Review - Part 3 The Constitution

1) Which of the following illustrates the effects that the system of checks and balances and separation of powers has on the legislative process? I. It does not favor the party in power II. It can create gridlock III. It usually makes change easy to come by IV. It can encourage political compromise a. II onlyd. I, II and III only b. I and II onlye. II and IV only c. II and III only

1) Which of the following illustrates the effects that the system of checks and balances and separation of powers has on the legislative process? I. It does not favor the party in power II. It can create gridlock III. It usually makes change easy to come by IV. It can encourage political compromise a. II onlyd. I, II and III only b. I and II onlye. II and IV only c. II and III only

Even though the concept of checks and balances and separation of power is basic, because the choices suggest multiple correct answers, students try to find more than one right answer. With the exception of statements II and IV, choice E, each statement about checks and balances is incorrect. Gridlock has become popularized, and it has been characteristic of the relationship between Congress and the president. Compromise also becomes a major tool in achieving change.

2) The Constitution’s writers carefully drafted a document that would create a. strong states and a weak central government b. weakened power in the state and national government c. The ability to adapt to changing times d. A dominant national government with no active participation from the states e. An equal distribution of power between the states and national government

2) The Constitution’s writers carefully drafted a document that would create a. strong states and a weak central government b. weakened power in the state and national government c. The ability to adapt to changing times d. A dominant national government with no active participation from the states e. An equal distribution of power between the states and national government

3) Which of the following governmental bodies is most directly responsible to the electorate? a. The House of Representatives b. The Senate c. The Executive branch d. The Supreme Court e. The bureaucracy

3) Which of the following governmental bodies is most directly responsible to the electorate? a. The House of Representatives b. The Senate c. The Executive branch d. The Supreme Court e. The bureaucracy

4) The question of the constitutionality of a term limit for legislators imposed by a state constitution is based on which of the following arguments? a. The state’s ability to set time and manner of elections for state office holders b. The fact that the Constitution sets the qualifications for congressmen c. the ability of people to vote directly for senators and representatives d. The ability of voters to create term limits for state office holders e. The fact that the Congress is scheduled to vote for a term limits amendment to the Constitution

4) The question of the constitutionality of a term limit for legislators imposed by a state constitution is based on which of the following arguments? a. The state’s ability to set time and manner of elections for state office holders b. The fact that the Constitution sets the qualifications for congressmen c. the ability of people to vote directly for senators and representatives d. The ability of voters to create term limits for state office holders e. The fact that the Congress is scheduled to vote for a term limits amendment to the Constitution

Term limits restriction were argued before the Supreme Court in 1994, and the court ruled in 1995 that they violated the Constitution.

5) The practice of judicial review was first established by which of the following actions? a. the Constitution gives life terms to Supreme Court justices b. Justices serve as long as they maintain good behavior c. The Supreme Court exercises judicial precedent d. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction e. The Supreme Court can declare a congressional act unconstitutional

5) The practice of judicial review was first established by which of the following actions? a. the Constitution gives life terms to Supreme Court justices b. Justices serve as long as they maintain good behavior c. The Supreme Court exercises judicial precedent d. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction e. The Supreme Court can declare a congressional act unconstitutional

Judicial review was established as a result of the fact that the Court declared the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional in the case of Marbury v. Madison.

6) Which of the following resulted after the Supreme Court made a ruling in Baker v. Carr? a. The principle of “one man, one vote” was established b. Congressional districts became gerrymandered based on political considerations c. Congressional districts were created as a result of racial consideration d. Congress modified existing voting districts for state offices e. Congress was able to modify congressional districts in states where there was not equal representation

6) Which of the following resulted after the Supreme Court made a ruling in Baker v. Carr? a. The principle of “one man, one vote” was established b. Congressional districts became gerrymandered based on political considerations c. Congressional districts were created as a result of racial consideration d. Congress modified existing voting districts for state offices e. Congress was able to modify congressional districts in states where there was not equal representation

Baker v. Carr established the concept of one man, one vote. The intent of the decision was not to create gerrymandering districts or districts created to satisfy racial considerations. The decision directed state legislatures, not Congress, to draw up new districts and did not have nay impact on voting districts for state offices.

