FCLE canvas/pdf/ quiz review

Congress creates laws, but those laws can be vetoed by the president or overturned by the Supreme Court. This is an example of a Constitutional principle known as:

A) checks and balances

B) federalism

C) compromise

A

Articles one, two, and three in the Constitution reflect which constitutional principle:

A) life, liberty, and property

B) separation of powers

C) universal adult suffrage

B

What article of the U.S constitution declares it to be the supreme law of the land?

A) Article I
B) Article II
C) Article III
D) Article VI

D

The concept of self-government can be found in:

a) Amendment 14

b) the Bill of Rights

c) the preamble beginning with “we the people”

C

How many amendments have been added to the Constitution?

a) 19

b) 27

c) 10

B

Which of the following best describes federalism:

a)  a system where the central government has all the power and states have no power

b)  a dual system of sovereignty where both national and state governments have authority.
c)  a system where the states have all the power and the federal government is very weak.

B

Which amendments expanded protections for voting rights?

15,19,24, 26

The Constitution established a system of “dual sovereignty,” under which the states have surrendered some of their powers to the federal government, but also retained some sovereignty. All other powers were to be held by the states, local communities, or the people themselves in a concept known as:

a) compromise

b) separation of powers

c) checks and balances

d) federalism

D

The Constitution used the Virginia Plan’s two-house, or “bicameral,” legislature, but it accorded proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate. This feature of Congress is a result of:

a) the 3/5ths compromise

b) the Great Compromise

c) the New Jersey Compromise

B

During the ratification of the Constitution, Federalists eventually agreed to support further ratification of ten amendments to the Constitution in order to appease Anti-Federalists' fears of an overwhelming national government that could impinge upon personal liberties. The first ten amendments to the Constitution are collectively known as the?

Bill of Rights

Which founding document directly influenced the American Bill of Rights (1791)?

the English Declaration of Rights

Which feature of the U.S. Constitution did the Anti-Federalists fear would lead to the emergence of tyranny?

A) The provision that allowed for a strong executive branch (presidency).
B) The provisions that lent power to a majority of the citizens.
C) The power of the federal government to regulate commerce.
D) The ability of Congress to override presidential vetoes.

B

Anti-federalists

against ratification of the Constitution

Federalists

supported the ratification of the Constitution

The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the Constitution because they were afraid that the new national government would be too powerful and thus threaten individual liberties. They favored all of the following EXCEPT:

a) the indirect election of government officials

b) a weak central government

c) strong state governments

A

To appease some of the fears of the Anti-Federalists and to ensure the ratification of the Constitution, the Federalists promised that they would:

a)  separate federal powers into three equal branches of government to ensure that no branch could assume control over the other

b) add amendments specifically protecting individual liberties

c)  amend the Articles of Confederation

B

A state that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies is practicing a form of:

direct democracy

An individual’s belief that ordinary citizens can affect what government does is:

political efficacy

The principle that authority of the government rests in the hands of the people is:

popular sovereignty

In the U.S., voters chose representatives from the state to represent them in the U.S. Congress. This is known as:

indirect democracy

Who is responsible for registering voters in the state of Florida?

a county supervisor of elections

Who is the chief executive in a state?

the governor

How does the Magna Carta provide a foundation for the English perspective of participatory governance? 

A) It was the reason for the U.S. Civil War.

B) It was our first attempt at government in the U.S.

C) It establishes a basis for individual rights

C

What led to the creation of the English Declaration of Rights (sometimes known as the "English Bill of Rights") in 1689? 

A) The U.S. Constitution

B) The Articles of Confederation

C) Tension over who should rule; an individual or the people

C

Who is considered to have been the most influential Enlightenment philosopher on the Declaration of Independence? 

John Locke

What is the significance of the Mayflower Compact? 

A) It is our current governing document.

B) It was the first attempt at government after the colonies declared independence.

C) It is the first attempt by Europeans of self-government in the colonies

C

What aspect of the U.S. Constitution was influenced by Montesquieu?

separation of powers

What did the anti-Federalist want the Constitution to include? 

a Bill of Rights

For what purpose did Thomas Paine write Common Sense?

