AP Gov Test part 2 (book)

What were the key circumstances surrounding the attendance and meetings of the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia?

Its members were all white men who were not chosen by popular election, Patrick Henry refused to attend, Rhode Island sent no delegates, and meetings were held in secret with no press coverage.

How was the newly written Constitution designed to go into effect after the 1787 convention?

It would go into effect once ratified by popular conventions in at least nine states, rather than by state legislatures.

How did the primary objective of the American Revolution contrast with the objectives of the French, Russian, and Chinese Revolutions?

The American Revolution sought liberty; the French Revolution (1789) sought liberty, equality, and fraternity; and the Russian (1917) and Chinese (1949) Revolutions chiefly sought equality.

What traditional British liberties did American colonists seek to protect in the Declaration of Independence in 1776?

The right to bring legal cases before independent judges, freedom from quartering British troops in their homes, trade without burdensome restrictions, and freedom from taxation without representation.

Why did American colonists lose confidence in the English constitution prior to the outbreak of war in 1775?

Because it was not a single document but a collection of laws, charters, and traditional understandings that regularly failed to prevent abuses of political power.

How did John Adams, Patrick Henry, and Alexander Hamilton explicitly describe English politics during the colonial era?

John Adams denounced the "luxury, effeminacy, and venality" of English politics, Patrick Henry spoke scathingly of the "corrupt House of Commons," and Alexander Hamilton described England as "an old, wrinkled, withered, worn-out hag."

According to John Dickinson, what is the nature of natural rights?

They are rights that "are born with us; exist with us; and cannot be taken away from us by any human power."

How did Thomas Jefferson alter the traditional list of natural rights when writing the Declaration of Independence?

He changed the traditional list of "life, liberty, and property" to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

What is the textbook definition of an unalienable right?

A human right based on nature or God.

What specific complaint against King George III did Jefferson include in his original draft of the Declaration of Independence that Congress chose to omit?

A complaint that the king had allowed the slave trade to continue and was inciting slaves to revolt against their masters.

How did John Adams describe the "real" Revolution in a letter to a friend?

As the "radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people."

What historical artwork is depicted in this image?

Signing the Declaration of Independence, painted by John Trumbull.

Which two former colonies relied on their colonial charters after 1776 rather than adopting new written state constitutions?

Connecticut and Rhode Island.

According to Figure 2.1, which two powers disputed ownership of the Oregon territory in 1787?

Russia and Spain.

What is the definition of the Articles of Confederation?

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.

According to Figure 2.2, what key weaknesses hindered Congress under the Articles of Confederation regarding taxation and national defense?

Congress could not directly tax the people, could not compel states to pay their share of government costs, and could not draft soldiers.

What voting thresholds were required to enact legislation and to amend the Articles of Confederation?

Enacting legislation required the approval of nine of thirteen states, while amending the Articles required the unanimous consent of all thirteen states.

What state conflicts highlighted the instability of the nation under the Articles of Confederation?

Pennsylvania and Virginia went to war near Pittsburgh, and Vermont threatened to become part of Canada.

What was the outcome of the September 1786 meeting in Annapolis, Maryland?

It was poorly attended with no delegates arriving from New England, leading to a call for another convention in Philadelphia in May 1787 to consider remedying the defects of the Confederation.

Where and when did the first battle of the War of Independence take place?

In Lexington, Massachusetts in 1775, when British and American troops exchanged fire.

What was the Constitutional Convention?

A meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution.

What was Shays's Rebellion?

A 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes.

What historical event in western Massachusetts is depicted here, which stirred deep fears of anarchy across America in 1786–1787?

Shays's Rebellion, where armed ex-Revolutionary War soldiers forcibly prevented courts from sitting until dispersed by a privately funded volunteer army.

What did James Madison conclude after studying ancient and modern confederacies in 1786?

He concluded that confederacies were too weak to govern and tended to collapse from internal dissension, writing that history consists of beacon lights "which give warning of the course to be shunned, without pointing out that which ought to be pursued."

What were the primary features and tyrannical outcomes of the Pennsylvania constitution of 1776?

It was a radically democratic system with all power given to a unicameral Assembly elected annually (members capped at 4 years) and no governor/president; it proved tyrannical by disfranchising Quakers, persecuting conscientious objectors, ignoring trial by jury, and manipulating the judiciary.

What key features were included in the Massachusetts constitution of 1780?

