Midterm Quiz Practice

Which of the following best describes the State of Nature as described by Hobbes?

Poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

In Locke's view of the social contract, he believed that once the people agreed to hand over power in exchange for protection, they lost the right to overthrow, replace, or even question the government.

False

Which of the following are some of the goals of all governments? (Select all that apply)

Secure their borders, promote economic prosperity, and promote the safety and well being of its citizens

Which of the following is not a natural right identified by Locke?

Happiness

Maintaining a democracy depends on informed and enraged citizens.

False

Which of the following forms of government best characterizes the government found in Saudi Arabia?

Monarchy and Theocracy

For Locke, the social contract between a government and its people was like a two way street. The people agree to give up some freedoms, but only if the government agrees to protect everyone’s rights. If the government fails to deliver, the people have the right to revolt.

True

According to ______________ theory, the wealthy use their power to control the nation’s economy in such a way that those below them cannot advance economically. 

Elite

In a democracy, citizens hold political power. There are two fundamental types of democracies: representative democracy and direct democracy.

True

Which of the following best characterizes the forms of government found in Denmark?

Representative Democracy and Monarchy

How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention resolve their disagreement regarding slavery?

It was agreed that 60 percent (3/5ths) of a state’s enslaved population would be counted for purposes of both representation and taxation.

The concept of Rule of Law can be found in which section of the Constitution?

Article VI

What important power did the national government lack under the Articles of Confederation?

It could not impose taxes.

The concept of Self-Government can be found in which section of the Constitution?

The Preamble

According to the Great Compromise, how would representation in Congress be apportioned?

Representation in the House of Representatives would be based on each state’s population and every state would have two senators.

Which of the following best align with the views of the Anti-Federalist? Choose all that apply.

A Bill of Rights was necessary to protect the rights of the people, the president was an elected king, and wanted strong state governments and a weak central government

The following passage was most likely written by a Federalist.

"My object is to consider that undefined, unbounded

and immense power which is comprised in the

following clause: “And to make all laws which shall be

necessary and proper for carrying into execution the

foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this

constitution in the government of the United States; or

in any department or offices thereof.” Under such a

clause as this, can anything be said to be reserved and

kept back from Congress? ...

In giving such immense, such unlimited powers, was

there no necessity of a Bill of Rights, to secure to the

people their liberties? Is it not evident that we are left

wholly dependent on the wisdom and virtue of the

men who shall from time to time be the members of

Congress? And who shall be able to say seven years

hence, the members of Congress will be wise and good

men, or of the contrary character?"

False

Which of the following is not considered an influence on American political thought?

The Communist Manifesto

The Articles of Confederation served as the first and only constitution of the United States.

False

The final compromise that led to the ratification of the Constitution was adding _____________________ to the Constitution. 

The Bill of Rights

Which of the following are reserved powers given to the states? (Select all that apply)

Conduct elections and establish and maintain schools

The building and maintaining of roads are mostly a responsibility of state and local governments. 

True

Which event helped shaped John Marshall's views on the role of the federal government?

Witnessing the inaction of government during the American Revolution when soldiers faced additional hardships of starvation and lack of warm clothing in the winter. 

Federalism is a system in which power is divided between branches of the government such as the Judicial, Legislative and Executive branch.

False

Grants are positive incentives to get states to work toward national goals.

True

Implied powers are not stated in the Constitution, but instead come from ____________________

The Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

______________ Federalism describes when power is divided between the federal and state governments in clearly defined terms, with state governments acting without interference from the federal government. 

Layer Cake Federalism

Most interactions people have with their government occurs at the state and local level.

True

The Commerce Clause can be found in Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution.

True

In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court invoked which provisions of the constitution that decided that the Second Bank of the United States could not be taxed by the state of Maryland ?

Necessary and proper clause and Supremacy clause

The key means of advancing modern legislation is now ________.

The actions of leadership

___________________ is the manipulation of legislative district boundaries as a way of favoring a particular candidate or party.

Gerrymandering

Which of the following articles describes the responsibilities of the Legislative Branch?

Article I

Members of the House of Representatives serve 6 year terms in office and must be at least 25 years old. 

False

A congressperson who pursued a strict delegate model of representation would seek to ________.

Legislate in the way they believed constituents wanted, regardless of the anticipated outcome

Which of the following are enumerated or expressed powers of Congress (select all that apply)?

Collecting taxes, impeaching a federal office, write laws, and controlling the budget of the federal government

Which of the following are ways that congressional leaders exercise their power?

Committee assignments, setting the legislative agenda, easy access to the press, and ability to easily raise funds for campaigns and funnel that money to other campaigns

The process of redistricting can present problems for congressional representation because ________.

Districts are often drawn to benefit partisan groups

Which of the following is an implied power of Congress?

The power to regulate the sale of tobacco in the states

 Executive orders are rules issued by the president that bypass Congress but still have the force of law. 

True

The people who make up the modern president’s cabinet are the heads of the major federal departments and ________.

Must be confirmed by the Senate

The federal bureaucracy is part of the executive branch. 

True

Which executive agency would be responsible for implementing the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982?

The Department of Energy

Which president is attributed with expanding the power of the presidency?

Franklin D. Roosevelt

All of the following are ways that executive agencies enforce laws except ...

Preemptively arrest people who look like they might be thinking about breaking a law

Section 1 of the 25th Amendment

Describes how the vice president assumes the presidency if something happens to the sitting president. 

