US Hist & Gov – REGENTS Practice q’s
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1a Geography 2a Colonial Era 2b Formation of Government 2c Landmark Supreme Court Cases 2d Federalist Era 2e Age of Jackson 2f Manifest Destiny 2g Civil War 3a Reconstruction & Southern Redemption 3b Closing the West 3c Gilded Age 3d Granger & Populist Movements 3e Immigration 4a American Imperialism 4b Progressive Movement
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5a World War One 5b Red Scare 5c The Roaring 20's 5d Great Depression ; New Deal 6a World War Two 6b Cold War at Home ; McCarthyism 7a Cold War Foreign Policy 7b Civil Rights Movement 7d 1960's & The Great Society 7e Nixon and Watergate 7f Ford & Carter Presidencies 7g Reagan & New Federalism 7h 1990's ; The New World Order 7i Current Issues 8a Cross Topical
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FSOT: The Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Central Intelligence Agency arose as a result of conclusions drawn by policy makers in the aftermath of: World War II. the Korean War. Stalin's death. the East Berlin uprising of 1953.
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WWII
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FSOT:The military academies at West Point and Annapolis require candidates to obtain a nomination for admission from what U.S. government official? President Member of the Chief of Staff's office Federal district court or circuit court judge Congressional representative
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Congressional Representative
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FSOT: During the Clinton administration, the Congressional Black Caucus received credit for which of the following foreign policy actions? Establishing in New York City the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda Blocking the President's initiative to exclude Haiti from the North American Free Trade Agreement Pressuring the President to use force to restore the elected president of Haiti Increasing the priority assigned by the U.S. military to missions other than . . .
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Pressuring the President to use force to restore the elected president of Haiti
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FSOT: To justify military action without congressional approval, Presidents Harry S. Truman, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton relied on a resolution from which of the following organizations? Organization of American States North Atlantic Treaty Organization United Nations Security Council European Union
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United Nations Security Council (I said NATO)
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FSOT: The aphorism that the United States cannot have 535 Secretaries of State refers to the idea that Congress should defer to the President on foreign policy because it: has too great a diversity of views. is too isolationist. acts too slowly. is too committed to domestic issues.
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has too great a diversity of views.
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FSOT: The U.S. Constitution forbids national and state governments from enacting which of the following criminal statutes because it is retroactive and would work to the disadvantage of an individual? Bills of attainder Ex post facto laws Habeas corpus Exclusionary rule laws
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Ex post facto laws You answered Bill of Attainder
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what's the difference? An ex post facto law (Latin for "from after the action" or "after the facts") is a law that retroactively changes the legal consequences (or status) of actions that were committed, or relationships that existed, before the enactment of the law.
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A bill of attainder (also known as an act of attainder or writ of attainder or bill of pains and penalties) is an act of a legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without a trial. Both are prohibited by the constitution.
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FSOT: The Cabinet-level agency with primary responsibility for managing the federal resources of the United States, including national parks and American Indian lands, is the Department of: Commerce. Homeland Security. the Interior. Agriculture.
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the Interior.
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FSOT The War Powers Resolution places which of the following time limits on the U.S. President's commitment of troops to hostilities without congressional authorization? Fourteen days Sixty days Six months One year
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Sixty days
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FSOT: The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve was established in 1975 for the purpose of: stabilizing oil prices for U.S. consumers. providing emergency supplies in the event of disruption. providing storage in the event of domestic overproduction. creating an energy self-sufficient nation.
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providing emergency supplies in the event of disruption.
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FSOT: The decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Roe v. Wade was celebrated as a victory mostly for: the women's movement. single parents. the Catholic Church. the civil rights movement
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the women's movement.
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FSOT: Which doctor's influential book changed child-rearing practices after World War II? Dr. Alfred Kinsey Dr. Jonas Salk Dr. Benjamin Spock Dr. Carl Sagan
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Dr. Benjamin Spock
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FSOT: Which country is the world's largest illegal drug marketplace in terms of revenue? Holland The United States China The United Kingdom
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The United States
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FSOT: Which city is paired with the geographical feature that directly contributed to its growth? 1. San Francisco - Rocky Mountains 2. New Orleans - Mississippi River 3. Pittsburgh - Hudson River 4. Cleveland - Atlantic Coastal Plain
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The Mississippi River was a major trade route that transported goods from North to South. The Mississippi flows into the Gulf of Mexico which led to the development of the trading port city of New Orleans.
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FSOT: In 1998, a peace agreement resolved a longstanding border dispute between Ecuador and which of the following countries? Peru Venezuela Chile Brazil
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Peru
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FSOT: The largest numbers of Palestinian refugees reside in which of the following countries? Lebanon Jordan Turkey Iraq
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Jordan
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FSOT: One of the goals of behavioral economics is to: argue in favor of the efficient market hypothesis. develop a random-walk theory of stock market prices. study the role of non-rational impulses in economic decision making. predict future economic results based on past performance.
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study the role of non-rational impulses in economic decision making.
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FSOT: The number one trade partner of the United States is: Japan. China. Russia. Canada.
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Canada.
