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Gov Exam
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which of the following did Aristotle use to seek knowledge? | Observation of natural phenomena. |
| James Madison distinguished ___, such as life and liberty, from rights that are part of the compact between citizen and government. | Natural Rights |
| The organization works for the ___. | common good. |
| Understanding ___ has become increasingly urgent as scholars seek to identify the causes of declining levels of civic engagement. | civic virtue |
| ___ are something that cannot be taken from people, even at the hands of the government. | Inalienable rights |
| The only laws that exist in the ___ are not covenants forged between people but principles base on self-preservation. | state of nature |
| According to Enlightenment thinkers, which of the following would be the best way for a government to maintain legitimacy? | By seeking the participation and consent of the governed. |
| Read the excerpt on a reference article on the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment can best be defined as an intellectual movement based in | Reason being the driving force of determining humanity's relationship to government and the church. |
| Read the excerpt from a reference article on the Enlightenment. John Locke was a strong proponent of? | Natural rights and the social contract. |
| What is Thomas Jefferson's core argument for independence in the Declaration of Independence? | The British government does not protect the natural rights of colonists and act without their consent. |
| A key complaint by colonists against the British government in the Declaration of Independence was | It had dissolved colonial legislatures, therefore depriving colonists of self-government. |
| The Articles of Confederation were created primarily in order to | Create a new, national government that could deal with such issues as managing the war. |
| One of the major debates that took place during the writing of the Articles of Confederation was over | How representation between states would be determined. |
| Some of the key powers of Congress under the Articles of Confederation included | Powers over declarations of war, peace, and foreign diplomacy. |
| A key problem experienced under the Articles of Confederation was | Congress had to rely on sometimes unwilling states for tax revenue. |
| A success under the Articles of Confederation was | The Northwest Ordinance, which allowed for more states to be added and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory. |
| How does the Constitution balance between small and large states with regard to legislative power? | The bicameral nature of Congress provides for representation by state and by population. |
| In order to determine how many members of the House of Representatives each state would get based on population, it was decided enslaved people would | Be counted as three-fifths of a person. |
| The Constitution gave the federal government which of the following powers that it did not have under the Articles of Confederation? | Federal laws would take precedence over conflicting state laws. |
| The Constitution grants the federal government three types of powers: | Expressed, implied, and inherent |
| Read the excerpt on the reference article about the separation of powers. Separation of powers--the division of government power into different branches--is critical for the existence and proper functioning of this other core system of U.S. government: | Checks and balances |
| Many senators receive calls from ___ who want them to vote in favor of the law. | Constituents |
| The nation has chosen ___ over monarchy. | Democracy |
| When asked by a person what sort of government the constitutional convention formulated for the country, Benjamin Franklin replied, "A __ , if you can keep it." | Republic |
| As long as the Constitution's ___ are intact, our country will survive. | checks and balances |
| Upon leaving home she felt that she had achieved ___ for the first time in her life. | sovereignty |
| In Federalist, No.51, when Madison argues that "the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and... | System of checks and balances |
| Read the excerpt from The Federalist, No.51 (1788). In the passage, what does Madison seem to identify as the greatest threat to good government? | Human nature |
| The series of letters known as The Federalist Papers were written by all of the following except | George Washington |
| The authors of the Federalist Papers argued in favor of the proposed Constitution, saying that | The system of checks and balances would strengthen democracy and protection for individuals. |
| How does the Constitution balance between small and large states with regard to legislative power? | The bicameral nature of Congress provides for representation by state and by population. |
| The Bill of Rights was not part of the original Constitution; however, it was added in 1791 | As a compromise between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. |
| Amending the Constitution is a difficult political process that becomes increasingly difficult at each step. Why is this so? | The Contitution, being the supreme law of the land, should not be changed without significant consideration and consensus. |
| The Constitution grants the federal government three types of powers: | Legislative, executive, and judicial |
| The core purpose of the system of checks and balances is to | Prevent any one person or branch from becoming too powerful. |
| Refer to the table on the Articles of Confederation and U.S. Constitution. What would be a difference between the two governments? | State populations were a factor in legislative votes under the U.S. Constitution. |
| Refer to the table on the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution. Which sentence would express a similiarity between the American governments under the two documents? | Both had a Congress. |
