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution applied only to federal government actions and that states were not bound by the amendments. How has this trend changed?
A.In the early twentieth century, Congress passed a law which allowed the Bill of Rights to be applied at the state level.
B.In the twentieth century, the Supreme Court began using a process called incorporation, which utilized the Fourteenth Amendment to hold states accountable to the Bill of Rights and the dictates of the First Amendment..
C.The Constitution was amended to require that its amendments be applied to state actions.
D.The Civil War decided this issue.
E.The civil rights movement of the mid-twentieth century brought attention to the lack of uniform enforcement and opened the door for Congress to pass laws that required states to recognize and apply the Bill of Rights.
Q:
The Fourteenth Amendment is a broadly worded and widely utilized law. Its original intent, however, was
A.to protect freed slaves from discriminatory state laws.
B.to ensure that the needs of the state governments were protected.
C.to protect President Lincoln from impeachment during a time of war.
D.to give citizens powerful rights against the government.
E.to protect the government from overly aggressive citizens.
Q:
In the twentieth century the Supreme Court became increasingly more willing to protect individuals against intrusive state actions. What instrument gave the Supreme Court this authority?
A.the Civil Rights Act of 1871
B.the Alien and Sedition Acts
C.the First Amendment, which guaranteed freedom of speech
D.the Fourteenth Amendment, which guaranteed due process of law by the states
E.the free exercise clause
Q:
In the case of Barron v. Baltimore (1833)a private citizen attempted to apply the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment as the basis for a state level civil suit. The practical effect of this ruling against the private citizen
A.made the Bill of Rights virtually meaningless to the state governments.
B.turned public opinion sharply against the national government.
C.was a catalyst for commencement of the Civil War.
D.clearly established the subordination of state governments to the Bill of Rights.
E.established the right of states to control interstate commerce.
Q:
The section of the U.S. Constitution commonly referred to as the Bill of Rights consists of
A.the powers of the president to curtail individual rights.
B.the amendments to the Constitution, added in 1791 following ratification, that guarantee individual rights.
C.Article III, which sets up the judicial branch.
D.voluntary measures to ensure domestic tranquility.
E.police powers that are designed to control citizen uprisings.
Q:
The Declaration of Independence states that when a government created by "the consent of the governed" fails to protect their rights, the people have the right to
A.hold the president and Congress criminally liable.
B.file a lawsuit in the federal courts.
C.turn to the state governments for relief.
D.alter or abolish such government.
E.file actions in state courts against the federal government.
Q:
Why did the Framers of the Constitution, such as James Madison, believe that a Bill of Rights to guarantee individual rights was unnecessary at the federal level?
A.Madison believed that citizens should have faith and trust in their federal government without requiring a legal document.
B.Madison believed that if the federal government wanted to violate rights it could certainly do so with or without a Bill of Rights.
C.Madison believed that the federal government had only the powers it was explicitly given so it had no power to infringe on rights in the first place, but should leave the protection of individual rights to the states.
D.Madison believed that the federal government had no power to enforce such a Bill of Rights.
E.Madison believed that the new Supreme Court would invalidate the Bill of Rights.
Q:
The term "liberties" normally refers to
A.rights and privileges extended to veterans.
B.rights received from a higher authority, such as a government.
C.natural rights.
D.due process.
E.rights extended only during times of peace.
Q:
In writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson stated that human beings are endowed with certain "inalienable rights." What did he mean by this statement?
A.The rights cannot be extended to noncitizens.
B.Any person who is in the country illegally is ineligible for legal protection.
C.The government "endows" certain rights so it can also deny them.
D.The rights cannot be denied by the government.
E.Only the state governments can guarantee rights to citizens.
Q:
Which rights are based on human society and exist even in the absence of formal government?
A.natural rights
B.citizenship rights
C.civil liberties
D.civil rights
E.legal jurisdiction
Q:
How does the term "civil liberties" differ from the term "civil rights"?
A.Lawsuits may be filed when violations of civil liberties occur, but they may not be filed for violations of civil rights.
B.Civil liberties are voluntary while civil rights are mandatory.
C.In most cases, the terms mean the same thing.
D.Civil liberties are guaranteed by the Constitution and cannot be taken away, while civil rights refer to the rights to equal treatment for specific groups based on race, gender, sex, etc.
E.The term "civil liberties" was used prior to the twentieth century, while the term "civil rights" was used afterward.