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TOP TRADING PARTNERS: (But whole EU is Bigger than Canada, China) 1 Canada 69.3 74.5 143.8 15.8% 2 China 28.1 110.5 138.7 15.2% 3 Mexico 57.1 69.9 127.0 13.9% 4 Japan 15.9 32.9 48.8 5.3% 5 Germany 12.5 29.2 41.7 4.6% 6 Korea, South 10.7 17.6 28.3 3.1% 7 United Kingdom 13.3 13.1 26.4 2.9% 8 France 7.6 11.1 18.7 2.0% 9 India 5.0 11.0 16.0 1.8%
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Taiwan 5.7 10.0 15.7 1.7% 11 Brazil 8.5 6.7 15.2 1.7% 12 Netherlands 10.4 4.4 14.8 1.6% 13 Italy 3.9 10.4 14.3 1.6% 14 Switzerland 6.1 7.4 13.5 1.5% 15 Belgium
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Top US Exporting Countries Total, Top 15 Countries 270.4 72.5% 1 Canada 69.3 18.6% 2 Mexico 57.1 15.3% 3 China 28.1 7.5% 4 Japan 15.9 4.3% 5 United Kingdom 13.3 3.6% 6 Germany 12.5 3.3% 7 Korea, South 10.7 2.9% 8 Netherlands 10.4 2.8% 9 Hong Kong 9.5 2.5%
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10 Brazil 8.5 2.3% 11 Belgium 8.4 2.3% 12 France 7.6 2.0% 13 Singapore 7.0 1.9% 14 Switzerland 6.1 1.6% 15 Australia
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Top US Importing Countries: Total, Top 15 Countries 422.5 78.3% 1 China 110.5 20.5% 2 Canada 74.5 13.8% 3 Mexico 69.9 12.9% 4 Japan 32.9 6.1% 5 Germany 29.2 5.4% 6 Korea, South 17.6 3.3% 7 United Kingdom 13.1 2.4% 8 France 11.1 2.1% 9 India 11.0 2.0%
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10 Italy 10.4 1.9% 11 Taiwan 10.0 1.9% 12 Ireland 8.9 1.7% 13 Vietnam 8.2 1.5% 14 Malaysia 7.7 1.4% 15 Switzerland
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FSOT: A contractor is installing carpet at a cost of $4 per square foot to finish a room that measures 35 feet by 40 feet. What is the total cost of the flooring? 1500 3000 5600 5650
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5600
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FSOT: In statistics, a graph that creates a bell curve is also called: a normal distribution. an asymmetrical distribution. a flat distribution. a Boltzmann distribution.
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a normal distribution.
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FSOT: What is the mean of the following set of data? 20.00, 6.00, 15.00, 22.00, 13.00, 9.00, 2.00, 20.00, 10.00 6.87 13 20 47.25
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13
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FSOT: Which type of motivation compels a person to do something because it is challenging and interesting? Intrinsic Peripheral External Cultural
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Intrinsic
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A tangible external reward may not always have the desired effect of increasing motivation. For example, if a parent promises money to a child for good grades: it will have an adverse effect on how much the child retains. it will put undue pressure on the child to perform well. the task of learning may become viewed as a chore. money may lose its significance to the child.
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the task of learning may become viewed as a chore.
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FSOT: Most journalists would prefer to use: partial quotes. identified sources. anonymous sources. off-the-record information.
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identified sources.
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FSOT: Which of the following is the most credible, key source of information about creative works in the public domain? Central Intelligence Agency Library of Congress U.S. Supreme Court Federal Register
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Library of Congress
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Federal Register
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a daily publication of the US federal government that issues proposed and final administrative regulations of federal agencies.
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FSOT: In an Internet chat room or in e-mails, a "flame war" typically describes what kind of group interaction? A vitriolic exchange of messages An attack on a group by outside hackers and the defense by the group An exchange of dangerous or suggestive video files An attempt to restrict e-mail privileges by senior members of a group
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A vitriolic exchange of messages
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FSOT: The technique of sending an e-mail message that poses as being from a legitimate business in order to obtain personal information is known as: freaking. double-blind data gathering. phishing. skimming.
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phishing.
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According to the 1990 census, which two areas of the United States include the most densely populated parts of the nation?
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the Northeast and southern California
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Which geographic advantage did the United States gain by purchasing the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803?
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full control of the Mississippi River
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Population data from the census of 2000 was used to determine the number of 1. states in the Union 2. Senators from each state 3. electoral college votes from each state 4. Supreme Court justices
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3. electoral college votes from each state
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Which group benefited most from the United States acquisition of the port of New Orleans? 1. farmers in the Ohio River Valley 2. Native American Indians in the Southwest 3. fur trappers in the Columbia River Valley 4. gold miners in northern California
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1. farmers in the Ohio River Valley
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Which geographic factor had the greatest influence on early patterns of industrialization in the United States? 1. scarcity of flat land on which to build factories 2. shortages of timber and coal 3. desire of workers to live in mild climates 4. availability of waterpower to operate machines
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4. availability of waterpower to operate machines
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Which type of map shows the most detailed information about Earth's natural features, such as rivers, lakes, and mountain ranges? 1. political 2. demographic 3. weather 4. physical
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4. physical
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Which region of the United States is correctly paired with an industry that is dominant in that region? 1. Southwest — timber 2. Pacific Northwest — citrus crops 3. Great Plains — grain crops 4. Atlantic Coastal Plain — iron mining
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3. Great Plains — grain crops
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In the early 1800's, the need for a water route to help farmers ship their products to market was one reason for the 1. Gadsden Purchase 2. Louisiana Purchase 3. Mexican Cession 4. Missouri Compromise
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2. Louisiana Purchase
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Acquiring New Orleans as part of the Louisiana Purchase was considered important to the development of the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys because the city 1. provided protection from attacks by the Spanish 2. provided migrant workers for river valley farms 3. served as a port for American agricultural goods 4. served as the cultural center for the nation
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3. served as a port for American agricultural goods
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Since the late 1700s, the Mississippi River has been a vital waterway because it 1. divided the northern territories from the southern territories 2. allowed American farmers direct access to Canadian markets 3. connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean 4. provided farmers and merchants an outlet to the Gulf of Mexico
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4. provided farmers and merchants an outlet to the Gulf of Mexico
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In the Colonial Era, developments such as the New England town meetings and the establishment of the Virginia House of Burgesses represented 1. colonial attempts to build a strong national government 2. efforts by the British to strengthen their control over the colonies 3. steps in the growth of representative democracy 4. early social reform movements
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Salutary Neglect During the period known as "salutary neglect" the English inattention to the colonies allowed for the development of self-rule as expressed through the examples provided.
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The writings of John Locke and other authors of the Enlightenment expressed the idea of "The Consent of the Governed".
