Pre-Assessment WGU American Politics and the US Constitution C963

Who was responsible for drafting the Bill of Rights and submitting it to Congress?

James Madison

Why did the colonists oppose being taxed by Great Britain?

They did not have elected representatives in the House of Commons

What was a major difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national judiciary

Why did the framers design the government under the Articles of Confederation with a Congress?

They wanted a government based on the representation of the population

What did the Great Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that was finalized in the Constitution establish?

A two-chamber congress

What were the results of the three-fifths compromise?

It allowed slave states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for the purpose of representation

What was a Federalist argument in support of the ratification of the Constitution?

A strong national government is better for national defense and economic growth

Which concept was James Madison referencing when he stated, "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition" in Federalist, no. 51?

Separation of powers and checks and balances

What is a judicial check on the executive branch?

The Supreme Court can declare actions by the executive branch unconstitutional

What describes dual federalism?

State government and national government have exclusive authority in clearly defined jurisdictions

Which congressional action would be the result of the implied powers of Congress?

Congress passes a law raising the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour

What best explains why individual members of the Senate have more power than individual members of the House of Representatives?

The smaller total number of Senate members compared to the number of representatives

What describes the equal proportions method of congressional apportionment?

Congressional districts are drawn in order to maintain similar numbers of voters in each district

What describes the process of bills becoming laws in Congress?

Bills change significantly through House and Senate revisions

Which power does the president have under the Constitution?

Appointing judges

What is a protection against an elected president abusing powers for personal gain?

The power of Congress to impeach the president

Which constitutional amendment established term limits for the president?

The 22nd Ammendment

What is the purpose of executive agreements?

To establish agreements with foreign countries without congressional approval

What describes the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison?

It established the principle of judicial review

How many federal appellate courts exist in the United States?

13

How many sitting justices are there on the Supreme Court?

9

What is a power reserved for the state?

Conducting elections

Which constitutional amendment allows states to reserve powers?

The 10th Amendment

What did the Supreme Court's ruling in Gibbons v. Ogden establish?

A loose constructionist interpretation of the commerce clause

How do most states award votes in the Electoral College?

The candidate who wins the popular vote in the state gets all the electoral votes for the state

Which amendment provided for the separate election of the president and vice president?

The 12th Amendment

What is true about campaign ads in primary elections?

They often try to raise the name recognition of a candidate

How are elections for the U.S. Senate conducted?

One-third of the Senate seats are up for election every two years

Which election cycle event allows local party members to select their delegates for a presidential election?

A caucus

What was the purpose of creating the Federal Election Commission in the 1970s?

To ensure transparency in campaign financing

Which type of policy would typically be promoted by public interest groups?

Government funding for public school education

What is generally true of interest groups but not true of political parties?

They tend to be focused on a single issue

Why is it difficult to measure the influence of interest groups?

Interest groups tend to support lawmakers who would have likely supported the group's issues anyway

Which Supreme Court decision allowed super PACs to make unlimited contributions to political candidates?

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

In which case did the Supreme Court establish that spending on political campaigns constituted political speech that is protected by the First Amendment?

Buckley v. Valeo

What is closely associated with a citizen being less likely to vote?

Having a lower income job

What was required by states under the 1993 National Voter Registration Act?

It required states to allow citizens to register to vote when they sign up for a driver's license

What was the impact of the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, also known as the Motor Voter Act?

Voter registration increased, but voter turnout was largely unchanged

A voter casts a ballot for a candidate based solely on the candidate's previous vote on a tax cut.

Which type of voting decision is demonstrated in this situation?

Retrospective

Which amendment concerns the rights of individuals engaged in civil disputes?

The 7th Amendment

What was the impact of the Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson?

It allowed racial segregation by establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine.

In which types of cases would the Supreme Court use the standard of strict scrutiny?

Cases that restrict fundamental rights of protected classes

Why was the separate-but-equal provision in Plessy v. Ferguson ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the Brown v. Board decision?

It violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment

Which Supreme Court case set a precedent for the Bill of Rights applying only to the federal government actions and not the states?

Barron v. Baltimore

What describes the Supreme Court's ruling in Miranda v. Arizona?

It requires law enforcement officials to inform people suspected of crimes of their constitutional rights

What describes the Supreme Court's ruling in Mapp v. Ohio?

Evidence obtained without a warrant that does not fall under the exception rule is not admissible

What is a reason people can be convicted of a crime without jury trial under the Sixth Amendment?

They accept a plea bargin

Which right is protected under the free exercise clause of the Constitution?

Freedom of religion

What describes the Supreme Court's decision in Cohen v. California?

Symbolic speech to express political opinions is constitutionally protected

What describes the Supreme Court's ruling in Texas v. Johnson?

Flag burning is constitutionally protected political speech

In which case did the Supreme Court rule that a person must be opposed to all wars and not just a particular war to claim conscientious objector status?

Gillette v. United States

Which issue did the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court case concern?

Same-sex marriage

In which case did the Supreme Court rule there is a constitutional right to privacy that protects a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy?

Roe v. Wade

Which amendment to the Constitution gave women the right to vote?

The 19th Amendment

What is an appropriate characterization of media agenda setting?

It determines which events deserve public attention

What established the requirement that the executive branch provide information to private citizens and news outlets?

The Freedom of Information Act

What describes the principle of prior restraint?

The government can prevent some information from being published if it affects national security.

Which influence would having parents that are committed and vocal Democrats have on people's political socialization?

They would likely become strong Democrats

How do presidents use mandates after election?

They use their public support to implement campaign promises

What is a criticism of the bandwagon effect on American politics?

News media agencies provide more coverage to candidates that are leading in the polls.