Mid-Year Practice #2

Why did the Federalists believe the national government would not become too strong if the Constitution was adopted?

• A system of checks and balances & separation of powers would prevent the government from becoming tyrannical.

• Elected government officials could not be trusted to protect individual rights.

• The Bill of Rights ensured that individual rights would be protected.

• The federal government would use its powers to protect, not threaten, individual liberties.

The passage below was written by George Clinton, an Anti-Federalist, in 1788.

Whoever considers the immense extent of territory comprehended within the limits of the United States…will [see] that a . . . republican form of government therein can never form a perfect union … Composed of interests opposite and dissimilar, [such a republic would be] like a house divided against itself.

Which sentence summarizes Clinton’s views in this passage?

• The United States has too many separate interests to form a single uniform republic.

• The Constitution gives too much power to the state governments for the republic to last

• The best form of government is a republican one with elected representatives.

• The Constitution should be approved because it will unite the country.

The chart below provides details about the

Articles of Confederation.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Congress had no power to tax.

Congress had no power to raise troops.

Congress had no power to ___________

There was no national executive.

There was no national court system.

Which phrase completes the chart?

• equip a navy

• declare war

• regulate trade between states

• borrow money

The diagram shows weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and how they were corrected in the Constitution. Which phrase completes the diagram?

• The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review.

• The national government controls state tax collection

• Congress can raise an army.

• The national government has the power to collect taxes.

The statement below lists the qualifications for

holding a public office.

*Be at least 25 years old

*Be a U.S. citizen at least 7 years

*Reside in the state to be represented

Which government office has these requirements?

• U.S. Senator

• Governor of Florida

• President of the United States

• Member of the U.S. House of Representatives

Which government office has these requirements?

Be a “natural-born citizen”

Be at least 35 years of age

Have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.

• Governor of Florida

• President of the United States

• member of the House of Representatives

• mayor of a city with more than one million residents

What is one way in which an individual citizen can influence the government?

• save money from extra earnings

• help a neighbor solve a problem

• sign a petition to state legislators

• watch television to become better informed

What is the main purpose of propaganda?

• to provide impartial information

• to influence the views of the public

• to resolve disagreements without emotion

• to prevent one group from having an unfair advantage

Jocelyn is running for the U.S Senate. What is one of the qualifications for office she must meet?

• have served as Governor of the state she will represent.

• have been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives

• reside in the state she will represent

• have resided in the United States for at least 10 years

What title would you give the following terms?

*Start a petition.

*Visit members of Congress

*Vote

*Write letters to a newspaper about an issue.

• How the MEDIA influences government

• How LOBBYISTS monitor government officials

• How ELECTED OFFICIALS influence public opinion

• How INDIVIDUALS can influence the government