AP Gov Unit 1 MCQs

Which of the following democratic ideals is most directly reflected in the Declaration of Independence?

social contract

" . . . all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

-The Declaration of Independence, 1776

Which of the following concepts was articulated by Thomas Jefferson and his collaborators in this excerpt from the Declaration of Independence?

Popular Sovereignty

Which of the following Enlightenment ideas most influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence?

John Locke's theory of resisting "the aggressor" from the Second Treatise on Government.

The belief in natural rights, as found in the Declaration of Independence, most directly impacted the development of which of the following?

American political culture

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness... That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,... That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,...”

-Declaration of Independence, 1776

Which of the following constitutional provisions reflect the sentiments expressed in the Declaration of Independence?

establishing the US House of Representatives

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness... That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,... That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,...”

-Declaration of Independence, 1776

Which of the following best reflects the sentiments of the excerpt?

the social contract

The publication of the Declaration of Independence reflected what shift in the beliefs of American colonial leaders?

They were no longer going to engage in reconciliation attempts with Britain.

Which of the following options best describes the positions of the Federalists and Anti- Federalists during the debate over the ratification of the Constitution?

Row B

“The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States. A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source. A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project, will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the Union than a particular member of it; in the same proportion as such a malady is more likely to taint a particular county or district, than an entire State.”

Federalist No. 10

The quotations below also come from Federalist No. 10.

Which of the following best supports the argument in the excerpt above?

“Hence, it clearly appears, that the same advantage which a republic has over a democracy, in controlling the effects of faction, is enjoyed by a large over a small republic,--is enjoyed by the Union over the States composing it.”

“If the constitution, offered to [your acceptance], be a wise one, calculated to preserve the invaluable blessings of liberty, to secure the inestimable rights of mankind, and promote human happiness, then, if you accept it, you will lay a lasting foundation of happiness for millions yet unborn..But if, on the other hand, this form of government contains principles that will lead to the subversion of liberty — if it tends to establish a despotism, or, what is worse, a tyrannic aristocracy; then, if you adopt it, this only remaining assylum for liberty will be [shut] up, and posterity will execrate your memory.”

-Brutus No. 1 October 18, 1787

Which statement best describes the sentiments of the author?

Adopting the Constitution could lead to an abuse of power by the national government.

In explaining the sentiments of the framers of the Constitution, a political scientist would most likely use Federalist No. 10 to illustrate which of the following?

Direct democracy is incapable of providing stable, lasting government.

“That there are important defects in the system of the Federal Government is acknowledged by the Acts of all those States, which have concurred in the present Meeting; That the defects, upon a closer examination, may be found greater and more numerous, than even these acts imply, is at least so far probable, from the embarrassments which characterize the present State of our national affairs, foreign and domestic, as may reasonably be supposed to merit a deliberate and candid discussion, in some mode, which will unite the sentiments and councils of all the States. In the choice of the mode, your Commissioners are of opinion, that a Convention of Deputies from the different States, for the special and sole purpose of entering into this investigation, and digesting a plan for supplying such defects as may be discovered to exist, will be entitled to a preference from considerations, which will occur, without being particularized.”

PROCEEDINGS OF COMMISSIONERS TO REMEDY DEFECTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNAPOLIS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND (The Annapolis Convention 1786)

Which of the following best represents the most significant of the “defects in the system of the Federal Government” under the Articles of Confederation that led delegates to attend this convention at Annapolis in 1786?

The inability of the government established by the Articles of Confederation to regulate trade among the states.

Which of the following scenarios could result in changes to the U.S. Constitution without the support of Congress?

If at least two-thirds of the states call for a convention to propose an amendment to the Constitution, anything in the Constitution could be changed if the proposed amendment is ratified by at least three-fourths of the state legislatures or special ratification conventions held at the state level.

"To what expedient, then, shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the Constitution? The only answer that can be given is, that as all these exterior provisions are found to be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places. Without presuming to undertake a full development of this important idea, I will hazard a few general observations, which may perhaps place it in a clearer light, and enable us to form a more correct judgment of the principles and structure of the government planned by the convention."

—James Madison, The Federalist paper number 51

In the excerpt above, Madison argues that the Constitution will protect which of the following principles of American government?

Separation of powers

"To what expedient, then, shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the Constitution? The only answer that can be given is, that as all these exterior provisions are found to be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places. Without presuming to undertake a full development of this important idea, I will hazard a few general observations, which may perhaps place it in a clearer light, and enable us to form a more correct judgment of the principles and structure of the government planned by the convention."

—James Madison, The Federalist paper number 51

In the excerpt above, Madison argues that the Constitution will protect which of the following principles of American government?

Separation of powers

The McCulloch v. Maryland decision is a good example of

loose constructionism

In 1933, Schecter Poultry was accused by the National Industrial Recovery Administration (NIRA), a major piece of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, of breaking NIRA codes of fair behavior. These codes were written by private trade and industrial groups and enforced by the executive branch. Specifically, Schecter Poultry was accused of wage and price fixing and selling diseased chickens. Known as the "sick chicken case" Schecter Poultry Corp. v. U.S. (1935) became an important test case of the constitutionality for much of Roosevelt's New Deal. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court struck down the NIRA codes. It ruled that the codes violated the separation of powers in their delegation of legislative power to the executive branch. Furthermore, the Court declared that the NIRA provisions were an excessive extension of congressional power under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.

The attitude towards Congress' power under the Commerce Clause described in the paragraph is most similar to that found in which case?

