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Q:
What was the practical purpose for publication of The Federalist essays in 1788?
A.to allow an avenue for posting opposing political viewpoints
B.to act as a political party platform for the Federalist party
C.to explain and defend the new Constitution and to urge its ratification
D.to expose the immorality inherent in eighteenth-century society
E.to advocate for James Madison's campaign for president
Q:
A very important aspect of the American constitutional arrangement, which distributes powers between two levels of government (state and federal), is called
A.sovereignty.
B.enumeration.
C.ratification.
D.compromise.
E.federalism.
Q:
The primary purpose of the Constitution's system of checks and balances is
A.to ensure that no one interest or faction could easily dominate the government.
B.to ensure that the people do not become too powerful and attempt to control the government.
C.to protect the executive branch from abuses of the judicial branch.
D.to allow the president to be removed from office.
E.to ensure that the government remains powerful and supreme.
Q:
The underlying concept of the principle of separation of powers is
A.that all three branches of government are equally powerful.
B.that when legislative, judicial, and executive power are not exercised by the same institution, power cannot be so easily abused.
C.that the people are responsible to elect the representatives in all three branches of government, including the judicial branch.
D.that one branch has a veto power over the other branches.
E.that the people's power to elect representatives is separate and different from that of the branches of the government.
Q:
One of the foundation principles of the U.S. Constitution is popular sovereignty, which means that
A.the people are tightly controlled by the government.
B.the president is the ultimate governmental power.
C.Congress is supreme.
D.the people are ultimately in charge of their political and social destiny.
E.the Supreme Court is subordinate to no other agency or group.
Q:
With the original Constitution completed on September 12, 1787, how many states were needed to ratify the new governmental structure in order for it to become operative?
A.zero
B.three
C.six
D.nine
E.thirteen
Q:
During the writing of the Constitution in 1787 some states had already abolished slavery while other states had large slave populations. Concerning slavery, the new U.S. Constitution
A.allowed it in southern states and upheld its abolition in northern states.
B.left the issue for the courts to decide.
C.reaffirmed its use as legitimate in the United States.
D.said nothing about either preserving or outlawing slavery.
E.called for its abolition.
Q:
During the Constitutional Convention of 1787 the final compromise of the state delegations concerning slavery was
A.that slavery would be abolished.
B.that slavery would be declared as immoral and would be phased out over the next 30 years.
C.that slavery was of no significance in the new nation.
D.that a slave would be counted as a whole person for the purpose of representation in Congress.
E.that a slave would count as three-fifths of a whole person for the purpose of representation in Congress.
Q:
For the purpose of determining representation in the new Congress the slave-holding southern states
A.were opposed to any enumeration of slaves.
B.wanted to count each slave as a whole person.
C.refused to ratify the new constitution if slavery was acknowledged.
D.demanded extra representation to protect them from slave uprisings.
E.wanted additional representation to protect their interests from northern intrusion.
Q:
The Great Compromise, (or the Connecticut Compromise) of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in essence saved the convention and created a new federal government. This compromise created a two-chamber legislature with
A.equal representation in both chambers from each state.
B.representation in both chambers determined by population of the state.
C.representation in one chamber determined by population of the state and in the other chamber by equal representation.
D.one chamber that had effective powers and the second chamber that acted as a figurehead for nobility.
E.each state determining the number of representatives that it will send.
Q:
In opposition to the recommendations of the Virginia delegates during the Constitutional Convention, the New Jersey Plan advocated a single-chamber legislature with
A.equal representation among the states regardless of population.
B.slaves counting as three-fifths of a whole person.
C.the Supreme Court determining the number of representatives from each state.
D.no executive branch.
E.lifelong appointments for representatives.
Q:
In the debates during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the Virginia Plan called for a two-chamber legislature. In allocating the number of representatives for each of the chambers, the Virginia delegation recommended
A.that the president should determine the number of representatives.
B.that the same number of representatives from each state serve lifetime appointments.
C.that the number of representatives in each chamber should be based on the population of the state.