7) All of the following are considered enumerated powers of the Congress EXCEPT a. coining United States currency after the Constitution was ratified b. Establishing inferior courts in addition to the Supreme Court c. Setting up the first National Bank of the US d. Establishing uniform immigration laws e. Regulating commerce among the several states

7) All of the following are considered enumerated powers of the Congress EXCEPT a. coining United States currency after the Constitution was ratified b. Establishing inferior courts in addition to the Supreme Court c. Setting up the first National Bank of the US d. Establishing uniform immigration laws e. Regulating commerce among the several states

8) The implied clause in the Constitution has been described as the ability of Congress to take which of the following actions? a. pass an assault weapons ban b. Withdraw funds allocated to troops in Haiti c. Pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution d. Raise the price of stamps to 34 stamps e. Pass a law setting quota for immigrants

8) The implied clause in the Constitution has been described as the ability of Congress to take which of the following actions? a. pass an assault weapons ban b. Withdraw funds allocated to troops in Haiti c. Pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution d. Raise the price of stamps to 34 stamps e. Pass a law setting quota for immigrants

9) In addition to the stated constitutional powers of the president, which of the following roles does he take on? a. acting as titular head of his political party b. granting pardons c. Making treaties d. Giving a State of the Union address e. Signing or vetoing legislation

9) In addition to the stated constitutional powers of the president, which of the following roles does he take on? a. acting as titular head of his political party b. granting pardons c. Making treaties d. Giving a State of the Union address e. Signing or vetoing legislation

10) Which of the following is the only stated constitutional responsibility of the vice president? a. attending funerals of foreign dignitaries b. Taking on special tasks assigned by the president c. Presiding over the Senate d. Filling in for the president when he is out of the country e. Presiding over the House of Representatives

10) Which of the following is the only stated constitutional responsibility of the vice president? a. attending funerals of foreign dignitaries b. Taking on special tasks assigned by the president c. Presiding over the Senate d. Filling in for the president when he is out of the country e. Presiding over the House of Representatives

11) Which of the following represents a major reason why the electoral college was created? a. it would encourage third-party candidates b. It would enable a select group of electors to cast the final vote for president and vice president c. It would encourage greater voter turnout d. It would give more power to the Congress in determining the outcome of presidential elections e. It would give the voters in smaller states a greater role in selecting the president and vice president

11) Which of the following represents a major reason why the electoral college was created? a. it would encourage third-party candidates b. It would enable a select group of electors to cast the final vote for president and vice president c. It would encourage greater voter turnout d. It would give more power to the Congress in determining the outcome of presidential elections e. It would give the voters in smaller states a greater role in selecting the president and vice president

12) All of the following represent examples of limited government EXCEPT a. the application of habeas corpus in criminal appeals b. The prohibition of passage of bills of attainder laws c. Congress not being allowed to pass ex post facto laws d. The inability of the president to grant titles of nobility e. The Reserved Power Clause of the Tenth Amendment

12) All of the following represent examples of limited government EXCEPT a. the application of habeas corpus in criminal appeals b. The prohibition of passage of bills of attainder laws c. Congress not being allowed to pass ex post facto laws d. The inability of the president to grant titles of nobility e. The Reserved Power Clause of the Tenth Amendment

13) All of the following represent examples of the use of checks and balances EXCEPT a. the 35 successful vetoes made by President George H. W. Bush b. the Senate rejection of the 1999 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty c. The Supreme Court ruling the Flag Desecration Act unconstitutional d. Congress passing the Crime Bill after a conference committee made changes e. Congress invoking the provisions of the War Powers Act

13) All of the following represent examples of the use of checks and balances EXCEPT a. the 35 successful vetoes made by President George H. W. Bush b. the Senate rejection of the 1999 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty c. The Supreme Court ruling the Flag Desecration Act unconstitutional d. Congress passing the Crime Bill after a conference committee made changes e. Congress invoking the provisions of the War Powers Act

14) Which of the following actions increases the power of the president? a. a greater reliance on the states to solve problems b. A greater reliance on the federal government to solve problems c. The president having to work with a majority party in Congress different from his own d. An increased investigative role by the media e. The downsizing of the federal bureaucracy

14) Which of the following actions increases the power of the president? a. a greater reliance on the states to solve problems b. A greater reliance on the federal government to solve problems c. The president having to work with a majority party in Congress different from his own d. An increased investigative role by the media e. The downsizing of the federal bureaucracy

15) The appointment of Supreme Court justices in the 1980s was characterized by a. quick approval by the Senate of nominees b. Rejection of the majority of appointees c. Limited background checks of the nominees d. Limited input from legal associations and special interest groups e. Bitter confirmation battles over personal and philosophical positions of the nominees

15) The appointment of Supreme Court justices in the 1980s was characterized by a. quick approval by the Senate of nominees b. Rejection of the majority of appointees c. Limited background checks of the nominees d. Limited input from legal associations and special interest groups e. Bitter confirmation battles over personal and philosophical positions of the nominees

The End