Question 1

What is a key element of Thomas Hobbes's influence on the formation of the federal government?

Accepted Answer

A) That control of the economy was central to founding a just government. 
B) The states had to be extinguished as power centers lest they threaten the power of the central government. 
C) The federal government took on all the powers of his ideal sovereign surrendering liberty to safety. 
D) Hobbes lauded the nature of the noble savage leading to more humane treatment of Native Americans. 
E) Hobbes's pessimistic view of human nature gave birth to checks and balances as a tool to counteract ambition. 
A) That control of the economy was central to founding a just government. 
B) The states had to be extinguished as power centers lest they threaten the power of the central government. 
C) The federal government took on all the powers of his ideal sovereign surrendering liberty to safety. 
D) Hobbes lauded the nature of the noble savage leading to more humane treatment of Native Americans. 
E) Hobbes's pessimistic view of human nature gave birth to checks and balances as a tool to counteract ambition.

Question 2

How did the "three-fifths rule" benefit southern states?

Accepted Answer

A) By ensuring that slaves would be educated 
B) By allowing slaves to join the army and have their pay sent to their owners 
C) By allowing slaves to be counted partially as population for congressional apportionment 
D) By allowing slaves to be counted fully as population for congressional apportionment 
E) By constitutionally protecting slavery throughout all of the states 
A) By ensuring that slaves would be educated 
B) By allowing slaves to join the army and have their pay sent to their owners 
C) By allowing slaves to be counted partially as population for congressional apportionment 
D) By allowing slaves to be counted fully as population for congressional apportionment 
E) By constitutionally protecting slavery throughout all of the states

Question 3

What was the underlying cause of Shay's Rebellion?

Accepted Answer

A) Basic dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation 
B) General economic depression among craftsmen and small business owners 
C) Widespread debt among farmers after the Revolutionary War 
D) Inability of the central government to pay Revolutionary War pensions 
E) Essential corruption among state judges 
A) Basic dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation 
B) General economic depression among craftsmen and small business owners 
C) Widespread debt among farmers after the Revolutionary War 
D) Inability of the central government to pay Revolutionary War pensions 
E) Essential corruption among state judges

Question 4

What is one way in which the judicial branch can check the power of the legislative branch?

Accepted Answer

A) The Supreme Court can remove immunity from prosecution from members of Congress. 
B) Federal judges can overturn a law as immoral. 
C) The federal courts can declare a law unconstitutional. 
D) A federal judge can order Congress to adjourn. 
E) All laws passed by Congress are subject to judicial review. 
A) The Supreme Court can remove immunity from prosecution from members of Congress. 
B) Federal judges can overturn a law as immoral. 
C) The federal courts can declare a law unconstitutional. 
D) A federal judge can order Congress to adjourn. 
E) All laws passed by Congress are subject to judicial review.

Question 5

How many amendments to the US Constitution have been passed and ratified to date?

Accepted Answer

A) Twenty-seven 
B) Twenty-five 
C) Seventeen 
D) Twelve 
E) Five 
A) Twenty-seven 
B) Twenty-five 
C) Seventeen 
D) Twelve 
E) Five

Question 6

Examine the three branches of the federal government as established through the Constitution. How do they reflect Aristotle's perception of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy?   In your response, consider how they can overlap.

Accepted Answer

The three branches of the federal govern

Question 7

The Virginia Plan favored what kinds of states?

Accepted Answer

A) Large, heavily populated ones 
B) Smaller, densely populated ones 
C) Large, rural slave states 
D) Smaller rural states with numerous slaves 
E) Smaller, urban slave states 
A) Large, heavily populated ones 
B) Smaller, densely populated ones 
C) Large, rural slave states 
D) Smaller rural states with numerous slaves 
E) Smaller, urban slave states

Question 8

How have all constitutional amendments been adopted to date?

Accepted Answer

A) Approval of two-thirds of the states in a convention 
B) A super majority vote of two-thirds of the House and Senate, followed by ratification by two-thirds of the states 
C) A simple majority vote of the House and Senate, followed by ratification by a majority of the states 
D) A majority vote of the House and Senate, followed by a presidential signature 
E) A majority vote of the House and Senate, followed by approval by a majority of the Supreme Court 
A) Approval of two-thirds of the states in a convention 
B) A super majority vote of two-thirds of the House and Senate, followed by ratification by two-thirds of the states 
C) A simple majority vote of the House and Senate, followed by ratification by a majority of the states 
D) A majority vote of the House and Senate, followed by a presidential signature 
E) A majority vote of the House and Senate, followed by approval by a majority of the Supreme Court

Question 9

What did John Locke believe was the probable result of tyranny?

