AP US Government and Politics - Unit 2 Quiz

Why might Congressional leaders want to work closely with the president on important pieces of legislation?

Congressional leaders do not want to pass legislation that the president cannot or will not sign.

Generally, the president is more in touch with the will of the people.

Congress actually avoids working with the president in order to preserve the separation of powers.

The president usually has more experience as a legislator than members of Congress.

Congressional leaders do not want to pass legislation that the president cannot or will not sign.

How did the 14th Amendment re-shape American federalism?

It introduced categorical grants, which allowed Congress to control how money was spent by states.

It required state governments to abide by the federal Bill of Rights.

It made the Constitution the supreme law of the land.

It gave more power to state governments in the enforcement of civil rights laws.

It required state governments to abide by the federal Bill of Rights.

What was the purpose of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974?

It completely removed the president from the budget process.

It required a balanced budget each fiscal year.

It ensures that both the president and Congress would be involved in the budget process.

It removed Congressional influence from the budget process.

It ensures that both the president and Congress would be involved in the budget process.

What limit did the Supreme Court put on the use of the Commerce Clause in U.S. v. Lopez?

Legislation under the Commerce Clause must relate to an actual economic activity

Legislation under the Commerce Clause must relate to products that crossed state lines at some point in their sale or manufacture.

The Commerce Clause could only be used to regulate international trade.

Legislation under the Commerce Clause had to involve at least nine states to count as "interstate commerce".

Legislation under the Commerce Clause must relate to an actual economic activity

Which of the following would reduce the separation of powers as outlined in the Constitution?

Reduce the term of office for House members from four years to two years.

Forbid the president to appoint members of Congress to serve in the cabinet.

Allow the president to serve two consecutive terms in office.

Allow either Congress or the president to call for special elections.

Allow either Congress or the president to call for special elections.

In which Supreme Court decision did the court establish the supremacy of the federal government over state governments?

U.S. v. Lopez

U.S. v. Nixon

McCulloch v. Maryland

Marbury v. Madison

McCulloch v. Maryland

Which of the following statements accurately describes the way in which Congress and the president share power over the military?

The president can declare war, but Congress must provide funding for the war.

Congress must approve individual military actions, but the president develops the overall strategy.

Congress declares war, but the president is Commander-in-Chief of the military.

As Commander-in-Chief, the president actually has total control of the military.

Congress declares war, but the president is Commander-in-Chief of the military.

Who presides over the trial after the president has been impeached?

the vice president

the Senate

the House Ethics Committee

the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

What final hurdle did the Affordable Care Act have to overcome after passing through Congress and being signed by President Obama?

It had to be approved by American voters in a national referendum.

It had to be passed by 3/4 of state legislatures.

It had to return to Congress for a second vote.

It faced a lawsuit that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

It faced a lawsuit that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

Which of the following was a strategy used by Reagan to reshape the balance between state and federal power?

Reinterpreting the Commerce Clause to justify nearly any federal action.

Introducing a welfare reform program that increased federal funding for needy families.

Introducing programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which would be funded by the federal government but administered by the states.

Converting categorical grants into block grants, giving states more freedom in spending federal funds.

Converting categorical grants into block grants, giving states more freedom in spending federal funds.

According to Alexander Hamilton, how would federalism help protect the rights of the people?

If one level of government abridged the people's rights, they could turn to the other for redress.

State governments would be required to protect all the rights listed in the Bill of Rights.

Federalism does not actually protect people's rights, but further limits them.

All laws would have to be approved by both state and federal levels of government.

If one level of government abridged the people's rights, they could turn to the other for redress.

What happens if the president and Congress cannot agree on a budget by the pre-set deadline?

The president's proposal is accepted as a temporary budget.

The Supreme Court acts and an arbitrator between the president and Congressional leaders.

The federal government shuts down until a compromise is reached.

A special election is held to elect a new Congress.

The federal government shuts down until a compromise is reached.

Which branch of the Government is usually most accessible to the average citizen?

The legislative branch because members of Congress are always concerned about individual constituents.

The judicial branch, because each citizen has a legally protected right to be heard in court.

The three branches are equally accessible.

The executive branch, because the president usually wants to connect to the common people.

The judicial branch, because each citizen has a legally protected right to be heard in court.

Which of the following is a concurrent power?

conducting foreign policy

levying taxes

granting licenses

coining money

levying taxes

What powers are protected from the federal government by the 10th Amendment?

reserved powers

concurrent powers

exclusive powers

implied powers

reserved powers

Which of the following is a check on the president's power to conduct foreign policy?

The president can only officially recognize a foreign government with the approval of Congress.

Treaties must be ratified by the Senate.

The president can only meet with foreign leaders if a member of the Senate is present.

Treaties must be ratified by the state governments

Treaties must be ratified by the Senate.

How did Richard Nixon avoid impeachment?

Richard Nixon did not avoid impeachment; he was impeached but not removed from office.

His vice-president, Gerald Ford, took the blame and was removed from office.

He resigned before the House of Representatives had a chance to vote on impeachment.

He filed a lawsuit to exclude certain evidence from impeachment proceedings.

He resigned before the House of Representatives had a chance to vote on impeachment.

What is the main check the president has on the Judicial Branch?

The president has the power to appoint federal judges.

The president can choose to sit in on Supreme Court deliberations.

The president can fire a federal judge over policy differences.

The president can veto unpopular Supreme Court decisions.

The president has the power to appoint federal judges.

The "Elastic Clause" in the Constitution was put in place to ________.

expand the power of the president

allow Congress to carry out implied powers

allow Congress to increase the size of the Supreme Court

limit the power of Congress

allow Congress to carry out implied powers

How does the principle of separation of powers help individuals or groups who go to the government for redress of grievances?

There are multiple access points in the policy making process.

The different branches of government generally cooperate in order to gain public support.

Separation of powers does not help those who seek redress of grievances, because all three branches would have to agree to a policy change anyway.

Individuals only have to visit one government branch rather than all three.

There are multiple access points in the policy making process.