question

The first written constitution for the United States was called:

answer

The Articles of Confederation

question

Under the United State's first constitution:

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There was no president

question

Under the Articles of Confederation, the relationship between the states and the federal government can be best compared to:

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United Nations relationship with its member states

question

As a Constitution, the Articles of Confederation were concerned primarily with:

answer

Limiting the powers of the central government

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As a constitution, the Articles of Confederation, it was left to the _________ to execute the laws passed by congress.

answer

Individual States

question

The Articles of Confederation were adopted in:

answer

November 1777

question

What was the purpose of the Annapolis Convention?

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To discuss the weakness of the Articles of Confederation

question

Shays' Rebellion was an attempt to:

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Prevent foreclosures on debt ridden land by keeping the county courts of West Massachusetts from sitting until the next election.

question

The 1787 convention to draft a new constitution was held in:

answer

Philadelphia

question

Which was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention?

answer

Rhode Island

question

Shays' Rebellion was significant because it:

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Proved the Government of the Confederation had become dangerously inefficient.

question

The Virginia Plan of the Constitutional Convention proposed a system of representation in the national legislature that was based upon:

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The population of each state/proportion of each state's revenue contribution/both

question

What did the New Jersey Plan propose for Congress?

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The creation of a bicameral Congress

question

"Bicameralism" is a constitutional principle that means:

answer

The division of Congress into 2 chambers

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James Madison believed that, in the Constitutional Convention, the greatest conflict of interests was between:

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The Northern and Southern states who opposed each other

question

What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?

answer

3 out of every 5 slaves would be counted for representation and taxation

question

Which of the following was a ramification of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

answer

Mended conflict between Northern Merchants and Southern Farmers--Political agreement between North and South--Constitution briefly supported slavery

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The system of shared powers, divided between a central government and the states, is called:

answer

A Federation

question

Only one-third of the Senate is up for re-election during any single election year, because the Framers believed that:

answer

The only way to protect the Senate against radical changes.

question

Judicial review is the power of:

answer

The courts to decide on constitutionality of actions taken by other branches

question

What is the term length of a Federal Judge?

answer

Life barring impeachment

question

To amend the Constitution requires a _______ vote by Congress, and approval by ______ of the states.

answer

A) 2/3 vote by Congress B) Approval of 3/4 of the states

question

The Supremacy Clause:

answer

Article VI of the Constitution--laws passed by national government and all treaties are "supreme law of the land" and superior to all adopted by any state or subdivision.

question

During the ratification debates, who were the Anti-Federalists?

answer

People who opposed the Constitution and preferred a federal system of Government that was decentralized--they wanted a weaker central government.

question

In the national debate over ratification of the new Constitution, the Federalists:

answer

Supported the ratification of the New Constitution--wanted a strong central government

question

The Federalists believed that the most apparent source of tyranny was:

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Popular majority

question

The Anti-Federalists argued that the powers of government should be limited by:

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Adding a Bill of Rights and limiting government powers

question

The Federalists believed that the powers of government should be limited by:

answer

Internal system of checks and controls with in government.

question

What aspect of citizenship was most important for the ancient Greeks:

answer

Talking and debating

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Citizenship may best be described as:

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Informed and active membership in a political community--more than just voting.

question

Government can best be defined as:

answer

Institutions and procedures by which a piece of territory and its people are ruled.

question

A government that accepts no legal limits on its power, but may accept the restraint of other social institutions, such as churches, is known as:

answer

Authoritarian Government

question

The willingness to be restrained by the power of social institutions, but not political or legal institutions, is a hallmark of a(n) ________ regime.

answer

Authoritarian

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A government that is formally limited by laws and rules is called:

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Constitutional

question

The key group in Europe that pushed for limited Government was:

answer

Bourgeoisie

question

Who described politics as, "who gets what, when, and how?"

answer

Harold Laswell

question

Direct Democracy is best defined as:

answer

Citizens vote directly on laws and policies

question

Throughout American history, the concept of liberty has been linked to the:

answer

Idea of limited government

question

The Bill of Rights is:

answer

The first 10 amendments of the Constitution

question

In American political culture, economic freedom means:

answer

Laissez Faire Capitalism

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A good example of an implied power under the Constitution is the _________ clause.

answer

Necessary and Proper

question

The full faith and credit clause of the constitution:

answer

Requires states to normally honor the public acts and legal decisions of another state.

question

The Privileges and Immunities Clause of Article IV is also known as the:

answer

Commity Clause

question

Which clause of the Constitution has been critical in allowing for the growth of national power?

answer

Commerce

question

The Bill of Rights was written because:

answer

Anti-Federalists: demanded one as a price for ratification of the Constitution

question

The constitutional basis for the nationalization of the BIll of Rights is:

answer

The 14th Amendment

question

The first and most famous test for determining when the government could intervene to suppress political speech was called the:

answer

Clear and present danger test

question

Miranda vs. Arizona (1966) was important because it produced the rules that must be used:

answer

By police before arresting a criminal suspect

question

The term, "eminent domain" describes:

answer

Power of government to take private property for public use

question

BONUS: Who is the author of The Island?

answer

Aldous Huxley

question

BONUS: What year was The Island published?

answer

1962

American Government–Test 1 – Flashcards

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