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Rousseau also maintained that a "Social Contract" existed between government and the governed and when government failed to protect rights, a revolution was in order.
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"The only representatives of the people of these colonies are persons chosen therein by themselves; and that no taxes ever have been, or can be constitutionally imposed on them but by their respective legislatures." -Statement by the Stamp Act Congress, 1765 What is a valid conclusion that can be drawn from this quotation? 1. The colonial legislatures should be appointed by the English King with the consent of Parliament. 2. Only the colonists' elected representatives should have the power to levy taxes. 3. The English King should have the right to tax the colonists. 4. The colonists should be opposed to all taxation.
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This idea gave rise to the call for "no taxation without representation", a reaction to the fact that English Parliament taxed the colonists, yet gave them no representation in Parliament. This point became a key factor in bringing on the American Revolution.
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The Mayflower Compact is important to the concept of a democratic society because it represents 1. an effort by the colonists to use force to resist the King 2. a clear step toward self-government 3. an early attempt to establish universal suffrage 4. an attempt by the colonists to establish freedom of religion
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2. a clear step toward self-government
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The Mayflower Compact, House of Burgesses, and Fundamental Orders of Connecticut are all examples of the efforts of colonial Americans to 1. use democratic practices in government 2. protest British land policies 3. establish religious freedom 4. overthrow British royal governors
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1. use democratic practices in government
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Fundamental Orders of Connecticut The Fundamental Orders were adopted by the Connecticut Colony council on January 15, 1639. The orders describe the government set up by the Connecticut River towns, setting its structure and powers.
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It has the features of a written constitution, and is considered by some as the first written Constitution in the Western tradition,[3] and thus earned Connecticut its nickname of The Constitution State. It was a Constitution for the colonial government of Hartford and was similar to the government Massachusetts had set up. However, this Order gave men more voting rights and made more men eligible to run for elected positions.
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"It is not the cause of one poor printer, nor of New York alone, which you are now trying. No! It may in its consequence affect every free man that lives under a British government on the main [continent] of America. It is the best cause. It is the cause of liberty. . . . Nature and the laws of our country have given us a right to liberty of both exposing and opposing arbitrary power (in these parts of the world at least) by speaking and writing the truth." — Andrew Hamilton, 1735 This courtroom summation helped establish which democratic principle in colonial America? 1. trial by jury 2. equal voting rights 3. protection of private property 4. freedom of the press
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4. freedom of the press Trial of Peter Zenger
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Court decisions in the trial of John Peter Zenger (1735) and the case of New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) strengthened 1. freedom of religion 2. freedom of the press 3. due process rights 4. the right to counsel
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2. freedom of the press
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New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court on the First Amendment. The ruling made it possible for the New York Times and Washington Post newspapers to publish the then-classified Pentagon Papers without risk of government censorship or punishment.
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President Richard Nixon had claimed executive authority to force the Times to suspend publication of classified information in its possession. The question before the court was whether the constitutional freedom of the press, guaranteed by the First Amendment, was subordinate to a claimed need of the executive branch of government to maintain the secrecy of information. The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment did protect the right of the New York Times to print the materials.
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Which heading best completes the partial outline below? I. ____________________________________ A. Committees of Correspondence B. Nonimportation Agreements C. Boston Tea Party D. First Continental Congress 1. Protests Against Slavery in the American Colonies 2. British Parliamentary Actions to Punish Colonial Americans 3. Colonial Responses to British Mercantile Policies 4. Colonial Attempts to End the British Policy of Salutary Neglect
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3. Colonial Responses to British Mercantile Policies
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The system shown in the 1785 Rectangular Land Survey and Township System (subdividing a section into sections 1mile by 640acres) diagram was developed under the Articles of Confederation in order to 1. divide lands seized from the Loyalists 2. provide an orderly system of development for the Northwest Territory 3. remove Native American Indians to areas west of the Appalachian Mountains 4. extend slavery as the nation grew 178
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2. provide an orderly system of development for the Northwest Territory
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In which area did good harbors, abundant forests, rocky soil, and a short growing season most influence the colonial economy? 1. Southern colonies 2. Middle Atlantic region 3. Northwest Territory 4. New England colonies
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4. New England colonies
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The main reason Great Britain established the Proclamation Line of 1763 was to 1. avoid conflicts between American colonists and Native American Indians 2. make a profit by selling the land west of the Appalachian Mountains 3. prevent American industrial development in the Ohio River valley 4. allow Canada to control the Great Lakes region
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1. avoid conflicts between American colonists and Native American Indians
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Proclamation Line of 1763 issued October 7, 1763, by King George III following Great Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America after the end of the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War, which forbade all settlement past a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains.
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The Royal Proclamation continues to be of legal importance to First Nations in Canada and is significant for the variation of indigenous status in the United States. It eventually ensured that British culture and laws were applied in Upper Canada after 1791, which was done to attract British settlers to the province. Its geographic location is similar to the Eastern Continental Divide's path running northwards from Georgia to the Pennsylvania-New York State border, and north-eastwards past the drainage divide on the "St. Lawrence Divide" from there northwards through New England.
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Two Treatises
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Enlightenment thinker John Locke stated in his Two Treatises, that people had natural right including life, liberty, and property. This philosophy was adopted by Jefferson and incorporated into his writing of the Declaration of Independence.
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17th Amendment
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Prior to the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913, which provided for direct election of U.S. Senators, members of the House of Representatives were the only Federal officials that were voted into office by a popular vote of the people. Before 1913, U.S. Senators were elected by state legislatures. The President has been elected to office through the Electoral College since 1789.
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Living Document
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Implied powers are roles and abilities allowed the federal government, but that are not actually addressed in the Constitution (an example would be the regulation of monopolies); Amending the Constitution involves adding to or changing what is in the document; The Supreme Court looks at the "spirit" of the law and decides if an action or law is allowable under the Constitution. All of these have created a "living document" that is capable of changing over time to better fit the needs of the US people.
