WorksheetsAP gov practice
Total questions: 58
Worksheet time: 29mins
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?
An unpopular Supreme Court ruling can be overturned by a majority vote of both houses of Congress.
A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
A filibuster in the Senate can be ended with a cloture motion that has the support of 60 senators.
A treaty negotiated by the president with a foreign government must be approved by a majority vote of the House.
In the early part of the twenty-first century, public opinion polls showed that a majority of Americans believed it should be illegal to burn the American flag. As a result, many members of Congress introduced amendments to make it illegal to burn or desecrate the American flag. However, these efforts have been unsuccessful.
Which of the following statements best explains why these efforts have been unsuccessful?
Congress and the states have agreed to add this amendment; however, recent presidents have refused to sign it.
The framers made the amendment process difficult in order to protect individual rights.
The Supreme Court has stated such an amendment is unconstitutional, thus blocking its ratification.
The framers specifically wrote the amendment process to prevent using it to limit freedom of expression.
Which of the following ideals of democracy is reflected in the procedure for apportionment in the House of Representatives?
The federal government represents states equally.
Government is based on the consent of the governed.
Leaders in Congress are among the most well-informed in society.
Political power is distributed between the national government and state governments.
Which of the following was a direct outcome of the Three-Fifths Compromise?
The number of senators increased in slaveholding states.
Slavery quickly declined, especially in larger cities in the South.
Slaveholding states were able to count slaves to determine their number of senators.
The number of representatives in the House of Representatives from slaveholding states increased.
The Declaration of Independence states “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” This was a revolutionary change from the system of British monarchy, which was based on the divine right of kings. For which of the ideals of democracy does this quote provide a foundation?
Popular sovereignty
Federalism
Separation of power
Limited government
Concurrent powers have which of the following effects on the United States political system?
They reinforce the expansion of the power of the national government and the supremacy of the national law.
They eliminate disputes between the states and the national government by creating completely separate spheres of influence.
They foster cooperation between the states and the national government by requiring that the two levels of government work together.
They make it possible for the states and the national government to simultaneously exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.
Which of the following accurately characterizes the main difference between elite theories and pluralist theories of politics in the United States?
Elite theories concentrate on the role of interest groups; pluralist theories emphasize the role of individuals.
Elite theories argue that a single minority dominates politics in all policy areas; pluralist theories argue that many minorities compete for power in different policy areas.
Elite theories argue that social status is the major source of political power; pluralist theories argue that wealth is the major source.
Elite theories emphasize the multiple access points that interest groups have to public officials; pluralist theories stress the limits in the number and effectiveness of such access points.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the checks held by the legislative and judicial branches?
A
B
C
D
The framers of the Constitution intended to establish
a representative republic
a direct democracy
a socialist democracy
a parliamentary republic
Which of the following is a model of democracy that emphasizes the role of interest groups in advocating for public policy?
Participatory democracy
Elitist democracy
Majoritarian democracy
Pluralist democracy
The next most palpable defect of the subsisting Confederation, is the total want of a SANCTION to its laws. The United States, as now composed, have no powers to exact obedience, or punish disobedience to their resolutions, either by pecuniary [fines], by a suspension or divestiture of privileges, or by any other constitutional mode. There is no express delegation of authority to them to use force against delinquent members; and if such a right should be ascribed to the federal head, as resulting from the nature of the social compact between the States, it must be by inference and construction... There is, doubtless, a striking absurdity in supposing that a right of this kind does not exist. . .
Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist 21
Based on The Federalist 21, which of the following arguments about government would Hamilton likely agree with?
The national government, by natural right, has more power than the state governments.
Separation of powers means that the national government is limited to passing only legislation that all the states want.
Under federalism, the states retain more power than the national government.
As a practical matter, the laws of the national government ought to have supremacy over state laws.
The next most palpable defect of the subsisting Confederation, is the total want of a SANCTION to its laws. The United States, as now composed, have no powers to exact obedience, or punish disobedience to their resolutions, either by pecuniary [fines], by a suspension or divestiture of privileges, or by any other constitutional mode. There is no express delegation of authority to them to use force against delinquent members; and if such a right should be ascribed to the federal head, as resulting from the nature of the social compact between the States, it must be by inference and construction... There is, doubtless, a striking absurdity in supposing that a right of this kind does not exist. . .
Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist 21
In the passage, Hamilton is concerned that under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government does not have sufficient constitutional powers to gain compliance from state governments. Which of the following is a way that the Constitution allows the federal government to address this problem?
