Constitution Exam 1

1.

1 point

The United States Constitution requires that a census be taken every ten years to reapportion

the number of delegates to national nominating coventions

agricultural subsidies

membership in the House of Representatives

Federal aid to localities

2.

1 point

The United States Government is considered a federal system because

the people elect national officials

foreign policy is handled by state governments

both national and state governments exist within the nation

each state has equal represen-tation in the United States Senate

3.

1 point

The authors of the Articles of Confederation established a decentralized political system mainly to

assist the southern states in their efforts to gain a manufacturing base

prevent the abuses of power that had existed under British rule

cancel state debts incurred during the Revolutionary War

promote the common goal of national sovereignty

4.

1 point

Which idea had a major influence on the authors of the Articles of Confederation?

A strong central government threatens the rights of the people and the states.

Three branches of government are needed to protect liberty.

All of the people must be granted the right to vote.

The central government must have the power to levy taxes and to control trade.

5.

1 point

In the 1780’s, mqany Americans distrusted a strong central government. This distrust is best shown by the

constitutional provision for a strong President

development of a Federal court system

lack of debate over the ratification of the United States Constitution

plan of government set up by the Articles of Confederation

6.

1 point

One way in which the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution

made the amendment process more difficult

provided for the direct election of the President by the voters

increased the powers of the states

created a national government having three branches

7.

1 point

“In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this, you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.”

This passage from the Federalist Papers refers to the need for

a system of checks and balances

an independent military

national education system

a strong executive

8.

1 point

Antifederalists criticized the United States Constitution primarily because governing power was concentrated in the

National Government

delegates to the Constitutional Convention

President’s Cabinet

State legislatures

9.

1 point

Which phrase from the Declaration of Independence most clearly reflects the idea that the people are the source of government?

“. . . that all men are created equal,...”

“. . . deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . .“

“. . . governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes . . .

“. .. all men are . . . endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights

10.

1 point

The authors of the United States Constitution believed that the voice of the people should be heard frequently. Which part of the Government was instituted to respond most directly to the will of the people?

Senate

Supreme Court

House of Representatives

Presidency

11.

1 point

When the United States Constitution was written, which compromise was reached by the authors to gain the support of the states with small populations?

Congress would consist of both a House of Representatives and a Senate.

The President would be selected by the direct vote of the people.

Five enslaved persons would be counted as three free persons for the purpose of taxation

Exported goods could not be taxed, but imported goods could be taxed.

12.

1 point

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from the small states most strongly supported the idea of

popular election of Senators

establishing a strong national executive

levying taxes on exports

equal representation for the states in the national legislature

13.

1 point

During the debates over the ratification of the United States Constitution, Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed most strongly over the

ivision of powers between the national and state governments

method of amending the Constitution

istribution of power between the Senate and the House of Representatives

provision for admitting new states to the Union

14.

1 point

The Articles of Confederation are best described as a

plan of union for the original thirteen states

statement of principles justifying the Revolutionary War

list of reasons for the secession of the Southern States

set of arguments supporting ratification of the Constitution

15.

1 point

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; . . ."

This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of Independence were

limitations of the principles underlying most European governments of the 1700’s.

reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment.

adaptations of the laws of Spanish colonial governments in North America.

adoptions of rules used by the Holy Roman Empire.