Government Exam Standard 2

The people who came to the American colonies in the 17th century had already been exposed to the idea of limited government thanks mainly to

• the Magna Carta

• the Constitution.

• the Council of Trent.

• the Articles of Confederation.

John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean Jacques Rousseau all were

• advocated American independence.

• French Enlightenment philosophers.

• proponents of a constitutional monarchy in France.

• influences on the ideals that shaped American government.

he decision in Brown v. Board of Education addressed the issue of

• segregation.

• voting rights.

• school funding.

• Affirmative Action.

Seventeenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

This amendment significantly increased the power of American voters by

• allowing citizens to vote every six years.

• allowing citizens to directly elect their Senators

• preventing poll taxes from being levied against black voters.

• granting women the right to vote in federal and state elections.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

- from The Declaration of Independence

This passage MOST accurately reflects the democratic ideals taken from

• the Enlightenment.

• ancient Legalist doctrine.

• the Protestant Reformation.

• the observations of Machiavelli.

It can be said that, since Americans elect people to make the laws of the country, the United States is actually a

• Aristocracy.

• Democracy.

• Oligarchy.

• Republic.

Which statement BEST describes the power of government provided by the Articles of Confederation?

• The national government held most of the power.

• Congress enforced its power by taxing the states.

• The states had more power than the national government.

• Government served to successfully unite the needs of all states.

The Senate has the power to confirm presidential appointments to the Supreme Court. This is an example of what principle of United States government?

• judicial review

• popular sovereignty

• checks and balances

• executive privilege

Which of these statements MOST ACCURATELY describes the view of humankind held by the Founding Fathers who wrote the United States' Constitution?

• People will never be able to govern themselves and therefore voting rights should be severely restricted.

• People are not capable of governing themselves and should be ruled by the most capable who have risen in society.

• People need a government that will keep the various factions in balance while giving ultimate authority to the people.

• People are basically good and can be trusted to treat their fellow humans fairly and therefore need little government at all.

The 19th Amendment and the 26th Amendment were both designed to

• lower the minimum voting age.

• allow women the right to vote.

• prevent discrimination on the basis of race.

• get more people involved in the voting process.