| Since the establishment of the U.S. government, state power relative to that of the national government has generally | decreased |
| According to the visual on the three branches of state government, an example of a power shared by both the federal and state governments is | Levy and collect taxes |
| According to the visual on the three branches of state government, a power belonging to the states only is referred to as this kind of power: | Delegated |
| From where do local governments receive their authority? | The state in which they are located |
| The original form of democratic government in American began in | New England town meetings. |
| Refer to the text of the Tenth Amendment. This amendment protects which of the following from an all-powerful federal government? | The states and the people |
| How does the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution limit the power of the federal government? | It reserves all unspecified powers to the states and the people. |
| He says that the government will set a dangerous ___ if it refuses to allow the protesters to hold a rally. | precedent |
| Kindness is not a random act but a full-time commitment - a respect for others and their ___ dignity. | inherent |
| Each year the sea continues to ___ upon the island's beaches. | encroach |
| The people of the United States do ___ and establish the Constitution by ordering it the law. | ordain |
| His words to the officer ___ a threat. | implied |
| The powers of Congress can be found listed in | Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution |
| Read the excerpt from the U.S. Constitution (1787). According to the Constitution, this power is denied to Congress | The power to grant titles of nobility. |
| Read the excerpt from the U.S. Constitution (1787). How a bill becomes a law is outlined in | Article I, Section 7 |
| Read the excerpt from the U.S. Constitution (1787). Impeachment is discussed in which parts of Article I? | Section 3 only |
| The primary function of Congress is to | make laws |
| in addition to legislating, Congress has all of the following duties except | Selecting federal judges. |
| Representation in Congress is determined in this manner: | House: population of state; Senate: equal between states |
| Who may propose a new law? | Any member of Congress |
| Candidates for the House and Senate must | Live in the state they are running in. |
| Where are almost all newly proposed bills sent after being formally introduced into either the House or Senate? | They are sent to the committee that has responsibility from that area of law--agriculture, defense, or education, for example. |
| Read the excerpt from the reference article on the necessary and proper clause. Congress has two general categories of powers: | Enumerated and implied |
| Read the excerpt from the reference article on the necessary and proper clause. The most flexible power in Article 1, Section 8 is | The "necessary and proper" clause |
| Which of the following best explains why the U.S. Constitution gives the power of regulating taxation to the Congress, rather than to the President? | Colonists wanted taxation to be determined by an appointed body. |
| Article I, Section 8 provides Congress with the power to have an army and navy; how then, does the Constitution allow for the U.S. Air Force? | The preamble talks of "providing for the common defense," and the "necessary and proper" or "elastic" clause provides it as an implied power. |
| The Framers sought to limit governmental power in part by | Listing, or "enumerating," specific powers and listing certain powers denied to Congress. |
| What is an example of an implied power of Congress? | The authority to create a national bank. |
| What is an example of an exclusive power? | Confirmation of presidential appointments by the Senate. |
| All are examples of enumerated powers except | Regulation of public schools |
| Who may introduce a bill that does not have to do with raising revenue? | Any member of the House or Senate. |
| If the House and Senate adopt different versions of the same bill, which one can the president sign? | Neither; Congress must convene a conference committee to reconcile the two bills into a single version. |
| If the president receives a bill and lets it sit, unsigned, for two weeks while Congress remains in session, what happens? | The bill becomes law even though the president did not sign it. |
| What role does the president play in the lawmaking process before a bill arrives on his/her desk? | No formal role, but the president can try to influence members of Congress to support or oppose a bill; the same goes for public opinion. |
| What is the first substantive difference in the lawmaking process between the House and the Senate? | House bills go to the House Rules Committee before the House debates the bill. |
| How can Congress override a presidential veto? | The House and Senate each vote two-thirds to override the veto. |
| There is no ___ reason to change the law. | substantive |
| They engaged in a ___ that lasted for over a week. | filibuster |
| If neither side budges, the result could be the first ___ veto override during his first year in office. | bicameral |
| My reasons for doing this can be __ here before you. | enumerated |
| She is currently serving her third ___ in the United States Senate. | term |
| The president is viewed as the leader of | the government and nation. |
| Read the following excerpt from The Federalist, No.70 (1788). Alexander Hamilton argued in favor of a "vigorous executive" for the following reasons except | It would promote the separation of powers. |
| Read the excerpt from The Federalist, No.70 (1788). When Hamilton wrote of a need for "unity" in the executive, what did he mean? | The presidency must consist of one person, not a pair or group. |
| Read the excerpt from the U.S. Constitution (1787). Under what conditions may the president make treaties with foreign countries? | With the advice and consent of the Senate. |
