Question 1

Between 1960 and 1980, every state altered its fundamental law in some respect, and new or substantially revised constitutions were put into operation in more than half the states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

All of the formal procedures for constitutional change in the states involve two basic steps. What are these two steps?

Accepted Answer

A)  legislative and executive proposals 
B)  constitutional conventions and commissions 
C)  direct and indirect initiatives 
D)  initiation and ratification

Question 3

Half the states allow constitutional amendments to be made using direct citizen initiatives.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The U.S. Constitution contains about 8,700 words, while the typical state constitution is much longer in length.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Constitutional conventions are usually dominated by delegates who are

Accepted Answer

A)  lobbyists. 
B)  lawyers, educators, and businesspeople. 
C)  ethnically and socially diverse. 
D)  legislators.

Question 6

Direct initiatives are distinguished by the fact that

Accepted Answer

A)  the legislatures vote directly on citizens' proposals. 
B)  proposals are placed directly on the general-election ballot. 
C)  the secretary of state must certify that sufficient signatures exist to permit immediate adoption. 
D)  the courts must decide that the proposals are consistent with federal law before they are adopted.

Question 7

Judicial review is the power of the U.S. Supreme Court or a state supreme court to declare unconstitutional actions of the executive and legislative branches as well as decisions of lower courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

What decade saw the highest level of constitutional activity in U.S. history, much of it in the southern states?

Accepted Answer

A)  1860-1870 
B)  1960-1970 
C)  1920-1930 
D)  1820-1830

Question 9

Compare the informal and formal methods for making constitutional changes to a state's constitution and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare the informal and formal methods for...

Question 10

The positive-law constitutional tradition would BEST be exemplified by a constitution with

Accepted Answer

A)  detailed provisions and procedures. 
B)  basic and enduring principles that reach beyond statutory law. 
C)  an amendment process that makes it difficult to change the constitution. 
D)  a bill of rights and few other provisions.

Question 11

Delaware is the only state where the voters do NOT approve amendments to its constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The creation of executive boards and commissions during the Jacksonian-era was intended to expand opportunities for public participation in state government and to limit the powers of the governor, but instead has led to

Accepted Answer

A)  fragmentation and a lack of policy coordination in the executive branch. 
B)  a swamp of local governments which suffer from overlapping responsibilities and an absence of coordination. 
C)  unequal treatment of minorities and immigrants. 
D)  restrictions on local government authority which inhibits their ability to meet citizen needs.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about the influential Kestnbaum Commission is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was disbanded before it could review each state's constitution. 
B)  It was successful in producing the Model State Constitution, which would be used by most states to revise their constitutions. 
C)  It was charged with actually rewriting several state constitutions. 
D)  It was in favor of the states reviewing their constitutions to ensure responsible government.

Question 14

Legislative supremacy remains the norm in most states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

State constitutions are generally shorter in length than the U.S. Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following statements about the Model State Constitution is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has twelve basic articles that are included in today's state constitutions. 
B)  It has six basic articles that are also found in the U.S. Constitution. 
C)  It endorses widespread use of legal phrasing in revised constitutions. 
D)  It advocates a single constitution suitable to all fifty states.

Question 17

Following the War of Independence, the former colonies used special revolutionary conventions or legislative assemblies to draft their new constitutions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

In 1955, the Kestnbaum Commission devised the model state constitution, which many states used as a model in revising their own constitutions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which state has the longest state constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Maryland 
B)  Illinois 
C)  Alabama 
D)  Texas

Question 20

_______ , which is the most common manner of making formal changes to state constitutions, is permitted in all fifty states and accounts for 90 percent of all constitutional revisions.

Accepted Answer

A)  Legislative proposal 
B)  Initiative 
C)  Constitutional convention 
D)  Constitutional commission

Exam 3: State Constitutions

Between 1960 and 1980, every state altered its fundamental law in some respect, and new or substantially revised constitutions were put into operation in more than half the states.

All of the formal procedures for constitutional change in the states involve two basic steps. What are these two steps?

Half the states allow constitutional amendments to be made using direct citizen initiatives.

The U.S. Constitution contains about 8,700 words, while the typical state constitution is much longer in length.

Constitutional conventions are usually dominated by delegates who are

Direct initiatives are distinguished by the fact that

Judicial review is the power of the U.S. Supreme Court or a state supreme court to declare unconstitutional actions of the executive and legislative branches as well as decisions of lower courts.

What decade saw the highest level of constitutional activity in U.S. history, much of it in the southern states?

Compare the informal and formal methods for making constitutional changes to a state's constitution and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.

The positive-law constitutional tradition would BEST be exemplified by a constitution with

Delaware is the only state where the voters do NOT approve amendments to its constitution.

The creation of executive boards and commissions during the Jacksonian-era was intended to expand opportunities for public participation in state government and to limit the powers of the governor, but instead has led to

Which of the following statements about the influential Kestnbaum Commission is true?

Legislative supremacy remains the norm in most states.

State constitutions are generally shorter in length than the U.S. Constitution.

Which of the following statements about the Model State Constitution is true?

Following the War of Independence, the former colonies used special revolutionary conventions or legislative assemblies to draft their new constitutions.

In 1955, the Kestnbaum Commission devised the model state constitution, which many states used as a model in revising their own constitutions.

Which state has the longest state constitution?

_______ , which is the most common manner of making formal changes to state constitutions, is permitted in all fifty states and accounts for 90 percent of all constitutional revisions.