US History and Government

The Constitution

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” — United States Constitution, 10th amendment This part of the Bill of Rights was intended to (1) give the people the right to vote on important issues (2) reduce the rights of citizens (3) limit the powers of the federal government (4) assure federal control over the states

Which principle of the United States Constitution is intended to ensure that no one branch of government has more power than another branch? (1) checks and balances (2) federalism (3) limited government (4) rule of law

The term supreme law of the land refers to which document? (1) Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (2) Constitution of the United States (3) Articles of Confederation (4) Declaration of Independence

The creation of the presidential cabinet and political parties are examples of (1) the unwritten constitution (2) separation of powers (3) the elastic clause (4) judicial review

Which feature of the United States Constitution traditionally gives the states authority over public education? (1) reserved powers (3) fifth amendment (2) Preamble (4) supremacy clause

“. . .That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, . . . ” — Declaration of Independence Which provision of the original United States Constitution was most influenced by this ideal? (1) enabling the president to select a cabinet (2) providing for direct election of the House of Representatives (3) allowing the Senate to try articles of impeachment (4) authorizing the Supreme Court to rule on disputes between states

Delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 agreed to the Three-fifths Compromise to solve a dispute directly related to (1) the power of the presidency (2) representation in Congress (3) a decision by the Supreme Court (4) the addition of a bill of rights

“President Wilson Represents the United States at Versailles” “President Reagan Meets with Soviet President Gorbachev” “President Carter Negotiates Camp David Accords” Each headline illustrates a time when the president of the United States acted as (1) chief diplomat (2) chief legislator (3) commander in chief (4) head of a political party

Which individual’s action was directly protected by the first amendment? (1) Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone in 1876 (2) Theodore Roosevelt’s command of the Rough Riders in 1898 (3) President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s election to a third term in 1940 (4) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s leading a march on Washington, D.C., in 1963

. . . The nation deserves and I will select a Supreme Court justice that Americans can be proud of. The nation also deserves a dignified process of confirmation in the United States Senate, characterized by fair treatment, a fair hearing and a fair vote. I will choose a nominee in a timely manner so that the hearing and the vote can be completed before the new Supreme Court term begins. . . . — President George W. Bush, 2005 9 Which constitutional principle is suggested by this quotation? (1) Federalism (3) States rights (2) checks and balances (4) due process

The Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution both provided for (1) an executive branch (2) a national legislature (3) a political party system (4) a presidential cabinet

During the debate over the ratification of the Constitution, Antifederalists argued that (1) the new Constitution left too much political power to state governments (2) a strong national government would gain respect from European nations (3) checks and balances were unnecessary in a federal government (4) the new Constitution would threaten the rights of individual citizens

The conflict over representation in Congress was addressed at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 by (1) creating a two-house legislature (2) limiting the terms of lawmakers to four years (3) giving Congress implied powers (4) ending the importation of enslaved persons

Which action is an example of judicial review? (1) The president proposes a bill to reduce the powers of the federal courts. (2) A state court finds a defendant guilty of murder. (3) The Supreme Court declares a federal law unconstitutional. (4) The Senate approves a president’s nominee for the Supreme Court.