Question 1

How was the Articles of Confederation structured and why did it fail?

Accepted Answer

All power vested in state legislature and states controlled most power. Inability to overcome collective action problems.

Question 2

Which event provided the first serious proposal for a national government?

Accepted Answer

A)   Richmond Congress
B)   Macon Congress
C)   Albany Congress
D)   Hartford CongressE) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 3

Under the Constitution, which of the following is true about the responsibility for common defense and security?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is a shared responsibility between the states and the federal government.
B)   It is solely the responsibility of the national government.
C)   The federal government sets general policies, but a supermajority of states can disapprove of any policies.
D)   The states would continue to handle these policies because the national government would take responsibility for regulating commerce.E) A) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 4

Some scholars have argued that the American system is not so much one with a separation of powers among the branches of government, but rather is a system of power sharing. Assess the accuracy of this assertion and include specific examples to support your argument.

Accepted Answer

The assertion that the American system i...

Question 5

James Madison attributed the failure of the confederation to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   faulty institutions
B)   the moral vices of the citizens
C)   the rejection of home rule by the colonists
D)   George Washington's party coalitionE) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 6

Thomas Paine wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The checks and balances contained within the Constitution result in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   consolidation of power in the executive branch, since the House and Senate are usually at odds
B)   some capacity of each of the three branches to limit the power of the other two
C)   a national bank of the United States
D)   separation of power so that each branch can operate independently of the othersE) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 8

Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution contains the ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   enumerated powers of the Supreme Court
B)   implied powers of the President
C)   enumerated powers of Congress
D)   civil liberties of American citizensE) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 9

The Madisonian view of democracy often is referred to as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   elitism
B)   factionalism
C)   pluralism
D)   conditional party governmentE) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 10

The Stamp Act ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   was controversial because the tax on printed materials was imposed by Britain
B)   was controversial because it raised the cost of sending mail in the most populous colonies
C)   was accepted easily because the colonists made a conscious decision to raise additional revenues to pay for national security
D)   generated intense opposition because it raised the cost of sending transatlantic mail so that it was only available to the wealthyE) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 11

To solve the nation's collective action problems, the Virginia Plan gave the national government a(n)  ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   independent judiciary
B)   strong executive
C)   a bicameral national legislature
D)   enforcement authorityE) A) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 12

The necessary and proper clause of the Constitution ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   specifies the internal workings of Congress
B)   provides Congress with the authority to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the powers enumerated by the Constitution
C)   provides the judicial branch with jurisdiction over any matter the Supreme Court deems to be "necessary and proper"
D)   provides the executive with the power to override any act of Congress so long as the President certifies that such an override is "necessary and proper"E) All of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 13

During the Revolutionary Era, the nation benefited from having politicians experienced in self-governance and experienced in negotiating collective agreements.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The writings of Charles, Baron de Montesquieu, provided the Framers of the Constitution with which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   the foundations of physics that were translated into governing concepts such as checks and balances
B)   his discussion of the classification of governmental functions and forms as the legislative, executive, and judicial
C)   the importance of individual rights and the limited scope of government authority
D)   the notion that politics should be treated as a competition among contending interestsE) A) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 15

The evolution of the American presidency ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   was expected by the Framers as the responsibilities facing the government increased
B)   has occurred through delegation on domestic policies, but the expansion of responsibility on foreign affairs reflects the limited and general language on foreign affairs in the Constitution
C)   reflects the strong command authority the Framers thought was needed to solve collective action problems
D)   would meet the hopes of the Framers because their ideal president was someone who could solve collective action problems by minimizing transaction costsE) A) and C)
F) B) and C)

Question 16

Compare and contrast Federalist No. 10 and Federalist No. 51?

Accepted Answer

People versus institutions

Question 17

The writings of Thomas Hobbes deeply influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What is the name of the principle where citizens delegate authority to their agents in government while retaining the right to rescind that authority?

Accepted Answer

A)   agency loss
B)   privatization
C)   popular sovereignty
D)   checks and balancesE) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 19

In what ways were the colonists prepared for self-governance at the start of the Revolutionary War and where were they not prepared?

Accepted Answer

Experienced politicians but had trouble reaching collective agreements because they were used to free riding on the British military.

Question 20

Which plan perpetuated the composition and selection of Congress as it functioned under the Articles of Confederation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Virginia Plan
B)   Connecticut Plan
C)   Delaware Plan
D)   New Jersey PlanE) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Exam 2: The Constitution

How was the Articles of Confederation structured and why did it fail?

Correct AnswerverifiedAll power vested in state legislature and states controlled most power. Inability to overcome collective action problems.

Which event provided the first serious proposal for a national government?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Under the Constitution, which of the following is true about the responsibility for common defense and security?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Some scholars have argued that the American system is not so much one with a separation of powers among the branches of government, but rather is a system of power sharing. Assess the accuracy of this assertion and include specific examples to support your argument.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe assertion that the American system i...View AnswerShow Answer

James Madison attributed the failure of the confederation to which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Thomas Paine wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The checks and balances contained within the Constitution result in which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution contains the ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Madisonian view of democracy often is referred to as which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Stamp Act ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

To solve the nation's collective action problems, the Virginia Plan gave the national government a(n) ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The necessary and proper clause of the Constitution ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

During the Revolutionary Era, the nation benefited from having politicians experienced in self-governance and experienced in negotiating collective agreements.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The writings of Charles, Baron de Montesquieu, provided the Framers of the Constitution with which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The evolution of the American presidency ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Compare and contrast Federalist No. 10 and Federalist No. 51?

Correct AnswerverifiedPeople versus institutions

The writings of Thomas Hobbes deeply influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the name of the principle where citizens delegate authority to their agents in government while retaining the right to rescind that authority?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In what ways were the colonists prepared for self-governance at the start of the Revolutionary War and where were they not prepared?

Correct AnswerverifiedExperienced politicians but had trouble reaching collective agreements because they were used to free riding on the British military.

Which plan perpetuated the composition and selection of Congress as it functioned under the Articles of Confederation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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All power vested in state legislature and states controlled most power. Inability to overcome collective action problems.

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The assertion that the American system i...
View Answer

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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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People versus institutions

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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Experienced politicians but had trouble reaching collective agreements because they were used to free riding on the British military.

Correct Answer
verified