D.that the courts should determine the number of representatives.
E.that each state should receive one vote regardless of delegation size.
Q:
The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in May 1787 and had as its original purpose
A.to abolish the Articles of Confederation.
B.to discuss amendments to the Articles of Confederation.
C.to return the young nation to a monarchy.
D.a complete overhaul of the American system of government.
E.a covert plan to invade Canada.
Q:
Which of the following is a check by the legislative branch on the powers of the executive branch?
A.Congress may rule that a presidential action is unconstitutional
B.The Supreme Court may veto presidential orders.
C.The Supreme Court recommends legislation to the judicial branch that is assured to pass constitutional muster.
D.The president may veto a law passed by the legislative branch.
E.The Senate must consent to all presidential appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Q:
What was the significance of Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts in early 1787?
A.A centralized arsenal was needed for the new federal army.
B.The Revolutionary War did not end all hostile actions in the new colonies.
C.Daniel Shay was a powerful military leader who was well-organized.
D.A weak and unresponsive federal government carried with it the danger of violence and disorder.
E.Whiskey would prove problematic for the new nation.
Q:
By far the most significant result of the Annapolis Convention in September 1786 was
A.a call to all 13 states to attend a convention in Philadelphia the following May to create a constitution for the federal government.
B.the emergence of Alexander Hamilton as a leader.
C.the formation of the Supreme Court.
D.the solidification of George Washington's power as president of the United States.
E.its location.
Q:
When the call went out to all 13 state governments seeking their attendance at the Annapolis Convention in September 1786, how many states sent delegations?
A.none
B.two
C.five
D.ten
E.all 13
Q:
The original stated purpose of the Annapolis Convention in September 1786 was
A.to abolish the Articles of Confederation and form a new government.
B.to discuss interstate commerce, which was a weakness under the Articles of Confederation.
C.to declare independence from England and King George III.
D.to declare war on England.
E.to elect the first president of the United States.
Q:
Unlike our current constitution, the Articles of Confederation could be amended
A.only with the unanimous consent of the states.
B.by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the state legislatures.
C.only after abolishing the original document and rewriting it.
D.at any time with assent of at least two state legislatures.
E.only upon the collapse of the government.
Q:
Under the Articles of Confederation the number of votes for each state in the Continental Congress was determined by
A.the population of the state.
B.a pro-rated formula that took into account population and taxes paid.
C.the method of one vote for each state delegation regardless of population.
D.a system whereby northern states had two votes while southern states had one vote.
E.the president.
Q:
Which of the following is NOT considered a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
A.The creation of a nationwide postal service
B.The federal government's lack of authority to raise troops
C.The executive branch's lack of authority to enforce laws
D.The sovereignty of states in relations with the federal government
E.The inability of Congress to raise an army by its own power
Q:
Under the Articles of Confederation, the office of a chief executive as president of the United States
A.had limited powers.
B.did not exist.
C.was very much unrestrained in its given powers.
D.was also the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
E.was held by a committee of three appointed individuals.
Q:
The Declaration of Independence lists examples of "inalienable rights" as
A.the right of all persons to vote.
B.life and due process.
C.freedom from the rule of kings.
D.life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
E.democracy and peace.
Q:
The wording the Declaration of Independence drew heavily upon John Locke's theories of
A.natural rights and social contract.
B.royal prerogative.
C.anarchy and self-actualization.
D.religion as a counterweight to reason.
E.self-fulfillment.
Q:
John Locke argued in his theory of social contract that
A.the power of the king was supreme.
B.while citizens sacrifice certain rights and then consent to be governed, they retain other inalienable rights.
C.both parties agree upon conditions of the social order, in this case that England's Parliament would agree on rights for the colonial citizens.
D.citizens sacrifice certain rights upon consent of the king or Parliament.
E.Parliament rightly held veto power over the Continental Congress.
Q:
Thomas Paine is credited with irrevocably turning the tide of popular support toward the cause of American independence with publication of his 1776 booklet entitled
A.War and Peace.