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Levels of government
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Federalism is the division of power various levels of government. In this case the division is between the federal and state levels. The Constitution provides specific powers to each level, creating a federal system.
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Unwritten Constitution
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The unwritten Constitution has come about through custom and usage over the past 200+ years. It implies that there are ideas; actions and concepts that are not actually in the Constitution itself, but that have arisen as a natural extension of its use. The cabinet is not directly addressed in the document, but has arisen over time as a means of advising the president.
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A lasting impact of the United States Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall is that the Court's decisions 1. extended the Bill of Rights to enslaved persons 2. expanded the power of the Federal Government 3. restricted the authority of Congress 4. promoted the views of the President
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2. expanded the power of the Federal Government The Marshall Court made decisions that served to expand federal power. The ruling in Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the court's power to strike down laws as unconstitutional (judicial review). The ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) established federal supremacy in economic matters. Both of these worked to expand the scope and reach of the US federal government and ensure its supremacy over state governments.
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The major role of political parties in the United States is to 1. protect the American public from corrupt public officials 2. insure that free and honest elections are held 3. nominate candidates for public office and conduct campaigns 4. meet constitutional requirements for choosing the President
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3. nominate candidates for public office and conduct campaigns Political parties serve as the mechanisms for selecting and promoting candidates for public office. Modern political parties have evolved over time and were not originally seen or addressed in the drafting of the Constitution. As such, all laws and rules regulating their actions have grown from the "unwritten" Constitution.
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Adherence to a strict interpretation of the Constitution would have prevented President Thomas Jefferson from 1. making the Louisiana Purchase 2. writing "State of the Union" messages 3. receiving ambassadors 4. commissioning military officers
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1. making the Louisiana Purchase It is not within the power of the president to spend monies without the approval of the House (in which all spending bills arise). It also not within the president's powers to negotiate the expansion of the US (that would fall to the Congress). When Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase (1803), he was "stretching" the boundaries of the Constitution (a concept he personally opposed). The ability to "stretch" the Constitution implies a "loose interpretation" of the Constitution's intent. A "strict interpretation" allows for only what is actually in the Constitution with no interpretations.
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consent of the governed
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John Locke The consent of the governed is an idea born of the enlightenment and the writings of John Locke. This is the idea that a government gains its power via the willingness of the people to support it. The US system expresses this notion by holding elections in which the people (the governed) select their representatives to govern (there by giving consent).
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One way in which the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution 1. created a national government having three branches 2. provided for the direct election of the President by the voters 3. made the amendment process more difficult 4. increased the powers of the states
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1. created a national government having three branches The US Constitution attempted to address the failing of the Articles of Confederation by creating a 3 branched government with checks and balances. This replaced the one branch federal government of the Articles of Confederation, and also increased the power of the federal government and its superiority over the governments of the individual states.
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Who argued for for equal representation in government at the Constitutional Convention?
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Smaller states such as New Jersey feared domination of the national government by larger, more populous states. At the convention, smaller states argued for equal representation in government as to ensure their power. Larger states, such as Virginia, argued for representation based on population owing to their greater numbers and larger economies. "The Great Compromise" created a bicameral (or two-house) legislature (Congress) in which the upper house (the Senate) is based on equal representation (2 Senators from each state) and the lower house (The House of Representatives) is based on proportional representation related to population.
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Which argument did the authors of the United States Constitution use when they insisted that revenue bills originate in the House of Representatives? 1. Frequent elections would make members of the House more responsive to the wishes of the voters. 2. Members of the House would have a superior understanding of economics. 3. The national budget should be determined solely by the House of Representatives. 4. Political parties would have less influence on Members of the House than on Senators.
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1. Frequent elections would make members of the House more responsive to the wishes of the voters.
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Where do Revenue Bills originate, according to the Constitution?
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Revenue bills originate in the House as to be a better indication of the wants and needs of the majority of citizens, who's tax monies are being spent.
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The Great Compromise
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"The Great Compromise" created a bicameral (or two-house) legislature (Congress) in which the upper house (the Senate) is based on equal representation (2 Senators from each state) and the lower house (The House of Representatives) is based on proportional representation related to population.
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"limited government"
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One way in which the authors of the Constitution tried to create "limited government" was by providing for 2. a division of power between the national and state governments The founding fathers feared an all-powerful national government (as England had been). So in creating the Constitution they felt a need to balance power between a national government and those of the states. Delegating some specific powers to the national government, as well as reserving some powers for the state governments placed limits on the power of each.
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Regulation of Political Parties
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Under the Unwritten Constitution The Constitution makes no references to political parties or the manner in which they are to be set-up, run or governed. As a result they fall under the "unwritten constitution", which comes about through custom and usage. Even though there is no specific reference to political parties, the need for regulation of them is clear and allowable under the concept of the "unwritten constitution".
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How do the elastic clause, amendment process and judicial review reflect the living document nature of the Constitution?
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The elastic clause allows Congress to "stretch" the powers of the Constitution to cover situations not foreseeable in 1789 (ex. Regulation of assault weapons), the amending process allows the addition or removal of Constitutional provisions (ex. The 19th amendment extends women the right to vote) and judicial review allows the Supreme Court the power to determine the Constitutionality of laws, treaties and actions (ex. Marbury v. Madison).
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Constitutional protections of liberty are not absolute.
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The civil liberties granted by the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and other amendments are not absolute. This means that they may be limited or suspended depending on circumstance or situation, usually in cases of national emergency (examples include: suspension of habeas corpus by Lincoln during the Civil War, limiting of freedom of speech and press during World War I and the internment of Japanese-Americans without dues process during World War II).
