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AP US Government Semester 1 Review

Total questions: 112

Worksheet time: 1hrs 16mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In Federalist Paper #10, what is a faction?

a)

a majority tyranny

b)

the extended sphere

c)

special interest groups

d)

the new Constitution

2.

Madison suggests that the best way to handle the problem of factions is to remove the causes of them by either giving everyone the same opinion or by destroying the freedom for them to exist.

a)

True

b)

False

3.

"Liberty is to faction what air is to fire", James Madison wrote.

a)

True

b)

False

4.

How did James Madison view the existence of “faction” in America?

a)

He feared faction and felt that there was no way to control it.

b)

He liked faction and wanted the strongest faction to dominate

c)

He refused to acknowledge that any factions existed in the new nation.

d)

He feared faction but thought its effects could be managed by the existence of many competing factions.

5.

Madison thought it was difficult to deal with the problems created by minority factions.

a)

True

b)

False

6.

Which of the following factors was most likely at the source of any faction that arose according to James Madison?

a)

regional differences

b)

wealth and property differences

c)

gender differences

d)

racial and ethnic differences

7.

James Madison placed a lot of trust in elected representatives in order to prevent the masses in America from having too much direct power.

a)

True

b)

False

8.

To James Madison, the size of the American nation should be

a)

small, to allow lots of individual attention.

b)

medium, because he believed in Aristotle’s “moderation in all things.”

c)

large, so that many diverse groups could exist.

d)

spherical, in order for the president to be in the center.

9.

Madison thought that the best form of government to handle the problem of factions was:

a)

direct democracy

b)

autocracy

c)

dictatorship

d)

republic

10.

James Madison’s Federalist Paper #10 articulated the belief that the Constitution would:

a)

lead to a tyranny of the majority

b)

control the effects of factions

c)

promote the growth of political parties

d)

allow the states to maintain their preeminence

11.

Madison thought that extensive republics were likely to produce good representatives because it would be difficult for unworthy candidates to win by unfair campaigning.

a)

True

b)

False

12.

How did James Madison view the existence of “faction” in America?

a)

He feared faction and felt that there was no way to control it.

b)

He liked faction and wanted the strongest faction to dominate

c)

He refused to acknowledge that any factions existed in the new nation.

d)

He feared faction but thought its effects could be managed by the existence of many competing factions.

13.

What document did the Constitution replace?

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Articles of Confederation

c)

The Bill of Rights

d)

The Deceleration of Independence

14.

In what city was the Constitutional Convention held?

a)

New York

b)

Annapolis

c)

Williamsburg

d)

Philadelphia

15.

What was one problem with the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Government was too strong

b)

The states had no power

c)

The government had too much money

d)

No power to tax

16.

What document declared America was independent from England?

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Charters of the VA Company of London

c)

U.S. Constituion

d)

Deceleration of Independence

17.

How many states out of 13 were needed to ratify the new Constitution?

a)

7

b)

8

c)

9

d)

10

18.

Federalist No. 51 was written by ...

a)

Hamilton

b)

Jefferson

c)

Madison

d)

Jay

19.

According to Federalist No. 51, "If men were angels, no _____________ would be necessary."

a)

courts

b)

congress

c)

states

d)

government

20.

Federalist No. 51 argues for the following principles of government in order to limit the power of government?

a)

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

b)

Elitism and Pluralism

c)

Hyperpluralism and Federalism

d)

Federalism and Elitism

21.

In Federalist #51, Madison argues that it would be too difficult for the officers of all 3 branches of government to be chosen ______.

a)

by one another

b)

directly by the people

c)

by the state legislatures

d)

by the new President

22.

In Federalist #51, Madison infers that the _______ might not be qualified to make informed appointments of judges.

a)

President

b)

State legislatures

c)

Congress

d)

People

23.

According to Federalist #51, why is it necessary to put limits on the power of government?

a)

For effective policy implementation

b)

To protect the states

c)

Human nature requires it

d)

To protect minority rights

24.

Which of the following is an example of a check that the legislature places on the executive?

a)

The power of impeachment and removal from office

b)

The President can veto a bill

c)

Congress establishes inferior courts

d)

The courts can find legislation passed by Congress to be unconstitutional.

