Review Exam 1

Which statement best explains why the Articles of Confederation established a weak rather than a strong central government?

• Americans were following the plan of government set up in the Declaration of Independence.

• The absence of national problems made a strong government unnecessary.

• Colonial experiences under Great Britain had created a fear of unlimited government.

• Revenues were not adequate to support a strong central government.

Which statement most accurately describes federalism?

• The judicial branch of government has more power than the other two branches.

• The president and vice president divide executive power.

• Power is divided between the national government and the states.

• Power is shared between the two houses of Congress.

The primary purpose of the Articles of Confederation was to

• provide revenues for the national government

• establish the basic framework of the national government

• give the national government the power to regulate interstate commerce

• guarantee a bill of rights to protect citizens from the national government

The main criticism of the Articles of Confederation was that they failed to

• allow for the admission of new states

• limit the powers of the president

• provide adequate powers for the central government

• prevent the development of military rule

Shays’ Rebellion (1786) became a concern for many national leaders because it

• indicated there would be future conflicts over the spread of slavery

• exposed fundamental weaknesses in government under the Articles of Confederation

• pointed to the need for federal government regulation of interstate commerce

• showed that frontier settlements were vulnerable to raids by Native American Indians

A major criticism of the Articles of Confederation was that too much power had been given to the

• British monarchy

• House of Burgesses

• state governments

• national government

The framers of the United States Constitution included the concepts of federalism, checks and balances, and separation of powers in the document because they

• feared a government with unlimited power

• favored the poor over the rich

• wanted to increase the powers of the states

• hoped to expand the democratic process

A primary aim of the writers of the United States Constitution was to

• strengthen the power of the central government

• change from a government based on division of powers to one based on a single power

• develop a governmental system based on the principle of supremacy of the states

• weaken the power of the executive

Which principle of the United States Constitution is intended to ensure that no one branch of government has more power than another branch?

• checks and balances

• Federalism

• limited government

• rule of law

The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known as the

• Electoral College

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787

• Bills of Rights

• Articles of Confederation