To encourage the colonists to demand independence from Great Britain

Which of the following were thought to be weaknesses of the government laid out by the Articles of Confederation? 

a) too strong of an army

b) no power to tax and no executive judiciary

c) too easy to amend the Articles of Confederation

B

During the 6th century B.C.E., the ancient Athenians divided the powers of their government between two assemblies and guaranteed certain political rights to all male citizens. How do these political reforms best illustrate how societies develop?

A. by limiting government authority

B. by choosing government leaders

C. by improving government services

D. by reducing government expenditures

A

A certain country is characterized by the following traits:

1. power achieved through inheritance

2. same ruling family for over a century

3. finite freedoms and rights

4. hierarchical social status

5. single established state religion

The establishment and maintenance of these traits is based on which of the following principles?

A. popular sovereignty

B. due process of law

C. social contract theory

D. divine right of kings

D

Which modern democratic concept practiced in the United States is most like the democratic process of ancient Greece?

A. the referendum

B. the presidential election

C. the primary election

D. the nominating convention

A

Which modern process would be supported by the ancient Greeks?

A. electing governors

B. hiring press secretaries
C. nominating an ambassador

D. appointing a majority leader

A

In the United States, which of the following is permitted to citizens by the right of freedom of assembly?

A. the right to demonstrate

B. the right to riot

C. the right to immigrate

D. the right to work

A

In the United States, how are conflicts between state laws and federal laws generally resolved?

A. The conflict must be resolved by the U.S. attorney general.

B. The conflict must be resolved by a national referendum.

C. The conflict must be resolved using the Supremacy Clause.

D. The conflict must be resolved using the Tenth Amendment

C

Which article of the U.S. Constitution grants the power to coin money, make treaties, and levy import duties?

A. Article I

B. Article II

C. Article III

D. Article IV

A

Use the excerpt below, from the Declaration of Independence, to answer the question that follows.

“He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.”

Which constitutional provision was inspired by the above complaint?

A. The president has the power to declare war under Article II.

B. The Second Amendment ensures that citizens have the right to keep and bear arms.

C. The Third Amendment limits the quartering of soldiers to specific circumstances.

D. The president has the power to determine the deployment and use of soldiers under Article II.

C

Use the passage below, from a historical document, to answer the question that follows:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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.”

Which philosophical movement best reflects the ideals in the passage?

A. Transcendentalism

B. Reformation

C. Progressivism

D. Enlightenment

D

Use the passage below, which was included in the Declaration of Sentiments adopted at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, to answer the question that follows:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Which of the following documents influenced the aims and strategies of the authors of the Declaration of Sentiments?

A. Northwest Ordinance

B. Articles of Confederation

C. U.S. Constitution

D. Declaration of Independence

D

In the Mayflower Compact, Plymouth settlers pledged to unite into "a civil body politic" and agreed to make and abide by laws that "insured the general Good of the Colony." What founding document did this set a precedent for?

A. Declaration of Independence

B. U.S. Constitution

C. Magna Carta

D. Bill of Rights

B

Which person is considered to be the principal author of the U.S. Constitution?

A. Thomas Jefferson

B. Richard Henry Lee

C. Benjamin Franklin

D. James Madison

D

Use the excerpt below, from the Thirteenth Amendment, to answer the question that follows.

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

Which of the following contains a clause that may have served as an inspiration for the above language?

A. Declaration of Independence

B. Articles of Confederation

C. Northwest Ordinances

D. Federalist Papers

C

At the Constitutional Convention, there was a major debate between large states and small states about representation in the new Congress. This debate was resolved by the Great Compromise. What was the result of this compromise?

A. The number of citizens in a state would determine how many seats that state had in Congress, but slaves and other noncitizens would not be counted for this purpose.

B. Congress would have two houses, one in which state representation was based on population and one in which all states had equal representation.

C. The number of seats each state would have in both houses of Congress would be based on the state's population.

D. Congress would be made up of two houses in which all states had an equal number of representatives in each house.

B

Which of the following statements regarding the Monroe Doctrine is accurate?

A. The Monroe Doctrine prohibited future European colonization in the Western Hemisphere.

B. Debates over the Monroe Doctrine heightened sectional divisions in the United States.

C. The United States used the Monroe Doctrine to justify the annexation of overseas territories.

D. Great Britain's opposition to the Monroe Doctrine was a major cause of the War of 1812.

A

By what process were eighteen-year-olds fully granted the right to vote?