25.

Which of the following is an example of a check that the executive places on the judiciary?

a)

Presidents nominate justices

b)

The House can impeach a justice

c)

Congress establishes inferior courts

d)

The courts can find actions of the President to be unconstitutional.

26.

Federalist No. 51 was written by ...

a)

Hamilton

b)

Jefferson

c)

Madison

d)

Jay

27.

Based on the US Constitution, the government is run by _________.

a)

The President

b)

Congress

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

"The People"

28.

According to the Declaration of Independence, the government's job is to protect _______________.

a)

people's rights

b)

people's wealth

c)

the government's power

d)

democracy

29.

The US Constitution contains a preamble and 7 parts that are called ______________.

a)

branches

b)

legislatures

c)

articles

d)

colonies

30.

Select all of the branches of the Federal Government.

a)

Judicial Branch

b)

Legislative Branch

c)

Federal Branch

d)

Executive Branch

31.

A system of __________ and __________ is used to keep any one branch of the government from being dominant, or having too much power.

a)

checks and balances

b)

power and authority

c)

politics and philosophy

d)

life and liberty

32.

The Federal Government and State Governments share power between each other. However, the ____________ government(s) has/have more authority and power.

a)

State Governments

b)

Federal Government

c)

Local Governments

d)

Foreign Governments

33.

This branch of the Federal Government contains the office of the President and Vices President. The duty of this branch is to represent and enforce the nation's laws.

a)

Judicial Branch

b)

Supreme Court

c)

Executive Branch

d)

Legislative Branch

34.

Select all of the true statements about the Legislative Branch of the Federal government.

a)

Responsible for making the nation's laws

b)

Lawmaking body is called Congress

c)

Contains a House of Representatives

d)

Contains the Supreme Court Justices

e)

Contains a Senate

35.

Article III of the US Constitution briefly describes the structure and function of this branch of government, which interprets the nation's laws using judges and courts.

a)

Executive Branch

b)

Judicial Branch

c)

Legislative Branch

d)

Presidential Branch

36.

How long does a justice of the Supreme Court remain a member of the Court?

a)

4 years

b)

6 years

c)

8 years

d)

for life

37.
What does Article III (3) discuss in the Constitution? 
a)
Legislative Branch
b)
Executive Branch
c)
Judicial Branch
d)
Amendments
38.
What is the main job of the Judicial Branch?
a)
To interpret laws
b)
To make laws
c)
To enforce laws
d)
To ignore laws
39.
The US Constitution directly creates only the ____________ Court.
a)
Appellate
b)
Disctrict
c)
Military
d)
Supreme
40.
While the President has the power to appoint federal judges, who must approve them?
a)
The House
b)
The Senate
c)
Both the House and Senate
d)
The chief Justice of the United States
41.
According to the Constitution, who is responsible for creating the inferior federal courts?
a)
The President
b)
The Chief Justice
c)
The Congress
d)
The Voters
42.
How is the Judicial Branch able to check the power of the other branches?
a)
By refusing to seat members of Congress
b)
By impeaching members of the other branches
c)
By using Judicial Review
d)
By Judicial Declaration
43.
The authority to hear a case for the first time is known as...
a)
Primus inter pares
b)
Original Jurisdiction
c)
Appellate Jurisdiction
d)
Primary Jurisdiction
44.

Another name for the Legislative branch is....

a)

the President

b)

Mr. Bean

c)

Congress

45.

Which branch of government is the President part of?

a)

Executive

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

46.

What does ratify mean?

a)

to agree

b)

to change

47.

The Legislative branch of government....

a)

makes the laws

b)

executes the laws

c)

interprets the laws

48.

The Executive Branch.....

a)

makes the laws

b)

executes the laws

c)

interprets the laws

49.

To amend, means....

a)

to agree

b)

to change

50.

How many Articles are there to the Constitution?

a)

5

b)

6

c)

7

51.

Which picture best shows the Supreme Court (the Judicial Branch)?

a)
b)
c)
d)
52.

Term length of a Senator

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

Forever

53.

Term length of a Representative

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

Forever

54.

Term length of a Supreme Court Justice

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

Forever

55.

