Chapter 3 Test

Which of the following statements best expresses the argument Alexander Hamilton is making in the quotation below? "Laws are a dead letter without courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation." —Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist No. 22, 1788

• Congress needs to carefully interpret the laws it passes to make them easily understood.

• It is the responsibility of the courts to create laws for the good of the republic.

• Laws are of little use because Congress does not understand what they mean.

• The government needs courts to explain and interpret laws.

The existence of the federal district courts is evidence of which of the following?

• the way that executive agreements have added to the basic structure of the Federal Government

• the functioning of the U.S. federal system of government

• the way that basic legislation has added to the meaning of the Constitution

• the process of amending the Constitution

What constitutional principle prevents the tyranny that James Madison describes in the quotation below from taking place? "The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many . . . may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny." —James Madison, The Federalist No. 47, 1788

• popular sovereignty

• federalism

• judicial review

• separation of powers

Which of the following is an example of the principle of judicial review being exercised? *

• The Senate first examines, and then rejects a Supreme Court candidate.

• The Supreme Court declares a State law unconstitutional.

• Congress decides to impeach a federal judge for failure to uphold the law.

• The President appoints a candidate to serve on the Supreme Court.

The Necessary and Proper Clause, shown below, is used to justify what category of government powers in our federal system? [Congress has the power] "to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof." —Article I, Section 8 *

• the implied powers of the Federal Government

• the inherent powers of the Federal Government

• the exclusive powers of the Federal Government and the States

• the powers reserved to the States

Before any new States can be admitted to the Union, they first have to *

• create a State constitution that provides a republican form of government.

• sign away some of their lands to the Federal Government.

• agree to create a State government with a bicameral legislature.

• allow Congress and the President to choose their State governor.

Which of the constitutional principles listed was Madison describing and defending in the quotation below? "In the compound republic of America, the power . . . is first divided between two distinct governments. . . . The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself." —James Madison,Federalist No. 51, 1788 *

• judicial review

• checks and balances

• popular sovereignty

• federalism

Which of the following is NOT a check available to the legislative branch? *

• rejecting a treaty

• declaring an executive act to be unconstitutional

• passing a bill that has been rejected by the President

• creating a new federal district court

The principle of popular sovereignty is based on the belief that *

• the government must be run by officials who are appointed to office by their predecessors.

• the people do not have to obey any laws with which they disagree.

• the people have the authority to declare any federal or State law unconstitutional by voting on it.

• the government gets its power from the people and can exist only with their consent.

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances at work? *

• The Federal Government passes a law that overrides similar laws in several States.

• Congress removes from the bench a federal judge who has accepted a bribe.

• A bill passed by the House is vetoed by the Senate.

• The people choose not to re-elect a President whose policies they dislike.