The state governments have reserved powers under the Tenth Amendment.
The federal government is not permitted to coin money.
The federal government can pass laws that allow it to fine or tax individuals directly.
A Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution to protect individual civil liberties.
The next most palpable defect of the subsisting Confederation, is the total want of a SANCTION to its laws. The United States, as now composed, have no powers to exact obedience, or punish disobedience to their resolutions, either by pecuniary [fines], by a suspension or divestiture of privileges, or by any other constitutional mode. There is no express delegation of authority to them to use force against delinquent members; and if such a right should be ascribed to the federal head, as resulting from the nature of the social compact between the States, it must be by inference and construction... There is, doubtless, a striking absurdity in supposing that a right of this kind does not exist. . .
Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist 21
Which of the following scenarios illustrates a solution for the problem of getting states to comply with federal government policies, as described in the passage?
The federal government can withhold highway funds from states that do not raise the age to drink alcohol to 21.
The federal government can place a tax on any goods that an individual regularly transports across state borders.
Both the states and the federal government have the power to issue income taxes.
A constitutional amendment can be passed to override a Supreme Court decision.
In 1998, Goodyear employee Lilly Ledbetter filed suit against her employer for pay discrimination based on her gender. Though Ledbetter was initially successful, Goodyear appealed the decision and the case went to the Supreme Court. In Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. (2007), the Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires that sex discrimination complaints must be made within 180 days “after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred,” which Ledbetter had failed to do. Which of the following actions could be taken to reverse the impact of the decision?
Ledbetter could renew her appeal by seeking additional Supreme Court review.
The president could sign an executive order to alter the Civil Rights Act.
Ledbetter could pursue her case using the same arguments in state courts.
Congress could enact legislation to amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
In Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the United States Supreme Court ruled that a Georgia law violated the U.S. Constitution. In response to Chief Justice John Marshall's majority opinion, President Andrew Jackson said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." Which of the following ideas regarding government does President Jackson’s statement exhibit?
Since the Supreme Court has no enforcement mechanism, the executive and legislative branches can restrict its decisions.
When the Supreme Court takes an activist approach to decision making, it can influence policy.
Constitutional amendments have granted the Supreme Court greater power to enforce its decisions.
Unpopular Supreme Court Justices can be removed by a two-thirds vote in Congress and a presidential signature.
A United States Supreme Court justice has announced his retirement at the end of the current Supreme Court term. What is the most likely presidential action in response to this announcement?
Confer with House leadership to discuss potential nominees
Confer with the chief justice to discuss potential nominees
Nominate a federal judge who shares the president’s ideology
Nominate a sitting senator of the majority party
Shortly after the 2008 election, President Obama appointed outspoken and controversial House member Rahm Emanuel to lead his White House as chief of staff. The selection drew criticism from Republican leaders, including House minority leader John Boehner, who remarked that the selection “is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center.” Which of the following explains how Congress could legitimately respond to the appointment?
The Senate could refuse to confirm the appointment.
The House of Representatives could filibuster the nomination.
The Rules Committee could refuse to release the bill that made the appointment.
Members of Congress could issue statements opposing the appointment but have no formal power to block it.
In November 2014, President Obama announced an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program through an executive order. The policy would protect over 700,000 more children of undocumented immigrants from deportation. Republican members of Congress denounced the order as an abuse of executive power. Previously, members of the House of Representatives had voted to defund the program. This scenario best illustrates which of the following?
A reluctant bureaucracy can hinder a president’s agenda.
Public opinion can influence how Congress responds to a president.
Iron triangles form between members of the president’s party and opponents in Congress.
Presidents exert informal powers when their policy agenda conflicts with that of Congress.
A newly elected president faces a Senate controlled by the opposition party. Which of the following presidential appointments is the most likely to encounter difficulty with confirmation by the Senate?
Secretary of defense
Supreme Court justice
Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors
Ambassador to Germany
The decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) reflected new ideas about federalism at the time that can be best characterized by which of the following?
A consolidation of power in the national government based on national supremacy
A delegation of power from the federal government to state governments, increasing state and local sovereignty
A delegation of power from the state governments to the federal government, increasing the power of the United States government
An increase in cooperative federalism, where power and duties are shared between the federal and state governments
Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ?
The federal government exceeded its authority in establishing a national bank, and Maryland’s tax was unconstitutional.
Maryland was within its authority to tax the federal government, but the Bank of the United States exceeded federal authority.