Accepted Answer

A) Efficiency and strength 
B) Liberty without safety 
C) A war of all against all 
D) A state of violence and oppression 
E) Safety without liberty 
A) Efficiency and strength 
B) Liberty without safety 
C) A war of all against all 
D) A state of violence and oppression 
E) Safety without liberty

Question 10

In the wake of McCulloch v. Maryland , can states tax federal government entities?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes, because they have concurrent powers. 
B) No, they have no power to do so. 
C) Yes, if the federal government allows. 
D) No, because the US Constitution explicitly says so. 
E) Yes, because the federal government is not immune to taxation. 
A) Yes, because they have concurrent powers. 
B) No, they have no power to do so. 
C) Yes, if the federal government allows. 
D) No, because the US Constitution explicitly says so. 
E) Yes, because the federal government is not immune to taxation.

Question 11

What was the main handicap of the Anti-Federalists in their efforts to prevent the adoption of the US Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A) They were isolated in just a few southern states. 
B) Ratification of the Constitution was nearly certain over their objections. 
C) They were perceived as too pro-French. 
D) They had no alternative plan. 
E) Their leaders were less articulate than those of the Federalists. 
A) They were isolated in just a few southern states. 
B) Ratification of the Constitution was nearly certain over their objections. 
C) They were perceived as too pro-French. 
D) They had no alternative plan. 
E) Their leaders were less articulate than those of the Federalists.

Question 12

Which was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A) Delaware 
B) Pennsylvania 
C) New York 
D) Virginia 
E) Maryland 
A) Delaware 
B) Pennsylvania 
C) New York 
D) Virginia 
E) Maryland

Question 13

Which of the following was a leader of the Federalists during the debate over ratifying the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A) Thomas Jefferson 
B) Aaron Burr 
C) Alexander Hamilton 
D) James Monroe 
E) Patrick Henry 
A) Thomas Jefferson 
B) Aaron Burr 
C) Alexander Hamilton 
D) James Monroe 
E) Patrick Henry

Question 14

In the Federalist Number 17, according to Alexander Hamilton, what would keep the federal government from infringing on the prerogatives of the states?

Accepted Answer

A) No patriot in federal service would consider such a patently offensive move. 
B) The federal government lacked the ability to infringe upon the responsibilities of the states. 
C) Human nature lacked the hunger for power necessary for a federal move against the states. 
D) The states had the ability to resist federal power by raising their militias and fighting. 
E) The federal government would be more concerned with bigger issues of war and peace than states' business. 
A) No patriot in federal service would consider such a patently offensive move. 
B) The federal government lacked the ability to infringe upon the responsibilities of the states. 
C) Human nature lacked the hunger for power necessary for a federal move against the states. 
D) The states had the ability to resist federal power by raising their militias and fighting. 
E) The federal government would be more concerned with bigger issues of war and peace than states' business.

Question 15

Explain how James Madison proposes to counteract the effects of faction through Federalism and a separation of powers.

Accepted Answer

James Madison proposes to counteract the

Question 16

What is a means of amending the US Constitution that has not been used since 1787?

Accepted Answer

A) Approval through a national referendum 
B) Passage through a convention of the states 
C) Passage by a unanimous vote in both houses of Congress 
D) Approval by the president and two-thirds of the states' governors 
E) Passage by Congress and approval by the Supreme Court 
A) Approval through a national referendum 
B) Passage through a convention of the states 
C) Passage by a unanimous vote in both houses of Congress 
D) Approval by the president and two-thirds of the states' governors 
E) Passage by Congress and approval by the Supreme Court

Question 17

What did James Madison assert were the core purposes the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A) To enable the government to control the governed and control itself 
B) To enable the government to control the governed only 
C) To enable the government to restrain the aspirations of the poor 
D) To enable the government to control itself only 
E) To enable the government to protect the interests of the powerful 
A) To enable the government to control the governed and control itself 
B) To enable the government to control the governed only 
C) To enable the government to restrain the aspirations of the poor 
D) To enable the government to control itself only 
E) To enable the government to protect the interests of the powerful

Question 18

What principle did the Founding Fathers learn from Aristotle?

