BE SURE TO WRITE YOUR NAME ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET!!
IMPORTANT: MAKE ALL ERASURES COMPLETELY - IT IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEARLY INDICATE YOUR CHOSEN
ANSWER. RESPONSES THAT ARE NOT COMPLETELY ERASED
WILL BE COUNTED AS INCORRECT. THIS EXAM IS WORTH 100
POINTS.
Temple College
Government 2301
Fall, 1999
Exam #2
MULTIPLE CHOICE. INSTRUCTIONS: Answer each of the following
multiple-choice questions by marking the letter on your scan-tron form that
corresponds to the BEST response. 65 questions/1.54 points each/100 points
total.
1. The central government under the Articles of Confederation included
a. a president, but no congress.
b. a congress and a president.
c. a unicameral congress, but no president and no courts.
d. a bicameral legislature.
2. Any amendment to the Articles of Confederation required
a. approval of a simple majority of states represented in Congress.
b. approval of two-thirds of the states represented in Congress.
c. unanimous consent of all 13 states represented in Congress.
d. approval of nine of the 13 of states represented in Congress.
3. The Second Continental Congress authorized the Philadelphia convention to
a. draft the new constitution.
b. create a new system of government for the United States.
c. revise the Articles of Confederation.
d. propose the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
4. The Philadelphia convention included delegates from
a. all 13 states. b. 9 of the 13 states.
c. a majority of the states and all of the new territories.
d. 12 of the 13 states.
5. The Virginia Plan
a. worked to the advantage of the more sparsely-populated states.
b. worked to the advantage of the more densely-populated states.
c. was a compromise to provide equal treatment of the more sparsely- and denselypopulated states.
d. was never seriously discussed at the Philadelphia convention.
6. The Great Compromise proposed
a. a unicameral legislature in which each state would have one vote.
b. the end of slavery in all but the southern states.
c. a bicameral legislature.
d. both b and c.
7. The Federalists advocated a
a. return to British rule.
b. return to the Articles of Confederation.
c. strong central government and the new Constitution.
d. strong state government system.
8. The Anti-Federalists advocated
a. return to British rule.
b. strong central government and the new Constitution.
c. the elimination of the state governments.
d. opposition to the Constitution.
9. Separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and specific denials of power
to government such as those in the Bill of Rights may be viewed as efforts to
a. vest government with sufficient authority to govern efficiently.
b. prevent the arbitrary exercise of governmental power - that is, to promote limited
government.
c. prevent the national government from taking over the power of the states.
d. to force George III to capitulate to the American colonists’ demands before they
declared their independence.
10. The guarantee of _________________________ in the Constitution requires that a
jailer must bring an arrested before a magistrate (judge) who then decides whether
there is sufficient cause to detain him or her.
a. bills of attainder b. ex post facto laws c. writ of habeas corpus
d. none of these
11. Amendments to the United States Constitution must be ratified by
a. a majority vote of the people.
b. a two-thirds vote of Congress.
c. legislatures or conventions in three-fourths of the states.
d. two-thirds of state conventions called by Congress for this purpose.
12. The formal amendment process for the U.S. Constitution allows
a. an easy two-step procedure that has resulted in numerous changes to the
document.
b. a difficult procedure that makes amendments unlikely.
c. Congress to alter the Constitution without the approval of the states.
d. the president to veto all proposed amendments.
13. The issue of citizenship (whether a person was a citizen of the United States and
therefore a citizen of the state in which he or she resided or whether a state could
deny citizenship) was settled by which of the following means?
a. formal constitutional amendment b. judicial decision c. legislation
d. none of these
14. Which of the following areas, being unclear under the language of the Constitution,
has been clarified primarily by judicial interpretation?
a. whether it is the president’s or Congress’ power to determine whether the United
States will become involved in an armed conflict overseas
b. what forms of speech are protected by the 1st Amendment
c. whether the manufacture, sale, transport or importation of intoxicating liquors in or
into the United States was illegal
d. all of the above
15. Which amendment provided that “no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or
property without due process of law”?
a. 1st
b. 13th
c. 14th
d. 27th
16. As drafted by the Philadelphia convention in 1787, the Constitution divided powers
among three branches of government because
a. the founding fathers wanted to ensure plenty of important positions for
themselves.
b. separation of powers would serve to limit the power of the government and
therefore protect individual rights.
c. the founding fathers lacked the practical experience to recognize the
awkwardness of the system they had created.
d. this is the most efficient way to organize government.