| Read the excerpt from the U.S. Constitution (1787). The president can be impeached, convicted, and removed from office for all these reasons except | Lying |
| Read the excerpt from the U.S. Constitution (1787). The president can issue pardons in all legal cases except those involving | Impeachment |
| The president plays all these roles except | Chief of the economy |
| In constitutional terms, presidential power is most readily limited by | Checks and balances from Congress and the courts. |
| Read the excerpt from the reference article on the powers of the presidency. One of the president's key formal powers over Congress is | The veto, which requires a two-thirds majority of both chambers of Congress to override. |
| Read the excerpt from the reference article on the powers of the presidency. How can a president fire an official he/she has appointed to an executive position? | The president can fire officials at will. |
| Members of the cabinet are | Selected by the president and confirmed by the Senate. |
| The cabinet was created by | George Washington |
| The first cabinet offices established were | Finance, war, and foreign affairs |
| The purpose of the cabinet in regards to the president is | To advise the president on various issues of policy and law. |
| Along with being policy advisers, cabinet members do all of the following except | Vote to impeach the president if he/she is unfit to continue serving. |
| The War Powers Act prohibits the president from | Keeping troops in a war zone for longer than 90 days without a congressional declaration of war. |
| The president's role in foreign policy includes all of the following except | Ratifying treaties by signing them. |
| Who is responsible for the federal budget? | The president |
| According to the Federal Budget chart, when must the executive branch submit its budget proposal to Congress? | January of the year in which the budget is to begin. |
| Nowhere else does the United States ___ its nuclear power to the hands of a single person. | entrust |
| Committee assignments have traditionally been the ___ of the party leaders. | prerogative |
| He is a father who ___ in our minds the belief that hard work pays off. | entrenched |
| He asked ___ for taking so much of my time. | pardon |
| She was fed up with the red tape and ___ of it all. | bureaucracy |
| The power of judicial review was established as a result of | Marbury v. Madison (1803) |
| In the simplest terms, judicial review enables the Supreme Court to | Declare a law passed by Congress to be unconstitutional. |
| How can a Supreme Court decision be overturned? | A future Supreme Court could decide, based on another case, to overturn a previous decision. |
| Before the power of judicial review was established, the purpose of the Supreme Court was to | Clarify what ambiguous laws passed by Congress were supposed to mean. |
| Read the excerpt from The Federalist, No.78 (1788). How does Alexander Hamilton view the Constitution? | As the most fundamental and supreme law of the United States. |
| Read the excerpt from The Federalist, No.78 (1788). According to Hamilton, whose responsibility is to determine the true meaning of a law? | The Supreme Court |
| Read the excerpt from the reference article on constitutional interpretation. To interpret law based on precedent means to | Look to and rely on previous, similar court decisions for guidance. |
| Read the excerpt from the reference article on constitutional interpretation. Once a decision has been made about the meaning of a law or part of the Constitution | This interpretation will usually stay in effect until the law or Constitution is changed. |
| Where is the judicial branch addressed in the Constitution? | Article III |
| U.S. district courts are | The first trial courts for most cases involving federal law. |
| How long do federal judges serve? | For life, until retirement or impeachment. |
| Federal judges receive their positions | By presidential appointment with Senate confirmation |
| Where is the jurisdiction of federal courts defined? | Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution |
| The primary purpose of the courts in the United States is to | Interpret and apply existing laws. |
| The U.S. Supreme Court has jurisdiction over cases involving all of the following except | State laws |
| The Framers were vague on many details of the judicial branch, leaving those decisions to | The elected branches of government. |
| What are the constitutional requirements for being a federal judge? | None |
| Supreme Court justices must be confirmed by | A majority of the U.S. Senate. |
| The editorial page of the newspaper captured the mood of an America frustrated by ___ division. | partisan |
| The matter falls outside the ___ of the federal courts. | jurisdiction |
| After a ___ debate, members of the committee finally voted to approve the funding. | contentious |
| The verdict could heavily influence not only his political future but that of the senators sworn to deliver ___ justice as jurors. | impartial |
| The new manager was given ___ of the whole project. | oversight |
| The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are basic rights granted to | U.S. citizens |
| Procedural due process guarantees | Are set and consistent processes and procedures. |
| Due process prevents | The government from unfairly restricting an individual's life, liberty, or property. |
| Due process is mentioned in this amendment to the Constitution | Fifth |
| In addition to the federal government, why do the states have to protect the due process rights of criminal suspects? | Because the Supreme Court has used the Fourteenth Amendment to incorporate those rights to the state level. |
| The Fifth Amendment provides all of the following guarantees except | Right to counsel. |