The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, but it had to pay Maryland’s tax.
The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland’s tax was unconstitutional.
Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) ?
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was upheld as constitutional because regulating arms is an enumerated power.
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was upheld as constitutional because any interstate commerce is implied in the commerce clause.
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was struck down as unconstitutional because it exceeded the commerce clause.
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was struck down because it exceeded the state’s power to regulate guns.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of bureaucratic rule making?
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs considers the credentials of a person nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits.
The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand.
The president signs Executive Order 13777 intended to “lower regulatory burdens on the American people by implementing and enforcing regulatory reform.”
The Supreme Court denies a writ of certiorari in Freddie H. Mathis v David J. Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, which focused on veterans’ disability claims.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates delegated discretionary authority?
Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards
The chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce appointing the chair of the Environment subcommittee
The House of Representatives establishing the jurisdiction for the Committee on Energy and Commerce
The president nominating the attorney general of Ohio to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The mission of the Department of Transportation is to ensure the safety and efficiency of the transportation system. The Department of Transportation has accepted public comments regarding the safety of automated vehicles in the United States in order to establish standards and guidelines for this new technology. Which of the following concepts is most related to the scenario?
Exclusive powers
Reserved powers
Delegated discretionary authority
Enumerated legislative authority
To be sure, the President’s control over foreign affairs had been growing since the Theodore Roosevelt administration [1901–1909]. . . . [President Roosevelt’s] acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone preceded Woodrow Wilson’s decision to enter World War I, which was a prelude to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s management of the run-up to the victorious American effort in World War II. In the 1950s, Harry S. Truman’s response to the Soviet threat included the decision to fight in Korea without a Congressional declaration of war, and Dwight Eisenhower used the Central Intelligence Agency and brinkmanship to contain Communism. Nineteenth-century presidents had had to contend with Congressional influences in foreign affairs, and particularly with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But by the early 1960s, the president had become the undisputed architect of U.S. foreign policy.
One reason for this was the emergence of the United States as a great power with global obligations. Neither Wilson nor FDR could have imagined taking the country to war without a Congressional declaration, but the exigencies of the cold war in the 1950s heightened the country’s reliance on the president to defend its interests. Truman could enter the Korean conflict without having to seek Congressional approval simply by describing the deployment of U.S. troops as a police action taken in conjunction with the United Nations.
Robert Dallek, “Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama,” Smithsonian magazine, January 2011
Which of the following explains why the author believes presidential power has expanded?
Congress has passed legislation requesting that the president take on a stronger leadership role in foreign affairs.
The media has influenced public opinion to support the president's unrestrained control of foreign policy.
The United States has emerged as a global power, which has enhanced the power of the president in foreign affairs.
The chief executive’s role as defender of freedom and democracy has promoted support for a more active presidency.
To be sure, the President’s control over foreign affairs had been growing since the Theodore Roosevelt administration [1901–1909]. . . . [President Roosevelt’s] acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone preceded Woodrow Wilson’s decision to enter World War I, which was a prelude to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s management of the run-up to the victorious American effort in World War II. In the 1950s, Harry S. Truman’s response to the Soviet threat included the decision to fight in Korea without a Congressional declaration of war, and Dwight Eisenhower used the Central Intelligence Agency and brinkmanship to contain Communism. Nineteenth-century presidents had had to contend with Congressional influences in foreign affairs, and particularly with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But by the early 1960s, the president had become the undisputed architect of U.S. foreign policy.
One reason for this was the emergence of the United States as a great power with global obligations. Neither Wilson nor FDR could have imagined taking the country to war without a Congressional declaration, but the exigencies of the cold war in the 1950s heightened the country’s reliance on the president to defend its interests. Truman could enter the Korean conflict without having to seek Congressional approval simply by describing the deployment of U.S. troops as a police action taken in conjunction with the United Nations.
Robert Dallek, “Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama,” Smithsonian magazine, January 2011
Which of the following is a difference between the power of nineteenth-century presidents and that of the modern president according to the passage?
Presidents in the nineteenth century had to contend with congressional committees, which had significant powers in foreign affairs.
Modern presidents have acquired the power of the purse, which allows them to spend freely on foreign affairs.
Modern presidents must win wars in order to keep members of Congress from criticizing their foreign policy.
Presidents in the nineteenth century were more likely to support intervention in foreign affairs.
