Review - Part 3

The ConstitutionThe 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 powerII. It can create gridlockIII. It usually makes change easy to come byIV. It can encourage political compromise

a. II only d. I, II and III onlyb. I and II only e. II and IV onlyc. 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 powerII. It can create gridlockIII. It usually makes change easy to come byIV. It can encourage political compromise

a. II only d. I, II and III onlyb. I and II only e. II and IV onlyc. 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 governmentb. weakened power in the state and national

governmentc. The ability to adapt to changing timesd. A dominant national government with no

active participation from the statese. 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 governmentb. weakened power in the state and national

governmentc. The ability to adapt to changing timesd. A dominant national government with no

active participation from the statese. 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 Representativesb. The Senatec. The Executive branchd. The Supreme Courte. The bureaucracy

3) Which of the following governmental bodies is most directly responsible to the electorate?

a. The House of Representativesb. The Senatec. The Executive branchd. The Supreme Courte. 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 precedentd. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdictione. 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 precedentd. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdictione. 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 establishedb. Congressional districts became gerrymandered based on

political considerationsc. Congressional districts were created as a result of racial

considerationd. Congress modified existing voting districts for state

officese. 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 establishedb. Congressional districts became gerrymandered based on

political considerationsc. Congressional districts were created as a result of racial

considerationd. Congress modified existing voting districts for state

officese. 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 USd. Establishing uniform immigration lawse. 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 USd. Establishing uniform immigration lawse. 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 banb. Withdraw funds allocated to troops in Haitic. Pass a balanced budget amendment to the

Constitutiond. Raise the price of stamps to 34 stampse. 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 banb. Withdraw funds allocated to troops in Haitic. Pass a balanced budget amendment to the

Constitutiond. Raise the price of stamps to 34 stampse. 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 partyb. granting pardonsc. Making treatiesd. Giving a State of the Union addresse. 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 partyb. granting pardonsc. Making treatiesd. Giving a State of the Union addresse. Signing or vetoing legislation

10) Which of the following is the only stated constitutional responsibility of the vice president?

a. attending funerals of foreign dignitariesb. Taking on special tasks assigned by the

presidentc. Presiding over the Senated. Filling in for the president when he is out of

the countrye. 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 dignitariesb. Taking on special tasks assigned by the

presidentc. Presiding over the Senated. Filling in for the president when he is out of

the countrye. 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 candidatesb. It would enable a select group of electors to cast

the final vote for president and vice presidentc. It would encourage greater voter turnoutd. It would give more power to the Congress in

determining the outcome of presidential electionse. 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 candidatesb. It would enable a select group of electors to cast

the final vote for president and vice presidentc. It would encourage greater voter turnoutd. It would give more power to the Congress in

determining the outcome of presidential electionse. 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 appealsb. The prohibition of passage of bills of attainder lawsc. Congress not being allowed to pass ex post facto

lawsd. The inability of the president to grant titles of

nobilitye. 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 appealsb. The prohibition of passage of bills of attainder lawsc. Congress not being allowed to pass ex post facto

lawsd. The inability of the president to grant titles of

nobilitye. 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 mediae. 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 mediae. 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 nomineesb. Rejection of the majority of appointeesc. Limited background checks of the nomineesd. Limited input from legal associations and

special interest groupse. 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 nomineesb. Rejection of the majority of appointeesc. Limited background checks of the nomineesd. Limited input from legal associations and

special interest groupse. Bitter confirmation battles over personal

and philosophical positions of the nominees

The EndThe End