Multiple Choice AP Government Practice Exam
Constitutional Underpinnings
Mr. Wood
1. The Constitutional Convention sought to replace the Articles of Confederation because they
a. created a large central government.
b. guaranteed a separation of powers.
c. failed to provide for state’s rights.
d. didn’t have the ability to tax and provide for common defense.
e. favored larger state over smaller ones.
2. A pivotal event that symbolized the problems with the Articles of Confederation and demonstrated the
need to reform the Articles was
a. Bacon’ Rebellion
b. Shay’s Rebellion
c. Nat Turners Rebellion
d. the failure of all states to send troops for defense against a new British attack
e. a national tax to help pay the debt incurred by the Revolutionary War
3. The Anti-Federalists’ opposition to the Constitution was predicated on the belief that a strong central
government would
a. empower the general public and undermine government officials
b. create states that were free to act in their own interests
c. not be an effective way to deal with other nations
d. strip states and individuals of their rights and the authority to make laws
e. all of the above
4. The Constitution differs from the Declaration of Independence in that it does not focus on the individual
rights of the governed, but rather on
a. the rights of the government
b. the synthesis of government and the citizen
c. the structure and the function of government
d. the promotion of a republican system
e. the reduction of state government authority
5. The primary economic failure of the Articles of Confederation was that
a. national debt needed to be paid off by the individual states
b. Congress could not collect taxes
c. there was no system for states to pay back their debts
d. individuals were taxed directly by the national government
e. there was no money to fund state militias
6. The commerce clause expands Congress’s power because it gives the national legislature the
authority to
a. collect taxes from individual citizens
b. collect taxes from private businesses
c. nationalize certain legislative pay
d. supersede state law by regulating interstate trade
e. own certain industries
7. The constitutional power that allows Congress to expand its legislative power is the
a. supremacy clause
b. necessary and proper clause
c. take care clause
d. commerce clause
e. Santa and Mrs. Clause
8. Historically, the most frequent method for amending the Constitution has been for
a. two-thirds of the states to request a constitutional convention to ratify a new amendment
b. a two-thirds vote in Congress to followed by ratification in three-fourths of the state legislatures
c. three-fourths of special state constitutional conventions to ratify a new amendment
d. a three-fourths vote in congress to followed by ratification in two-thirds of the state legislatures
e. a two thirds vote by congress and then approval by three-fourths of the states at a constitutional
convention
9. The judicial branch’s primary power in the checks and balances system is
a. declaring laws and executive branch actions unconstitutional
b. overseeing impeachment trials for high-ranking government officials
c. consulting on the legality of legislation and executive orders
d. having original jurisdiction over international treaties
e. overseeing the function of the lower courts
10. As part of the checks and balance system Congress has the power to
a. nominate top executive appointments
b. nominate all federal judges
c. create international treaties
d. confirm all federal judges
e. Both b and d
11. All tax legislation must start in
a. the Senate
b. the executive branch
c. the state legislatures
d. the Treasury
e. The House of Representatives
12. The New Jersey Plan, an alternative to the Virginia Plan, received states’ rights support because it
a. created an independent judiciary
b. created a power executive branch
c. maintained representation based on the population of the state
d. maintained the one state-one vote structure that existed under the Articles of the Confederation
e. placed financial responsibility for taxation up the states.
13.Pluralist theory contends that in the United States
a. the many members of Congress dominate a singular official such as the president.
b. many groups vie for power with no one set of groups dominating.
c. society is governed solely by an upper-class elite.
d. most citizens fail to pay attention to serious issues.
e. too many influential groups cripple government's ability to govern.
14. Informal changes to the Constitution have come about as a result of all of the following EXCEPT
a. tradition.
b. constitutional amendments.
c. congressional legislation.
d. judicial interpretation.
e. custom
15. Federalism is
a. a system of shared power by the state and national governments.
b. a three-branch government with a system of checks and balances.
c. sole government authority in the national government.
d. sole government authority in the states.
e. the same as unitary government.
16. All of the following apply to federal grants EXCEPT
a. categorical grants.
b. federal guidelines.
c. block grants.
d. shared administration.
e. federal funding with no strings attached
17. The principle of the supremacy of federal law over state law was affirmed in
a. the Tenth Amendment.
b. McCulloch v. Maryland.
c. United States v. Lopez.
d. Marbury v. Madison.
e. the presidential election of 1800.
18 Federal laws regulating food and drugs are examples of:
a. constitutionally specified powers
b. reserved powers
c. categorical grants
d. expressed powers
e. implied powers
19. A birth certificate issued in one state is valid in all states under the constitutional provision of
a. national licensure.
b. separation of powers.
c. national supremacy.
d. privileges and immunities.
e. full faith and credit.
20. Unfunded mandates pose a significant burden to states because
a. federal polies are attached to mandates that states may have to fund entirely
b. states will have administer policies that they might object to
c. states often have no choice but to accept rules the mandates impose
d. they reduce state authority
e. all of the above
21. The government designed at the Constitutional Convention allowed the voters to directly elect
A. the president and all members of Congress.
B. only the Senate.
C. only the president.
D. only the House of Representatives.
E. both the House and Senate.
22. The primary intent of the Tenth Amendment is that
A. national laws override state laws when there is a conflict between the two.
B. states have certain powers that are reserved for them.
C. state legislatures have the ultimate authority to determine what a state government's powers are.
D. both the states and national government are bound by the limitations in the Bill of Rights.
E. the national government can take control of a state government during a national emergency.
23. The amendment that applies the rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights to state law is the
A. Tenth
B. Thirteenth
C. Fourteenth
D. Sixteenth
E. seventeenth
24. The political philosopher who influenced the Declaration of Independence more than anyone else is
A. Hobbs
B. Montesquieu
C. Rousseau
D. Locke
E. Hume
25. All of these are advantages of federalism EXCEPT:
A. it reduces the amount of experimentation on public policy
B. it allows customization of policies for local needs.
C. it increases access to government.
D. it allows more opportunities for political participation.
E. it allows for a greater diversity of opinion to be reflected in public policies.
1. d
2. b
3. d
4. c
5. b
6. d
7. b
8. b
9. a
10. d
11. e
12. d
13. b
14. b
15. a
16. e
17. b
18. e
19. e
20. e
21. d
22. b
23. c
24. d
25. a