To be sure, the President’s control over foreign affairs had been growing since the Theodore Roosevelt administration [1901–1909]. . . . [President Roosevelt’s] acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone preceded Woodrow Wilson’s decision to enter World War I, which was a prelude to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s management of the run-up to the victorious American effort in World War II. In the 1950s, Harry S. Truman’s response to the Soviet threat included the decision to fight in Korea without a Congressional declaration of war, and Dwight Eisenhower used the Central Intelligence Agency and brinkmanship to contain Communism. Nineteenth-century presidents had had to contend with Congressional influences in foreign affairs, and particularly with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But by the early 1960s, the president had become the undisputed architect of U.S. foreign policy.
One reason for this was the emergence of the United States as a great power with global obligations. Neither Wilson nor FDR could have imagined taking the country to war without a Congressional declaration, but the exigencies of the cold war in the 1950s heightened the country’s reliance on the president to defend its interests. Truman could enter the Korean conflict without having to seek Congressional approval simply by describing the deployment of U.S. troops as a police action taken in conjunction with the United Nations.
Robert Dallek, “Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama,” Smithsonian magazine, January 2011
Which of the following statements describes the author’s main argument in the passage?
Congress must reassert its responsibility to declare war in order to ensure a balance of power.
Presidential power in foreign policy has expanded since the beginning of the twentieth century.
The Korean War was a turning point in presidential power.
The acquisition of the Panama Canal gave the president undisputed power over foreign policy.
Brutus was an example of an Anti-Federalist because he
believed a centralized government posed a major threat to individual rights
argued that a national military force was needed to deal with insurrections
argued that the laws passed by the national government were supreme over state laws
believed that compromise between the branches of government would ensure a limited government
Which of the following features of the United States Constitution would most concern the author of Brutus 1?
The Bill of Rights, which protects individual liberties and states’ rights
The reservation of any power not given to the federal government to the states
The two-year term for members of the House of Representatives
The supremacy clause, which gives the federal government supremacy over states
In The Federalist 10, James Madison argued that the new constitution would help control faction by doing which of the following?
By creating a large republic, the new constitution made it less likely that a faction could gain enough power to completely dominate.
The new constitution had significant limits on the freedom of expression, thereby limiting the ability of factions to organize.
The new constitution gave political parties specific powers in the government which limited their influence.
The use of the electoral college and the indirect election of senators would limit the influence that factions could wield.
Which of the following is the best conclusion that can be drawn from the data in the table?
Support for the Vietnam War led Congress to hold more hearings to discuss increases in expenditures on the military effort.
Public concern over the Vietnam War led Congress to hold more hearings to consider using the power of the purse to influence the conduct of the war.
The public reaction to the September 11 terrorist attacks led to many hearings to limit federal expenditures to fight terrorism.
The number of hearings have increased in the House of Representatives because members have become more dependent on political action committees.
Which of the following explains how Congress would most likely respond if it were concerned about the slight increase in spending over time, as indicated by the bar chart?
Congress could vote to remove the secretary of Homeland Security.
Congress could hold a special joint session to discuss potential solutions.
Congress could vote to reduce spending on the Department of Homeland Security in the next year’s budget.
Congress could pass a constitutional amendment limiting appropriations.
Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on the pattern shown in the bar chart?
Changing national priorities have caused a drop in spending for the Department of Homeland Security.
Special circumstances in 2005 and 2018 led Congress to approve supplemental appropriations.
Bureaucratic rule making has led to a gradual increase in supplemental appropriations over time.
Ideological divisions in Congress have led to gradual increases in annual appropriations.
In 1974, the House of Representatives approved a resolution granting the Judiciary Committee authority to investigate impeachment of President Nixon for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress. Which constitutional ideal of democracy is demonstrated in this scenario?
Popular sovereignty
Judicial review
Limited government
Federalism
In 2015, the United States Supreme Court decided the case Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which ruled that states must recognize same sex couples’ right to marry. Which of the following ideals of democracy would the attorneys for the same sex couple most likely put forth as their argument?
Limited government would more likely defer to state laws on same sex marriage rather than a blanket directive from the Supreme Court.
Natural rights of life and liberty include the right to marry whom you choose.
Popular sovereignty requires that elected representatives in the state should decide right-to-marry issues.
Social contract theory guarantees that the right to marry is enshrined in a constitutional framework.
The Declaration of Independence states “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” This was a revolutionary change from the system of British monarchy, which was based on the divine right of kings. For which of the ideals of democracy does this quote provide a foundation?