| In simple terms, "due process" seeks to guarantee | That government acts within its legal limits and treats all people fairly with respect to their rights. |
| Read the reference article on the First Amendment. In order to meet the standard of the "Lemon test," a law must meet all of the following criteria except | Not allow public money to go to a religious establishment or activity. |
| The right to assemble is found in which part of the U.S. Constitution? | The Bill of Rights |
| The rights listed in the Bill of Rights fall into two general categories: | Civil liberties and rights of those accused of crimes |
| The right to petition is one of the most important clauses of the First Amendment. Which one of the following is not an accurate statement about the right to petition? | The government is required to address issues brought by citizens. |
| The Supreme Court has ruled that young people's First Amendment rights may be limited | In school. |
| All of these are examples of the right to petition except | Waging an armed struggle against the state. |
| Regarding religion, the First Amendment prevents Congress from doing what? | Promoting or inhibiting any faiths. |
| What does the "free exercise clause" of the First Amendment guarantee? | Individuals can practice any religion within the limits of the law. |
| Read the excerpt from James Madison's Memorial and Remonstrance (1785). Madison's primary reason for writing this letter was to | Convince Virginia lawmakers not to pass a bill that would have given state funding to a particular religion's teachers. |
| Read the excerpt from James Madison's Memorial and Remonstrance (1785). In Madison's language, what is an "establishment"? Compared to other fundamental rights, how does Madison view the free exercise of religion? | A religious organization |
| Freedom of speech had one of its first legal challenges in American when the Sedition Act was passed in order to | Stop newspapers from printing articles critical of President John Adams and his administration during the Quasi-War. |
| All of the following are legal limits on free speech except | One cannot speak out against the government's policies during wartime. |
| Why is "prior restraint" seen as an unconstitutional limit on a free press? | It prevents new outlets from printing a story in the first place. |
| Information published by the press can be limited in all of the following cases except | If it is critical of the president. |
| The right to peaceably assemble enables people to do all the following except | Block roads with crowds so long as the people are orderly and nonviolent. |
| When people assemble, the government has the right to | Maintain order. |
| Civil rights are those rights that are applied to | All citizens. |
| All of the following are associated with the post-World War II civil rights movement except | The founding of the NAACP |
| The constitutional amendment that has played a key role in clarifying equality before the law is | Fourteenth Amendment |
| This piece of legislation banned discrimination based on race in public places and hiring | Civil Rights Act (1964) |
| She believes those themes will ___ with all audiences across the country. | resonate |
| any government action limiting freedom of speech is an ___ of the U.S. Constitution. | infringement |
| All ___ are expected to obey the rules of the court when in session. | counsel |
| In exchange for the reduced sentence, the thief agreed __ his accomplice. | incriminate |
| Fear can ___ people from expressing their opinions. | inhibit |
| Read the excerpt from the reference article on constitutional interpretation. To interpret law based on precedent means to | Look to and rely on previous, similar court decisions for guidance. |
| Read the excerpt from a reference article on constitutional interpretation. Once a decision has been made about the meaning of a law or part of the Constitution: | This interpretation will usually stay in effect until the law or Constitution is changed. |
| Read the excerpt from the reference article on judicial activism and restraint. A judicial activist typically interprets the Constitution and laws based on | The fundamental intent of the text rather than the wording. |
| Read the excerpt from the reference article on judicial activism and restraint. A judge who exercises judicial restraint typically interprets the Constitution and laws based on | The original meaning of the text. |
| Her ability was acknowledged by friend and ___ alike. | foe |
| He offered words of advice and ___ to be careful. | admonition |
| Because he committed a ___ crime, the law stated his sentence was punishable by death. | capital |
| They gave us an honest, but damaging, ___ of our chances. | appraisal |
| He was a ___ of George Washington, and often looked to him for inspiration. | contemporary |
| Why is the separation of powers so important if one is trying to limit overall governmental power? | It prevents too much power from being concentrated under one group or person in government. |
| Read the excerpt from the Declaration of Independence (1776). How does Thomas Jefferson justify revolution? | The colonists' natural rights had been abused by the English government. |
| Read the excerpt from the Declaration of Independence (1776). According to Jefferson, where do natural rights come from? | The "Creator" |
| the increase in police presence is yet another minor ___ on our individual liberties. | encroachment |
| According to the US Constitution, the president shall have power, by and with the advice and ___ of the senate to make treaties. | consent |
| The house were running in the woods in ___ of a fox. | pursuit |
| The need for social support from a family or other groups is ___. | universal |
| Several ____ within the environmental movement have joined forces to save this wilderness area. | factions ` |
| The Tenth Amendment protects which of the following from an all-powerful federal government? | The states and the people |
