Directions: Look over the test. On a separate piece of paper, write down the questions you got wrong and the correct answer ONLY. The Correct Answer is highlighted in bold and can also be found on the bottom of the page.
New Government Unit Test
1. The authors of the Articles of Confederation established a decentralized political system mainly to
| A. | cancel state debts incurred during the Revolutionary War
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| B. | assist the southern states in their efforts to gain a manufacturing base
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| C. | promote the common goal of national sovereignty
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| D. | prevent the abuses of power that had existed under British rule |
2. In the 1780’s, many Americans distrusted a strong central government. This distrust is best shown by the
| A. | lack of debate over the ratification of the United States Constitution |
| B. | plan of government set up by the Articles of Confederation |
| C. | development of a Federal court system |
| D. | constitutional provision for a strong President |
3. One way in which the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution
| A. | created a national government having three branches |
| B. | provided for the direct election of the President by the voters |
| C. | made the amendment process more difficult |
| D. | increased the powers of the states |
4. 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?
| A. | Senate |
| B. | House of Representatives |
| C. | Supreme Court |
| D. | Presidency |
5. In the United States, the Congress use of implied powers (the elastic clause), the amending process, and Supreme Court interpretations (Judicial review) have resulted in
| A. | a general loss of individual rights |
| B. | a strengthening of the principle of separation of powers |
| C. | the Constitution being adapted to fit changing times |
| D. | the limiting of Presidential power in domestic affairs |
6. The United States Constitution grants certain powers only to the Federal Government. For example, only Congress can declare war. These powers are called
| A. | police powers |
| B. | reserved powers |
| C. | delegated powers |
| D. | concurrent powers |
7. French Enlightenment philosopher Baron De Montesquieu praised the British political system because it divided the power of government between the monarch and the two houses of Parliament. Which principle included in the United States Constitution shows that the framers agreed with Montesquieu?
| A. | separation of powers |
| B. | federal supremacy |
| C. | implied powers |
| D. | due process |
8. Which statement is an example of the system of federalism?
| A. | Cabinet members are appointed by the president. |
| B. | Revenue bills must begin in the House of Representatives. |
| C. | The national government coins money, but states cannot. |
| D. | The president can negotiate treaties, but the Senate has the power to ratify them. |
9. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from the small states most strongly supported the idea of
| A. | establishing a strong national executive |
| B. | levying taxes on exports |
| C. | popular election of Senators |
| D. | equal representation for the states in the national legislature |
10. The major reason the Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution was to
| A. | limit the power of state governments |
| B. | protect individual liberties against abuse by the Federal Government |
| C. | provide for equal treatment of all people |
| D. | separate powers between the three branches of government |
11. The Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are similar in that both
| A. | support a federal system of government |
| B. | maintain the importance of a strong chief executive |
| C. | provide for a system of checks and balances |
| D. | support limitations on governmental power |
12. Which statement from the United States Constitution is referred to as the elastic clause?
| A. | “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States. . . . ” |
| B. | “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. . . . ” |
| C. | “All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives. . . . ” |
| D. | “Congress shall have power . . . to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. . . . ” |
13. “. . . Congress shall have power . . . to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States. . . .” This statement from the United States Constitution is the source of
| A. | veto power |
| B. | implied powers |
| C. | judicial review |
| D. | states’ rights |
14. The basic purpose of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution is to
| A. | describe the powers of the three branches of government |
| B. | limit the powers of state governments |
| C. | guarantee the rights of individuals |
| D. | establish a system of checks and balances |
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15. Which statement describes a characteristic of democracy that is provided for in the United States Constitution?
| A. | Political power in Congress is held by the ranking political party. |
| B. | All bills passed by Congress are reviewed by the Supreme Court. |
| C. | Citizens choose their congressional representatives. |
| D. | The president can require Congress to submit legislation for the cabinet’s approval. |
16. The system of checks and balances is best illustrated by the power of
| A. | the President to veto a bill passed by Congress |
| B. | Congress to censure one of its members |
| C. | a governor to send the National Guard to stop a riot |
| D. | state and Federal gov-ernments to levy and collect taxes |
17. One way in which the authors of the Constitution tried to create “limited government” was by providing for
| A. | a loyal opposition through a two-party system |
| B. | a division of power between the national and state governments |
| C. | the establishment of naturalization laws |
| D. | the popular election of Federal judges |
18. The United States Government is considered a federal system because
| A. | the people elect national officials |
| B. | both national and state governments exist within the nation |
| C. | foreign policy is handled by state governments |
| D. | each state has equal represen-tation in the United States Senate |
19. Antifederalists criticized the United States Constitution primarily because governing power was concentrated in the
| A. | State legislatures |
| B. | President’s Cabinet |
| C. | delegates to the Constitutional Convention |
| D. | National Government |
20. “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. | a strong executive |
| B. | a system of checks and balances |
| C. | an independent military |
| D. | a national education system |
21. During the debates over the ratification of the United States Constitution, Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed most strongly over the
| A. | division of powers between the national and state governments |
| B. | provision for admitting new states to the Union |
| C. | distribution of power between the Senate and the House of Representatives |
| D. | method of amending the Constitution |
22. Which constitutional provision was intended to give the people the most influence over the Federal Government?
| A. | President’s duty to give Congress information about the state of the Union |
| B. | electoral college system for choosing the President |
| C. | direct election of members of the House of Representatives for two-year terms |
| D. | process for proposing and ratifying amendments to the Constitution |
23. When the United States Constitution was written, which compromise was reached by the authors to gain the support of the states with small populations?
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| A. | Congress would consist of both a House of Representatives and a Senate. |
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| B. | Five enslaved persons would be counted as three free persons for the purpose of taxation |
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| C. | The President would be selected by the direct vote of the people. |
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| D. | Exported goods could not be taxed, but imported goods could be taxed. |
24. Which action could eliminate the electoral college (Electoral College is a method where citizens indirectly elect the President. The Electoral College system is specifically created in the Constitution)?
| A. | a Supreme Court ruling |
| B. | a Presidential order |
| C. | passage of legislation by Congress |
| D. | ratification of a constitutional amendment |
25. Senate ratification of treaties negotiated by the President is required by the United States Constitution as a way of
| A. | maintaining United States prestige in international affairs
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| B. | preventing Federal abuse of State power
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| C. | implementing the principle of checks and balances
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| D. | expanding the authority of the executive branch |
Bonus: Which statement best explains why critics have called for a change in the electoral college system?
| A . | A person who did not receive the largest percentage of popular votes can be elected President. |
| B. | The system is a threat to the two-party system. |
| C. | Electors often vote for candidates not listed on the ballot. |
| D. | States with small populations have greater influence on Presidential elections than more populated states do. |
ANSWER KEY
1. D
2. B
3. A
4. B
5. C
6. C
7. A
8. C
9. D
10. B
11. D
12. D
13. B
14. C
15. C
16. A
17. B
18. B
19. D
20. B
21. A
22. C
23. A
24. D
25. C
Bonus. A