Popular sovereignty
Federalism
Separation of power
Limited government
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of a case being decided based on precedent?
The Supreme Court bases its decision in a case involving the commerce clause on one of its earlier decisions involving the commerce clause.
The Supreme Court overturns a lower court decision in a case dealing with voter identification laws.
A state passes a law which contradicts federal law, causing the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the federal government.
The chief justice of the Supreme Court disagrees with the majority of the other justices and decides to declare a law passed by Congress as unconstitutional.
In the case Twining v. New Jersey (1908), the Supreme Court held that the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination is not applicable to the states. In 1964 the Supreme Court overruled the decision in Malloy v. Hogan (1964) and held that the right was incorporated to the states. This scenario illustrates which of the following?
The Supreme Court oftentimes overrules lower court decisions.
Constitutional amendments can be used to overturn previous Supreme Court decisions.
The executive branch can sometimes evade Supreme Court decisions.
Ideological changes to the Supreme Court can lead to the overturning of precedent.
The Supreme Court upholds a law passed by Congress as constitutional. The chief justice states in the majority opinion that previous decisions supporting Congress’ power to make laws based on the commerce clause of the Constitution were the basis for the decision. Which of the following legal concepts did the chief justice apply in writing the opinion?
Compliance monitoring
Stare decisis
Overlapping jurisdiction
Judicial activism
Which of the following explains an action Congress can take that would have the most influence on the data on the graphs?
Members of Congress can increase congressional salaries, but only for the next Congress.
Congress can pass legislation that changes the federal salary structure.
Congress can cut funding for federal programs, which would lead to a decrease in salaries.
Congress can enforce a regulation that addresses wage increases.
Which of the following best describes how a president can influence the data in the graphs?
Through the role of chief executive officer of the executive branch, the president can determine salary grades of federal employees.
The president has the power to formally introduce appropriations bills in the House of Representatives which can determine salary grades of federal employees.
The president as commander in chief can issue executive orders to modify the salary grades of federal employees.
The president has the authority to issue signing statements to determine the salary grades of federal employees.
Which of the following is most likely an effect of the trend in the line graph?
An increase in accountability of the bureaucracy
A decrease in the length of regulatory bills passed by Congress
A decrease in congressional oversight as a mechanism to control the bureaucracy
An increase in the authority of the House of Representatives over the bureaucracy
Which of the following is an action a president can take to rally public support for the administration's legislative agenda?
Use the State of the Union Address to pressure Congress to pass a bill lowering income taxes.
Hold private meetings with key members of Congress to promote a compromise on the budget.
Forge an executive agreement with another country regulating the safety of consumer products.
Sign a bill into law that would provide increased aid to college students.
Which of the following is an example of how the innovation of social media can influence presidential behavior?
The president holds a press conference to discuss midterm election results.
The president outlines the administration's legislative agenda in the State of the Union Address.
The president hosts a White House dinner with a foreign head of state.
The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet.
Which of the following scenarios illustrates how social media has changed the way presidents relate to the public?
A president appearing on a late-night comedy talk show to make jokes about the news
A president announcing a major policy initiative via the Internet rather than calling a press conference
A president allowing film crews to cover a visit to a natural disaster area to highlight federal aid distribution
A president hosting a rally in a swing state to increase support for policies helping the working class
Which of the following statements is best supported by the line graph?
The number of vetoes has generally increased since 1945, even though the number of bills passed by Congress has decreased.
The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress.
The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but the number of bills passed by Congress has increased.
The number of vetoes has generally increased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress.
Which of the following is true based on the data in the line graph?
The number of bills passed by Congress decreased under G. H. W. Bush.
The number of bills passed by Congress gradually increased under Nixon.
The number of presidential vetoes under Johnson decreased over time.
The number of presidential vetoes under Eisenhower increased over time.
Which of the following trends is best supported by the information in the table?
The number of treaties has increased over time.
The number of treaties has decreased over time.
The number of executive agreements has increased over time.
The number of executive agreements has decreased over time.
Which of the following explains how the bureaucracy can address a problem shown in the infographic?
The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume.
The president can negotiate a treaty that would allow for increased imports of oil.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce can hold a hearing on the cost of fuel.
The Supreme Court can overturn laws that regulate fuel economy.
Which of the following possible actions illustrates a way Congress interacts with the bureaucracy to address the problem shown in the infographic?
Congress could raise money through gasoline taxes to address the issues shown in the infographic.
Congress could request that an iron triangle be formed to ensure that all bureaucratic solutions are heard prior to taking action.
