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
Test # _____
Version B
Exam #3
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. 46 items.
1. Which American document is the “supreme law of the land?”
a. The Declaration of Independence
b. The Articles of Confederation
c. The United States Constitution
d. Each of the fifty state constitutions
2. Under the Articles of Confederation, the United States was really a
a. single nation under a strong central government authority.
b. treaty organization among sovereign nations.
c. unitary system in which the individual states had no independent power from the
national government.
d. None of these.
3. The Federalists advocated a
a. strong state government system.
b. strong central government and the new Constitution.
c. return to the Articles of Confederation.
d. return to British rule.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. In a confederal 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.
7. 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.
8. In a federal political system, power is
a. concentrated in a unicameral legislature within a strong central government.
b. bestowed in the central government, with no power being granted to the
constituent governments.
c. always vested in a bicameral legislature.
d. shared between the central government and regional governments.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. What is the constitutional basis for Congress’ implied powers?
a. the doctrine of separation of powers b. the supremacy clause
c. the concept of checks and balances d. the necessary and proper clause
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. The constitutional provision referred to in question #14 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. A basic principle upheld in McCulloch v Maryland is that
1. the powers of the national government come from the people.
2. the national government has powers in addition to those expressly enumerated in
the Constitution.
3. the powers of the national government must be strictly limited to those expressly
enumerated in the Constitution.
4. ultimate political sovereignty rests with the states.
5. the national government has the power to do anything it wants.
a. 3 and 4 b. 1, 2, and 5 c. 2 only d. 3, 4, and 5
19. A broad constructionist would have contended in the case of MCCULLOCH V
MARYLAND 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.
20. In the case of MCCULLOCH V MARYLAND, strict constructionists would have
contended that
a. the national government had only those powers expressly delegated by the
Constitution.
b. Congress had the power to establish a national bank.
c. Congress can do whatever is needed in a time of crisis.
d. the national government is supreme and can act for the good and welfare of the
public.
21. 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
22. 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
23. 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.
24. The 10th Amendment states that the powers not delegated to the United States by
the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are
a. the sole authority of Congress.
b. the sole authority of the executive branch.
c. reserved to the central government.
d. reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
25. 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
26. 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
27. In our class discussion of federalism in the 19th century, we noted that the Civil War,
which was brought about in large part because of the South’s desire for increased
powers for the states, ironically resulted in
a. a compromise that allowed states to increase their powers in certain areas.
b. more state control of economic regulation.
c. an attempt to create a league of friendship of Northern states.
d. an increase in the political power of the national government.
28. According to our in-class discussions, the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution
means that
a. Congress cannot pass legislation that would contravene state laws.
b. the original Constitution is superior to any amendment.
c. the original states have a superior status than those created after 1789.
d. states cannot use their reserved powers to thwart legitimate national laws.
29. 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.
30. 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.
31.The amendment that provided that the states must also adhere to fundamental
guarantees of individual liberty is the
a. 1st Amendment.
b. 13th Amendment.
c. 14th Amendment.
d. 27th Amendment
32. The process whereby the U.S. Supreme Court has applied many of the protections
of the Bill of Rights to state and local governments is known as
a. the doctrine of judicial activism.
b. the doctrine of judicial protectionism.
c. the doctrine of selective incorporation.
d. the doctrine of national conformity.
33. 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.
34. 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
35. 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
36. 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
37. Which of the following would be consistent with a traditional political culture?
a. high levels of voter turnout b. high levels of benefits in welfare programs
c. strong third parties d. none of these
38. Which of the following is given the highest priority in an individualistic political
culture?
a. economic development b. quality of life values c. helping the poor
d. none of these
39. Which of the following statements correctly characterizes the fiscal dilemma of the
American federal system through much of the 20th century?
a. The burdens of government are mainly at the state and local levels while the
bounties of government are mainly at the national level.
b. The burdens of government are mainly at the national level while the bounties of
government are mainly at the state and local levels.
c. The national level has taken up the burdens of government while public opinion
indicates that the national government should stay out of local concerns.
d. The national government has refused to assist state and local governments in
dealing with substantial burdens.
40. Which type of program gives local governments the most discretion over how to
spend federal grant money?
a. categorical b. block c. formula d. revenue sharing
41. According to the Dye text, “new federalism” under President Reagan forced the state
and local governments to
a. hire people just to write grants and apply from multiple sources.
b. review their funding priorities and focus on basic needs.
c. rely more on their own sources of revenue and less upon federal money.
d. be more creative in budget building and seeking better bond ratings.
42. According to the Dye 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.
43. According to the Dye 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.
44. According to the videotaped program, “Can the States Do It Better?,” the tendency
during the 1980s and 1990s of state and local government to take over many of the
functions of the national government is known as
a. digression. b. devolution. c. framers’ intent. d. none of these.
45. 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.
46. According to the Dye text, direct orders 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.
PART II. TRUE or FALSE. INSTRUCTIONS: For each of the following statements,
mark “A” on your answer sheet to indicate the statement is true or “B” to indicate the
statement is false. 14 items.
47. According to the Dye text, most of the world’s governments are unitary.
48. The framers of the Constitution deliberately tried to reduce competition within and
among governmental units as a means of protecting liberty.
49. State and local governments often provide a “training ground” for national political
leaders.
50. With the ratification of the Constitution, the states gave up their power to tax and
spend to the national government in order to “promote the general welfare.”
51. Every state has at least one member in the U.S. House of Representatives,
regardless of its population.
52. Citizens of the United States indicate that they generally favor the national
government having the bulk of power.
53. Over the years, power in the federal system has flowed from the national level to the
state and local levels because the national government has had an exceedingly
difficult time raising tax revenues.
54. Participation in grant-in-aid programs by state and local governments is mandatory.
55. Most federal grant money is distributed to the states in the form of categorical
grants.
56. General revenue sharing was begun in 1986 as part of President Reagan’s effort to
enlarge the role of the national government.
57. According to the Dye text, regulations and mandates allow Congress to address
problems while pushing the costs onto others.
58. The 16th Amendment was important in the development of American federalism
because it gave the national government the authority to collect an income tax.
59. In MISSOURI V HOLLAND [1920], the Supreme Court ruled that the power to establish
hunting seasons and related regulations is a power that is reserved to the states by
the Constitution.
60. The decisions of the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall reflected an
Anti-Federalist/Democratic-Republican political philosophy.