It had a clear separation of powers, a directly elected governor with veto power who had to own at least $£1,000$ worth of property, life terms for judges, property requirements for voters and officials, and required officeholders to swear they were Christians.

How did Thomas Jefferson and George Washington react differently to Shays's Rebellion?

George Washington despairingly urged employing the force of government at once, while Thomas Jefferson held a detached view, writing that "A little rebellion now and then is a good thing" to refresh the tree of liberty.

How many delegates attended the Philadelphia Convention, and which state refused to send anyone?

55 delegates attended (about 30 participated regularly), and Rhode Island refused to send anyone.

What were the general demographics and experience levels of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

They were mostly young (Alexander Hamilton was 30, James Madison 36) but experienced men of practical affairs: 8 signed the Declaration of Independence, 7 had been governors, 34 were lawyers, 39 served in the Confederation Congress, and one-third were Continental Army veterans.

Which prominent Revolutionary figures were conspicuously absent from the Philadelphia Convention?

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams (serving as ministers abroad), Samuel Adams (ill), and Patrick Henry (refused to attend, stating he "smelled a rat in Philadelphia, tending toward monarchy").

How did Thomas Hobbes and John Locke differ on the necessity of an all-powerful government?

Thomas Hobbes argued that without an absolute supreme ruler there is bound to be violent turmoil—a "war of all against all"—whereas John Locke argued that government must be limited and derive its power from the consent of the governed to protect life, liberty, and property.

How did James Madison summarize the core difficulty of framing a government in the Federalist papers?

"you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."

Why did James Madison argue that written constitutional limits were insufficient checks on political power?

He stated that "A mere demarcation on parchment of the constitutional limits [of government] is not a sufficient guard against those encroachments which lead to a tyrannical concentration of all the powers of government in the same hands."

What were the key provisions of the Virginia Plan presented by Governor Edmund Randolph and drafted by James Madison?

It called for a strong national union organized into three branches (legislative, executive, judicial), a bicameral legislature (first house elected by the people, second chosen by the first house), a council of revision with veto power, and supreme legislative powers to override state laws.

What were the key features of William Paterson's New Jersey Plan?

It proposed to amend the Articles of Confederation to enhance national powers while maintaining equal state representation (one vote per state) in a unicameral legislature, a plural executive chosen by the legislature, and an executive-appointed judiciary.

What was the outcome of the convention's first vote on June 19 regarding the Virginia Plan versus the New Jersey Plan?

Seven states preferred the Virginia Plan, three states preferred the New Jersey Plan, and one state was split.

What comparison of political plans is illustrated in this diagram?

Figure 2.3 comparing the Virginia Plan (favored larger states), the New Jersey Plan (favored smaller states), and their synthesis in The Great Compromise.

What structure did the Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) establish for the national legislature?

A House of Representatives consisting initially of 65 members apportioned by population (counting each slave as three-fifths of a free person) elected by the people, and a Senate consisting of two senators from each state chosen by state legislatures.

What historical building in Philadelphia is shown here as the setting for the Constitutional Convention?

Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

By what vote was the Great Compromise adopted on July 16, and which states voted in favor?

It passed 5 to 4; states in favor were Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and North Carolina (Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia opposed; Massachusetts was split).

How did the convention resolve the structure and term length of the executive branch?

They rejected direct election and election by Congress in favor of an electoral college system, settling on a four-year presidential term with no bar to reelection.

How do the text materials define a republic?

A government in which elected representatives make the decisions and a system of representation operates.

How did Aristotle define democracy, and into what two political systems did he warn it could decay?

Aristotle defined democracy as the rule of the many (rule by ordinary people, most of whom would be poor). He warned it can easily decay into an oligarchy (rule of the rich) or a tyranny (rule of a despot).

What central arguments did John Locke present in Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690)?

Locke argued that people can exist in a state of nature without a ruler as long as they can find food and protection, and that government must exist with the consent of the governed, protect private property, and separate its legislative and executive powers.

How did Thomas Hobbes' view in Leviathan (1651) differ from John Locke's view on government?

Hobbes argued that people live in a 'war of all against all' making an absolute, supreme ruler essential to prevent civil war, whereas Locke believed citizens could get along with consent of the governed and separation of powers without an all-powerful ruler.

Which delegates expressed skepticism toward direct popular election of representatives, with one describing the public as 'dupes of pretended patriots'?

Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts and Roger Sherman of Connecticut.

What is judicial review?

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

What is federalism?

