Quiz questions for presentation 11 – Arizona Statehood and Constitution
Multiple Choice
1. What event led to war with Mexico?
a) American occupation of the Rio Grande valley.
b) A desire to acquire the mines of Northern Arizona.
c) The Annexation of Texas.
d) The growing number of illegal Mexican immigrants
Answer C – The border between Texas and Mexico was unclear. The US declared war to
force a favorable settlement.
2. The reason for the Gadsden purchase was
a) The mining wealth south of the Gila river.
b) To make possible a southern transcontinental railroad route.
c) A desire for more slave territory.
d) That many Americans had already settled there.
Answer B – The railroad route follows to path of the Mormon Battalion through Arizona,
and the railroad lobby ensured the border was north of the Sea of Cortez to prevent
development of an American port there.
3. President Taft rejected the Arizona constitution because of its provision that allowed
for
a) The coinage of silver.
b) Female suffrage.
c) The recall of judges.
d) Progressive labor laws
Answer C – The legislature rewrote the constitution taking judicial recall out to get a
draft he would approve. Once statehood was granted, the first election put the judicial
recall provision back in the constitution.
4. What is the primary impact of the indigenous population on state government?
a) The sizeable percentage of voters they represent.
b) The amount of non-taxable land controlled by native communities.
c) The amount of tax revenue derived from Indian gaming.
d) The high levels of unemployment in their communities.
Answer B – Large portions of the state are under tribal sovereignty and are unavailable
for taxation or development.
5. The hierarchy of laws provision in the Arizona constitution means that
a) Federal law supercedes state law, and state law supercedes local law.
b) The state reserves the right to nullify federal laws it does not agree with.
c) Cities and Counties are granted “Home rule,” meaning they can make laws that
supercede state law within their boundaries.
d) Local laws must be approved by the state legislature, and state law must be approved
by the national legislature.
Answer A – The constitution recognizes the US constitution as supreme and sets forth the
parameters for city and county ordinances.
Essay Question
Explain the impact of progressivism on the constitution of the state.
Discussion Questions
The AZ legislature is considering forming a committee that would nullify any federal law
it does not agree with. While such a provision violates both the state and federal
constitutions, the public debate on it has centered on whether or not it is a waste of
legislator’s time. Is this setting a dangerous precedent, or an understandable form of
protest against federal encroachment?
The Arizona constitution is amended by voter proposition in almost every election. Does
the ease with which it is changed reduce its importance as a constitution?
Links
Short Summary of Arizona History
http://www.city-data.com/states/Arizona-History.html
Time line of Arizona History
http://www.shgresources.com/az/timeline/
Arizona Constitution – Hyperlink Version
http://www.azleg.gov/Constitution.asp