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Habeas Corpus
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The writ of habeas corpus is one of what are called the "extraordinary", "common law", or "prerogative writs", which were historically issued by the English courts in the name of the monarch to control inferior courts and public authorities within the kingdom. The most common of the other such prerogative writs are quo warranto, prohibito, mandamus, procedendo, and certiorari. The due process for such petitions is not simply civil or criminal, because they incorporate the presumption of non-authority. The official who is the respondent must prove his authority to do or not do something. Failing this, the court must decide for the petitioner, who may be any person, not just an interested party. This differs from a motion in a civil process in which the movant must have standing, and bears the burden of proof. Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus during Civil War, but Supreme Court said he didn't have the authority to do that, only congress. He argued he needed the authority to do things like that in emergencies and that the constitution'ls protections of individual liberty were not absolute.
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Which action was necessary to change from the indirect to the direct election of United States Senators? 1. ratification of a constitutional amendment 2. passage of a Federal law 3. a Supreme Court decision 4. a national referendum
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1. ratification of a constitutional amendment The original text of the Constitution called for the election of a state's senators to be done by the state's legislature. This was changed in the 17th amendment that called for Senators to be elected directly by the people of the states. This was a key expansion of democracy and citizen participation, as well as a way of reducing the power and influence of political machines.
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"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." This quotation reflects beliefs mainly derived from 1. the Magna Carta 2. the divine right monarchs of Europe 3. John Locke's theory of natural rights 4. Marxist philosophy
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3. John Locke's theory of natural rights
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Who opposed the ratification of the Constitution?
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Anti-Federalists During the debates over ratification (acceptance) of the US Constitution, the Anti-Federalist forces (those opposed to the Constitution) feared the strong national government outlined in the document. They criticized the Constitution for creating a national government that they feared would dominate and control not only the state and local governments, but the lives and freedoms of its citizens. This fear was not unfounded, as many Anti-Federalists pointed to the domination and control exercised by the powerful English government during the colonial era.
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Delegates' Votes At Primaries
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The two major political parties make their final selection of a Presidential candidate through 1. delegates' votes at a national party convention In order to make the selection of party candidates more fair and open, a primary system was established. This allows for voters and party members to aid in the party's candidate selection by participating in a primary vote. The results of the party's primaries are tallied at a national convention, at which time the party's candidate is selected.
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Delegated Powers
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Delegated Powers are those powers specifically delegated to the Federal Government (ex. The coin money, declare war, run the post office). Reserved powers are the powers not specifically given the Federal Government and thereby reserved for the State governments or the individual (ex. Setting up school systems, licensing drivers). Concurrent powers are those that both the Federal and State Governments both have at the same time (ex. Taxes are collected by the Federal and State Governments).
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6th Amendment
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A speedy and public trial by an impartial jury is guaranteed by the 6th amendment. Denying a right contained within the Constitution or a Constitutional Amendment requires a further amendment to the Constitution that specifically removes or adjusts the right in question.
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2-term limit
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George Washington set the informal presidential precedent of serving only two terms. Subsequent presidents followed this, up until FDR was elected to four terms in the 1930's - 40's. As a result of FDR's administration the 22nd amendment was ratified in 1951 and formally limited the President to 2 terms of service.
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Lobbying
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The Constitution makes no references to lobbying, special-interest groups or the manner in which they are to be set-up, run or governed. As a result they fall under the "unwritten constitution", which comes about through custom and usage. Even though there is no specific reference, the need for regulation of them is clear and allowable under the concept of the "unwritten constitution".
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Cabinet: Who are they responsible to? What is their role?
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The Cabinet is composed of all the heads of the 14 "cabinet level" departments within the executive branch (ex. Dept. of Justice, Dept. of State, Dept. of Defense). The Cabinet members serve as advisors and answer to the President, as head of the executive branch.
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Equal Protection Clause and the Death Penalty
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The equal protection clause of the 14th amendment has been used to challenge the death penalty on the grounds that 1. tremendous differences exist from state to state in the application of capital punishment laws The 14th Amendment's guarantee of "equal protection under the law" demands that application of law be the same regardless of the citizen it is being applied to. In the case of the death penalty, protestors have claimed that system is biased by race, sex and socioeconomic status and as a result fails to be applied in an equal manner.
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What is one check that the Legislative Branch has over BOTH the Judicial and the Executive?
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One "check" the Legislative Branch has upon the Judicial Branch (and over the Executive as well) is the approval of judges nominated by the President.
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Which constitutional provision was intended to give the people the most influence over the Federal Government? 1. President's duty to give Congress information about the state of the Union 2. electoral college system for choosing the President 3. direct election of members of the House of Representatives for two-year terms 4. process for proposing and ratifying amendments to the Constitution
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3. direct election of members of the House of Representatives for two-year terms Under the original provisions of the Constitution, this was the only direct election of any Federal representative that the people participated in. The Presidential system was in direct via the Electoral College and Senators were selected by a state's legislature.
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One similarity between the United States Constitution and the New York State Constitution is that both 1. provide methods for dealing with foreign powers 2. authorize the coinage of money 3. establish rules for public education 4. separate the branches of government
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4. separate the branches of government United States Government is divided into a three-branch system, a Legislative Branch (Congress), an Executive Branch (President and Federal Agencies) and a Judicial Branch (Supreme and Federal Courts). The State Government of New York is similarly divided into three branches, a Legislative Branch (NY State Legislature), an Executive Branch (Governor and State Agencies) and a Judicial Branch (Supreme, Appellate and District Courts).
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The major political parties in the United States obtain most of their national campaign funds from 1. the personal fortunes of the candidates 2. state and local taxes 3. funds appropriated by Congress 4. the contributions of individuals and special-interest groups
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Companies, unions, organizations and groups of like-minded citizens use the "lobby" system to express their views to elected officials. The concept of "lobbying" is to gain access to elected officials and present them with suggestions, proposed legislative actions or public policies that are agreeable to the lobbying group. More often than not, the majority of lobby efforts are expressed via the donation of money to political campaigns and political parties. The donations to parties are not little regulated and referred to as "soft-money", as opposed to the "hard-money" limits that regulated the amounts that can be donated directly to a candidate.