Government authority shared by national and local governments.

What are enumerated powers, and what specific examples are given in the text?

Enumerated (or delegated) powers are powers given to the national government alone, such as printing money, declaring war, making treaties, conducting foreign affairs, and regulating commerce among the states and with foreign nations.

What are reserved powers, and what examples are provided in the text?

Reserved powers are powers given to the state government alone, such as the power to issue licenses and to regulate commerce wholly within a state.

What are concurrent powers, and what examples are provided in the text?

Concurrent powers are powers shared by both the national and state governments, such as collecting taxes, building roads, borrowing money, and maintaining courts.

According to Figure 2.5, what pathways exist for proposing and ratifying a constitutional amendment?

An amendment can be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or at a national convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of state legislatures. It can be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures or three-fourths of states at special conventions.

What structural overview of the U.S. Constitution is detailed in Figure 2.4?

Figure 2.4 outlines the Preamble, Articles I through VII (covering Legislative, Executive, Judicial branches, Relations among States, Amending, National Supremacy, and Ratification), and the 27 Amendments.

What is checks and balances?

Authority shared by three branches of government.

What is separation of powers?

Constitutional authority shared by three different branches of government.

How did Samuel Adams' view of government and virtue contrast with James Madison's view?

Samuel Adams believed the new nation must become a 'Christian Sparta' where citizens cultivate virtue, frugality, industry, temperance, and simplicity. James Madison argued that deliberately cultivating virtue required a government too strong and dangerous to liberty, favoring a system where self-interest and rival ambitions protect public rights.

What is a faction?

A group with a distinct political interest.

How are Federalists and Antifederalists defined in the text?

Federalists are those who favor a stronger national government, while Antifederalists are those who favor a weaker national government.

Why was the ratification process established by the Framers technically illegal under the Articles of Confederation?

The Articles of Confederation required the unanimous approval of all 13 state legislatures to make amendments, whereas the Framers allowed the Constitution to take effect upon ratification by special elected conventions in at least 9 states.

What was the central objection of the Antifederalists regarding the size of the territory and freedom?

They believed a very extensive territory could not be governed on the principles of freedom except as a confederation of republics, fearing a distant national government would tax heavily, overrule state courts, maintain a standing army, and absorb state functions.

According to the Chapter 2 text, what is the definition of a coalition?

An alliance of groups.

Where did Montesquieu and many 18th-century Americans believe liberty was safest?

In small societies governed either by direct democracy or by large legislatures with small districts and frequent turnover among members.

What was James Madison's argument in Federalist No. 10 and No. 51 regarding the ideal size of a republic for preserving liberty?

Madison argued that liberty is safest in large ("extended") republics because a wide variety of opinions and interests makes it hard for a tyrannical majority to form or organize.

Why did James Madison contend in Federalist No. 51 that coalitions in a large republic would be more moderate?

Because the larger the republic, the greater the variety of interests, requiring majority coalitions to accommodate diverse interests and opinions to succeed.

What specific limitations on national government power were proposed by the Antifederalists?

Narrowing Supreme Court jurisdiction, creating a council to review presidential actions, placing military power in state militias, increasing the size of the House of Representatives, reducing or eliminating congressional tax powers, and adding a bill of rights.

What is the legal definition of a writ of habeas corpus?

An order to produce an arrested person before a judge.

What is a bill of attainder?

A law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of a crime.

What is an ex post facto law?

A law that makes an act criminal even though the act was legal when it was committed.

What individual liberty protections were included in the original Constitution before the Bill of Rights was added?

Guarantees that habeas corpus cannot be suspended (except during invasion or rebellion), prohibitions on bills of attainder and ex post facto laws, right of trial by jury in criminal cases, equal privileges and immunities for citizens across states, no religious test for federal office, and state prohibitions on impairing contract obligations.

What reason did Roger Sherman give when Elbridge Gerry proposed drafting a federal bill of rights?

Sherman observed that a federal bill of rights was unnecessary because existing state bills of rights were sufficient.

Why did the Framers believe that a federal bill of rights was unnecessary based on the structure of the national government?

They believed they were creating a government with specific, limited powers that could only do what the Constitution explicitly allowed, which did not include authority to infringe on freedoms of speech or press.

How did Federalists in Pennsylvania secure a quorum to call a ratifying convention?

Federalist supporters dragged boycotting Antifederalists to the legislature to force a quorum.

What was the final vote margin in Virginia for ratification of the Constitution, and who led the opposition?

