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Online Gov Midterm Review
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compilation of quiz questions
Terms in this set (134)
How did the principle of federalism enable the Framers to solve the problems they faced in 1787?
It enabled the Framers to create a strong central government while respecting the concerns of each of the existing States
Which of the following does NOT describe the National Government's delegated powers as expressed in the Constitution?
Emphatic
The Constitution denies powers to the National Government in three ways, which of the following is not one of such methods?
Inherently, through past precedent
How does the Constitution provide the powers of the States in the federal system?
The Constitution reserves powers to the States-these include any and all powers that the Constitution does not give to the National Government or deny the States
What is the role of the Supreme Court in the federal system?
It is the final authority that interprets the Constitution in cases of conflict between the States and the National Government
According to the Constitution, all of the following are that National Government's obligations to the States EXCEPT-
It must hand over power to the States in times of war
An area desiring Statehood petitions Congress to pass an enabling act to direct the framing of a proposed State constitution. After the voters of the proposed State have approved this constitution, Congress can issue an act of admission. This best describes the process of -
Congress admitting new States to the Union
What is cooperative federalism?
The area of shared powers and cooperation between the Federal and State governments
Which of the following is NOT an example of cooperative federalism?
Federal uncompromising grants
Which of the following is NOT an example of a block grant?
Programs supporting scientist researching cancer and other medical issues
Which of the following is NOT an example of the kinds of interstate compacts that exist today?
All of the above
What is the meaning of the Full Faith and Credit Clause?
It is a requirement that each State accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states
Which of the following best explains the purpose of the Privileges and Immunities Clause?
To prevent the unfair favoring of a State's residents over other residents
Can governors refuse to return fugitives from justice to the State from which they fled?
No, as of the Supreme Court decision in 1987 which held that federal courts can order governors to extradite fugitives
Which of the following is NOT true concerning the organization of the Constitution?
It ends with a short conclusion called the Preamble
Which of the following is NOT one of the six basic principles of the Constitution?
Anti-Federalism
Why were the principles of popular sovereignty and limited government important to the Framers of the Constitution?
They wanted to create a government, that by limiting its power, would not become tyrannical
What is the purpose of checks and balances?
To prevent one branch of government from having too much power over the other branches
How many amendments have been formally added to the Constitution
27
What has been the most common method for adding an amendment to the Constitution?
Proposal by two-thirds vote in each house of Congress and ratification by three fourths of the State legislatures
How does the formal amendment process reflect federalism?
Amendment proposal takes place at the national level and ratification at the State level
What amendment required the longest amount of time to ratify?
27th
What event led to the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments
The Civil War
ll of the following are ways the Constitution has been changed Except-
Public Protest
Passing laws that expand congressional power and passing laws that elaborate on brief provisions of the Constitution are examples of
How Congress contributes to the process of Constitutional change
Which of the following is an example of the exercise of presidential power that illustrates Constitutional change?
The use of executive agreements in the place of formal treaties
How does the presidential nominating process illustrate the process of constitutional change and development?
Political parties have added to the original intent of presidential nominations
What is the role of custom in government?
Customs have served as important guidelines in areas in which the Constitution is not explicit
How does bicameralism in Congress reflect the principle of federalism?
By giving each State equal representation in the Senate and representation proportional to its population in the House, bicameralism ensures a division of power.
What is a special session?
A meeting of Congress called by the President to address an emergency situation.
Why must seats in Congress be reapportioned every 10 years?
Seats are distributed according to each State's population, reapportionment must occur when the census is taken, every 10 years.
In what ways has the redistricting of House seats been used for the political gain of certain groups and parties in the various States?
States have often gerrymandered districts.
Which of the following is NOT one of the constitutional qualifications that all members of the House must meet?
Candidates must be in good standing with the law.
Senators differ from their colleagues in the House of Representatives. Which of the following is NOT one of the differences?
Senators must be elected by the people.
Which State's Senators have the largest constituency?
California
In what ways does the long six-year term affect how senators vote?
Senators are less likely to vote according to public or special interest pressure.
What were the framer's intentions for the Senate?
They wanted the Senate to be more enlightened and responsible for national concerns rather than local interests
Which of the following is NOT a formal qualification, as set up in the Constitution, for membership in the Senate?
Senators must be in good standing with the law.
Do the members of Congress represent a cross section of the American people?
No, many Americans cannot meet the informal qualifications for members of Congress.
When deciding how to vote, what does a delegate consider?
Delegates consider the wishes and opinions of their constituents.
Which of the following is NOT a main consideration of a politico when deciding a vote?
The greater needs of the nation
The power to tax is an example of Congress's -
Expressed powers
The appropriation of funds for education is an example of Congress's-
Implied Powers
Was Thomas Jefferson a strict constructionist or a liberal constructionist?
Strict constructionist
Which of the following is NOT a way the Constitution limits Congress's power?