Minimum age of a Senator

a)

25 years

b)

30 years

c)

35 years

d)

None

56.

Minimum age of a President

a)

25 years

b)

30 years

c)

35 years

d)

None

57.

Minimum age of a Supreme Court Justice

a)

25 years

b)

30 years

c)

35 years

d)

None

58.

What is judicial review?

a)

Power to determine constitutionality

b)

Power to approve judicial appointments

c)

Power to appoint Supreme Court Judges

d)

Power to impeach judges

59.

True or False: Both the House and the Senate can write tax/revenue laws.

a)

True

b)

False

60.

True or False: The Senate approves Presidential appointments

a)

True

b)

False

61.

True or False: Both the House and the Senate can write tax/revenue laws.

a)

True

b)

False

62.

Which of these is NOT a Congressional Power?

a)

Override Presidential vetoes

b)

Meet with foreign leaders to make treaties

c)

Declare war on a foreign country

d)

Regulate trade and commerce in the US

63.

Who has the power to impeach the President?

a)

House of Representatives

b)

Senate

c)

Vice President

d)

Supreme Court

64.

Who has the power to try an impeached President?

a)

House of Representatives

b)

Senate

c)

Vice President

d)

Supreme Court

65.

True or False: The "Supremacy Clause" (Article 6) states that the Constitution is the highest law in the land.

a)

True

b)

False

66.

How can the Executive Branch check the Legislative Branch?

a)

Veto laws they don't like

b)

Overturn an override

c)

Write constitutional amendments

d)

Impeach Senators

67.

Article 4 demands equality and prevents discrimination between who?

a)

The House and the Senate

b)

The President and Vice President

c)

People from different states

d)

Natural born citizens and immigrants

68.

Article 5 states that amendments must pass with what percentages?

a)

51% of Congress, 51% of States

b)

67% of Congress, 67% of States

c)

67% of Congress, 75% of States

d)

75% of Congress, 67% of States

69.

National (federal) government with 3 branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial.

a)

US Constitution

b)

Articles of Confederation

70.

No judicial branch (federal courts)

a)

US Constitution

b)

Articles of Confederation

71.

Weak central government

a)

US Constitution

b)

Articles of Confederation

72.

Bicameral Legislature (Senators and House of Representatives)

a)

US Constitution

b)

Articles of Confederation

73.

Government could not collect taxes

a)

US Constitution

b)

Articles of Confederation

74.

Could not enforce states to obey laws

a)

US Constitution

b)

Articles of Confederation

75.

Regulate trade between states and other countries

a)

US Constitution

b)

Articles of Confederation

76.

All states needed to approve changes to the Articles.

a)

US Constitution

b)

Articles of Confederation

77.

Levy and collect taxes.

a)

US Constitution

b)

Articles of Confederation

78.
 In the Three-Fifths compromise the two main issues were 
a)
Slavery and voting
b)
Voting and taxation
c)
Slavery and population 
79.
What was the purpose of Shays’ Rebellion? 
a)
To increase the amount of taxes on farmers to pay the war debt
b)
To stop the government from raising taxes on farmers to pay the war debt
c)
To increase the amount of taxes on the wealthy to pay the war debt
80.
What was the 3/5ths Compromise?
a)
Slaves counted as 2/4ths of a person
b)
Slavery was outlawed
c)
Slaves counted as 3/5ths of a person
d)
Slaves in the South were set free
81.

The New Jersey Plan wanted representation based on _______.

a)

population of each state.

b)

number of state delegates.

c)

one state, one vote

d)

delegates appointed by the president.

82.

The Virginia Plan wanted representation based on _______.

a)

population of each state.

b)

number of state delegates.

c)

one state, one vote

d)

delegates appointed by the president.

83.
Congress is made up of two houses, which one has equal representation of 2 representatives per state?
a)
House of Burgesses
b)
Senate
c)
House of Representatives
d)
Continental Congress
84.
The central government of the United States is called the 
a)
federal government
b)
executive branch
c)
constitution
d)
congress
85.
The Supremacy Clause states that 
a)
state laws are superior to federal laws
b)
federal laws are superior to state laws
c)
expressed powers are superior to implied powers
d)
Alabama is superior to Auburn
86.
Powers of Congress that are stated in the Constitution
a)
expressed
b)
reserved
c)
implied
d)
concurrent
87.