The Federalists won by 10 votes against the opposition led by Patrick Henry.

What local threat in New York state helped Alexander Hamilton carry the ratification vote by three votes?

New York City threatened to secede from the state if New York did not ratify the Constitution.

On what date and with which state's ratification did the U.S. Constitution officially become law?

June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify.

What 1776 document served as the primary basis for James Madison's proposed amendments for the Bill of Rights?

The Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason and James Madison.

How many proposed amendments were approved by Congress during its first session, and how many were ratified by the states in 1791?

Congress approved 12 proposals, 10 of which were ratified by the states and went into effect in 1791.

How did the Fourteenth Amendment expand the scope of the Bill of Rights?

As interpreted by the Supreme Court, it extended many guarantees of the Bill of Rights to restrict state governmental action, whereas originally they restricted only the federal government.

Which constitutional amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures?

Amendment 4.

What specific protections are granted under Amendment 5 of the Constitution?

Grand jury indictment required for serious crimes, prohibition of double jeopardy, prohibition against forced self-incrimination, and protection against loss of life, liberty, or property without due process.

Which constitutional amendment guarantees jury trials in civil suits where the value in controversy exceeds $20?

Amendment 7.

What rule is established by Amendment 10 of the U.S. Constitution?

Powers not delegated to the United States or denied to the states are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

What proportion of the population in the five Southern states was comprised of enslaved people at the time of the Constitutional Convention?

One-third of the population.

What term did political scientist Theodore Lowi use to describe the constitutional compromises regarding slavery?

The Framers' "Greatest Compromise."

How did the Three-fifths Compromise affect Southern state representation in the House of Representatives?

It granted Southern states 47 House seats instead of the 33 seats they would have received based on free population alone.

Until what year did the Constitution protect the slave trade from being prohibited by federal law or amendment?

1808.

What prophetic warning regarding slavery was voiced by Virginia delegate George Mason?

George Mason warned that "by an inevitable chain of causes and effects, providence punishes national sins [slavery] by national calamities."

Which three nations without a written constitution are cited as having well-established personal freedom?

Israel, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Which three nations with a written constitution are cited as places where personal freedom is rare?

Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

What historical process is illustrated in Figure 2.6 across the original American states from 1787 to 1790?

The ratification of the Federal Constitution by state conventions, detailing states that were strongly in favor and ratified early, those initially opposed but later ratified, and those that ratified after a close struggle.

What thesis did historian Charles Beard present in his 1913 book, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution?

Beard argued that the urban and commercial classes, especially government IOU holders from the Revolutionary War, favored the new Constitution because they stood to benefit economically from it.

Which wealthy delegates at the Philadelphia Convention refused to sign the Constitution, contradicting the idea that economic self-interest drove the Framers?

Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts and George Mason of Virginia.

Which key constitutional backers were men of modest means or burdened with heavy debts?

James Madison and James Wilson.

According to 1980s statistical studies, what economic factor had a stronger influence on how Framers voted than their personal monetary condition?

The economic position of the state from which the delegate came.

How did the role of economic self-interest differ between the Philadelphia Convention and the state ratifying conventions?

Economic factors played a larger role at the state ratifying conventions, where merchants, city dwellers, western land owners, and non-slaveholding government IOU holders were more likely to vote for ratification than slave-owning farmers without public debt.

What power did the Sixteenth Amendment grant to the federal government in 1913?

The power to lay and collect taxes on incomes.

What were the top marginal federal income tax rates during World War I and World War II?

The top marginal rate peaked at 77 percent during World War I and 91 percent during World War II.

In 2015, how many federal tax brackets existed, and what was the top marginal income tax rate on earnings above $400,000?

There were seven federal tax brackets (10, 15, 25, 28, 33, 35, and 39.6 percent), and the top marginal rate was 39.6 percent.

How does the Policy Dynamics matrix categorize political issues based on perceived costs and perceived benefits?

It categorizes them into Majoritarian Politics (distributed costs, distributed benefits), Entrepreneurial Politics (concentrated costs, distributed benefits), Client Politics (distributed costs, concentrated benefits), and Interest Group Politics (concentrated costs, concentrated benefits).

How did Thomas Jefferson and James Madison view the relationship between governmental power and equality?

They believed citizens naturally differed in talents and that governmental power had to be kept strictly limited to prevent the state from creating unnatural political privileges, exclusive charters, and monopolies.