Worksheetsmid term and air test
Total questions: 29
Worksheet time: 15mins
Which phrase describes the system of federalism established by the United States Constitution?
The restriction of the government to exercise only powers granted to it by the people
The ability of one branch of government to restrain to powers of the other branches
The distribution of powers among independent branches of government
The division of powers between the National Government and the States
Separation of powers is a defining principle of the U.S. government. Identify some of the powers reserved for the judicial branch of the U.S. government. Circle 3 choices.
Interpret Laws
Declare War
Make Taxes
Sentence Offenders
Establish Judicial Procedures
The Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches of the federal government each have specific powers. Which power belongs to the judicial branch?
Enforcing Laws
Interpreting Laws
Passing Resolutions
Recognizing Foreign Nations
Which branch or branches of the federal government enforce the laws?
Judicial
Executive
Legislative and Judicial
Judicial and Executive
Match: Identify the following powers as either state or federal powers: A. State B. Federal (a) conduct elections
Match: Identify the following powers as either state or federal powers: A. State B. Federal (a) print money
Match: Identify the following powers as either state or federal powers: A. State B. Federal (a) ratify constitutional amendments
Match: Identify the following powers as either state or federal powers: A. State B. Federal (a) declare war
State or federal = raise sales tax
(a)
state or federal government regulate foreign trade
(a)
The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution introduces one of the basic principles of government in the United States. An excerpt from the Constitution is shown below. "We the People of the United States...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Which basic principle of government is introduced in the Preamble?
Federalism
Limited Government
Popular Sovereignty
Checks and Balances
An excerpt from the debate over the ratification is shown. "If the new Constitution be examined with accuracy and candor [honesty], it will be found that the change which it proposes consists much less in the addition of NEW POWERS to the Union, than in the invigoration of its ORIGINAL POWERS. . . . The powers relating to war and peace, armies and fleets, treaties and finance, with the other more considerable powers, are all vested in the existing Congress by the articles of Confederation. The proposed change does not enlarge these powers; it only substitutes a more effectual mode of administering them." What viewpoint does this excerpt demonstrate?
The Federalist viewpoint that the federal law should be supreme to state law when they conflict
The Federalist viewpoint that the Constitution will address the weaknesses of the prior system of government
The Anti-Federalist viewpoint that a powerful national government poses a threat to the civil liberties of individual citizens
The Anti-Federalist viewpoint that the Constitution should grant state governments the power to overturn laws at the national level
The Constitution establishes basic principles of government in the United States. An excerpt from Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution is shown. Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated ... Which principle of government is reflected in this portion of the Constitution?
Federalism
Limited Government
Popular sovereignty
Checks and Balances
How does this portion of the Constitution reflect this principle?
It reserves powers to the states
It keeps certain rights with the people
It one branch to constrain another
It allows citizens to have a say in their government
Why did the Federalist want to include this clause in the U.S. Constitution?
To protect individual liberties of all citizens
To provide a guarantee of sovereignty to individual states
To allow the National Government to efficiently run the country
To give citizens more opportunities to select government officials
Which statement summarizes the original federalist position on the Bill of Rights?
Additional amendments were needed, given the Constitution’s lack of individual protections
Adopting the Bill of Rights was too risky because it might threaten ratification of the Constitution
The Bill of Rights should be adopted because national sovereignty should always come before states’ rights
No amendments were needed, as the Constitution already had protections against excessive government power
Which constitutional principle is identified with the concept of “consent of the governed”?
Rule of Law
Popular Sovereignty
Constitutionalism
Checks and Balances
The Supreme Court takes on a case about the constitutional merits of a law. After hearing arguments for and against the law, they issue a verdict that the law goes against certain provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Once determined unconstitutional, the law is struck down, or voided. What kind of practice is exemplified in the situation above?
Judicial review
Constitutionalism
Limited government
Popular sovereignty
In 1876, Congress passed a law that states that the post office employees “Shall be appointed and may be removed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall hold their offices for four years unless sooner removed or suspended according to law.” In the 1926 Supreme Court case Myers v. United States, the law was ruled unconstitutional. The Supreme Court found that the president has exclusive power to remove officials from the executive branch. How did the Supreme Court’s decision in Myers v. United States impact the constitutional principles of separation of powers?
It clarified the power of the Presidency relative to the Senate
It increased the power of the Senate relative to the presidency
It decreased the power of the Supreme Court relative to the Senate
It clarified the power of the Supreme Court relative to the presidency
“The proposed Constitution, far from abolishing state governments, makes them an essential part of the national government by allowing them a direct representation in the Senate, and leaves in their possession certain important government powers. This fully corresponds, in every way, with the idea of a federal government.” - Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 9 After reading the text above concerning Federalist No. 9, which of the following statements is most in agreement.
State governments face the threat of being abolished by the federal government under the new Constitution
The states will lack representation in the U.S. Senate
Under the new constitution, the states will enjoy important powers
State governments should fear the power of the new national government
Which branch or branches of government makes the laws?
Judicial
Executive
Legislative
Legislative and Executive
Legislators meet with members of their party prior to the official floor vote to ensure that the group is in agreement about whether or not to support a particular bill.
Negotiation
Compromise
Consensus Building
Persuasive Argument
How can the President impact public policy?
Issuing executive orders
By impeaching civil officers
By amending the Constitution
By appointing State governors
In 2012, President Barack Obama appointed three people to the National Labor Relations Board during a time when Congress was not in session. This practice of using recess appointments is used to go around Congress’ approval power over presidential nominees. Later that year, the Supreme Court ruled that action unconstitutional. Identify which branch checked another branch in this scenario by writing the branch labels in the correct blanks. The _______________ branch checked the _______________ branch.
(a)
Identify what action the branch took to check the other branch by selecting the action involved in the check.
Uphold the constitutionality of a legislative act
Preside over an impeachment trial
Overrule an action of the executive branch
The President vetoes a bill that was passed by Congress. What action can Congress take to check the power of the President?
Override the presidential veto
Enforce the bill as if it were law
File an appeal with the federal court system
Declare the presidential veto unconstitutional
A local abandoned factory has been demolished and the land has been prepared for redevelopment. People disagree about what should replace the old factory. Some propose a plan to construct a building combining apartments with ground-floor retail, and others want to build a large park. The final resolution featured a smaller building with a small park. What kind of solution does this outcome represent?
Consensus Building
Negotiation
Compromise
Persuasion
What was the basis of the compromise between the federal government and the State of South Carolina?
Each side made concessions toward the other side’s position
Each side worked toward achieving resolution based on shared principles
Each side used reasoning to persuade the other side to agree with its general position
Each side requested that a neutral third party help reach an agreement
Which principle of government was at the center of the conflict during the Nullification Crisis? (crisis between states and federal gov)
Federalism
Popular Sovereignty
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
