The Origins of American Government 2-4

​The Origins of American Government 2-4

By Lisa Hintz

Multiple Choice

The Virginia Plan proposed a weaker executive branch than the New Jersey Plan.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The convention delegates supported the concept of separation of powers as expressed

• in the Articles of Confederation.

• The New Testement

• by Charles de Montesquieu.

• by John Locke.

Multiple Choice

Patrick Henry opposed the new Constitution because it created a weak national government.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Federalist Papers

• writings that supported adoption of the Constitution

• recognized the rights of the English nobles

• established the authority of Parliament

• concept that a government’s power is not absolute

Multiple Choice

George Mason refused to sign the draft Constitution because.....

• he believed the length of the president’s term should be two years.

• it prohibited the government from restricting the slave trade for 20 years.

• it created a bicam leg, which he thought gave the sm states too much power.

• he thought the pres. should be elected by the people, not the Elector Coll.

Multiple Choice

New Jersey delegates did not support the Virginia Plan because they thought......

• the number of votes a state had in the leg should be based on population.

• the legislature would be able to control the executive branch.

• the judicial branch would not be independent.

• it gave too much power to the large states.

Multiple Choice

The Founders created a federal system of government because they...

• wanted individuals to have the right to a fair and speedy trial.

• wanted power to be split between the national and the state governments.

• did not want the president to become as powerful as a monarch.

• believed that rep. on Congress should be based entirely on population

Multiple Choice

The Federalist papers were successful primarily because they

• presented a way of solving the dilemma between the large and small states.

• limited the power of the executive branch.

• clearly explained the principles of American constitutional government.

• set up a clear way of separating the powers of the three gov't branches

Multiple Choice

In The Federalist, No. 10, James Madison argued in favor of a large republic because

• it would make it easier for Congress to regulate interstate commerce.

• the chances of the majority having common motives would decrease.

• the states with smaller populations would have more power.

• the president’s power would be decreased.

Multiple Choice

The Anti-Federalists demanded that the Constitution have a bill of rights because they

• believed it was needed in order to protect individual liberties.

• did not want the national government to be able to restrict the slave trade

• wanted representation in the Senate to be based on population.

• were concerned that the judicial branch would be overly powerful.