📝 100 Practice Questions – AP Gov Unit 1: Constitution & Foundations

Which Enlightenment thinker emphasized natural rights of life, liberty, and property?

John Locke

Who believed humans in a “state of nature” need a strong government for order?

Thomas Hobbes

Which philosopher argued for separation of powers?

Montesquieu

Rousseau’s main political idea was?

Social contract & popular sovereignty

What does 'popular sovereignty' mean?

Government power comes from the people

What is republicanism?

Citizens elect representatives to make laws on their behalf

The main influence on Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence was?

Locke’s natural rights

Who presided over the Constitutional Convention?

George Washington

Who is considered the “Father of the Constitution”?

James Madison

Why were state constitutions important before 1787?

They tested ideas of limited government & popular sovereignty

What document announced independence from Britain?

The Declaration of Independence

'Consent of the governed' is associated with which Enlightenment thinker?

Rousseau

Which Enlightenment thinker inspired the phrase 'life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness'?

John Locke

Which group feared a strong central government after independence?

Anti-Federalists

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?

Weak central government, couldn’t tax, no executive or judiciary

Under the AOC, how many votes did each state get?

One

Could Congress tax under the AOC?

No

What fraction was needed to amend the AOC?

Unanimous consent

Was there an executive branch under the AOC?

No

Was there a national court system under the AOC?

No

What major event showed the AOC’s weakness?

Shays’ Rebellion

Could Congress regulate interstate commerce under the AOC?

No

Who held most of the power under the AOC?

The states

How many branches of government did the AOC establish?

One (legislative)

What was the only national institution created by the AOC?

Congress

The Constitutional Convention was held in what city?

Philadelphia

What year was the Constitutional Convention?

1787

The Great Compromise created what structure?

Bicameral legislature with House & Senate

Representation in the House is based on what?

Population

Representation in the Senate is based on what?

Equal (2 per state)

What compromise counted slaves as part of the population?

Three-Fifths Compromise

What did the Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise ban?

Congress could not ban the slave trade until 1808

Who proposed the Virginia Plan?

James Madison

The New Jersey Plan favored which states?

Small states

The Connecticut Compromise is also known as what?

Great Compromise

Article I establishes which branch?

Legislative

Article II establishes which branch?

Executive

Article III establishes which branch?

Judicial

Article IV deals with what?

Relations among states

What is “full faith and credit” in Article IV?

States must respect other states’ laws and records

Article V describes what?

Amendment process

Article VI contains what important clause?

Supremacy Clause

Who must swear an oath to support the Constitution?

All state and federal officials

Can there be a religious test for office under Article VI?

No

Article I gives Congress the power to make what type of laws?

Necessary and proper laws

The President is the Commander in Chief of what?

The military

Article III creates what court?

Supreme Court

Judicial review was established by what case?

Marbury v. Madison

New states are admitted under which article?

Article IV

What fraction of Congress is needed to propose an amendment?

Two-thirds

1st Amendment rights?

Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition

2nd Amendment?

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment?

No quartering soldiers

4th Amendment?

No unreasonable searches/seizures

5th Amendment?

Due process, no double jeopardy, no self-incrimination

6th Amendment?

Right to a speedy/public trial, right to counsel

7th Amendment?

Jury trial in civil cases

8th Amendment?

No cruel/unusual punishment, no excessive bail

9th Amendment?

Rights not listed still belong to the people

10th Amendment?

Powers not given to the federal gov are reserved to the states

13th Amendment?

Abolished slavery

14th Amendment?

Equal protection, due process, citizenship

15th Amendment?

No denial of vote based on race

16th Amendment?

Federal income tax

17th Amendment?

Direct election of senators

18th Amendment?

Prohibition of alcohol

19th Amendment?

Women’s suffrage

20th Amendment?

“Lame Duck” → terms start in January

21st Amendment?

Repealed prohibition

22nd Amendment?

Two-term limit for president

23rd Amendment?

DC gets electoral votes

24th Amendment?

Bans poll taxes

25th Amendment?

Presidential succession & disability

26th Amendment?

Voting age lowered to 18

27th Amendment?

Congressional pay raises take effect after next election

Judicial review is an example of what type of change?

Informal constitutional change

Who established judicial review?

John Marshall in Marbury v. Madison

Example of informal change by executive branch?

Executive agreements, not treaties

Example of informal change by political parties?

Nominating conventions

Example of custom/tradition?

Two-term precedent before 22nd Amendment

Congress cannot tax what?

Exports

What is a bill of attainder?

A law declaring someone guilty without trial

Congress cannot pass what type of retroactive law?

Ex post facto law

When can habeas corpus be suspended?

Rebellion or invasion

Who regulates interstate commerce?

Congress

What is participatory democracy?

Broad citizen participation in politics

Give an example of participatory democracy.

Town hall meetings, referendums

What is elite democracy?

Small group of elites making decisions for the people

Give an example of elite democracy.

Electoral College

What is pluralist democracy?

Politics driven by interest group competition

Example of pluralist democracy?

NRA lobbying Congress

Federalist 10 argued what about factions?

A large republic controls their effects

Brutus 1 warned against what?

Strong central government overpowering states

Who wrote the Federalist Papers?

Hamilton, Madison, Jay

Who were key Anti-Federalists?

Patrick Henry, George Mason

What are the 3 branches in the Madisonian model?

Legislative, Executive, Judicial

Why did Madison favor separation of powers?

To prevent tyranny of majority

What is checks and balances?

Each branch limits powers of the others

What is federalism?

Power divided between national and state governments

Why was the Bill of Rights added?

To appease Anti-Federalists & protect individual rights