Unit 4 American Government

Which of the following models of democracy is the author advocating?

• elite democracy

• participatory democracy

• direct democracy

• pluralist democracy

Read the passage: “In revising the federal system we ought to inquire 1. into the properties, which such a government ought to possess, 2. the defects of the confederation, 3. the danger of our situation & 4. the remedy. "The Character of such a government ought to secure 1. against foreign invasion, 2. against dissensions between members of the Union, or seditions in particular States, 3. to procure to the several States various blessings, of which an isolated situation was incapable, 4. to be able to defend itself against encroachment, & 5. to be paramount to the state constitutions.” ----Edmund Randolph, as recorded in James Madison’s journal, 1787

• individual state should have the right to form alliances with foreign powers.

• State government should be the primary political unit of the United States.

• the United States should retain the Articles of Confederation

• the United States would benefit from a stronger central government.

Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

• the United States would benefit from a stronger central government.

• individual state should have the right to form alliances with foreign powers.

• the United States should retain the Articles of Confederation.

• State government should be the primary political unit of the United States.

Read the passage: “In revising the federal system we ought to inquire 1. into the properties, which such a government ought to possess, 2. the defects of the confederation, 3. the danger of our situation & 4. the remedy. "The Character of such a government ought to secure 1. against foreign invasion, 2. against dissensions between members of the Union, or seditions in particular States, 3. to procure to the several States various blessings, of which an isolated situation was incapable, 4. to be able to defend itself against encroachment, & 5. to be paramount to the state constitutions.” ----Edmund Randolph, as recorded in James Madison’s journal, 1787

Social contract is best defined as which of the following?

• The agreement between people and the government defining the rights and duties of each

• The belief that government should only have powers granted under the Constitution

• The system in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders

• The belief that the government’s right to rule comes from the people

Read the passage: "The insurgents who were assembled at Worcester in Massachusetts have disbanded. The people at Boston seem to be glad at this event and say it was the effect of fear. But the fact is that the insurgents effected their object . . . "The commotions of Massachusetts have wrought prodigious changes in the minds of men in that State [with regard to] the Powers of Government. Everybody says they must be strengthened and that unless this shall be effected there is no Security for liberty or Property. Such is the State of things in the east, that much trouble is to be apprehended in the course of the ensuing year." ---Henry Knox, letter to his former commander George Washington, 1786 Which of the following was a strength of the Articles of Confederation that the Constitution retained?Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

Which of the following was a way in which Shays’s Rebellion demonstrated the weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation?

• It could not raise money to pay a militia to put down the rebellion

• It could not negotiate with the Native American tribes who were in rebellion

• It could not appoint army officers who were skilled enough to fight the rebels

• It could not coin money to pay the veterans involved in the rebellion

The insurgents who were assembled at Worcester in Massachusetts have disbanded. The people at Boston seem to be glad at this event and say it was the effect of fear. But the fact is that the insurgents effected their object . . . The commotions of Massachusetts have wrought prodigious changes in the minds of men in that State [with regard to] the Powers of Government. Everybody says they must be strengthened and that unless this shall be effected there is no Security for liberty or Property. Such is the State of things in the east, that much trouble is to be apprehended in the course of the ensuing year.

The relationship between the states under the Articles of Confederation could be described as which of the following?

• A loose league of friendship

• A group of completely independent nations

• An indivisible union

• A strict hierarchy based on population

Read the passage: "The insurgents who were assembled at Worcester in Massachusetts have disbanded. The people at Boston seem to be glad at this event and say it was the effect of fear. But the fact is that the insurgents effected their object . . . "The commotions of Massachusetts have wrought prodigious changes in the minds of men in that State [with regard to] the Powers of Government. Everybody says they must be strengthened and that unless this shall be effected there is no Security for liberty or Property. Such is the State of things in the east, that much trouble is to be apprehended in the course of the ensuing year." ---Henry Knox, letter to his former commander George Washington, 1786 Which of the following was a strength of the Articles of Confederation that the Constitution retained?Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

• The lack of centralized military power under the Articles of Confederation poses a serious threat to the stability of the United States

• Fear of the military power of the national government will put down future uprisings despite the events in Massachusetts

• The insurgents in Massachusetts were right to rebel against the state government, which had imposed unfair restrictions on their liberties

• Americans should not overreact to incidents like the Massachusetts uprising by giving the national government more strength

Why have there been relatively few constitutional amendments?

• They must be approved by both the Supreme Court and the President

• Once a Constitution Amendment Bill is proposed there is 6 months time limit for approval

• They must be voted on as a referendum in three-fourths state legislatures

• A Constitution Amendment Bill requires more than a simple majority to be ratified

Based on the ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), what is the difference between enumerated powers and implied powers?

• Enumerated powers are powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government, whereas implied powers are not explicitly written but are necessary for carrying out enumerated powers

• Enumerated powers are powers given to the federal government, whereas implied powers are powers given to state governments

• Implied powers are powers given to the federal government, whereas enumerated powers are powers given to state governments

• Implied powers are powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government, whereas enumerated powers are not explicitly written but are necessary for carrying out implied powers

Which of the following is a power reserved to the federal government?

• Coining money

• Setting education policy

• Regulating health care

• Taxing citizens' income