17. The constitutional principle of checks and balances allows the
a. president to veto congressional acts.
b. president to veto judicial decisions.
c. president to pass laws during a time of crisis.
d. Congress the power to select justices of the Supreme Court.
18. Which of the following statements BEST characterizes the principle of separation
of powers under the U.S. Constitution?
a. Legislative, executive, and judicial powers are separated exercised by three
independent branches of government.
b. The three levels of government in the American system (national, state, and local)
all have separate and unrelated areas of autonomous power.
c. Democrats should either control the Congress or the presidency while the
Republicans control the other -- but neither should control both at the same time.
d. Each state has sovereignty to control the activities within its own borders.
19. Constitutionally dividing governmental powers between the states and the national
government is referred to as
a. dual legitimacy.
b. egalitarianism.
c. federalism.
d. separation of powers.
20. According to our in-class discussions, the United Nations is an example of a
a. communist system.
b. strong unitary system.
c. confederal system.
d. none of these.
21. The Bill of Rights was important to ratification of the Constitution because
a. all of the state constitutions had such rights and would have made the U.S.
Constitution void.
b. several important states would not have voted to ratify the Constitution had the
Federalists been unwilling to guarantee such amendments.
c. such rights were stipulated in the Articles of Confederation.
d. without a formal statement guaranteeing the rights of Americans the state
governments could have openly abridged the rights of citizens.
22. James Madison drafted the Bill of Rights
a. without input from any other members of Congress.
b. from over 200 state recommendations.
c. prior to the Philadelphia convention.
d. in order to protect state governments from civil lawsuits.
23. The Bill of Rights originally limited
a. the power of the central government.
b. the power of the state governments.
c. the rights of the people in each state.
d. both the power of the central government and the state governments.
24. Opponents of the Constitution in the late 1780s demanded inclusion of the Bill of
Rights because they feared abuse of power by
a. the national government. b. the state governments. c. local governments.
d. government at all levels.
25. Since Texas became a state of the United States in 1845, Texans have been
governed by five constitutions. The constitution currently in effect was ratified by
voters in
a. 1975 b. 1869 c. 1876 d. 1961
26. Which of the following best describes the Texas Constitution of 1876?
a. short b. general c. frequently amended. d. all of the above.
27. The 1876 Texas Constitution is
a. statute-like. b. well organized.
c. brief.
d. all of the above.
28. The 1876 Texas Constitution established an executive branch which is
a. singular. b. plural. c. strongly centralized. d. all of the above.
29. Since 1876, the Texas Constitution has been amended approximately _____ times.
a. 25 b. 100 c. 250 d. 380
30. Annual salaries for members of the Texas legislature are
a. $7,200.
b. set in the state’s constitution.
c. supplemented by a per diem allowance when the legislature is in session.
d. all of the above.
31. Amending the Texas Constitution requires
a. a 2/3 vote of both chambers of the legislature to propose the amendment and a
simple majority vote of the people to ratify.
b. a simple majority vote of both chambers of the legislature to propose the
amendment and a 2/3 vote of the people to ratify.
c. a finding by the United States Supreme Court that the amendment does not
contradict any provisions of the United States Constitution.
d. none of these.
32. In a unitary system of government, the ultimate government authority is the
a. national or central government. b. state or provincial government.
c. local or city government. d. none of these.
33. According to Article I, sec. 8:18 of the Constitution, Congress has the power to make
all laws
a. that it considers to be necessary and proper.
b. that promote the general welfare.
c. that are necessary and proper to carry out the powers expressly delegated to the
national government.
d. that it danged well pleases.