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Scenario: The state of Vermont's legislative body passed a law limiting the logging industry by removing their ability to harvest trees within the state or to transport trees that have been harvested, regardless of where they were harvested, through their borders. The logging industry sues the state of Vermont in federal court.

Using your knowledge of the Constitution, which of the following rationales might they use to defend their case?

Only Congress has the ability to regulate interstate commerce

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

US Constitution

The above excerpt of the US Constitution could be used as a counter-argument by the federal government in regard to the decision in which of the following cases?

United States v Lopez (1995)

Federalism reflects the dynamic distribution of power between national and state governments. Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a shared policy responsibility between the two levels of government?

The creation of a new interstate highway.

Which of the following statements is an accurate description of Congress utilizing the "Necessary and Proper Clause" found in the U.S. Constitution?

Congress authorizes the Federal Reserve System in 1913.

Which of the following BEST demonstrates the principle of republicanism as reflected in the bicameral structure of Congress?

The Senate has two members from each state, while the House of Representatives’ seats are based on population.

In the 1950s Southern states attempted to prevent integration of their public schools. In return, the National Guard was sent to force states to implement federal regulations. This scenario illustrates which of the following about the relationship between the state and national governments?

The debate over the role of the central government and state powers is ongoing

Which of the following cases expanded the powers of Congress by defining the necessary and proper clause more broadly?

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Which of the following is an accurate description of the information contained in the chart?

When the table was published, the highest and lowest minimum wages in the states represented in the chart varied by more than $2.

Each state sets its own minimum wage. Which of the following constitutional principles best explains the differences in the minimum wages reflected in the graph?

Federalism

Which of the following is an accurate description of the information illustrated by the map?

A minority of states spend the minimum on their respective full-benefit Medicaid enrollees.

Each state sets its own budget to pay for its respective full-benefit Medicaid enrollees.

Which of the following constitutional principles best explains the variation in full-benefit payments illustrated by the map?

Federalism

“If the States may tax one instrument, employed by the government in the execution of its powers, they may tax any and every other instrument. They may tax the mail; they may tax the mint; they may tax patent rights; they may tax the papers of the custom-house; they may tax judicial process; they may tax all the means employed by the government, to an excess which would defeat all the ends of government. This was not intended by the American people. They did not design to make their government dependent on the States. . . .

The Court has bestowed on this subject its most deliberate consideration. The result is a conviction that the States have no power, by taxation or otherwise, to retard, impede, burden, or in any manner control, the operations of the constitutional laws enacted by Congress to carry into execution the powers vested in the general government. This is, we think, the unavoidable consequence of that supremacy which the constitution has declared.

We are unanimously of opinion, that the law passed by the legislature of Maryland, imposing a tax on the Bank of the United States, is unconstitutional and void.”

McCulloch v Maryland (1819)

Based on the excerpt above, derived from the court opinion in McCulloch v Maryland (1819), which row in the chart below contains the two key factors in the Court’s decision?

Row B

The only meaningful way we can speak of interests of an association like the National Association of Manufacturers is to draw inferences from the fact that the membership is a select group to which only manufacturers may belong ….

The implications…are persuasive only if they furnish reasonable explanations of the facts…. It has seemed persuasive ...to suppose that manufacturers do not join an association to which only manufacturers may belong merely to promote philanthropic…or cultural or religious interests…. The basis of selection of the membership creates an inference about the organization’s concerns….; i.e., the policies seem to reflect the …interests of manufacturers. The method …is useful … because special-interest groups often tend to rationalize their special interests as public interests.

The Semi-Sovereign People, Elmer Eric (E. E.) Schattschneider, 1960.

Which political principle would shape the issues presented in the scenario?

federalism

The only meaningful way we can speak of interests of an association like the National Association of Manufacturers is to draw inferences from the fact that the membership is a select group to which only manufacturers may belong ….

The implications…are persuasive only if they furnish reasonable explanations of the facts…. It has seemed persuasive ...to suppose that manufacturers do not join an association to which only manufacturers may belong merely to promote philanthropic…or cultural or religious interests…. The basis of selection of the membership creates an inference about the organization’s concerns….; i.e., the policies seem to reflect the …interests of manufacturers. The method …is useful … because special-interest groups often tend to rationalize their special interests as public interests.

The Semi-Sovereign People, Elmer Eric (E. E.) Schattschneider, 1960.

Which document reflects the ideas presented in the excerpt?

Federalist No. 10

The only meaningful way we can speak of interests of an association like the National Association of Manufacturers is to draw inferences from the fact that the membership is a select group to which only manufacturers may belong ….

The implications…are persuasive only if they furnish reasonable explanations of the facts…. It has seemed persuasive ...to suppose that manufacturers do not join an association to which only manufacturers may belong merely to promote philanthropic…or cultural or religious interests…. The basis of selection of the membership creates an inference about the organization’s concerns….; i.e., the policies seem to reflect the …interests of manufacturers. The method …is useful … because special-interest groups often tend to rationalize their special interests as public interests.

The Semi-Sovereign People, Elmer Eric (E. E.) Schattschneider, 1960.

How would a critic of the ideas presented in the excerpt describe those ideas?

The access points available to the National Association of Manufacturers will limit opportunities for other interests to impact policy-making.

Which of the following is a power reserved to state governments by the Tenth Amendment?

The power to create local governments.

Which of the following constitutional provisions most directly establishes a balance of power between the national and state governments?

10th Amendment.

Which of the following represents a power that may be constitutionally exercised by both the national and state governments?

The power to tax income.