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"President Delivers State of the Union Address to Congress." "President Mobilizes the National Guard To Quell Riots." "President's Appointee Will Enforce Federal Guidelines." These headlines are evidence that the President of the United States 1. has new added duties not specified in the original Constitution 2. exercises nearly unlimited power under the United States governmental system 3. has specific executive, legislative, and military powers 4. must obtain congressional approval of most executive decisions
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CHIEF LEGISLATOR 3. has specific executive, legislative, and military powers The roles and powers of the President are specifically addressed in Article II of the Constitution. The President is specifically granted powers as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, as Chief Executive of federal agencies, as Chief Legislator to recommend legislation, as well as a variety of other roles.
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Representation to the House of Representatives is based upon population of a state. The census serves every decade to determine the states' populations and assign representatives based upon that count. The number of representatives has been "fixed" at . . .
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435 since the early 1900's and as such any gain in a state's number of representatives must be offset by the loss of representatives by other state(s).
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In the United States Congress, differences between Senate and House of Representatives versions of a bill are usually resolved by accepting the version that is 1. preferred by a majority of the State legislatures 2. supported by the Supreme Court 3. preferred by the House in which the bill originated 4. agreed to by a joint conference committee of both Houses
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4. agreed to by a joint conference committee of both Houses A bill cannot pass out of the Congress until both houses (House and Senate) have passed identical pieces of legislation. When differences in House and Senate versions arise, a reconciliation committee is convened with representation from both houses and an attempt is made at compromise between the competing versions which are then sent back for re-approval by the House and Senate separately.
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The majority of cases heard by the United States Supreme Court come to the Court because of its constitutional power to 1. exercise jurisdiction in legal situations involving foreign governments 2. advise Congress on the legality of bills 3. mediate disagreements between states 4. act on decisions appealed from lower courts
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4. act on decisions appealed from lower courts The Supreme Court serves mostly as an appellate court and hears the vast majority of its cases as appeals from lower Federal or State courts. The Supreme Court does not determine guilt or innocence (point-of-fact) as a lower court may, instead the Supreme Court rules on the law itself or how the law was carried out (point-of-law). The Supreme Court does have original jurisdiction in cases of a state versus state matter or in a case of one branch of federal government versus another (ex. US vs. Nixon), but this is a very limited number of cases the court rules upon.
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The major reason the Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution was to 1. limit the power of state governments 2. protect individual liberties against abuse by the Federal Government 3. provide for equal treatment of all people 4. separate powers between the three branches of government
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2. protect individual liberties against abuse by the Federal Government During the debates over ratification (acceptance) of the US Constitution, the Anti-Federalist forces (those opposed to the Constitution) feared the strong national government outlined in the document. They criticized the Constitution for creating a national government that they feared would dominate and control not only the state and local governments, but the lives and freedoms of its citizens. This fear was not unfounded, as many Anti-Federalists pointed to the domination and control exercised by the powerful English government during the colonial era. Many Anti-Federalists argued for the inclusion of a "Bill of Rights", not unlike the existing English Bill of Rights or the Virginia Declaration of Rights, to guarantee citizens protection from the power of a strong national government. A Bill of Rights was promised during the ratification debates and was the deciding factor in swaying many Anti-Federalists into supporting the proposed Constitution. The first 10 amendments were added soon after ratification and became the US Bill of Rights.
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The Constitution is referred to as a "living document". This is due to the ability to add, remove and amend sections of the document in order to adapt to changing times and conditions.
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Changing a provision contained within the Constitution or a Constitutional Amendment requires a further amendment to the Constitution that specifically removes or adjusts the provision in question.
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Which governmental practice established under the unwritten constitution was later included in the written Constitution by an amendment? 1. appointing members of the Cabinet 2. exercising judicial review 3. holding political party conventions 4. limiting the President's time in office to two terms
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4. limiting the President's time in office to two terms George Washington set the informal presidential precedent of serving only two terms. Subsequent presidents followed this, up until FDR war elected to four terms in the 1930's - 40's. As a result of FDR's administration the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951 and formally limited the President to 2 terms of service.
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Which statement best explains why critics have called for a change in the electoral college system? 1. A person who did not receive the largest percentage of popular votes can be elected President. 2. The system is a threat to the two-party system. 3. Electors often vote for candidates not listed on the ballot. 4. States with small populations have greater influence on Presidential elections than more populated states do.
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1. A person who did not receive the largest percentage of popular votes can be elected President. The Electoral College system is specifically created in the Constitution. Any revision or elimination would require and amendment to the Constitution specifically addressing this issue. Many attempts at eliminating the Electoral College have been attempted and failed, generally following a presidential election that calls into question the system's efficacy and fairness (see the election of 1876 and the election of 2000).
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John Locke's theory of the social contract, as developed in the United States Declaration of Independence, stated that 1. the people should revolt against a government that did not protect their rights 2. monarchs could rule autocratically, but they had to grant certain rights to their subjects 3. legislatures should have more power than kings 4. government should guarantee equal economic conditions to all people
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1. the people should revolt against a government that did not protect their rights The writings of John Locke and other authors of the Enlightenment expressed the idea of "The Consent of the Governed" and "Natural Rights". Natural Rights are those rights all men are born with and that should be protected by a fair and just government. Locke called for "Life Liberty and Property" as natural rights. Jefferson borrowed this idea for incorporation into the Declaration of Independence. Rousseau also maintained that a "Social Contract" existed between government and the governed and when government failed to protect rights, a revolution was in order.
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The Electoral College system is specifically created in the Constitution. It calls for the in-direct election of the President by electors to the Electoral College who mostly are bound to cast votes for the candidate winning the majority of popular votes in the state they represent.
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As in the election of 2000 and others, it is possible for the candidate elected president to receive less popular votes that his opponent and still gather the majority of electoral votes needed to win the election. Many attempts at eliminating the Electoral College have been attempted and failed, generally following a presidential election that calls into question the system's efficacy and fairness (see the election of 1876 and the election of 2000).