34. Dividing governmental powers between the states and the national government is
referred to as
a. dual legitimacy. b. egalitarianism. c. federalism. d. separation of powers.
35. The idea that state governments reserve any powers not delegated by the
Constitution to the national government is found in the
a. 10th Amendment. b. Article 1, sec. 8:18. c. Article VI, par. 2.
d. the Preamble.
36. The constitutional provision referred to in question #35 reflects
a. the political philosophy of the Anti-Federalists.
b. the political philosophy of the Federalists.
c. the political philosophy of Alexander Hamilton.
d. the wisdom of preventing politics from affecting constitution-writing.
37. The implied delegated powers of the national government
a. are limited by the decisions of the state governments.
b. are specifically mentioned in Article II, section 6.
c. give elasticity to our constitutional system.
d. restrict Congress from passing legislation that is not specifically delegated in the
Constitution.
38. In McCulloch v Maryland (1819), Chief Justice John Marshall argued that
a. the Constitution was highly specific and mentioned all permissible powers of
Congress.
b. the states can countermand an act of Congress if the act isn’t based on any
specific grant of authority in the Constitution.
c. the necessary and proper clause was irrelevant to the case.
d. Congress has the power to enact laws, which are necessary and proper to carry
out its expressly delegated powers.
39. When Chief Justice Roger Taney wrote (in Dred Scott v Sanford, 1857) that the
Constitution “speaks not only in the same words, but with the same meaning and
same intent as when it came from the hands of the framers,” he was
1. interpreting the Constitution broadly.
2. interpreting the Constitution flexibly.
3. interpreting the Constitution strictly.
4. reflecting his Federalist political philosophy.
5. reflecting his Democratic-Republican political philosophy.
a. 1 and 4 b. 2 and 5 c. 3 and 5 d. 1, 2, and 4
40. In the case of MCCULLOCH V MARYLAND, broad constructionists contended that
a. Congress is limited in its use of power to those powers that are expressly
mentioned in the Constitution.
b. Congress did not have the power to establish the Bank of the United States.
c. Congress had passed legislation that violated the Constitution, and therefore the
Supreme Court must declare the law unconstitutional.
d. none of these.
41. Which provision declares the supremacy of the Constitution and all laws made in
pursuance of the Constitution?
a. Article I b. Article II c. Article VI, par. 2 d. 10th Amendment
42. Roger Taney’s interpretation of federalism assumed
a. states’ right to secede from the Union.
b. federal and state laws affected each other as co-equals; that the national
government and the states were “dual sovereign.”
c. concurrent national and state control over education.
d. southern states’ right to maintain slavery.
43. The national government’s power to declare war, to regulate interstate commerce,
and to coin money are examples of ____________ delegated powers.
a. implied b. inherent
c. expressly d. reserved
44. Which prominent 19th century doctrine assumed that individual states could declare
a law made by Congress void within its borders?
a. the Monroe Doctrine b. dual federalism c. nullification d. national federalism
45. In the case MISSOURI V HOLLAND [1920], the Supreme Court ruled that the act of
Congress establishing closed hunting seasons and other rules was
a. constitutional because the justices were conservationists and believed that it
was the government’s duty to protect endangered species.
b. unconstitutional because the Constitution does not specifically delegate these
powers to Congress and are therefore powers that are reserved to the states.
c. constitutional because the Constitution gives Congress the power to make any
laws it believes are “necessary and proper” for the nation.
d. constitutional because the Constitution gives Congress the power to make laws
that are “necessary and proper” to give effect to the president’s treaty-making
power.
46. According to the web article, “Republic of Texas’ Facts, Goals, and Tactics Are
Highly Questionable,” constitutions are ultimately political documents, as well as
legal documents, because
a. politicians write them.
b. they reflect a consensus among members of a political community about how
they want to organize their governmental affairs.
c. they “legalize” or condone corrupt activities by elected officials.
d. none of these.
