Unit 1 Assessment Questions

How did the Magna Carta influence the U.S. Constitution?

• It gave monarchs the right to override laws.

• It introduced the idea of limited government and rule of law.

• It required citizens to obey royal commands without question.

• It established a national religion to unify the people.

Which of the following quotes is found in the Virginia Declaration of Rights?

• We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...

• No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship...

• That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent right...

Which of the following best explains a key difference between the amendment process for the U.S. Constitution and the Virginia Constitution?

• The U.S. Constitution requires a national referendum, while Virginia’s requires a state convention.

• The U.S. Constitution requires approval by Congress and the states, while Virginia’s requires approval by the General Assembly and voters.

• The U.S. Constitution allows amendment through executive orders, while Virginia’s does not.

• The Virginia Constitution requires federal approval, while the U.S. Constitution does not.

Why is the amendment process for the U.S. Constitution intentionally more difficult than that of the Virginia Constitution?

• To ensure that only the Supreme Court can propose amendments.

• To prevent states from gaining too much power over federal law.

• To prevent the national government from becoming tyrannical and place limits on its powers.

• To allow for rapid changes in response to public opinion.

Which of the following events is the last step in amending the Constitution?

• The Amendment has been ratified and is now the law of the land.

• Amendment is ratified by 3/4ths of the states.

• Amendment is proposed by a 2/3 vote of each house of Congress.

Which of the following best reflects the principle of federalism in the amendment process?

• The president can veto constitutional amendments.

• States have no role in the amendment process.

• Both national and state government participate in amending the U.S. Constitution.

• Only the Supreme Court can interpret amendments.

When citizens of a state elect a new senator to represent them in Congress, they are showing what fundamental principle?

• Federalism

• Republicanism

• Checks and Balances

• Limited Government

Popular sovereignty is the principle that –

• government powers are restricted by law.

• power comes from the people

• each branch of government can check the power of the others.

• citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them.

The principle of federalism gives governmental power to –

• county and local governments

• a strong confederate government

• federal/national and state governments

• a powerful international government

The principle of checks and balances is different from the principle of separation of powers because –

• checks and balances refer to the government’s budget, not the different branches that separation of powers refers to

• checks and balances is the principle that state governments can check federal governments and separation of powers is the principle that state governments are different from the national government

• checks and balances refer to the idea that power comes from the people and separation of powers refers to the idea that government is divided into 3 branches

• checks and balances refers to the actual interactions between the different branches of government and separation of powers refers to the idea that there are different branches of government