Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the motivations of the Founders in writing the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system consistent with the dominant philosophical and moral principles of the day while also promoting commerce and protecting private property from radical state legislatures.
B)   The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system that would lead to their own personal enrichment.
C)   The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system of direct democracy that maximized popular sovereignty.
D)   The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system that concentrated authority in one branch of government.
E)   The Founders' primary goal was to devise a system that ended slavery.F) B) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 2

The supremacy clause

Accepted Answer

A)   states that Congress is the most powerful branch of the government.
B)   establishes that no branch of the government is supreme over others.
C)   announces that the Constitution and all laws made under it are superior to any state laws.
D)   announces that state laws are superior to any federal laws.
E)   declares that no European powers shall interfere in North America.F) C) and D)
G) B) and D)

Question 3

A ______ is a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for powers expressly delegated to a national government.

Accepted Answer

A)   republic
B)   confederation
C)   democracy
D)   bicameral state
E)   unitary stateF) C) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 4

During the Philadelphia Convention, the New Jersey Plan was supported by

Accepted Answer

A)   less populous states.
B)   slaveholding states.
C)   free states.
D)   urban states.
E)   southern states.F) A) and C)
G) C) and D)

Question 5

Why was the decision to assign jurisdiction over controversies between citizens of different states to the Supreme Court significant?

Accepted Answer

A)   It meant that the federal judiciary, rather than the state courts, would ultimately become the primary venue for resolving disputes.
B)   It meant that the state courts, rather than the federal judiciary, would ultimately become the primary venue for resolving disputes.
C)   It meant that courts at both the state and federal level would become irrelevant to the operating of the American political system.
D)   It meant that the federal courts would not be allowed to use the power of judicial review on cases involving economic disputes.
E)   It meant that the state courts would be allowed to use the power of judicial review on cases involving economic disputes.F) C) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 6

Which of the following was not a tool used by the Founders to prevent the dangers of "excessive democracy"?

Accepted Answer

A)   checks and balances
B)   staggered terms in office
C)   bicameralism
D)   indirect election
E)   senatorial courtesyF) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 7

The Federalist Papers argue against the ratification of the Constitution and defined strong state governments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The Great Compromise resulted in a bicameral legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

According to the text, which sector of society did not have interests that were important to colonial politics?

Accepted Answer

A)   New England merchants
B)   small farmers
C)   slaves
D)   Royalists loyal to Britain
E)   southern plantersF) None of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 10

Alexander Hamilton argued that the chief executive office should possess

Accepted Answer

A)   popularity.
B)   judgment.
C)   energy.
D)   gravitas.
E)   integrity.F) All of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 11

James Madison believed that in the Constitutional Convention the greatest conflict of interests was between

Accepted Answer

A)   large states and small states.
B)   northern states and southern states.
C)   the wealthy and the poor.
D)   Catholics and Protestants.
E)   farmers and merchants.F) B) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 12

What led the British to raise taxes on the American colonists during the 1760s?

Accepted Answer

A)   the French and Indian Wars
B)   the cost of war against Napoleon in Europe
C)   the expenses incurred in colonizing South Africa
D)   the extensive roads and canals built by the British in North America
E)   the desire to penalize the colonists for their actions during the Boston Tea PartyF) A) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 13

The Antifederalists wanted a stronger central government than that proposed in the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The Federalists believed that the powers of government could be limited by

Accepted Answer

A)   providing Congress with larger grant powers.
B)   decreasing the powers of the executive branch, especially those of the vice president.
C)   confining the powers of the federal government to certain narrowly defined areas and by adding a bill of rights to the Constitution.
D)   creating an internal system of checks and controls within government.
E)   preventing government from collecting revenue through taxation.F) C) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 15

The ability of the president to veto a bill passed by Congress is a good example of what principle of limited government?

Accepted Answer

A)   separation of powers
B)   federalism
C)   checks and balances
D)   civil liberties
E)   majority rule, minority rightsF) A) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 16

The Constitution gives Congress the power to recognize other nations and to accept ambassadors from foreign countries.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which of the following possesses the sole power to create revenue bills?

Accepted Answer

A)   the House of Representatives
B)   the Senate
C)   the president
D)   the Office of Management and Budget
E)   the Treasury DepartmentF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 18

Procedures outlining how to amend the Constitution are found in Article

Accepted Answer

A)   I.
B)   II.
C)   III.
D)   V.
E)   X.F) B) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 19

The Three-fifths Compromise

Accepted Answer

A)   determined that three out of every five slaves would be counted for purposes of representation and taxation.
B)   determined the ratio between free states and slave states.
C)   created a bicameral legislature.
D)   declared that the states would pay three-fifths of the Revolutionary War debt and the federal government would pay the rest.
E)   determined that all American citizens would pay three-fifths of their income to the federal government in taxes every year.F) None of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 20

Write an essay describing some of the principles behind the Constitution. Discuss how the separation of powers and checks and balances are supposed to operate. How did the Constitution arrange the power relationships between the national government and the states?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution of the United States is...

Exam 2: The Founding and the Constitution

During the Philadelphia Convention, the New Jersey Plan was supported by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following was not a tool used by the Founders to prevent the dangers of "excessive democracy"?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following possesses the sole power to create revenue bills?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The ability of the president to veto a bill passed by Congress is a good example of what principle of limited government?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the text, which sector of society did not have interests that were important to colonial politics?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Antifederalists wanted a stronger central government than that proposed in the Constitution.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The supremacy clause

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why was the decision to assign jurisdiction over controversies between citizens of different states to the Supreme Court significant?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Write an essay describing some of the principles behind the Constitution. Discuss how the separation of powers and checks and balances are supposed to operate. How did the Constitution arrange the power relationships between the national government and the states?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe Constitution of the United States is...View AnswerShow Answer

A ______ is a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for powers expressly delegated to a national government.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Great Compromise resulted in a bicameral legislature.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What led the British to raise taxes on the American colonists during the 1760s?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Three-fifths Compromise

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Alexander Hamilton argued that the chief executive office should possess

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Procedures outlining how to amend the Constitution are found in Article

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Constitution gives Congress the power to recognize other nations and to accept ambassadors from foreign countries.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements best describes the motivations of the Founders in writing the Constitution?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Federalists believed that the powers of government could be limited by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Federalist Papers argue against the ratification of the Constitution and defined strong state governments.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

James Madison believed that in the Constitutional Convention the greatest conflict of interests was between

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The Constitution of the United States is...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified