NEW
Font size
WorksheetsAP GOV Unit 1: Foundations
Total questions: 80
Worksheet time: 3600secs
What was the basis of representation under the Virginia Plan?
Statehood equality
Based on Population
States get the same number of representatives no matter the size
Based on the number of men in the state
The original purpose of the constitutional convention was to___.
draw up a bill of rights
discuss regulations on interstate commerce
revise the Articles of Confederation
Build an army
The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues?
right of people to rebel
scope of power of the central government
representation of large and small states
Need to establish national bank
Which of the following is commonly identified as a failure of the Articles of Confederation?
National govt lacked power to raise revenue
executive branch had too much power over legislature
judicial branch was created
federal govt had too much control over interstate commerce
which is the main difference between elite theories and pluralist theories of democracy?
Elite democracy concentrates on the role of interest groups; pluralist emphasizes the role of the individual
Elite theory emphasizes the role of the individual; pluralist emphasizes the role of the wealthy
Elite theory emphasizes the role of the wealthy and educated; the pluralist emphasizes the role of the interest group
none of the above
What is federalism?
The split between state and local powers
The split of power between the 3 branches
The split of power between the local govt and individuals
The split of power between the state and national govt.
Why is the 10th amendment important?
It guarantees Freedom of Speech
It grants powers to the states and the people
It grants powers to the president
It says the individuals have rights not listed elsewhere
No branch of government performs the same functions as another. This is an example of ____.
Checks and Balances
Federalism
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
In Federalist 10, James Madison argued that factions...
Were bad and could be countered by a small republic
were good and helped protect the rights of the people
Were bad and could be countered by a big republic
Were good by empowering the national government
The Declaration of Independence includes all of the following except____.
Natural Rights
Participatory Democracy
Social Contract Theory
Republicanism
What is popular Sovereignty?
The people voting more directly on every bill/law
Rights we are born with
Power of the people
A restricted Government
A member of the Senate makes a statement to the press that she is unsure of how she is going to vote on a bill. After numerous calls from her constituents asking her to vote for the bill, she votes in support of the bill.
This is an example of which of the following democratic ideals?
Social contract
Republicanism
Natural rights
Limited government
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the two court cases?
Comparison A
Comparison B
Comparison C
Comparison D
Based on the ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), what is the difference between enumerated powers and implied powers?
Implied powers are powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government, whereas enumerated powers are not explicitly written but are necessary for carrying out implied powers
Enumerated powers are powers given to the federal government, whereas implied powers are powers given to state governments
Implied powers are powers given to the federal government, whereas enumerated powers are powers given to state governments
Enumerated powers are powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government, whereas implied powers are not explicitly written but are necessary for carrying out enumerated powers
Which government makes treaties and deals with foreign countries
Federal
State
Shared
Who has the power to declare war?
Federal
State
Shared
Who establishes public schools?
Federal
State
Shared
What level of Government has the power to collect taxes?
Federal
State
Concurrent (Shared by Both)
Who has the power to make & enforce laws?
the Federal Government
the State Governments
both the Federal & State Government
John Lock's concept of natural rights and the social contract emphasizes which pair of concepts and definitions
Republicanism/
Representatives chosen by the people
Civil Society/
Broad citizen involvement
Limited Government/
Confiscation of private property
Popular sovereignty/
Political equality among citizens
the first ten amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791 and guaranteeing fundamental rights to the people of the United States.
Federalist
anti-Federalist
Bill of Rights
Constitution
an early US political position that opposed a strong central government and wanted more power in the states.
Bill of Rights
Federalist
Constitution
anti-Federalist
The Constitution gives a specific list of powers to the states.
True
False
The Constitution gives a specific list of powers to the federal government.
True
False
Laws at a lower level of government are always superior to laws at a higher level.
True
False
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.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of concurrent powers?
The president negotiates a treaty regarding climate change with foreign governments, but for the treaty to take effect, it requires approval by the Senate.
As commander-in-chief of the military, the president orders troops to a foreign nation to address a potential threat to national security.
A Senate committee holds a hearing to discuss potential misuse of funds by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The federal government provides about 25% of the total funding for highways and transit in the United States, while the other 75% of the funding comes from states.
One example of constitutional checks and balances is
the president declares war, but Congress appropriates military funds
the president nominates cabinet members, and the House holds confirmation hearings
the House can impeach federal judges and the president, and the Senate holds the impeachment trial
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.
The number of representatives in the House of Representatives from slaveholding states increased
Before the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution granted women the right to vote nationwide, 13 states allowed women the right to vote in their state elections.
This is an example of which of the following aspects of federalism in the United States?
States frequently choose to ignore federal laws in favor of state laws
State and local governments have more power than the federal government
Amendments to the US Constitution can easily be made in order to meet the needs of society
State and local governments can become proving grounds for new ideas
Which of the following aspects of the US Constitution best illustrates the concept of elite democracy?
The apportionment of representatives in the House according to state population
The ban on "corruption of the blood" in cases of treason
The original wording of the Constitution regarding the selection of US senators
The process of adding amendments to the Constitution
Members of the National Organization for Women (NOW) protest a congressional bill that eliminates protections for pregnant workers. After the bill passes, they form a letter-writing campaign hoping to influence the president to veto the bill.
This is an example of which of the following principles of American government?
Multiple access points for stakeholders to influence policymaking
The shift in political power from the legislative branch to the executive branch
Government-mandated healthcare coverage
The central role of lobbying organizations in passing legislation
Why did the Framers decide to include Article V of the Constitution, detailing an amendment process?
Concerns about protecting self-government
Concerns over the executive branch becoming too powerful
Concerns about the central government becoming too powerful
Concerns about tyranny of the majority
Based on the ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), what is the difference between enumerated powers and implied powers?
Implied powers are powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government, whereas enumerated powers are not explicitly written but are necessary for carrying out implied powers
Enumerated powers are powers given to the federal government, whereas implied powers are powers given to state governments
Implied powers are powers given to the federal government, whereas enumerated powers are powers given to state governments
Enumerated powers are powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government, whereas implied powers are not explicitly written but are necessary for carrying out enumerated powers
An informal group advocating for a $15 minimum wage collects 590,000 signatures from registered voters in their state. In the next election, this initiative appears on the ballot for voters to decide whether it becomes a state constitutional amendment.
This is an example of which of the following models of democracy?
Pluralist democracy
Elite democracy
Representative democracy
Participatory democracy
Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?
Society would be better if there were no governments
A government is only just if citizens have a voice in it
Citizens should rebel against governments they disagree with
There is no such thing as a just government
The American Revolution was based upon the ideas of
enslaved philosophers
intellectual frontiersmen
European political thinkers
George Washington
The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about:
The right of the people to rebel
The existence of slavery
The need to establish a standard currency
The scope of power of national government
The ideas of John Locke and the Declaration of Independence are similar in that both
recognize the right of monarch to determine their own form of government
support concept of natural rights and gov't built on consent of governed
seek common ideals in gov't through creation of constitutional monarchy
value the preservation of private property
The _________, offered at the Constitutional Convention, called for each state to be equally represented in Congress.
New Jersey Plan
Virginia Plan
three-fifths compromise
Connecticut Compromise
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances as established by the Constitution?
Elect prez by electoral coll. rather than direct election
The Supreme Court’s ability to overturn lower court decision
requires that prez appointees to SCOTUS be approved by Senate
Media criticism of public officials during campaign periods
The importance of Shay’s rebellion to the development of the US Constitution was that it
reinforced idea that slavery be outlawed in new constitution
convinced leaders that a strong national gov. needed to protect property, maintain order
convinced delegates at Constitutional Convention to accept Connecticut Plan
revealed need to add Bill of Rights to Const & creating checks and balances
The enumerated (or expressed) powers of Congress and the national government are those
specifically spelled out in the Constitution
not specifically spelled out in the Constitution, but acknowledged
involving taxes, spending, and fiscal policy
set out in the first ten amendments
Congress has the right to ʺmake all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution" its powers is called
elastic clause
enumerated powers
heart of fiscal federalism
hyperpluralism
Which of the following explains one of the effects of the elastic clause?
allow the nat'l gov't to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in Constitution
powers not delegated by the Constitution to the U.S. are reserved to states
make the legislature the most powerful branch of the national government
allow state governments to nullify federal laws within their borders
______ is an exclusive power of the federal govt, and ____ is a concurrent power shared with the states.
Declaring war, levying taxes
Creating banks, controlling the postal system
Making laws, conducting elections
Regulating commerce, establishing local governments
The Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides protections for the disabled, is an example of
a federal mandate
horizontal federalism
dual federalism
state supremacy
Giving state governments greater discretion in deciding how to achieve the specific goals of welfare reform is an example of
an unfunded mandate
implied powers
dual federalism
devolution
Cooperative federalism can best be described by which of the following statements?
Government must have cooperation from the people in order to make legislative decisions.
Different levels of government are involved in common policy areas.
The federal government must make regulations that can be applied across every state in the same way.
Business and government can work together to more effectively accomplish shared goals.
Of the following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government?
The First Amendment
The Fifth Amendment
The habeas corpus clause of the Constitution
The commerce clause of the Constitution
The outcome of a conflict between the Constitution and the states is determined by
the Great Compromise
the supremacy clause
Federalist #10
judicial review
Which of the following was stipulated in Article III of the Constitution?
creation of the Supreme Court
executive powers
powers of Congress
full faith and credit clause
Which of the following would least likely be favored by state governments?
unfunded mandates
categorical grants
block grants
revenue sharing
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances, as established by the Constitution?
A requirement that states lower their legal drinking age to eighteen so they can receive federal highway grants
Media criticism of public officials during an election campaign period
The requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate
The election of the President by the Electoral College rather than by direct election
States and localities have the most discretion in establishing policy when federal funding is derived from
categorical grants
matching grants
block grants
project grants
The Constitution grants Congress the power to establish post offices and post roads. This is an example of
enumerated powers
implied powers
reserved powers
concurrent powers
“Dual Federalism” refers to the fact that
the Constitution provides two layers of government in the nation—the national and the state
There are two major forms of aid from the national government to the states—categorical and block grants
both the national and state governments can levy taxes on citizens
there is a distinct line between policies surrounding public education and private education in the states.
Both the national and states’ governments can establish court systems. This is an example of
reserved powers
a mandate
concurrent powers
full faith and credit clause
“In every free government, the people must give their assent to the laws by which they are governed. This is the true criterion between a free government and an arbitrary one. The former are ruled by the will of the whole, expressed in any manner they may agree upon; the latter by the will of one, or a few. If the people are to give their assent to the laws, by persons chosen and appointed by them, the manner of the choice and the number chosen, must be such, as to possess, be disposed, and consequently qualified to declare the sentiments of the people; for if they do not know, or are not disposed to speak the sentiments of the people, the people do not govern, but the sovereignty is in a few. Now, in a large extended country, it is impossible to have a representation, possessing the sentiments, and of integrity, to declare the minds of the people, without having it so numerous and unwieldy, as to be subject in great measure to the inconveniency of a democratic government….” --Brutus 1
Average citizens cannot be trusted to vote because of low levels of education.
The federal government should have greater authority than state legislatures.
Nations with extended territory cannot fairly represent their citizens in a republican form of government.
A small federal legislature is the best way to represent the will of the people in a large country.
Which of the following is an accurate summary of James Madison's argument in The Federalist 10?
A large republic makes it possible to abolish factions and concentrate all power at the national level.
A large republic allows the federal government to dominate the state governments through the necessary and proper clause.
A large republic is a direct democracy where the people have a direct vote in policy matters, which controls factions.
A large republic presents more opportunities for groups to participate, compete, and limit each other.
Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the infographic above?
Once a proposed amendment passes the first round of approval, there are four ways it can be ratified.
Amendment proposals are more easily passed by Congress than by states.
Only a few amendments have been ratified by special conventions in at least three-fourths or 34 of the states.
Amending the Constitution is a relatively easy process.
The cartoon expresses which of the following viewpoints?
It's hard to define "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness."
Politicians tend to be more focused on public opinion than policy.
The members of the Continental Congress were old and feeble.
Sometimes even wealthy and educated individuals don't know the best course of action.
According to the cartoon, the founding fathers wrote the Constitution to achieve what goal?
establish republican government
prevent one branch of government from becoming too powerful
balance liberty with the protection of social order
prevent the elite from holding too much power
Which inference is most clearly drawn from the graph?
More federal grant money goes to "Other" than to all specifically identified categories combined.
During the period 2000-2010, "Transportation" funding grew by a greater percentage than "Income security" funding.
The category receiving the largest federal funding has shifted over time from "Education, training, employment, and social services" in 1975 to "Health" in 2011.
The same amount of funding has been allocated to "community and regional development" each year since 1978.
In United States v. Morrison, the Supreme Court struck down the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, stating: "Gender-motivated crimes of violence are not, in any sense of the phrase, economic activity. While we need not adopt a categorical rule against aggregating the effects of any non economical activity in order to decide these cases, thus far in our Nation's history out cases have upheld Commerce Clause regulation of intrastate activity only where that activity is economic in nature."
Which of the following cases best serves as precedent for the decision in United States v. Morrison?
U.S. v. Lopez
Marbury v. Madison
McCulloch v. Maryland
None of these cases could serve as precedent.
The federal government gives Maine money for COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Catergorial grant
Block grant
Mandate
Devolution
Which of the following was NOT part of the Great Compromise?
Electoral College used to elect president
Equal representation in the Senate
Revenue bills start in the House
Bicameral legislature
Which of the following could get you in trouble in spite of First Amendment protections?
Kneeling during the national anthem
A newspaper editorial criticizing the president
Protesting a decision of the Supreme Court
Threatening someone online
Allows Congress to establish the FBI
Necessary and Proper Clause
Supremacy Clause
Commerce Clause
9th Amendment
Which of the following is a negative aspect of federalism?
Political power is spread out
Laws are standardized nationwide
Conflicts of authority may arise
Keeps government closer to the people
Different levels of government have overlapping authority and involvement in the same policy areas.
Cooperative federalism
Dual federalism
Participatory democracy
Pluralist democracy
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?
A senator loses reelection due to accusations of corruption
Congress overrides a veto
Only states have the power to conduct elections
The president orders a military strike
The Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides protections for the disabled, is an example of
a federal mandate
horizontal federalism
dual federalism
state supremacy