Q:
What are "civil liberties"?
A.They are freedoms that can be taken during wars, if deemed necessary by Congress.
B.They are rights that are extended by state governments at the expense of the federal government.
C.They are religious-based freedoms.
D.They are specific individual rights which cannot be taken away by government and are guaranteed by the Constitution.
E.They are laws that enforce civility between citizens and are designed to also enforce the peace.
Q:
A major factor in President John Adams's failure to be reelected in 1800 was
A.his failure to secure a balanced budget.
B.his support for abolition of slavery.
C.his use of the Alien and Sedition Acts against his political opponents in the United States.
D.his use of the Sedition Act to subversively aid the French.
E.his ruling that the Bill of Rights was unconstitutional.
Q:
In 1798, with Napoleon Bonaparte expanding French territory across Europe by force, the fledgling nation of the United States enacted a series of four laws that were designed to prevent overthrow or weakening of the nation. These laws were collectively referred to as
A.the Bill of Rights.
B.the Alien and Sedition Acts.
C.the Illegal Alien Deportation Act.
D.the Democratic Manifesto.
E.the Stamp Act.
Q:
What did the Sedition Act of 1798 prohibit?
A.the publication of materials that brought the U.S. government into disrepute
B.the power of the federal government to control interstate commerce
C.the raising of militia by the state governments
D.the implementation of the draft
E.overseas travel by American citizens
Q:
As one of four national defense acts passed by Congress in 1798, what was the effect of the Alien Enemies Act?
A.It allowed the president to declare a disloyal citizen as an alien enemy, to strip the citizen's rights, and to deport the individual.
B.It declared as enemies any undocumented aliens in the United States at the time of passage.
C.Enacted during a time of increasing tensions between the United States and France, it allowed the president during wartime to arrest and imprison aliens subject to an enemy power.
D.It declared that any illegal alien was an outlaw and subject to martial law.
E.It created and extended constitutional protections for aliens in the United States.
Q:
What was the impact of the Alien Act in 1798 and how did it affect civil liberties?
A.The Alien Act protected noncitizens from loss of civil liberties by the government.
B.The Alien Act enacted a military draft for aliens currently living in the United States.
C.Due to fear of a pending war with France, the Alien Act authorized the president to order out of the United States all aliens suspected of "treasonable or secret" inclinations.
D.The Alien Act greatly strengthened civil rights for all residents and protected them from the government's imposition of power.
E.The Alien Act prohibited the federal government from taking any action against aliens, leaving that power to the state governments.
Q:
A constitutionally protected proceeding which allows a prisoner to question the legality of his/her detention is called
A.sedition.
B.trial.
C.indictment.
D.subpoena.
E.habeas corpus.
Q:
The crime of advocating the overthrow of the existing system of government is called
A.revolution.
B.anarchy.
C.internment.
D.tribunal.
E.sedition.
Q:
Historically, what has been the effect on civil liberties in the United States during times of war?
A.The U.S. Constitution calls for martial law and suspends the Bill of Rights.
B.All civil protections are eliminated for any aliens or noncitizens.
C.Balancing civil liberties and national security has proven difficult, but normally citizens lose or surrender at least some of their rights in exchange for security.
D.There is no difference between times of war and peace regarding the granting of civil liberties.
E.The U.S. Constitution strictly regulates civil liberties and there is never room for discretion by government officials, in times of peace or times of war.
Q:
The USA Patriot Act was enacted in October 2001. What powers did the law create and to whom were the powers granted?
A.The Patriot Act was created to control and prosecute anyone who would stir discontent and disloyalty concerning our military forces.
B.The Patriot Act gave the president broad power to arrest and detain any citizen or resident whose speech was considered disloyal to the current administration.
C.The Patriot Act gave the federal government broad new powers to detain suspects, secretly search their homes, and eavesdrop on telephone and email conversations.
D.The Patriot Act gave the FBI authority to search any citizen, at any time, without a warrant or probable cause.
E.The Patriot Act was the formal declaration of war against Al Qaeda.
Q:
The enumerated powers of Congress are provided in
A.Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.
B.Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution.
C.Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution.
D.Article IV, Section 9 of the Constitution.
E.Article VI, Section 1 of the Constitution.
Q:
Why is the delivery of education more challenging for large cities in a federal system?
A.Large cities are far less willing to cooperate with a federalist system of government.