A. resolution of Congress

B. voter initiative

C. Supreme Court decision

D. constitutional amendment

D

Which political philosopher’s ideas are best represented in the Declaration of Independence?

A. Thomas Hobbes

B. Ethan Allen

C. John Locke

D. James Madison

C

Who is the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

Authors of the Federalist Papers:

alexander hamilton, james madison, john

 jay

Which statement best describes due process under the 14th Amendment?

A) States are allowed to take away life, liberty, or property without any reason.
B) Due process only applies to federal government actions, not states.
C) Due process means that everyone must be given a government job.
D) No one shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, and this protection applies to the states.

D

Which statement best describes popular sovereignty?

A) Only the president has the power to make laws.
B) The government gets its power from the people.
C) Judges are allowed to create new laws on their own.
D) Kings and queens rule over the people by birthright.

B

Which statement best describes political efficacy?

A) Citizens have no ability to influence the government.
B) Only elected officials are allowed to participate in politics.
C) The belief that one can understand and influence government affairs, and that their vote matters.
D) Government decisions are made without public input or awareness.

C

What was the main significance of the Magna Carta (1215)?

A) It gave the king unlimited power over the people.
B) It established that everyone, including the king, must follow the law.
C) It created the United Nations to protect human rights.
D) It allowed kings to tax citizens without their consent.

B

What was the main purpose of the Mayflower Compact (1620)?

A) To declare independence from Britain immediately.
B) To establish a government based on majority rule and cooperation among the settlers, marking the earliest social contract and the first attempt at forming a government.
C) To create a monarchy in the New World.
D) To force settlers to return to England.

B

What was the primary purpose of the English Bill of Rights (1689)?

A) To give the king unlimited power over the colonies.
B) To ensure that the monarchy no longer had absolute power, grant the right to petition the king, and protect individual rights.
C) To establish a system of colonies ruled directly by England without any representation.
D) To abolish the monarchy in England and create a republic.

B

What was the main purpose of the Stamp Act (1765)?

A) To establish taxes on goods imported from the colonies.
B) To impose a direct tax on paper documents and legal papers in the colonies
C) To give the colonies full control over their own taxes and trade regulations.

B

What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence (1776)?

A) To declare the colonies' independence from Britain and outline the reasons for the separation.
B) To request more representation in the British Parliament.
C) To create a new government structure for the colonies under British rule.
D) To establish trade agreements between the colonies and Britain.

A

What was the primary purpose of the Articles of Confederation?

A) To create a strong central government with the power to tax.
B) To establish a loose agreement among states, with most power remaining with the states
C) To give the federal government full control over the military and foreign affairs.
D) To establish a system of trade between the colonies and Britain.

B

What was the main purpose of the U.S. Constitution (1787)?

A) To create a strong central government with the power to tax, regulate trade, and ensure a more unified nation, while establishing a federal system where central and state governments share power.
B) To preserve the sovereignty of individual states and limit federal power.
C) To continue the Articles of Confederation with slight amendments.
D) To give the president full control over the military and foreign affairs without checks.

A

What was the main purpose of the Federalist Papers (1787)?

A) To argue against the ratification of the Constitution and promote the Articles of Confederation.
B) To provide a collection of essays arguing for the ratification of the Constitution.
C) To establish a new government separate from the Constitution.
D) To support the creation of a monarchy in the United States.

B

What was the main purpose of the Bill of Rights (1791)?

A) To grant additional powers to the federal government.
B) To protect individual freedoms and limit the power of the federal government.
C) To establish a national religion and require citizens to follow it.
D) To allow the president to override state laws.

B

Join or die political cartoon:

encouraged the colonies to unite during the war.

What was the main purpose of the Treaty of Versailles (1919)?

A) To end World War I, impose harsh penalties on Germany, and establish peace
B) To create a permanent alliance between European nations.
C) To grant full independence to colonies under European rule.
D) To expand Germany’s territory and military power.

A

What is the main purpose of checks and balances in the U.S. government?

