Constitution Quiz

What is the purpose of the Preamble of the Constitution?

• reviews the achievements of the American Revolution

• states the goals for the new government

• summarizes the qualifications of the Framers

• creates the Bill of Rights

What do supporters of winner-take-all congressional elections like about the process?

• The party with the most support governs.

• Less popular parties still have a voice.

• A large variety of viewpoints are represented.

• Candidates must campaign in every state.

The duties of governing are divided among three branches under the principle of

• popular sovereignty

• limited government

• federalism

• separation of powers

Which of the following is one characteristic of a republican form of government?

• Citizens have unlimited power

• People elect others to represent them

• Factions control Congress

• Republicans control the legislative branch

Which constitutional principle is most closely related to the concept of civil society?

• checks and balances

• federalism

• separation of powers

• limited government

What does it mean that the House of Representatives has "significant power of the purse"?

• The House has the power to interpret the law

• Laws that fund government begin in the House

• The House has sole responsibility for passing laws

• House members run for election every two years

The Senate's power to approve international treaties negotiated by the president is an example of

• limited government

• federalism

• popular sovereignty

• checks and balances

Which of the following is a power the executive branch has to check the legislative branch?

• override

• veto

• oversight

• review

Critics accused President Franklin Roosevelt of trying to change the constitutional balance of power when he

• appointed a close friend to the Supreme Court

• refused to obey a decision of the Supreme Court

• proposed expanding the size of the Supreme Court

• replaced five retiring Supreme Court justices

What did the Framers want to achieve by establishing the principle of federalism in the Constitution?

• expansion of the national government

• supremacy of state governments

• distribution of state and national powers

• limitations on the rights of states