B.Large cities rely too heavily on the federal government.
C.Large cities have a greater concentration of poorer and needy citizens, but also a higher cost of providing services coupled with a lower tax base on which to draw resources.
D.Large cities have very unique and challenging needs and it is very difficult for state and federal governments to determine these needs.
E.Large cities presume that state and federal governments will provide for their needs, so they have become somewhat dependent upon welfare.
Q:
The federal government frequently enacts legislative directives that require the states to perform regulatory tasks at their own expense. These laws are often referred to as
A.conditional legislation.
B.unrestrained regulation.
C.unfunded mandates.
D.load sharing.
E.accountability.
Q:
One disadvantage of federalism is the lack of accountability. Why would this be included as a disadvantage?
A.When citizens want to sue the government, it is often confusing as to which one should be targeted, state or federal.
B.Since two governments are dually providing services, there is the tendency to shift the blame or to procrastinate and wait for the other government to provide the service.
C.In an era of cutting taxes, there are less combined resources for the governments to use.
D.The Constitution requires that the federal government is supreme and therefore should ultimately be held accountable for failed policies. However, in a federalist arrangement the federal government can delegate blame to the states.
E.In actuality, there is more accountability in a system of federalism since the duties of both state and federal governments are clearly defined.
Q:
Why would fiscal disparities among states be considered a disadvantage of federalism?
A.Poorer states benefit more from federal and state programs while paying less in taxes for the services, thus creating inequities for wealthier citizens.
B.The cost of living differs in each state.
C.The tax rate differs in each state.
D.States with lower average incomes have far less ability to tax citizens, while these poorer citizens have more unmet needs.
E.Fiscal disparities have no bearing on federalism since the government has the power to tax.
Q:
In 1932 Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis coined a metaphor that is still used frequently by describing creative federalism as encouraging "laboratories of democracy." What is meant by this concept?
A.States can be used to test new policies and the states also absorb the accountability if the efforts fail, thereby protecting the federal government's integrity.
B.Courageous states can try social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country, and if they are successful, other states can duplicate their efforts.
C.The federal government can use states as laboratories for trying new policies.
D.States are obligated to test the federal government's policies since they are most accountable to the citizens.
E.As "laboratories" one state could have a democracy while other states experimented with other forms of government, such as monarchy.
Q:
Which of the following would NOT be considered an advantage of federalism?
A.accommodation of diversity
B.division of powers
C.encouragement as laboratory of democracy
D.adaptability to changing circumstances
E.assurance of effective and efficient government
Q:
What role has the U.S. Supreme Court played in the last 15 years or so in the debate over federalism?
A.The Supreme Court has consistently opposed any attempts to curtail federal powers over the states.
B.The Supreme Court has stated that it has no powers to intervene in the debate and, in effect, has left all control in the hands of Congress.
C.Congress has consistently stripped the powers of the Supreme Court so that the Court has played a very minimal role.
D.The Supreme Court has worked hand-in-hand with Congress to compromise and to devise legitimate tactics to reduce the powers of the federal government.
E.As Congress has clearly moved to reduce federal powers since the 1990s, the Supreme Court has supported that role in many opinions but appears to be less willing to wholeheartedly support the efforts of Congress.
Q:
What was the "Contract with America" in 1994?
A.It was a series of initiatives during the 1994 midterm elections that helped the Republican Party take control of both houses of Congress on a platform of devolution.
B.It was a rather liberal agenda that was adopted by President Clinton to offset the conservative trend that was gripping the nation.
C.It was a political campaign that was adopted by the Supreme Court to strengthen the citizens' support of its rulings.
D.It was an attempt by the Republicans to consolidate all educational policies into one strong and effective federal Department of Education, as a remedy for a patchwork of state policies.
E.It was President Clinton's political agenda to counter a surge in Republican support.
Q:
What effect did President Reagan have on the U.S. Supreme Court?
A.During the Reagan era, the Supreme Court invalidated many of the president's policies, so Reagan had little effect on the Supreme Court.
B.During his tenure, President Reagan had the opportunity to appoint four justices to the Supreme Court who were generally supportive of state powers, so the trend of devolution was strengthened in the judicial branch.
C.President Reagan appointed only one justice to the Supreme Court, an action that ultimately had little impact on the Court.
D.During his tenure, President Reagan was able to appoint several justices with liberal ideologies to the Supreme Court.