B.Of Mice and Men.
C.The Pilgrim's Progress.
D.Common Sense.
E.On Liberty.
Q:
On behalf of the Continental Congress, the actual wording of the Declaration of Independence was written by
A.Thomas Jefferson.
B.John Adams.
C.Benjamin Franklin.
D.George Washington.
E.King George III.
Q:
Following organized opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765 England's parliament repealed the act but immediately enacted the Declaratory Act, which
A.created a democracy in England and abolished the monarchy.
B.recognized the sovereignty and self-government of the American colonies.
C.formed the colonies into a free nation.
D.declared that the Parliament was now fully subordinate to the king.
E.asserted that the king and Parliament had "full power and authority" in the colonies.
Q:
The Sugar Act of 1764 placed tariffs and duties on goods imported into the colonies by England. However, its political significance was that
A.sugar was a vital staple of all colonists and the tariffs made it much more expensive and inaccessible for the average household.
B.as the first law passed by parliament for the purpose of raising money for England at the expense of the colonies it opened the debate by the colonists of taxation without representation.
C.the law created a state of sovereignty in the colonies.
D.it unified England's alliances with sugar-producing Caribbean island colonies.
E.it unified alliances between the American colonies and the Caribbean nations that also produced and exported sugar.
Q:
Following France's defeat in the French and Indian War, the Treaty of Paris in 1763 settled the dispute by
A.ceding all lands west of the Appalachian Mountains to Spain.
B.forcing France to accept and pay all debts to the new territories that were gained by England.
C.declaring a total truce and leaving all territories in the hands of those who held them prior to the war.
D.awarding to England all of the territories between the Arctic Circle and the Gulf of Mexico.
E.equally distributing territories between the nations of France and England.
Q:
In the years immediately preceding the American Revolution and the creation of our Constitution, the king and the Parliament of England
A.had never considered the possibility of revolutionary fervor in the colonies.
B.feared that the colonies would attempt to overthrow their governments and had the resources and the capability to do so.
C.feared that other European powers would attempt to encroach on their American holdings far more than they feared any form of colonial uprising.
D.entered into agreements with other European powers to share the resources of their colonial holdings in exchange for shared protection.
E.actually sought to sell the colonies.
Q:
Until the mid-1700s the 13 colonies often had diverse histories and economies, which provided
A.a strong national unity built upon diversity.
B.a unique political environment in which one state's weaknesses were supported by the strengths of another state.
C.an environment that was free of jealousies between states.
D.little incentive for them to join together to meet shared goals.
E.common ground upon which to build consensus.
Q:
Prior to creation of our current constitutional structure in the 1770s, the 13 colonial governments
A.were recognized as independent, sovereign entities by other world powers.
B.mirrored those of England during the same period, including an elected House of Commons.
C.had governors who were elected by the qualified voters.
D.were completely subordinate to a powerful central government.
E.did not exist.
Q:
The drafters of the U.S. Constitution, in order to ensure that the new deliberative Senate would be "most careful" when considering an issue of such importance as removal from office, required that any removal of officials be accompanied by
A.approval of the Supreme Court.
B.two votes taken on different days in which the Senate is in session.
C.a three-fifths vote of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
D.a vote of registered voters.
E.a supermajority consisting of two-thirds of all senators.
Q:
James Madison, speaking at the 1787 Constitutional Convention,
A.argued that without provisions for presidential impeachment, the chief executive might, among other things, betray his trust to foreign powers.
B.argued against a presidential impeachment procedure.
C.represented a minority of delegates who believed that an impeachment procedure was contrary to democracy.
D.argued that impeachment of the executive should be left to the courts.
E.argued that impeachment and removal of the president should be allowed only after criminal conviction in the courts.
Q:
Throughout the history of the United States, the number of sitting presidents who have been impeached by the House of Representatives is
A.zero.
B.one.
C.two.
D.three.
E.five.
Q:
In the history of the United States, the number of sitting presidents who have been impeached by the House of Representatives and subsequently found guilty and removed by the Senate is
A.zero.
