Common Assessment Foundations and Origins

Which best describes a characteristic of the federal government established by the authors of the US Constitution?

• The powers of the national government are limited

• The federal courts have less authority than state courts

• In a conflict, state laws are supreme over federal laws

• A belief that the government must be all-powerful over the people

“There can be no liberty if the same man or the same group has executive, legislative, and judicial control.”

Which principle of the US Constitution would the author of the statement above be most likely to support?

• Separation of powers

• Checks and balances

• Federalism

• Popular sovereignty

“That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

The statement above from the Declaration of Independence was embodied in the US Constitution by ensuring that

• economic development would be promoted by the federal government

• the national government would be responsive to the will of the people

• more authority would be given to the President than the national legislature

• the federal government would control the lives of its citizens

What was the purpose of adding the Bill of Rights to the US Constitution?

• assure the end of slavery

• strengthen the power of the state governments

• protect people from abuse by the federal government

• allow the adoption of new amendments

What was one effect of the Three-fifths Compromise?

• Slave states gained additional congressional representation

• The number of justices on the Supreme Court was established

• Presidential appointments were assured easy confirmation

• A two-house legislature was created

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, supporters of the Virginia Plan and supporters of the New Jersey Plan differed over the method for

• Determining congressional representation

• Selecting the President’s Cabinet

• Adopting the amendment process

• Giving powers to the executive branch

Thomas Jefferson incorporated the idea of the social contract theory in the Declaration of Independence because this idea

• Justified the overthrow a government that denied individual liberties

• Considered economic rights more important than inalienable rights

• Supported the divine right of kings

• Called for a gradual change of government

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Great Compromise between the large states and the small states resulted in

• The creation of a bicameral legislature

• A provision for equal protection of the laws

• A permanent solution to the slavery issue

• The guarantee of voting rights for all male property owners

The framework of government described in the Constitution of the United States (1787) most clearly shows the dissatisfaction of the Founders with the

• Albany Plan of Union

• Northwest Ordinance

• Articles of Confederation

• Treaty of Paris

The Northwest Ordinance was passed by the United States Congress in 1787. What did the Northwest Ordinance make possible?

• the creation of several new states

• the discovery of gold in the Yukon Territory

• the establishment of public hospitals

• the purchase of the Oregon and Washington territories