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Extra Practice US History Midterm

Total questions: 26

Worksheet time: 1hrs 22mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

After declaring independence, each of the states created their own constitutions and established a republican form of government. A republican form of government is described as one in which

a)

there is a two-party system

b)

representatives are elected by the people

c)

elected officials have limited terms

d)

government power is limited by checks and balances

2.

The Articles of Confederation are best described as a

a)

statement of principles justifying the Revolutionary War

b)

plan of union for the original thirteen states

c)

set of arguments supporting ratification of the Constitution

d)

list of reasons for the secession of the Southern States

3.

Which idea had a major influence on the authors of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

All of the people must be granted the right to vote.

b)

The central government must have the power to levy taxes and to control trade.

c)

Three branches of government are needed to protect liberty.

d)

A strong central government threatens the rights of the people and the states.

4.

Which statement best describes governmental power under the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Power was shared equally by the central government and the states.

b)

A balance of power existed between the three branches of the central government.

c)

A strong chief executive (President) headed a unified central government.

d)

The states had much greater power than the central government.

5.

Which of the following was NOT a power of the central government under the Articles of Confederation

a)

conducting affairs/treaties with natives

b)

establishing post offices

c)

collecting/levying (passing) taxes

d)

negotiating foreign treaties

6.

The main criticism of the Articles of Confederation was that they failed to

a)

allow for the admission of new states

b)

limit the powers of the president (was there a president?)

c)

provide adequate powers for the central government

d)

prevent the development of military rule

7.

Under the Articles of Confederation, the years between 1781 and 1787 are often referred to as the “critical period” because the

a)

colonies were forced to pay high reparations to England

b)

states were fighting the French and Indian War

c)

southern states threatened to secede from the Union over the issue of slavery

d)

central government lacked the power to solve the nation’s problems

8.

What was an important accomplishment (strength) of the central government under the Articles of Confederation?

a)

it introduced the concept of federalism

b)

it resulted in the elimination of debts from the Revolutionary War

c)

America had no foreign problems and a prosperous economy

d)

the development of guidelines for the admission of new states in the Northwest Territory into the Union

9.

At the Constitutional Convention the founding fathers created a federal system of government. This is when

a)

the people elect national officials

b)

there is a division of power between national and state governments

c)

foreign policy is handled by state governments

10.

Which quotation from the United States Constitution provides for a federal system of government that shows a division of power between the national and state governments?

a)

He shall have power . . . with the advice and consent of the Senate, . . . and . . . shall appoint . . .

b)

Every bill . . . shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President of the United States; . . .

c)

The powers not delegated to the United States . . . are reserved to the states . . .

d)

Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

11.

The United States Constitution corrected a weakness of the Articles of Confederation by

a)

creating three branches of government

b)

giving greater power to state governments

c)

providing a clear definition of states’ rights

d)

granting the right to vote to all white males

12.

Which of the following best represents judicial review? (the role of the Judicial branch)

a)

the Supreme Court can declare laws passed by the president unconstitutional

b)

the Supreme Court can veto federal laws

c)

the Supreme Court can declare laws passed by Congress unconstitutional

d)

the Supreme Court can override a presidential veto

13.

A system of checks and balances was included in the United States Constitution because the authors were concerned about

a)

the states having too much power

b)

one branch of government becoming too strong

c)

the people having a voice in government

d)

the military gaining control of the United States

14.

Which headline is NOT an example of the United States Constitution’s system of checks and balances?

I. “Environmental Protection Agency Proposes Stricter Air Pollution Controls”

II. . “President Vetoes Defense Spending Bill”

III. “Senate Rejects Supreme Court Nominee”

IV. “Congress Overrides Truman Veto of Taft-Hartley Act”

V. “Senate Approves NATO Treaty”

a)

I

b)

II

c)

III

d)

IV

e)

V

15.

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Great Compromise resolved the issue of

a)

representation of states in Congress

b)

taxation

c)

the slave trade

d)

the control of trade

16.

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from the small states most strongly supported the idea of

a)

establishing a strong national executive

b)

levying taxes on exports

c)

popular election of Senators

d)

equal representation for the states in Congress

17.

Delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 agreed to create a bicameral legislature as a way to

a)

insure speedy passage of legislation

b)

assure the right to vote to all adult males

c)

address the issue of population differences among the states

d)

satisfy the different interests of the rich and poor citizens

18.

The United States Constitution requires that a census be taken every ten years to figure out

a)

the number of members each state gets to send to the House of Representatives

b)

the number of electoral votes assigned for each state

c)

the number of members for each state in the Senate

d)

all of the above

e)

1 and 2 only

19.

What was one effect of the Three-fifths Compromise?

a)

Slave (southern) states gained additional congressional representation and electoral college votes.

b)

The number of justices on the Supreme Court was established.

c)

Presidential appointments were assured easy confirmation.

d)

A two-house legislature was created.

20.

Which statement best explains why critics have called for a change in the Electoral College system?

a)

The system is a threat to the two-party system.

b)

A person who did not receive the largest percentage of popular votes can be elected President.

c)

Electors often vote for candidates not listed on the ballot.

d)

States with small populations have greater influence on Presidential elections than more populated states do.

21.

During the debates over the ratification of the United States Constitution, Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed most strongly over the

a)

division of powers between the national and state governments

b)

provision for admitting new states to the Union

c)

distribution of power between the Senate and the House of Representatives

d)

method of amending the Constitution

22.

The Anti-Federalists primary argument against ratifying the Constitution is

a)

the Constitution did not include a list of individual rights to protect the citizens

b)

the federal government was not given adequate power to solve the economic problems of our nation

c)

they did not like the Federalists

d)

they wanted higher taxes

23.

The Federalist Papers were a series of newspaper articles published in 1787 and 1788 to win support for the

a)

right of the colonies to rebel against Great Britain

b)

right of a state to secede from the Union

c)

ratification of the Constitution

d)

construction of an interstate canal system

24.

The major reason the Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution was to

a)

limit the power of state governments

b)

protect the individual rights of the people

c)

provide for equal treatment of all people

d)

separate powers between the three branches of government

25.

The first amendment of the Constitution deals primarily with

a)

states’ rights

b)

property rights

c)

rights of the accused

d)

rights of expression

26.

The due process clause in the 5th Amendment and the right to an attorney in the 6th Amendment were designed to

a)

protect freedom of expression

b)

assure that laws are properly enacted

c)

ensure fair treatment for those accused of crimes

d)

provide for judicial review of laws