Section 2 of the 25th Amendment

Describes how a vice presidential vacancy can be filled.

Section 3 of the 25th Amendment

Describes how the president can temporarily cede power to the vice president

Section 4 of the 25th Amendment

Describes how to remove a president that needs to be removed from office, but won't remove themselves.

Which of the following best describes impeachment?

 The act of charging a government official with serious wrongdoing

The DMV would be an example of a federal bureaucracy.

False

Which of the following Articles in the Constitution describes the responsibilities of the Executive Branch?

Article 2

The Supreme Court’s power of judicial review ________.

enables it to declare acts of the other branches unconstitutional

The concept of Judicial Review is explicitly stated in which part of the Constitution?

It isn't explicitly stated in the Constitution

Which Chief Justice is credited with clarifying and strengthening the Supreme Court?

John Marshall

Article II, which addresses “the judicial power of the United States,” is the shortest and least detailed of the three articles that created the branches of government.

False

Which of the following best describes appellate jurisdiction?

A court that hears a case on an appeal from a lower court and can overturn the decision of the lower court. 

The rulings of the Supreme Court are subject to the support afforded by the other branches of government in implementation and enforcement.

True

The Judiciary Act of 1789 did which of the following? Select all that apply. 

Established a three-part judiciary, created the position of the United States Attorney General, and established the United States Marshall

The Supreme Court most typically functions as ________.

an appeals court

An en banc petition asks for a circuit court of appeals to reconsider a case with all or more judges that serve on that circuit. 

True

The number of Supreme Court Justices is set by Article III, section 2 of the Constitution. 

False

1st Amendment

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

Quartering soldiers

4th Amendment

Search and seizure

5th Amendment

Grand jury, double jeopardy, self incrimination, and due process

6th Amendment

Right to a speedy trial by jury of your peers, witnesses, right to counsel

7th Amendment

Jury trial in civil lawsuits

8th Amendment

Excessive fines, cruel and unusual punishment 

9th Amendment

Rights not listed are still retained by the people

10th Amendment

Rights reserved to the states and the people.

The Fourteenth Amendment was critically important for civil liberties because it ________.

Helped start the process of selective incorporation of the Bill of Rights

Which of the following provisions is NOT part of the First Amendment?

The right to keep and bear arms

Thinking back to the "Do I Have a Right?" game respond to the following scenario.

 A client enters your law office, they have a complaint about an officer searching their backpack without their permission or a warrant. Which lawyer do you assign to the case

A lawyer that specializes in defending the 4th amendment

The civil liberties referenced in this cartoon are best protected by which amendments to the Constitution?

4th and 9th Amendments 

The right to privacy has been controversial for all the following reasons except ________.

Most U.S. citizens today believe the government should be allowed circumvent privacy laws and rulings to outlaw birth control

The right to a free public education is a right protected by the US Constitution.

False

Thinking back to the "Do I Have a Right?" game respond to the following scenario. 

A client enters your law office, they have a complaint about being given a fine of 1 million dollars for littering after they were caught throwing a gum wrapper on the floor. Which lawyer do you assign to the case?

A lawyer that specializes in defending the 8th amendment

Anti-federalists argued that the Constitution didn’t need a bill of rights because the Constitution already limited the rights of the central government and each state had their own constitutions with a bill of rights.

False

Elite Theory

the wealthy use their power to control the nation’s economy in such a way that those below them cannot advance economically

Pluralism

political power rests with competing interest groups who share influence in government.

Influences on American Political Thought

Magna Carta (Limited Government), Mayflower Compact (Self-Government), English Bill of Rights (Limited Government and Rights), Cato’s Letters (Freedom of Expression), and Common Sense (Self-Government)

Articles of Confederation

Structure of government and gave states more power than the federal government

The Great Compromise

Bicameral legislature, one that had representatives based on population and another solely giving everyone two representatives per state.

Article 4

How should states get along with each other

Article 5

How can the Constitution be changed

Article 6

How does federalism work? Which law is supreme?

Article 7

What steps have to be taken to make the Constitution the law of the land?

Federalism

a system in which power is divided between local, state, and national governments

All federal systems establish at least two levels of government, with both levels being elected by the people and each level assigned different functions.

Expressed and Implied Powers (Congr)

Print money, declare war, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, establish a post office, maintain an army, navy, and air force, and set rules of immigration

Concurrent powers (shared)

Collect taxes, protect public health and safety, make and enforce laws, and establish courts

Reserved Powers (State)

Conduct elections, issue driver’s licenses, establish and maintain schools, establish local governments, and provide police and emergency services

The Supremacy Clause (Article 6)

Federal law (Constitution) is above state laws

Elastic Clause (Article 1, Section 8)

Necessary and Proper Clause

Cooperative Federalism (Marble Cake Federalism)

Both levels of government work together to  solve national problems, such as the Great Depression and the civil rights struggle.

The boundaries between the states and the national government are not as clear.

Coercive federalism

Federal govt. tells the state what they have to do in order to receive funds.

Civil Liberties

the limitations on government power with the intention of protecting freedoms that the government might try to infringe on. 

Civil Rights

guarantees that government officials will treat people equally and that decisions will be made on the basis of merit rather than race, gender, or other personal characteristics.  

Common Law Right

A right of the people rooted in legal tradition and past court rulings, rather than the Constitution.