E.President Reagan arbitrated a stronger relationship between the Supreme Court and Congress whereby they worked cooperatively and in unison to implement policies.
Q:
Over time, Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush appointed several justices to the Supreme Court who have created a new ideological majority. This new majority has tended to
A.staunchly guard the right of the national government to dictate policies that were traditionally held by the states.
B.strike a perfect balance between state and national government interest.
C.trample on the rights and prerogatives of state governments.
D.shift the Supreme Court to a stance much more favorable to states' rights.
E.move the Supreme Court away from states' rights.
Q:
Devolution is a term that is used to describe a system of federalism
A.in which state power is significantly weakening.
B.in which new states are being created.
C.in which the central government voluntarily transfers powers to the state and local governments.
D.in which the judicial branch assumes a dominant role as in policy making.
E.in which the powers of the president are considerably reduced.
Q:
What is the significance of the "New Federalism" era, which began in the 1990s?
A.It has opened a new era of liberalism in our nation.
B.It has acted as a balance between conservatism and liberalism.
C.It has represented an era in which the U.S. Constitution was rewritten in favor of a more conservative governmental structure.
D.It appears that a significant counterthrust has occurred which has favored a return to states' rights.
E.It has represented an era in which the Supreme Court clearly reiterated the power of the federal government over the states.
Q:
In his first term several of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal reforms were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as an overreach of federal powers. What was the response of President Roosevelt to these Court rulings?
A.The Roosevelt administration's New Deal reforms were implemented anyway and the Supreme Court failed to enforce its ruling.
B.President Roosevelt devised a "court-packing plan" that would increase the number of justices and allow him to appoint them.
C.The Roosevelt administration complied with the Court's federal authority based on the Supremacy Clause of Article VI.
D.The Roosevelt administration appealed the ruling to the international courts.
E.The Roosevelt administration took the cases into each of the state supreme courts.
Q:
The era of cooperative federalism was rooted in the Great Depression struggles of the late 1930s. How did cooperative federalism differ from the previous era of dual federalism?
A.Cooperative federalism acted as a return to the strict doctrine of state powers.
B.Cooperative federalism increased the powers of the federal government when necessary, but retained basic state powers.
C.Cooperative federalism was an arrangement whereby the state governments were allowed to approve all Supreme Court rulings.
D.The Supreme Court had no authority under the dual federalism arrangement so the state governments cooperatively granted the Court its necessary powers.
E.State supreme courts continued to be the supreme authority in the national government structure.
Q:
The period spanning roughly 1837 to 1937 is considered by many scholars as a period of dual federalism. This period included the tenure of Chief Justice Roger Taney until the early years of President Franklin Roosevelt and his New Deal. Why is this era referred to as dual federalism?
A.During this time the state courts and the federal courts had equal powers and jurisdiction.
B.The jurisdiction between the state and federal governments was hard to differentiate.
C.The Supreme Court refused to give Congress the discretionary authority it enjoyed during earlier eras, yet the Court did not return to the doctrine of state sovereignty.
D.The Supreme Court made rulings that returned our nation to a period that was twice as committed to a strong central government.
E.The pendulum would constantly swing between state powers and federal powers.
Q:
What was the significant ruling of the Supreme Court in McCulloch v. Maryland in 1819?
A.The Madison administration was held in contempt of court for its disagreement with the creation of a national bank.
B.Though the national bank was a creation of the federal government, it was subordinate to the government of the state in which it was located.
C.Based on the necessary and proper clause of the U.S. Constitution, the national bank had broad powers and was justified in using those powers when exercising the national government's expressly delegated powers.
D.The Supreme Court had no power or jurisdiction to consider a case involving a state government.
E.Maryland's state supreme court had jurisdiction over the federal court (Supreme Court).
Q:
One major result of President John Adams's tenure was the appointment of John Marshall as Chief Justice of the United States. Marshall shared Adams's ideologies and believed in a __________ doctrine of federalism.
A.national supremacy
B.state supremacy
C.Supreme Court supremacy
D.military
E.states' rights
Q:
During the administrations of the first president, George Washington, and the second president, John Adams,
A.Supreme Court rulings had a tremendously negative effect on presidential and other federal powers.
B.state governments willingly surrendered powers to the federal government as recognition of its superiority.
C.states' rights and powers were supreme and uncontested.
