Principles of Government Quiz

Which principle holds that a government can only exercise the powers granted to it and must be conducted according to the rule of law?

• checks and balances

• Anti-Federalists

• judicial review

• limited government

What system of government is characterized by power being divided between a central authority and constituent units, as reflected in the U.S. Constitution?

• checks and balances

• Anti-Federalists

• judicial review

• federalism

Who were the opponents of ratification of the Constitution who believed state governments should retain more power?

• checks and balances

• Anti-Federalists

• judicial review

• federalism

What is the term for the power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional?

• checks and balances

• Anti-Federalists

• judicial review

• federalism

What is the principle called that involves the distribution of powers among independent branches, where each branch has specific powers and responsibilities?

• checks and balances

• Anti-Federalists

• judicial review

• separation of powers

What is the system for controlling government power where branches of government have the ability to restrain certain actions of other branches?

• checks and balances

• Anti-Federalists

• judicial review

• federalism

Who were the supporters of the stronger national government during the ratification of the Constitution?

• checks and balances

• Anti-Federalists

• judicial review

• Federalists

Which constitutional principle is identified with the concept of consent of the governed?

• rule of law

• popular sovereignty

• checks and balances

• separation of powers

Select the portion of the excerpt from the Supreme Court's majority opinion in its ruling on Oregon v. Mitchell that reflects the principle of limited government.

• In enacting the 18-year-old vote provisions of the Act now before the Court, Congress made no legislative findings that the 21-year-old vote requirement was used by the States to disenfranchise voters on account of race.

• I seriously doubt that such a finding, if made, could be supported by substantial evidence.

• Since Congress has attempted to invade an area preserved to the States by the Constitution without a foundation for enforcing the Civil War Amendments' ban on racial discrimination, I would hold that Congress has exceeded its powers in attempting to lower the voting age in state and local elections.

• On the other hand, where Congress legislates in a domain not exclusively reserved by the Constitution to the States, its enforcement power need not be tied so closely to the goal of eliminating discrimination on account of race.

Which basic principle of government is Hamilton highlighting in his quote from the New York state ratification convention?

• federalism

• limited government

• popular sovereignty

• separation of powers