47. According to the author of the web article, “Republic of Texas’ Facts, Goals, and
Tactics Are Highly Questionable,” the Republic of Texas’s argument that Texas was
illegally annexed by the United States in 1845 is incorrect and irrelevant because
a. the United States may annex new territory even though the U.S. Constitution
does not specifically give the government that authority.
b. Texans in the 1840s sought to be annexed by the United States; they were not
annexed against their will.
c. generations of Texans since 1845 have behaved as American citizens.
d. all of these.
48. The idea that government can be used as a “positive tool” to address social,
economic, and other concerns facing a community is MOST consistent with which of
Elazar’s three culture types?
a. moralistic b. individualistic c. traditionalistic d. liberal
49. According to Elazar, which culture types are apparent in Texas?
1. moralistic 2. individualistic 3. traditionalistic 4. liberal 5. conservatism
a. 1 and 2 b. 2 and 3 c. 1, 2, and 3 d. 2, 3, 4, and 5
50. Elazar explains geographical patterns of culture types in terms of immigration.
Given Texas’ dominant culture type, from where is it reasonable to conclude that
most of the state’s early Anglo-American settlers came?
a. Europe b. the American South c. England d. New England
51. The view that government’s primary role is to encourage economic development and
access to the private marketplace is characteristic of which of Elazar’s culture types?
a. moralistic b. individualistic c. traditionalistic d. liberal
52. Which group of states would Elazar’s culture scheme predict to have the highest
levels of voter turnout on average?
a. the northern states
b. the middle Atlantic states
c. the southern states
d. the Pacific coast states
53. According to your text, a model of federalism in which national, state, and local
governments work together exercising common policy responsibilities is known as
a. state-centered federalism.
b. dual federalism.
c. cooperative federalism.
d. centralized federalism.
54. According to your text, “new federalism” under President Reagan forced the state
and local governments to
a.
b.
c.
d.
hire people just to write grants and apply from multiple sources.
review their funding priorities and focus on basic needs.
rely more on their own sources of revenue and less upon federal money.
be more creative in budget building and seeking better bond ratings.
55. According to your text, Congress began providing cash grants to the states from
money that the national government collected from
a. toll road revenues.
b. tariffs on exports.
c. income taxes.
d. interstate commerce.
56. According to your text, the single most important source of national government
influence over the activities of state and local governments is
a. the national transportation system.
b. a national welfare system for mothers with children.
c. grants-in-aid.
d. civil rights legislation.
57. A grant for a specific, narrow project is a
a. categorical grant.
b. block grant.
c. formula grant.
d. general revenue sharing grant.
58. With block grants, state and local governments have
a. to follow a lengthy list of requirements in deciding how to spend federal funds.
b. fairly wide discretion in deciding how to spend federal funds within a functional
area.
c. Specific guidelines to determine items which can be purchased with funds from
block grants.
d. Little discretion in deciding on which projects to spend federal funds.
59. According to your text, direct order to state and local governments to perform a
particular activity or service or to obey federal laws in the performance of their
functions are known as
a. federal cajoling.
b. federal mandates.
c. federal guidelines.
d. legalized extortion.
60. The power of a local government to pass laws affecting local affairs, so long as they
don’t conflict with federal or state laws, is known as
a. home rule.
b. general law.
c. intergovernmental rule
d. local law.
61. The principle that holds that local governments are creations of state governments
and that their powers and responsibilities are defined by the state is known as
a. Dullard’s Rule.
b. Dillon’s Rule.
c. Gideon’s Rule.
d. Cooley’s Corollary.
62. A form of city government that gives the mayor considerable power, including
budgetary control and appointment and removal authority over city department
heads is the
a. weak mayor.
b. strong mayor.
c. city commission.
d. council-manager.
63. A form of city government in which policy is set by an elected city council, which
hires a professional administrator to run most city departments is referred to as
a. weak mayor.
b. strong mayor.
c. city commission.
d. council-manager.
64. A method for a city to borrow money to pay for new construction projects is
a. regressive taxes.
b. general obligation bonds.
c. revenue bonds.
d. infrastructure bonds.
65. A major source of revenue for city governments in Texas is the local
a. poll tax.
b. excise tax.
c. luxury tax.
d. property tax.