D.the federal government cautiously but consistently increased its powers and reach.
E.the new nation came very close to anarchy and collapse.
Q:
The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, as well as the creation of the first National Bank to assume all state debts, represented bold steps toward a stronger central government. Thomas Jefferson became president in 1800 at the height of this movement. What was Jefferson's stance and impact?
A.Jefferson was a very strong federalist and assumed even more powers to the central government at the expense of the state powers.
B.Jefferson helped create a new political party, the Democratic-Republicans, which formally opposed the growth in authority of national government. Jefferson's presidency reaffirmed his belief in state powers and prerogatives.
C.Very little is known of Jefferson or his presidency.
D.Jefferson had no impact on the federalist movement. Though he tried, he was a very ineffective president.
E.Jefferson strongly supported the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 and sought to embed them in our political culture.
Q:
During the first 30 years or so of the new constitutional democracy in the United States, what was the relationship between the states and the new federal government?
A.This era saw a constant struggle between federal powers and those of the states. Eventually the federal government became dominant.
B.The federal government had no powers at this time and was, in effect, non-existent.
C.During this era there was a unique and effective balance between the two governments.
D.This era is often referred to as the period of state-centered federalism, in which the states managed their own affairs with very little interference from the federal government.
E.During this era the new federal government was dominant.
Q:
When considering the history of the federal government's powers over the states, what generally happens with the federal power during major economic depressions or world wars?
A.The powers of the federal government usually increase and state prerogatives decrease.
B.The federal government usually loses powers because it is perceived that it created the problem.
C.The federal government usually loses powers because of its inability to create solutions.
D.State powers increase because states are more able to generate consensus.
E.Federal powers increase because the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution creates a status similar to martial law during crises.
Q:
Throughout history which of following has been true regarding American federalism?
A.Federalism has proven to be rigid and unchanging in the face of an ever-changing world.
B.The role and powers of the federal government have evolved as undisputed.
C.The powers of the state governments have become almost non-existent in light of national government powers.
D.Through several eras the pendulum has tended to swing between preferences for state versus federal powers and prerogatives.
E.American federalism has become almost non-existent.
Q:
If one state does not have a death penalty, can that state refuse to return a fugitive to face a possible death penalty in another state?
A.Yes. It is a moral obligation.
B.No. According to Article IV of the U.S. Constitution, states must respect and uphold the extradition laws of other states.
C.No. Congress has approved the death penalty for all states.
D.No. Death penalty cases take precedent over other criminal cases.
E.Yes. But this is true only if the federal court intervenes and orders the prisoner's transfer.
Q:
According to Article IV, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, when a fugitive from one state is apprehended in another state, what may the apprehending state do with the prisoner?
A.It has no authority over the prisoner.
B.It must turn the prisoner over to the federal government for arbitration.
C.It must retain the prisoner in the apprehending state so as to protect his or her rights from the abusive state.
D.It must retain the prisoner in the apprehending state until his or her sentence is completed.
E.It must extradite the prisoner to the original state for disposition.
Q:
The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the nation. In regard to states, why is this important?
A.It allows for the federal courts to take over the state courts when the states fail to act properly.
B.It gives the Supreme Court the authority to settle disputes between states, such as ownership of or jurisdiction over disputed property.
C.It allows Congress to pass laws that will control states that have gotten out of control.
D.It gives the nation a place to determine the winner of an election.
E.It takes power away from a potentially abusive Congress.
Q:
Article IV, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution is referred to as the privileges and immunities clause. What does this section guarantee to American citizens?
A.The citizens of one state are immune to the civil laws of another state.
B.Citizens have privileges and not rights, which means that they are not immune to losing the privileges.
C.Every citizen has the right to travel through other states, reside in any state, and participate in business in any state.
D.Citizens are bound by the privileges in the state constitution, not the national constitution (U.S. Constitution).
E.Citizens are bound by the privileges in the national constitution (U.S. Constitution), not the constitutions of the states.
Q:
In one state, the civil court settles a dispute concerning assets in the estate of a deceased person. The one who loses the case in civil court cannot go into another state and have that state's civil court revisit the case. This is an example of
A.the power of Congress to intervene and settle disputes between states.
B.the difference between the criminal and civil court systems.
C.the inability of the federal government to properly intervene in civil disagreements between states.
D.the practical application of the full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution.
E.a breakdown in the civil court system in this nation.