A) To give the president the power to control Congress.
B) To ensure that no one branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.
C) To allow Congress to override the president’s veto without limits.
D) To give the Supreme Court the power to make laws for the entire country.

B

What was the main purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

A) To allow states to continue segregation in public spaces.
B) To ban discrimination in public accommodations, education, and employment, and was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
C) To grant full voting rights to women across the country.
D) To establish a national healthcare system for all citizens.

B

What was the main purpose of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

A) To ban all voting in federal elections.
B) To allow states to impose literacy tests and other voting restrictions.
C) To ban discrimination in voting, including the use of literacy tests, and protect voting rights for all citizens.
D) To grant the federal government complete control over state election laws.

C

What was the primary purpose of the Fair Housing Act of 1968?

A) To establish a national housing market controlled by the federal government.
B) To prohibit discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability.
C) To provide federal funding for the construction of low-income housing.
D) To grant tax incentives to homeowners who purchase new homes.

B

What was the main purpose of The Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise)?

A) To create a unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states.
B) To establish a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives apportioned by population and the Senate providing equal representation for all states, regardless of population.
C) To give the president full control over the legislative process.
D) To abolish the Senate and give all legislative power to the House of Representatives.

B

What was the main purpose of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

A) To count all enslaved people as full citizens for purposes of representation.
B) To give enslaved people the right to vote in national elections.
C) To allow states to abolish slavery without any restrictions.
D) To count enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for purposes of determining representation in Congress and taxation.

D

Preamble - What does the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution state?

A) It establishes the procedures for amending the Constitution.
B) It outlines the powers of the Supreme Court.
C) It states the purpose of the Constitution and the government.
D) It creates the legislative branch of the government.

C

Article I - What does Article I of the U.S. Constitution establish?

A) The powers of the judicial branch.
B) The legislative branch (Congress).
C) The relationship between states.
D) The powers of the executive branch.

B

Article II - What does Article II of the U.S. Constitution establish?

A) The process for amending the Constitution.
B) The powers of the executive branch (Presidency).
C) The powers of the legislative branch.
D) The relationship between states.

B

Article III - What does Article III of the U.S. Constitution establish?

A) The powers of Congress.
B) The rules for amending the Constitution.
C) The judicial branch (Supreme Court).
D) The supremacy of national law.

C

Article IV - What does Article IV of the U.S. Constitution address?

A) The national debt and supremacy of national law.
B) The powers of the president.
C) The relationship between the federal government and the states.
D) The process for amending the Constitution.

C

Article V - What does Article V of the U.S. Constitution provide for?

A) The establishment of the Supreme Court.
B) The method for amending the Constitution.
C) The procedures for ratifying the Constitution.
D) The powers of the legislative branch.

B

Article VI - What does Article VI of the U.S. Constitution address?

A) The relationship among states.
B) National debts, the supremacy of national law, and oaths of office.
C) The method for amending the Constitution.
D) The powers of the president.

B

Article VII - What does Article VII of the U.S. Constitution address?

A) The powers of Congress.
B) The relationship between the federal government and the states.
C) The process for ratifying the Constitution.
D) The powers of the judicial branch.

C

Magna Carta established the

Rule of Law

Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.

• A suspect is accused of a crime in one state and flees to another state where they are apprehended. The state is very slow in returning the suspect to the state of origin and keeps them imprisoned.

Which of the following represents a suitable petition for the suspect in this situation, in regard to their constitutional rights?

a) petition for a writ of extradition

b) petition for a writ of habeas corpus

c) petition for release into their custody

d) petition for overturning of the charges

B

Which phrase best describes the power of impeachment?

a) the ability of the U.S. House to charge federal officers with a crime or violation

b) the ability of the U.S. Supreme Court to determine constitutionality of laws

c) he power of the U.S. Senate to remove federal officers for a crime or violation

d) the power of the U.S. President to enforce decisions of federal courts

A

Use the passage below, taken from a presidential nomination speech, to answer the question that follows.

“What do the people of America want more than anything else? To my mind, they want two things: work, . . . and with work, a reasonable measure of security . . .”

Based on the passage, which government program would the speaker support?

a)Great Society

b) Fair Deal

c) New Deal

d) Brain Trust

C