question

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political subunits is called a

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federal system

question

The expression "layer cake federalism" describes a system in which

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the authority of the state and federal governments is more distinct and easily delineated

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Which of the following is NOT an enumerated power granted to Congress under the U.S. Constitution?

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c. To provide for the welfare of citizens

question

Powers explicitly delegated to the Congress under Article I of the U.S. Constitution are referred to as

answer

enumerated powers

question

What was the name of the landmark case that concluded when a state supreme court's decision is in direct conflict with a decision by the United States Supreme Court, each state legislature must abide by those rulings?

answer

Martin v. Hunter's Lessee

question

The passage of the National Minimum Drinking Age Amendment is an example of

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a coercive burden on states that rely on federal funding

question

In one state, the civil court settles a dispute concerning assets in the estate of a deceased person. The one who loses the case in civil court cannot go into another state and have that state's civil court revisit the case. This is an example of

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an application of the full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution

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Constitutional powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments are called

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concurrent powers

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The power to coin money is an example of Congress'

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enumerated power

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If one state does not have a death penalty, can that state refuse to return a fugitive to face a possible death penalty in another state?

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No, states must respect and uphold the extradition laws of other states

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Devolution is a term that is used to describe a system of federalism in which

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the central government voluntarily transfers power to state and local governments.

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"Marble Cake Federalism" is a system in which

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state and federal authority is intertwined in an inseparable mixture.

question

The power to register voters and conduct elections is an example of a(n)

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reserved power

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In a system of federalism, in which sovereign government does the individual hold citizenship?

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The individual is a citizen of both the state and the national government.

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When the Congress exercises power given to it under Article I, the federal law it creates may supersede a state law. This process is known as the doctrine of

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preemption.

question

Article I of the U.S. Constitution grants that Congress has the power to make laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out its duties. What is the meaning of this statement?

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Congress has implied powers that are not expressly stated in the Constitution

question

The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that

answer

any powers not expressly given to Congress are reserved to the states

question

During the first 30 years or so of the new constitutional democracy in the United States, what was the relationship between the states and the new federal government?

answer

The states managed their own affairs with little interference from the federal government.

question

During the administrations of George Washington, and John Adams,

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the federal government cautiously but consistently increased its powers and reach

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According to Article IV, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, when a fugitive from one state is apprehended in another state, that state must

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extradite (return) the prisoner to the original state for disposition

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Individuals in the U.S. have official status as citizens

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in both the state in which they reside and in the nation as a whole

question

The doctrine of "nullification" was all the following, except

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a reaction to the fugitive slave law

question

In the U.S. Constitution, powers that are not expressly given to the national government but are retained by the states are called

answer

reserved powers

question

What generally happens with federal power during major economic depressions or world wars?

answer

The powers of the federal government usually increase and state prerogatives decrease

question

England has a strong elected Parliament that serves as the central government. All local governments are subordinate to Parliament. This governmental arrangement is an example of a

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unitary system

question

From a state's perspective, a positive aspect of cooperative federalism is

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grants-in-aid and block grant funds.

question

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution contains the supremacy clause provides that

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no state laws or constitutions may override the U.S. Constitution

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A confederation form of government

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may be a league of independent states that voluntarily unite to achieve certain goals.

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The underlying concept behind the principle of separation of powers is that

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when power is not exercised by the same institution, it cannot be easily abused

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The power of the United States Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of an act of Congress was established in

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Marbury v. Madison

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One of the core principles of the U.S. Constitution is popular sovereignty, which means that the

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people are ultimately in charge of their political and social destiny

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Madison declared that a federal system allows the states the ability to counter "ambitious encroachments of the federal government" in

answer

Federalist No. 46

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Hamilton argues that the judiciary is the weakest branch of the government in

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Federalist No. 78

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Madison explains how the many different parts of the government and its attendant "multiplicity of interests" significantly reduces the chance of a majority oppression of individuals or minorities in

answer

Federalist No. 51

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Under the Articles of Confederation the number of votes each state cast in the U.S. Congress was

answer

one vote for each state delegation regardless of population

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An important aspect of the American constitutional arrangement, which distributes powers between two levels of government (state and federal), is called

answer

federalism

question

The U.S. Constitution allows some powers while denying others. Such explicitly stated powers are referred to as

answer

enumerated powers

question

What was the significance of Shays's Rebellion in Massachusetts in early 1787?