B.one.
C.two.
D.three.
E.five.
Q:
In the wording of the U.S. Constitution, the process by which the Congress may remove a sitting president from office
A.was not originally written into the Constitution but was created by later Supreme Court opinions.
B.is designed to be exceptionally easy if the proper procedure is followed.
C.is clear but is intentionally designed to be an extremely difficult endeavor.
D.is very vague and controversial.
E.is dependent upon interpretation by the state courts.
Q:
The authors of your textbook present arguments for and against the decline of American Democracy. Discuss the most compelling arguments on each side of the debate. What is your position on this debate?
Q:
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of democracy over other forms of government. To what extent is the United States a democracy? To what extent does the United States embody other forms of government?
Q:
Compare and contrast the theories of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. Be sure to discuss how each theorist has affected the American system of government.
Q:
Americans witnessed much discussion and debate since the 2000 presidential election ended with George Bush assuming the office having failed to win the popular vote. Give an example of another presidential election in which a candidate was declared the winner having not won the popular vote.
Q:
A core value in American political culture is the concept of majority rule, however, another core value is minority rights. Describe how the American constitutional form of government can protect both core values.
Q:
The USA Patriot Act was enacted in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Some Americans view this legislation as legitimate and necessary, while others view it as a violation of individual liberties. Describe some of the arguments in favor of the Patriot Act and some in opposition.
Q:
Power is the capacity of getting individuals to do something that they may not otherwise do. Describe some ways in which a government uses power legitimately and ways in which it could use power illegitimately, if that is possible. Give an example of an improper use of power in our nation's history.
Q:
Legitimacy is the extent to which the people (or the "governed") afford the government the authority and right to exercise power. Contrast the current government in the United States with that of Iraq. Do the two differ significantly in their level of legitimacy? If so, why do you feel that there is a difference, and what could be done to make the two countries more similar in regard to legitimacy?
Q:
_________ is the author of the poem inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty.
A.Maya Angelou
B.Edgar Allen Poe
C.Charles Dickens
D.Emma Lazarus
E.Susan B. Anthony
Q:
What is the single most important characteristic of American democracy?
A.personal liberty
B.the right to bear arms
C.innocence until proven guilty
D.separation of church and state
E.economic equality
Q:
Popular sovereignty is the belief that
A.authority in society ultimately rests with the people.
B.natural rights can be sacrificed for political rights.
C.citizens are ill prepared to participate in government.
D.direct democracy is superior to indirect democracy.
E.indirect democracy is superior to direct democracy.
Q:
Which of the following terms have the most similar meanings?
A.aristocracy, monarchy, and theocracy
B.civil society, social contract theory, and social capital
C.government, politics, and democracy
D.sovereignty, personal liberty, and freedom
E.political ideology, political culture, and political equality
Q:
A system of government in which representatives of the people are chosen by election is called
A.hegemonic democracy.
B.tutelary democracy.
C.indirect democracy.
D.direct democracy.
E.constitutional democracy.
Q:
Who determines public policies in an indirect democracy?
A.the people
B.the courts
C.the bureaucracy
D.religious leaders
E.representatives
Q:
Which of the following accurately describes an indirect democracy?
A.Representatives of the people are chosen by ballot.
B.Economic elites make decisions for the country as a whole.
C.Social elites make decisions for the country as a whole.
D.The people initiate legislation.
E.The judicial system creates legislation.
Q:
How does a direct democracy work?
A.The economic elite are the decision makers.
B.All members of the polity meet to discuss policy and make decisions.
C.Elected representatives made decisions on behalf of the public.
D.The public can give input, but the decisions are made by elected officials.
E.The people elect representatives who are responsible for policymaking.
Q:
Which of the following terms best describes Hobbes' image of society without government?
A.peaceful
B.stable
C.harmonious
D.nefarious
E.all of the above
Q:
According to social contract theory, a social contract is an agreement between
A.two or more citizens.
