American Government Unit 2

Which BEST illustrates the principle of checks and balances?

• the taxing power of states

• the military powers of the president

• Senate confirmation of presidential appointments

• congressional hearings to consider a proposed law

‘Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it.’ - President Woodrow Wilson

President Wilson is speaking to the Constitutional principle of

• limited government.

• national supremacy.

• popular sovereignty.

• one person, one vote

The structure of the government of the United States allows for the Legislative Branch to write laws, the Executive Branch to enforce laws, and the Judicial Branch to interpret laws. Collectively, this process is called

• federalism.

• republicanism.

• checks and balances.

• the separation of powers.

The Federalist Papers were written to encourage

• the adoption of the Bill of Rights.

• the ratification of the Constitution.

• delegates in Philadelphia to write a new constitution.

• the average American to support the war effort against the British.

Which viewpoint MOST ACCURATELY describes the view of humankind held by the Founding Fathers who wrote our Constitution?

• People of average or below average intelligence should never be legally allowed to govern themselves.

• 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.

Decentralization of political authority in the United States is chiefly promoted by

• federalism.

• the church.

• nationalism.

• the mass media.

Those who supported adoption of the Constitution were called

• Abolitionists.

• Democrats

• Federalists.

• Republicans.

The conflict between the large states and the small states in the crafting of the Constitution centered on

• whether judges should be chosen by popular vote.

• whether there should be a monarchy or a presidency.

• deciding how to count the votes of slaves in national, federal elections

• how best to represent the interests of the people and the states in the legislature.

Which of these is a power that the President of the United States can exercise?

• vote for a bill that is being discussed in Congress

• declare a federal law unconstitutional

• overturn an unconstitutional state law

• veto a bill passed by Congress

At the Constitutional Convention, the "Three Fifths Compromise" dealt with issues surrounding what issue?

• taxation

• slavery

• the military

• states rights