Chapter 3 Reading Quiz w/ AoC and Constitution

Which of the following was a significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• The central government had the power to levy taxes and regulate interstate commerce.

• The executive branch had the authority to enforce laws and maintain a standing army.

• The central government lacked the power to enforce laws and had no national judiciary.

• The Articles established a strong and unified national government with centralized control.

How did the Articles of Confederation address the issue of representation in the national legislature?

• Representation was based on population, with larger states having more representatives.

• Each state had an equal vote in the national legislature regardless of its size or population.

• Representation was determined by the wealth of each state, with wealthier states receiving more votes.

• The national legislature was unicameral, with representatives elected by state governors.

Which of the following principles is most directly addressed by the Constitution’s system of checks and balances?

• Federalism

• Popular Sovereignty

• Separation of Powers

• Judicial Review

Which Constitutional clause has been interpreted to allow for a broad interpretation of federal powers?

• The Supremacy Clause

• The Commerce Clause

• The Necessary and Proper Clause

• The Due Process Clause

Which of the following best describes the process of amending the U.S. Constitution?

• An amendment must be proposed by a national referendum and approved by a two-thirds vote in Congress.

• An amendment must be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress and then ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures.

• An amendment can be proposed by a simple majority in Congress and does not require state ratification.

• An amendment must be proposed by a constitutional convention and ratified by a national vote.

Match the following

• Dual Federalism

• A system of government where the national and state governments share sovereignty.

• Cooperative Federalism

• Doctrine holding that the national government is supreme in its sphere, the states are supreme in theirs, and the two spheres should be kept separate.

• Federal System

• A system of government where state governments are sovereign, and the national government can do only what the states permit.

• Unitary System

• Idea that the federal and state governments share power in many policy areas.

• Confederation or Confederal System

• A system of government where sovereignty is fully vested in the national government, not the states.

What was the primary constitutional issue addressed in McCulloch v. Maryland?

• The power of the federal government to regulate interstate commerce

• The constitutionality of the Bank of the United States and the power of states to tax it

• The right of states to enforce federal laws within their jurisdictions

• The extent of the President’s power to issue executive orders

Which of the following best describes the process of a state initiative?

• A process by which voters directly approve or reject a proposed law or constitutional amendment.

• A procedure that allows voters to remove an elected official from office before their term ends.

• A method by which voters can propose new laws or amendments to the state constitution and vote on them directly.

• A system where the state legislature refers a proposed law or amendment to the voters for approval.

Which of the following is a key characteristic of block grants compared to categorical grants?

• Block grants are allocated for specific programs with detailed guidelines, while categorical grants offer more general funding.

• Block grants provide more discretion to states and local governments in how the funds are used, while categorical grants come with strict federal requirements.

• Categorical grants offer broader funding that can be used for various purposes, while block grants are limited to a single, specific purpose.

• Categorical grants are more flexible in use compared to block grants, which require detailed spending reports.

What is the primary goal of the "devolution revolution" in American politics?

• To increase the federal government's power and control over state and local policies.

• To transfer certain powers and responsibilities from the federal government to state and local governments.

• To eliminate the distinction between federal and state powers altogether.

• To centralize decision-making authority within the federal government for more uniform policies.