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WorksheetsGov Big Unit 1
Total questions: 35
Worksheet time: 18mins
In English history, the Magna Carta (1215) and the English Bill of Rights (1689) both reinforced the concept of
universal suffrage.
a limited monarchy.
religious toleration.
a laissez-faire economy.
Congress called for a convention to be held in Philadelphia in 1787 in order to
revise the Articles of Confederation.
direct the Revolutionary War effort against England.
declare independence from England.
establish a new Constitution for the United States.
Which statement BEST describes the power of government provided by the Articles of Confederation?
The national government held most of the power.
Congress enforced its power by taxing the states.
The states had more power than the national government.
Government served to successfully unite the needs of all states.
Amendments 15, 19, and 26 all deal with suffrage. Suffrage is
income taxation.
the right to vote.
freedom from slavery.
religious freedom.
The Federalist Papers were written to encourage
the ratification of the Constitution.
the adoption of the Bill of Rights.
delegates in Philadelphia to write a new constitution.
the average American to support the war effort against the British.
A major failing of the United States Government under the Articles of Confederation was its
failure to defend Texas from being annexed by Mexico.
inability to allow the United States to expand.
failure to settle conflicts over the settlement of western lands.
inability to regulate commerce among the states.
The conflict between the large states and the small states in the crafting of the Constitution centered on
deciding how to count the votes of slaves in national, federal elections.
how best to represent the interests of the people and the states in the legislature.
whether there should be a monarchy or a presidency.
whether judges should be chosen by popular vote.
The most common form of political participation in the United States is
voting in presidential elections.
writing letters to public officials.
working on a political campaign.
belonging to a political party.
Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." Example of...
Suffrage.
Popular Sovereignty.
Federalism.
Checks and Balances.
Samuel has been criticizing the policies of the state government, which has led law enforcement officials to conduct a raid on his home. He could be protected, though, by which of these amendments to the Constitution?
2nd
3rd
5th
8th
How did the Federalists convince the Anti-Federalists to ratify the United States constitution?
All trading ties to England and France were broken.
The Federalists promised to add a bill of rights.
The Anti-Federalists would select the first president.
State governments would equal the federal government.
Which statement BEST describes the government outlined in the United States Constitution?
Power is divided among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
National power is guaranteed by Article Four.
The president is given unlimited power.
The power of a one-house Congress is provided by a bill of rights.
In Article V of the United States Constitution, the amendment process is explained. Why did the Framers include provisions for amending the Constitution?
to limit the individual liberties of American citizens
to ensure that state governments had more power than the nation
to allow the president to change the Constitution as needed
to allow the Constitution to adapt to future circumstances
How did the Constitutional Convention delegates resolve the issue of Southern representation in Congress?
The legislative branch was organized into two separate houses.
The Electoral College would select the president and vice-president.
Every five enslaved persons would count as three free persons.
The Senate and House of Representatives were given special powers.
Because of the separation of powers in the United States government, the Legislative branch may enact laws, the Executive branch may veto laws, and the Judicial branch may
declare war by law.
decide that a law is unconstitutional.
enact laws to appoint judges.
begin impeachment proceedings against the Executive branch.
n Locke's Enlightenment idea of the "social contract" heavily influenced the American colonists' reponse to the enforcement of the Navigation Acts, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Act, the Tea Act, and the so-called Intolerable Acts. What idea is stated by "social contract" theory?
People have the natural right to replace leaders if they fail to lead as the people desire.
Governments derive their power from a social contract, which is a legal right.
Natural rights are not contingent upon the laws, beliefs, or customs of a society.
Legal rights are codified into law by a legislative body, and are culturally and politically relative.
If a state law is in conflict with a national law, a state judge must
refer the matter to a federal court.
refer the matter to a municipal court.
uphold the state law.
uphold the Constitutional law.
The example of the President vetoing a bill is an example of...
the absolute power of Congress.
the absolute power of the presidency.
checks and balances
the absolute power of the judicial.
A government in which power is held by a small number of people is called
a confederation.
an oligarchy.
an autocracy.
a democracy.
The Articles of Confederation represented the Americans' distrust of what form of government?
states rights government
any type of formal government
central government
British government
What percentage of state legislatures must approve a proposed Constitutional amendment for it to become law?
1/2
2/3
3/4
3/5
At the Constitutional Convention, what was the reason for the conflict between states with large populations and states with small populations?
slavery
power of the states
taxation
representation in Congress
Which person is considered to be the leader of the national executive branch?
President
President Pro Tempore
Speaker
Chief Justice
Which provision shows how the Constitution limits the power of the federal government?
The President is the commander-in-chief of the military.
Congress can borrow money to pay for government services.
the President can reject legislation passed by Congress.
The Supreme Court may hear cases that involve two states.
Which amendment to the Constitution protects a citizen’s right to speak out against the government?
1st Amendment
3rd Amendment
7th Amendment
9th Amendment
"He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States...."- from Section 2, Article II of the Constitution of the United States.
How is this portion of the U.S. Constitution related to the principles of our government?
It shows that the three branches have powers not held by the other two.
It shows that the principle of Federalism in governing our country.
It shows that the President has unlimited power to govern.
it shows that there are checks and balances in our national government.
The United States Constitution gives the ___ the power to regulate interstate commerce.
President
Congress
states
courts
Article V of the Constitution explains the formal amendment process. How does this process exemplify federalism?
The federal federal government and states have a part to play.
The state government can propose the amendment, but federal can veto it.
The federal government supersedes the role of state government.
Federal government alone proposes and passes all amendments.
What was the biggest issue with the Articles of Confederations?
the lack of a centralized military power
the lack of a tax enforcement power
the requirement of unanimity of all states to amend the Articles
the lack of an independent judiciary
Anti-Federalist believed what needed to be added to the Constitution?
Individual rights, bill of Rights.
More checks on the Legislator.
More checks on the National governments.
More state rights.
At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which topic was common to the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Three-Fifths Compromise?
interstate commerce
slavery
the slave trade
Congressional representation
Which THREE examples BEST demonstrate Locke's views on government? (More than one right answer.)
Equal protection means men and women can apply for the same jobs.
The death penalty should never be used over life in prison.
Taxes should be paid only by those who consent and can afford afford them.
The eminent domain clause of the 5th Amendment can only be applied with just compensation.
Elections should be free and fair for everyone who meets the eligibility requirements.
The President being impeached is an example of...
individual rights
republicanism
separation of powers
checks and balances
The New Jersey and Virginia plans of the 1780s were each meant to
create a compromise on the issue of slavery.
settle issues regarding the power of states in the national government.
draft a peace treaty with the British.
draft a plan for independence from Britain.
Which situation could NOT have occurred under the Articles of Confederation?
the President could be removed from office
a postal service could deliver mail
Congress could ask states for money
states could decide not to follow national law