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After the President has proposed the Federal budget, the next step in the process of adopting the budget is to submit it to the 1. Internal Revenue Service 2. Treasury Department 3. Cabinet 4. House of Representatives
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4. House of Representatives The House must originate all spending bills, as to better represent the will of the majority of Americans and their monies.
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Chief Legislator and Chief Diplomat
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The roles and powers of the President are specifically addressed in Article II of the Constitution. The President is SPECIFICALLY granted powers 1) as Chief Diplomat in which he serves the United States representative to foreign nations and negotiates treaties and agreements, 2) as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, 3) as Chief Executive of federal agencies, as Chief Legislator to recommend legislation, as well as a variety of other roles.
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The 14th Amendment provides that no "state [shall] deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." A direct result of this amendment was that 1. the process of amending the Constitution became slower and more complex 2. the guarantees in the Bill of Rights were applied to state actions 3. every citizen gained an absolute right to freedom of speech and assembly 4. the power of the Federal Government was sharply reduced
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2. the guarantees in the Bill of Rights were applied to state actions The 14th Amendment's guarantee of "equal protection under the law" demands that application of law be the same regardless of the citizen it is being applied to. For example, in the case of a state.
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The clear and present danger" ruling in the Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States (1919) confirmed the idea that . . .
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constitutional rights are not absolute . . . concerning enforcement of the Espionage Act of 1917 during World War I. A unanimous Supreme Court, in a famous opinion by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., concluded that defendants who distributed leaflets to draft-age men, urging resistance to induction, could be convicted of an attempt to obstruct the draft, a criminal offense. The First Amendment did not alter the well-established law in cases where the attempt was made through expressions that would be protected in other circumstances. In this opinion, Holmes said that expressions which in the circumstances were intended to result in a crime, and posed a "clear and present danger" of succeeding, could be punished.
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Under Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Supreme Court was considered "activist" because of its 1. reluctance to overturn state laws 2. insistence on restricting freedom of speech to spoken words 3. expansion of individual rights in criminal cases 4. refusal to reconsider the issues of the Plessy v. Ferguson case
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3. expansion of individual rights in criminal cases In numerous decisions the Warren Court was active in expanding the rights of the accused. The most famous of these was the 1966 Miranda v. Arizona decision that established a suspect's right to be informed of his or her rights. Many cases such as Mapp v. Ohio (right against illegal search and seizure) Gideon v. Wainwright (right to counsel) and others further helped establish Earl Warren's legacy as an activist Chief Justice.
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One similarity between the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution is that both documents provide for 1. a national legislature to make laws 2. federal control of commerce between the states 3. federal power to impose and collect taxes 4. the abolition of slavery
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1. a national legislature to make laws
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"Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in a court of law." This statement is based on a person's constitutional right to 1. face an accuser in open court 2. protection against double jeopardy 3. a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury 4. protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
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4. protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
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What was an important accomplishment of the central government under the Articles of Confederation? 1. elimination of debts from the Revolutionary War 2. removal of all British troops from North America 3. formation of a national policy relating to Native American Indians 4. development of guidelines for the admission of new states into the Union
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4. development of guidelines for the admission of new states into the Union
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Which feature of the unwritten constitution is part of the system of checks and balances? 1. the cabinet 2. judicial review 3. political parties 4. legislative lobbies
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2. judicial review
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The Federalist Papers were a series of newspaper articles published in 1787 and 1788 to win support for the 1. right of the colonies to rebel against Great Britain 2. right of a state to secede from the Union 3. ratification of the United States Constitution 4. construction of an interstate canal system
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3. ratification of the United States Constitution
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". . . Congress shall have power . . . to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States. . . ." This statement from the United States Constitution is the source of 1. veto power 2. implied powers 3. judicial review 4. states' rights
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2. implied powers necessary and proper clause/aka elastic clause
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Which group had the most influence on the ideas stated in the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution? 1. political leaders of Spain and Portugal 2. religious leaders of the medieval period 3. writers of the Renaissance 4. philosophers of the Enlightenment
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4. philosophers of the Enlightenment
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The change to the direct election of senators, the lowering of the voting age to eighteen, and the establishment of a two-term limit for presidents are all examples of the use of 1. judicial review 2. checks and balances 3. executive privilege 4. the amendment process
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4. the amendment process
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The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was important because it 1. ensured universal suffrage for all males 2. extended slavery north of the Ohio River 3. provided a process for admission of new states to the Union 4. established reservations for Native American Indians
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3. provided a process for admission of new states to the Union 1st US annexation of a territory, not states; expanded US through Great Lakes Region; an act of the Congress of the Confederation of the United States (the Confederation Congress), passed July 13, 1787. The ordinance created the Northwest Territory, the first organized territory of the United States, from lands beyond the Appalachian Mountains, between British Canada and the Great Lakes to the north and the Ohio River to the south. The upper Mississippi River formed the Territory's western boundary. On August 7, 1789, first President George Washington signed a replacement, the Northwest Ordinance of 1789, in which the new U.S. Congress reaffirmed the Ordinance with slight modifications under the newly effective Constitution of the United States. The Ordinance purported to be not merely legislation that could later be amended by the Congress, but rather "the following articles shall be considered as Articles of compact between the original States and the people and states in the said territory, and forever remain unalterable, unless by common consent...."[1]Arguably the single most important piece of legislation passed by members of the earlier Continental Congresses and the Confederation Congress, other than the Declaration of Independence itself and the seminal, precedent-setting "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union", it established the precedent by which the Federal government would be sovereign and expand westward across North America with the admission of new states, rather than with the expansion of existing states and their established sovereignty under the Articles of Confederation. It is the most important legislation that Congress has passed with regard to American public domain lands.[2] The U.S. Supreme Court recognized the authority of the Northwest Ordinance of 1789 within the applicable Northwest Territory as constitutional in Strader v. Graham, 51 U.S. 82, 96, 97 (1851), but did not extend the Ordinance to cover the respective states once they were admitted to the Union.[3] The prohibition of slavery in the territory had the practical effect of establishing the Ohio River as the boundary between free and slave territory in the region between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. This division helped set the stage for national competition over admitting free and slave states, the basis of a critical question in American politics in the 19th century until the Civil War.