answer

A weak federal government carried the danger of violence and disorder

question

The primary purpose of the system of checks and balances is

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to ensure that no one interest or faction could easily dominate the government

question

The Great Compromise provided for a

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a bicameral legislature, one house elected by the people and the second state legislatures

question

The Constitutional Convention that convened in Philadelphia in May 1787 had as its original and stated purpose the

answer

amendment of the Articles of Confederation

question

What has been the most common method used to amend the U.S. Constitution?

answer

2/3rds of both chambers of Congress, then ratified by 3/4ths of state legislatures

question

Unlike our current constitution, the Articles of Confederation could be amended

answer

only with the unanimous consent of the states

question

Hamilton attacked the Articles of Confederation based on the impossibility of governing if each state is essentially sovereign in

answer

Federalist No. 15

question

At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the Federalists

answer

were in favor of a strong central government and ratification of the new constitution

question

With the original Constitution completed on September 17, 1787, how many states were needed to ratify the new governmental in order for it to become operative?

answer

Nine

question

The wording of the Declaration of Independence drew heavily upon John Locke's theories of

answer

natural rights and social contract

question

The most effective complaint raised by the Anti-Federalists against the proposed Constitution in 1788 was the

answer

lack of a bill of rights to protect individuals against government abuses

question

In opposition to the recommendations of the Virginia delegates during the Constitutional Convention, the New Jersey Plan advocated a single-chamber legislature with

answer

equal representation among the states regardless of population.

question

Under the Articles of Confederation, the office of chief executive as president of the United States

answer

did not actually exist

question

During the Constitutional Convention, the Virginia Plan called for a two-chamber legislature in which recommended that

answer

number of representatives in each chamber should be based on the state's population

question

The Sugar Act of 1764 placed tariffs and duties on goods imported into the colonies by England. However, its political significance was that

answer

it opened the debate by the colonists of taxation without representation

question

The Virginia Plan provided for a

answer

bicameral legislature, one house elected by the people and a second selected by the first

question

The concept of strict construction requires that the Constitution

answer

may only be changed by the formal amendment process

question

The Declaratory Act was passed to make clear the principle that the

answer

king and Parliament had final authority over the colonies

question

"Separation of powers" is an application of the political philosophy of

answer

Montesquieu

question

On behalf of the Continental Congress, the draft of the Declaration of Independence was written primarily by

answer

Thomas Jefferson

question

The concept of individualism is a collective American value meaning that

answer

citizens are primarily responsible for their lot in life

question

A(n) ______ is a form of government in which a small exclusive class holds supreme power.

answer

oligarchy

question

The extent to which the people afford government the authority to exercise power is referred to as:

answer

legitimacy

question

Political philosopher Thomas Hobbes believed that the essence of government is to

answer

manage naturally occurring conflicts.

question

Which of the following terms best describes Hobbes's image of society without government?

answer

Brutish

question

John Locke purposed that ______ law superseded any law made by government.

answer

natural

question

Who determines public policies in an indirect democracy?

answer

The representatives

question

In policy development the majority rule is very much dependent upon

answer

public opinion

question

How does a direct democracy work?

answer

All members of the public meet to discuss policy and make decisions

question

That "the will of people" ought to guide public policy is a concept that is defined as

answer

majority rule

question

__________is a collection of public institutions in a nation that establish and enforce the rules by which the members of that nation must live.

answer

Government

question

John Locke argued that the basis for government, or human laws, is

answer

on the consent of the governed

question

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an eighteenth-century French philosopher, posited that

answer

social contracts are a fact

question

__________ is a state of lawlessness and discord in the political system caused by lack of government.

answer

Anarchy.

question

Which of the following accurately describes an indirect democracy?

answer

Representatives of the people are chosen by ballot

question

Representative democracy is often referred to as which of the following synonymous terms?

answer

republic

question

A form of government in which one person exercises supreme authority is a(n)

answer

absolute monarchy

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