Congress could remove the members of the cabinet who work on issues related to transportation.
Congress could have members of the Department of Transportation testify before a committee to discuss the issue and potential solutions.
Which of the following statements best relates to the information shown in the infographic?
Despite many attempts at reform, some members of the federal bureaucracy are still hired through political patronage.
Like most businesses, the federal government has to seek out well-qualified and diverse job candidates.
Specialized skills, such as a background in STEM, are less important than a degree in political science for most jobs in the bureaucracy.
Most members of the federal bureaucracy work near Washington, D.C., or in state capitals.
In the case Wickard v. Filburn (1942), Roscoe Filburn was penalized for producing 12 acres of wheat above his allotment under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. The law, justified under Congress’ power to regulate interstate commerce, limited the amount of wheat an individual could grow. This regulation would keep prices from dropping and prevent farmers from going bankrupt. Filburn claimed that the excess wheat was for his own use, and challenged that no interstate commerce was involved. The Supreme Court ruled that the commerce clause allowed the government to regulate Filburn's personal wheat production, even though it was only indirectly related to interstate commerce.
Which of the following was a likely result of the decision in Wickard v. Filburn that contributed to the Court's later decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) ?
The Supreme Court is not elected, so unpopular decisions such as in the Wickard case cannot be overturned unless Congress acts upon it.
Laws passed by Congress have since undergone judicial review by the Supreme Court to ensure that the commerce clause and other parts of the Constitution are interpreted correctly.
The expansive interpretation of the commerce clause by the Supreme Court which greatly extended the power of Congress drew criticism that eventually led to a more narrow interpretation.
Rather than be regulated by Congress, many citizens and corporations opt instead to find loopholes so that the law does not apply to them.
In Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the Supreme Court used the power of judicial review established in Marbury v. Madison (1803) to strike down a Georgia state law that regulated the relationship between citizens of Georgia and members of the Cherokee Nation. President Andrew Jackson opposed the decision and famously challenged the Supreme Court to enforce it. As the Supreme Court was not able to enforce the decision, the other branches of government ignored it. This example illustrates which of the following?
The president can approve or veto decisions made by the Supreme Court.
States have the power to nullify federal laws.
Congress can prevent Supreme Court decisions from being enforced by appropriating money to the Department of Justice.
Unpopular Supreme Court decisions can be avoided or ignored if other branches refuse to cooperate with the outcomes of those decisions.
In Baker v. Carr (1962), the Supreme Court ruled that a state legislature would have to redraw their representative districts in order to comply with the Constitution. Which of the following potential difficulties could have resulted from this decision?
The state legislature could have refused to implement the decision, leading to a crisis in the legitimacy of the Supreme Court’s authority.
The United States Congress could have requested that funding be cut off from the redistricting program.
The president could have created an executive agreement with the state that overrode the Supreme Court’s decision.
A state appellate court could have issued a ruling that overturned the ruling of the United States Supreme Court.
“[A] pure democracy… can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. . . . [S]uch democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. . . .
The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended.
. . . [I]t may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose. On the other hand, the effect may be inverted. Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people.”
James Madison, The Federalist 10
Which of the following statements best reflects James Madison’s beliefs about political representation as expressed in the passage?
People would be best served by having a strong leader to make the decisions.
People will not truly have a voice in government until they can vote on laws directly.
People are best represented by a few politicians chosen to voice their issues.
People should elect political representatives who are wealthy enough to avoid corruption.
“[A] pure democracy… can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. . . . [S]uch democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. . . .
The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended.
. . . [I]t may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose. On the other hand, the effect may be inverted. Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people.”
James Madison, The Federalist 10
Which of the following best describes Madison’s primary concern about representative government?
Those who seek to represent the people may be tempted to act in their own interests instead.
A truly representative government will quickly become too large to function effectively.
Local government is ineffective because there are not enough competitive factions.
Long term lengths may lead to political representatives who are disengaged from their constituents.
“[A] pure democracy… can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. . . . [S]uch democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. . . .
The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended.
. . . [I]t may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose. On the other hand, the effect may be inverted. Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people.”
James Madison, The Federalist 10
Which of the following sections of the United States Constitution most concerns Madison according to the passage?
Article I, Section 10—“No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws. . . .”
Article II, Section 1—“No Person except a natural born Citizen . . . shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.”
Article III, Section 1—“The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.”
Article I, Section 2—“The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.”