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A republican form of government is described as one in which
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2. representatives are elected by the people
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The due process clause in the 5th Amendment
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and the right to an attorney in the 6th
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Which information on the writing of the Constitution is considered a primary source? 1. a newspaper editorial written in 1887 2. an encyclopedia article on the Constitution 3. the book, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution, by Charles Beard 4. notes from the Constitutional Convention taken by James Madison
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4. notes from the Constitutional Convention taken by James Madison
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ongress established a minimum wage for workers and regulations on radio broadcasts by combining its delegated power to regulate interstate commerce with the 1. sanctity of contract clause 2. due process clause 3. elastic clause 4. writ of habeas corpus clause
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3. elastic clause
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Which concept found in the United States Constitution was a belief held by the social contract philosophers of the Enlightenment period? 1. presidential cabinet 2. judicial review 3. limited monarchy 4. sovereignty of the people
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4. sovereignty of the people
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in Congress Assembled, We the undersigned, citizens of the United States, but deprived of some of the privileges and immunities of citizens among which, is the right to vote, beg leave to submit the following resolution: Resolved; that we the officers and members of the National Woman Suffrage Association, in convention assembled, respectfully ask Congress to enact appropriate legislation during its present session to protect women citizens in the several states of this Union, in their right to vote. — Susan B. Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Gage, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1873) Source: National Archives and Records Administration This resolution illustrates the constitutional right to 1. petition for redress of grievances 2. protection against unreasonable search and seizure 3. a speedy and public trial 4. freedom of religion
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1. petition for redress of grievances
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The Supreme Court has the power to 1. control the federal budget 2. vote to end a tie in the Senate 3. approve presidential appointments 4. interpret the Constitution
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4. interpret the Constitution
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In the United States Constitution, the power to impeach a federal government official is given to the 1. House of Representatives 2. president 3. state legislatures 4. Supreme Court
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1. House of Representatives
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In order to win ratification of the United States Constitution, supporters agreed to
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add a bill of rights
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Which statement is accurate about congressional bills vetoed between 1961 and 1993?
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3. The majority of presidential vetoes were upheld.
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One accomplishment of the national government under the Articles of Confederation was the passage of legislation establishing
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2. a process for admitting new states to the Union
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"The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened), against domestic violence." — United States Constitution, Article IV, Section 4 According to this excerpt, a goal of the framers of the Constitution was to ensure that the United States 1. remained neutral during domestic conflicts involving the states 2. supported the right of each state to resist presidential decisions 3. provided for the common defense of every state 4. approved a bill of rights to protect citizens from government tyranny
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3. provided for the common defense of every state
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An example of the use of the unwritten constitution is the creation of the 1. presidential veto 2. United States Navy 3. federal postal system 4. president's cabinet
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4. president's cabinet
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Which idea is illustrated by the Supreme Court cases Schenck v. United States and Korematsu v . United States? 1. The free speech rights of Communists have often been violated. 2. During wartime, limitations on civil rights have been upheld by judicial action. 3. The rights of protestors have been preserved even in times of national stress. 4. Economic interests of foreign nations are frequently upheld in United States courts.
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2. During wartime, limitations on civil rights have been upheld by judicial action. The Supreme Court ruled that Schenck's protests against US involvement in WWI were a "clear and present danger" to the United States. The court also ruled during WWII, that the internment of Japanese Americans such as Fred Korematsu was legal because the posed a potential threat to the United States. This illustrates the idea that freedoms of liberty and speech can and have been restricted during the extreme cases, such as wartime.
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In numerous decisions the Warren Court was active in expanding the rights of the accused. The most famous of these
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was the 1966 Miranda v. Arizona decision that established a suspect's right to be informed of his or her rights. Many cases such as Mapp v. Ohio (right against illegal search and seizure) Gideon v. Wainwright (right to counsel) and others further helped establish Earl Warren's legacy as an ACTIVIST Chief Justice.
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An immediate result of the Supreme Court decision in Schechter Poultry Corporation v. United States (1935) and United States v. Butler (1936) was that
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1. some aspects of the New Deal were declared unconstitutional
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The "clear and present danger" ruling of the Supreme Court in Schenck v. United States illustrates the continuing conflict between
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free speech and governmental authority Schenck's speech was anti-government and ant-war (WWI). The ruling established the ability of the government to suppress speech and press that present a danger to it or its efforts.
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What was the result of many of the Supreme Court decisions made under Chief Justice John Marshall between 1801 and 1835?
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2. The federal government was strengthened.
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The police enter an individual's home without invitation or a warrant and seize evidence to be used against the individual. Which Supreme Court decision may be used to rule this evidence inadmissible in court?
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3. Mapp v. Ohio
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The Supreme Court cases of Tinker v. Des Moines and New Jersey v. TLO involved the issue of
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2. the rights of students in school, based on first amendment
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The Jim Crow legal system, which expanded in the South after Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), was based on the Supreme Court's interpretation of the
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3. equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment
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In Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) and Miranda v. Arizona (1966), the Supreme Court ruled that persons convicted of crimes had been 1. denied due process of law 2. denied a speedy and public trial 3. victimized by illegal search and seizure 4. sentenced to cruel and unusual punishment
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1. denied due process of law
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John Marshall was a Federalist judge!
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John Marshall had been nominated by John Adams and was a strong Federalist judge. As Chief Justice, Marshall moved the Supreme Court to decisions that favored and strengthened the Federal Government and its superiority over the states. Decisions such as McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) and others are testimony to this expansion and protection of the federal government.