| How does the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution limit the power of the federal government? | It reserves all unspecified powers to the states and the people. |
| Under the principle of federalism, certain powers such as ____ are reserved for state governments, and certain powers are reserved for the federal government. | Establishing schools |
| According to the visual, an example of a power shared by both the federal and state governments is | Levy and collect taxes |
| All of the following are examples of federal power over the states except | Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution |
| The primary role of a state's governor is to | Serve as the chief executive of that state. |
| One significant difference separating governors from presidents is that | Governors in many states are not able to select their cabinet members. |
| All governors have the power to | Veto legislation |
| The White House Press Secretary delivered a ___ message this week during the weekly press briefing. | concurrent |
| The government was founded on a ____ of equality for all people. | doctrine |
| The president has signed the stimulus package and budget ____ package. | appropriation |
| The ___ court returned the case to the trail court for further proceedings. | appellate |
| He won the election so convincingly that he believed he had been given a ___ for change. | mandate |
| Which prominent U.S. leader warned future generations about "permanent alliances" that could draw the country into war? | George Washington |
| President James Monroe asserted all the following regarding foreign policy except | European powers must not trade with countries in the Americas other than the United States. |
| The president's role in foreign policy includes all of the following except | Ratifying treaties by signing them. |
| Congress plays all the following roles in foreign policy except | Congressional nomination of candidates to foreign policy posts. |
| The War Powers Act prohibits the president from | Keeping troops in a war zone for longer than 90 days without a congressional declaration of war. |
| The primary goal of the Marshall Plan was to | Use foreign aid to help rebuild Europe after World War II, thus preventing European nations from transitioning to communism. |
| Humanitarian aid traditionally makes up about this portion of U.S. foreign aid: | 10% |
| Read the excerpt from George C. Marshall's Marshall Plan Speech (1947). Whom or what does Marshall blame for the economic problems in Germany and Austria? | The Nazis and their politics and behavior. |
| Read the excerpt from George C. Marshall's Marshall Plan Speech (1947). Which countries does Marshall propose assisting in Europe? | Any countries that would be willing to try to rebuild. |
| The Powell Doctrine includes all of the following requirements for military intervention except | A formal declaration of war. |
| The Bush Doctrine, developed during the War on Terror, included this departure from the Powell Doctrine: | The United States was justified in launching preemptive attacks on terrorist organizations, supporters, or "rogue states". |
| Read the excerpt from a reference article on U.S. neutrality policy from 1793-1917. George Washington declared U.S. neutrality in response to this event: | A war between Great Britain and France |
| Read the excerpt from a reference article on U.S. neutrality policy from 1793-1917. The War of 1812 erupted over | British interference with U.S. trade. |
| The United Nations was created during this time for this purpose: | During World War II; to defeat Nazi Germany. |
| The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed in order to | Push back against Cold War tensions after World War II. |
| Among other things, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) works to | Expand global trade. |
| Read the excerpt from a reference article on the World Trade Organization. Violent protests have taken place against the WTO based initially on this perceived problem with the organization: | A lack of concern about the environmental impact of global trade. |
| The author argues that ___ is no longer the best way to prevent war. | deterrence |
| She has been recognized as a great ____ for her efforts to end world hunger. | humanitarian |
| The ___ of the mountain community allowed to to stay frozen in time without any influence from the outside world. | isolation |
| The rate of population growth reached a peak in 1999 and declined in ___ years. | subsequent |
| The government was founded on a ___ of equality for all people. | doctrine. |
| Rachel Carson's work had the greatest impact on | Clean water |
| Regarding the environment, the U.S. Congress created legislation related to all of the following except | Soil erosion |
| Three Mile Island and Love Canal were both | Environmental disasters. |
| Read this excerpt from a reference article on the environmental movement. Which is generally considered to have incited the environmental movement? | The release of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, which highlighted the negative long-term effects of such man-made chemicals as pesticides. |
| Read the excerpt from a reference article on the environmental movement. How has the environmental movement evolved since the 1960s? | It has become increasingly global and focused on sustainability and the application of technology in environmental protection. |
| A ___ on global warming was held earlier this year in Switzerland. | summit |
| the problem forced them to seek some much-needed relief from the ___ noise of the big city. | omnipresent |
| In some industries, carbon capture makes intuitive sense, for example, in aviation, where ___ fuel solutions are going to take a while to develop. | sustainable |
| He predicated ___ for the economy after a year of quarantine and unemployment. | calamity |
| Identity theft is only one potential ___ of this oversharing. | repercussion. |
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