One of the ___________________ of the Legislative Branch is Congress's power to declare war; however, the President has the authority to commit troops to military action so long as it adheres to the War Powers Resolution.

a)

Enumerated Powers

b)

Judicial Powers

c)

Executive Powers

d)

Reserved Powers

88.

The Enumerated Powers are those given specifically to the _______________________ and include the power to levy taxes, regulate commerce, coin money, and declare war.

a)

Legislative Branch

b)

Executive Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

d)

State Government

89.

The Origination Clause states that all bills for raising revenue must start in the ___________________, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as in the case of other bills.

a)

House of Representatives

b)

President's Cabinet

c)

Appropriations Committee

d)

Supreme Court

90.

Which article established (started) the Judicial Branch?

a)

Article 1

b)

Article 2

c)

Article 3

91.

Which of these is the HIGHEST court?

a)

Supreme Court

b)

Juvenile Court

c)

Appeals Court

92.

What are the 2 levels of court?

a)

Supreme Court

b)

State and Federal

c)

Juvenile and Pokemon

93.
The powers of the federal government that are specifically stated (written) in the U.S. Constitution are __ powers. 
a)
Implied
b)
Reserved
c)
Concurrent
d)
Expressed / Enumerated
94.
The form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states is called:
a)
Federalism
b)
Nationalism
c)
Anti-federalism
d)
Communism
95.
The House of Representatives' members are based on...
a)
each state's population
b)
the number of political districts
c)
voter registration
d)
the number of state senators
96.
Headline: "President calls a special session of Congress to pass a new budget"
What government principle is best illustrated by this action?  
a)
popular sovereignty
b)
representative democracy
c)
checks and balances
d)
concurrent and reserved powers
97.
What is the introduction to the Constitution called? 
a)
Articles of Confederation
b)
Declaration of Independence
c)
Bill of Rights
d)
Preamble
98.
Government is by the consent of the governed.
a)
Federalism
b)
Popular Sovereignty
c)
Limited Government
d)
Republicanism
99.
Which principle split the power of the government into three branches?
a)
Self-government
b)
Republicanism
c)
Separation of Powers
d)
Limited government
100.

How many Articles are there in the Constitution?

a)

4

b)

7

c)

14

d)

27

101.

Article 1 is about....

a)

The Legislative Branch

b)

Executive Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

102.

Article 2 is about...

a)

Legislative Branch

b)

Executive Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

103.

Article 3 is about....

a)

Legislative Branch

b)

Executive Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

104.

Article 4 is all about...

a)

The relations between the states and the rights of the people

b)

how amendments are done

c)

how the Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land

d)

Ratification

105.
Congress can override a Presidential veto with a __________ majority vote.
a)
51%
b)
2/3
c)
3/4
d)
100%
106.

Why did the delegates at the Constitutional Convention decide to abandon the Articles of Confederation?

a)

In hopes that they could return to Great Britain as colonies.

b)

To create a strong central government in their new nation.

c)

The delegates wanted to create a monarchy.

d)

They were looking to become part of the French Empire.

107.

Prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Federalism

c)

Checks & Balances

d)

Natural Rights

108.

The leader of the House of Representatives is the

a)

Representative

b)

Whip

c)

Speaker

d)

vice president

109.

A presidential election is won by the candidate who

a)

receives a majority of electoral votes.

b)

receives a majority of the popular vote.

c)

wins the popular vote in more than 25 states.

d)

wins the primary election in a majority of states.

110.

Presidential appointees for cabinet department heads and other top government offices must be approved by a

a)

Congress

b)

Supreme Court

c)

The People

d)

Vice President

111.
Which headline best illustrates the system of checks and balances?
a)
"Senate Rejects Presidential Nominee for Supreme Court"
b)
"State Legislature Fails to Adopt Budget on Time"
c)
"Congress Votes to Reduce Income Taxes"
d)
"United States Peacekeeping Troops Sent to Bosnia"
112.

What was the name of the papers written to support the Constitution?

a)

Lubbock Avalanche Journal

b)

Federalist Papers

c)

Anti-Federalist Papers