B.two or more governments.
C.two or more political parties.
D.state governments and the federal government.
E.the people and their government.
Q:
Locke and Hobbes proposed
A.rule by a strong central government.
B.an economic system based on servitude.
C.a social contract theory of government.
D.socialism as the ideal system of government.
E.the elimination of all taxation.
Q:
According to social contract theory,
A.only socialism can ensure equity and prosperity.
B.authority to govern must be derived by the consent of the governed.
C.governments are necessary only when there is societal conflict.
D.people are born free and equal.
E.all people have certain alienable rights.
Q:
According to John Locke, a primary function of government is to
A.protect private property.
B.promote human rights.
C.produce employment opportunities.
D.prevent poverty.
E.provide economic equality.
Q:
_________ believed that a legitimate government must have the consent of the people.
A.Leon Trotsky
B.Thomas Hobbes
C.John Locke
D.Friedrich Nietzsche
E.Niccolo Machiavelli
Q:
A monarchy is government ruled by
A.the elites on behalf of the public.
B.the church on behalf of the public.
C.one person on behalf of the public.
D.the people on behalf of themselves.
E.the wealthy on behalf of themselves.
Q:
The Seventeenth Amendment was ratified in 1913. What did it change?
A.Prior to 1913 the president was elected by the state legislatures.
B.It provided for direct election of U.S. Senators by the people.
C.It created the sales tax.
D.It created the Electoral College.
E.It lowered the voting age to 18 years of age.
Q:
In what year was the U.S. Constitution amended to guarantee voting rights to African American males?
A.1789
B.1840
C.1870
D.1920
E.1964
Q:
The District of Columbia had no electoral votes until
A.1776.
B.1800.
C.1865.
D.1962.
E.2006.
Q:
In its history of more than 225 years, the U.S. Constitution has never been amended to restrict anyone's right to vote, but it has been amended ____ to extend voting rights.
A.one time
B.two times
C.six times
D.ten times
E.twenty-seven times
Q:
The United States has been described as a system of governments. This arrangement is referred to as federalism and is important in understanding American democracy. What is the total number of governments (federal, state, local, etc.) currently operating throughout the nation?
A.51
B.approximately 450
C.approximately 950
D.approximately 20,500
E.approximately 87,500
Q:
Surveys were taken in several foreign countries between the years of 2000 and 2005 in an effort to gauge whether citizens of these countries had a favorable view of the United States. Which of the following is true concerning these findings?
A.There was no discernable difference in favorable opinion.
B.Since Britain is a military ally in the war in Iraq, the rate of favorable opinion in that country has actually increased.
C.Support has decreased in nearly every country polled, with the decrease more pronounced in some Islamic and Arab nations.
D.Canada's support has increased.
E.Russia has been a consistently strong supporter of American democratic values.
Q:
In surveys gauging support for American ideas of democracy, the lowest levels of dislike were registered from nations in which region?
A.South America
B.Europe
C.Asia
D.Africa
E.Russia and Eastern Europe
Q:
When asked about their views concerning American ideas of democracy, which of the following nations reported the lowest support?
A.Canada
B.Britain
C.China
D.France
E.Russia
Q:
Which nation currently holds the largest number of nuclear warheads in its arsenal?
A.Russia
B.United States
C.Iran
D.North Korea
E.China
Q:
In considering the "red" state versus "blue" state divide, which of the following is true?
A.In almost half of the states that are designated either red or blue, the margin of victory has been less than 5 percent.
B.Red and blue states are very sharply divided in ideologies.
C.It is nearly impossible for delegates from red and blue states to agree on political ideology and the course of action to take.
D.The margin of victory of the winner in all of the red or blue states has been well over 70 percent.
E.There are no differences between red and blue states.
Q:
Which of the following is NOT true in considering the influence of money and wealth on the political system?
A.Many Americans believe that corporations and wealthy citizens hold a disproportionate amount of political influence.
B.The influence of money on voting and politics has been evidenced since colonial times.
