1.4 - 1.5 Ratification of the Constitution #1

Which of the following is commonly identified as a failure of the Articles of Confederation?

• The national government lacked an effective power to raise revenue.

• The executive branch was granted too much power over the legislature.

• The federal government had too much control over interstate commerce.

• The judicial branch was elected and did not consistently adhere to rule of law.

All of the following were concerns about the Articles of Confederation that led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 EXCEPT

• dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and liberties

• fear for the stability of the central government

• desire to promote trade among the states

• the need to give the central government the power to levy taxes

• dissatisfaction with the central government’s ability to provide for national defense

Under the Articles of Confederation, which of the following were true?

I. Congress could not tax the states directly.

II. The executive branch of government exercised more power than Congress.

III. Congress was a unicameral body.

IV. States were represented in Congress proportionally according to population.

• I and II

• I and III

• I and IV

• II and III

• II and IV

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?

• An unpopular Supreme Court ruling can be overturned by a majority vote of both houses of Congress.

• A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

• A filibuster in the Senate can be ended with a cloture motion that has the support of 60 senators.

• A treaty negotiated by the president with a foreign government must be approved by a majority vote of the House.

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances, as established by the Constitution?

• A requirement that states lower their legal drinking age to eighteen as a condition of receiving funds through federal highway grant programs

• Media criticism of public officials during an election campaign period

• The Supreme Court's ability to overturn a lower court decision

• The requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate

• The election of the President by the electoral college rather than by direct election

Which of the following is the correct pairing of powers found in the Articles of Confederation and powers found in the Constitution?

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The Connecticut (Great) Compromise provided for

• all revenue bills to originate in the Senate

• all judicial appointments to be nominated by the president

• the elimination of the importation of slaves

• an electoral college and rules for the removal of the president

• a bicameral legislature with one house’s composition based upon state population and another’s on equal state representation

As originally ratified, the United States Constitution included provisions designed to

• limit the importation of foreign manufactured goods

• increase the economic importance of the agrarian sector relative to that of the manufacturing sector

• increase the economic powers of the central government

• expand the states' powers to regulate their own commerce with foreign countries

After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, its adoption requires

• official filing with the secretary of state

• support by a majority vote of the people

• signature by the president

• ratification by three-fourths of the states

• publication in the Federal Register

Which of the following was the most important effect of replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution of 1787?

• The protection of free speech

• The guarantee of states’ rights

• The establishment of direct democracy

• The creation of a strong national government

• The establishment of judicial review