Accepted Answer

A) That control of the economy was central to founding a just government 
B) To merge the best attributes of different forms of government into one system 
C) The ability of direct democracy in making government run efficiently 
D) That monarchy was always going to be a threat to liberty 
E) That powerful interests require protection from powerful governments 
A) That control of the economy was central to founding a just government 
B) To merge the best attributes of different forms of government into one system 
C) The ability of direct democracy in making government run efficiently 
D) That monarchy was always going to be a threat to liberty 
E) That powerful interests require protection from powerful governments

Question 19

What was the chief failure of the Constitutional Convention?

Accepted Answer

A) Preserving aristocracy 
B) Establishing an excessively large standing army 
C) Failing to establish a national court system 
D) Failing to pay off Revolutionary War debt 
E) Preserving slavery 
A) Preserving aristocracy 
B) Establishing an excessively large standing army 
C) Failing to establish a national court system 
D) Failing to pay off Revolutionary War debt 
E) Preserving slavery

Question 20

Who gave the Constitutional Convention of 1787 a greater air of importance just by attending?

Accepted Answer

A) George Washington 
B) Alexander Hamilton 
C) Samuel Adams 
D) John Adams 
E) Aaron Burr 
A) George Washington 
B) Alexander Hamilton 
C) Samuel Adams 
D) John Adams 
E) Aaron Burr

What is a key element of Thomas Hobbes's influence on the formation of the federal government?

How did the "three-fifths rule" benefit southern states?

What was the underlying cause of Shay's Rebellion?

What is one way in which the judicial branch can check the power of the legislative branch?

How many amendments to the US Constitution have been passed and ratified to date?

Examine the three branches of the federal government as established through the Constitution. How do they reflect Aristotle's perception of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy? In your response, consider how they can overlap.

The Virginia Plan favored what kinds of states?

How have all constitutional amendments been adopted to date?

What did John Locke believe was the probable result of tyranny?

In the wake of McCulloch v. Maryland , can states tax federal government entities?

What was the main handicap of the Anti-Federalists in their efforts to prevent the adoption of the US Constitution?

Which was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution?

Which of the following was a leader of the Federalists during the debate over ratifying the Constitution?

In the Federalist Number 17, according to Alexander Hamilton, what would keep the federal government from infringing on the prerogatives of the states?

Explain how James Madison proposes to counteract the effects of faction through Federalism and a separation of powers.

What is a means of amending the US Constitution that has not been used since 1787?

What did James Madison assert were the core purposes the Constitution?

What principle did the Founding Fathers learn from Aristotle?

What was the chief failure of the Constitutional Convention?

Who gave the Constitutional Convention of 1787 a greater air of importance just by attending?

Why Politics Matters

Ancient Political Theory

Modern Political Theory

Nationalism and Populism in the United States and Abroad

Authoritarian Systems of Government

Democratic Systems of Government

Comparing Legislatures

Comparing Executives

Comparing Judiciaries

Understanding International Relations: Terms and Theories

War, Diplomacy, and the Beginning of International Relations

Filters

Exam 4: The American Government

What is a key element of Thomas Hobbes's influence on the formation of the federal government?

How did the "three-fifths rule" benefit southern states?

What was the underlying cause of Shay's Rebellion?

What is one way in which the judicial branch can check the power of the legislative branch?

How many amendments to the US Constitution have been passed and ratified to date?

Examine the three branches of the federal government as established through the Constitution. How do they reflect Aristotle's perception of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy? In your response, consider how they can overlap.

The Virginia Plan favored what kinds of states?

How have all constitutional amendments been adopted to date?

What did John Locke believe was the probable result of tyranny?

In the wake of McCulloch v. Maryland , can states tax federal government entities?

What was the main handicap of the Anti-Federalists in their efforts to prevent the adoption of the US Constitution?

Which was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution?

Which of the following was a leader of the Federalists during the debate over ratifying the Constitution?

In the Federalist Number 17, according to Alexander Hamilton, what would keep the federal government from infringing on the prerogatives of the states?

Explain how James Madison proposes to counteract the effects of faction through Federalism and a separation of powers.

What is a means of amending the US Constitution that has not been used since 1787?

What did James Madison assert were the core purposes the Constitution?

What principle did the Founding Fathers learn from Aristotle?

What was the chief failure of the Constitutional Convention?

Who gave the Constitutional Convention of 1787 a greater air of importance just by attending?

Why Politics Matters

Ancient Political Theory

Modern Political Theory

Nationalism and Populism in the United States and Abroad

Authoritarian Systems of Government

Democratic Systems of Government

Comparing Legislatures

Comparing Executives

Comparing Judiciaries

Understanding International Relations: Terms and Theories

War, Diplomacy, and the Beginning of International Relations

Filters