C.George Washington was accused on buying votes during his first elective campaign in 1758.
D.It has been proven that every elected official is disproportionately influenced to vote in favor of wealthy and powerful corporations.
E.The most successful lobbying and special interest groups in the United States have the financial support of wealthy individuals.
Q:
In ways similar to the creation of the USA Patriot Act, Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and Franklin Roosevelt during World War II both authorized the detention of American citizens without accusing or formally charging them of crimes. The basis of this action is that
A.it takes too long for a judge to issue a warrant so the Patriot Act would allow decisive action in the process.
B.neither Lincoln nor Roosevelt trusted the criminal justice system to properly handle these individuals.
C.citizens can be the government's worst enemies.
D.the interests and needs of national security outweigh the rights of the individual in a time of war.
E.individual rights are not important.
Q:
The American Civil Liberties Union opposed the USA Patriot Act even before Congress enacted the legislation following the September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. What was the basis of the ACLU's objections?
A.The ACLU felt that though the attacks were shocking, there was no precedent for such broad action, and such intrusion on individuals' rights without formal criminal charges was a gross violation of individual liberties.
B.The ACLU was sympathetic toward the terrorists.
C.The ACLU felt that legislation such as this should be enacted at the state level rather than the federal level.
D.The ACLU felt that Congress should have followed Abraham Lincoln's model, so rather than authorizing wiretaps without warrants it should have authorized the closing of newspapers and the suspension of habeas corpus.
E.The ACLU felt that such legislative action undermined the military's authority to control citizens.
Q:
Enacted in the days following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the USA Patriot Act
A.marked the first time that the federal government has ever curtailed individual liberties in exchange for national security.
B.opened our nation's borders to a flood of illegal immigration.
C.encouraged and welcomed Arab immigration to the United States.
D.was not the first time in our nation's history when the government has curtailed individual rights in the interests of national security.
E.was widely welcomed by all Americans as a necessary and legitimate action of the federal government.
Q:
Considering the 2000 presidential election crisis, which of the following is NOT true?
A.It was the first time in history that a candidate had taken office without winning the popular vote.
B.It was the first time in history that the U.S. Supreme Court had intervened in a presidential election.
C.The election exposed a sometimes sharp ideological divide in our nation.
D.George Bush lost the popular vote but was awarded the most votes in the Electoral College.
E.The 2000 election was not the first time that a candidate took office without having received the most popular votes nationwide.
Q:
Which of the following is NOT considered a possible reason for the decline in our political system?
A.the disproportionate influence of money and wealth on politics
B.politics that seem to have become more negative and conflictual
C.suppression of civil liberties in an effort of protect national security
D.disputed election results that have led to heated media battles
E.the rights of certain racial and ethnic groups to vote being slowly taken away
Q:
Why do some experts warn us about utilizing the analogy of red states versus blue states?
A.because it is too complex for the average citizen to grasp
B.because there is no difference between the two
C.because it is irrelevant to any consideration of political campaigns in the future
D.because it could lead to another Civil War
E.because it focuses too much on the divisions, differences of opinion, and disagreements in our society while overlooking our common values and shared beliefs
Q:
What is meant by the designation of "red states" and "blue states"?
A.It symbolically refers to the religious divide within the nation.
B.It refers to the recent Electoral College map and the states' presidential election results, which according to many observers indicates a sharp regional and ideological divide in our nation.
C.It indicates support or lack of support for the military in certain states.
D.On the Electoral College map the red states are in the warmer and more temperate regions while the blue states are in the colder regions.
E.Red states indicate an ideological leaning toward socialism while blue states indicate a broad support of democracy.
Q:
Considering voter turnout by registered voters in presidential elections over the past 50 years, what would be a good general marker for the level of turnout?
A.About 10 percent of registered voters exercise their right to vote.
B.About a quarter of voters participate.
C.Historically we can expect about half of the registered voters to participate in an election.
D.Since it is a presidential election, more than three-quarters of the registered voters will participate.
E.There is no way to determine voter turnout.