The Constitution grants the President the power to deny Congress powers whenever they deem it necessary.
Which of the following is NOT an example of Congress's expressed powers?
The power to make a national public school system
Why did the framers of the Constitution grant Congress the power to tax?
Without the power to tax, the National Government could not provide defense of the nation or other necessary services.
A cigarette tax is an example of what type of tax?
Indirect Tax
How does deficit financing add to the public debt?
When the Government borrows money that it does not repay, that money accumulates interest over time and contributes to the public debt.
Which of the following is NOT an example of Congress's territorial powers?
The power to create all of the federal courts below the Supreme Court
Which Supreme Court case set a precedent for broad interpretation of the constitutional powers granted to Congress?
McCulloch v. Maryland.
Which of the following best explains the meaning of appropriating funds?
To assign money to particular uses.
Which particular officeholders have been impeached and removed by Congress the most often?
Federal Judges.
What body votes on impeachment and what body conducts an impeachment trial?
The House, the Senate.
Who chooses the President and the Vice President if no presidential candidate receives a majority of electoral votes?
The House elects the President and the Senate elects the Vice President.
Why did Richard Nixon resign the presidency?
He faced certain impeachment over the Watergate scandal.
What role does the Speaker of the House play?
Serves as the presiding officer of the House; presides over the proceedings and keeps order.
What role does the president of the Senate play?
Presides over the proceedings of the House; as the president is not a member of the Senate he or she does not have the usual member duties and may not vote expect to break a tie.
In the Vice President's absence, the presiding officer of the Senate is the-
President pro tempore.
All of the following are roles committees play in turning bills into laws EXCEPT-
They use the influence of the whip to push bills through.
Which of the following is NOT a type of congressional committee?
Resolutions committee.
All of the following are options a committee has when reviewing a bill EXCEPT-
Filibuster it.
What allows members to force bills that have remained in committee 30 days onto the floor for consideration?
A discharge petition.
Given a title and number, printed, distributed to House members, sent to the appropriate standing committee, debated on the House floor and voted on. This best describes the process of-
A bill immediately after it's introduced in the House.
The conference committee-
Is the final step before congressional approval of a bill.
The purpose of a filibuster is to-
Prevent action on a bill.
Which of the following options is NOT available to the President who has just received a bill passed by Congress?
Sign the bill after 15 days.
The President is the chief of state, this means he is-
The Ceremonial head of the government of the United States, the symbol of all the people of the nation
The President acts as the acknowledged leader of the political party that controls the executive branch, meaning he is the -
Chief of party
Until ________ , the Constitution placed no limit on the number of terms a President might serve.
1951
Which of the following is NOT one of the many benefits provided to the President?
Endorsement deals
How is presidential disability to be determined?
Through a written declaration by the President or by the Vice President and a majority of Cabinet members.
Which most accurately explains why vice presidential candidates are often chosen to balance the ticket?
To strengthen the presidential candidate's chances of being elected by virtue of certain ideological, geographic, racial, ethnic, gender or other characteristics.
What official duties does the Constitution assign to the Vice President?
To preside over the Senate and help decide the question of presidential disability.
Why were most of the Framers opposed to choosing the President by Congress?
They felt it would give Congress too much power over the President.
Why were most of the Framers opposed to choosing the President by popular vote?
They felt it would be too disorderly.
The separation of presidential and vice-presidential elections was a result of -
The 12th Amendment
Depending on the State, a ___________ is an election in which a party's voters choose some or all of a State party organization's delegates to their party's national convention, and/or express a preference among various contenders for their party's presidential nomination.
Presidential primary
In those States that do not hold presidential primaries, delegates to the national convention -
Are chosen in a system of caucuses and conventions
Which bestdescribes the winner-take-all system?
The candidate who won the preference vote automatically wins the support of all the delegates chosen at the primary
The electors of the electoral college are chosen by popular vote in every state and on the same day everywhere-
The Tuesday after the first Monday in November every fourth year
Which amendment provides that "the electors shall meet in their respective states."?
The 12th amendment
Which of the following is NOT one of the three main weaknesses of the Electoral College system?
The number of electors is not proportional to state size and population
What term paints a picture of the President as emperor, taking strong actions without consulting Congress or seeking its approval-sometimes acting in secrecy to evade or even to deceive Congress?
Imperial Presidency
Who names most of the top-ranking officers of the Federal Government?
President
Whose approval is needed for Presidential appointments to go through?
Senate
The question of the President's removal power did not reach the Supreme Court until-
Myers v. United States
Who ratifies treaties?
president
When the President receives the diplomatic representatives of another sovereign state, the President exercises the power of-
recognition
Who was the first President to use the armed forces abroad in combat without a declaration of war?
John Adams
Congress has not declared war since World War II. How many occasions since then has Congress enacted joint resolutions to authorize the President to meet certain international crisises with military force?
Egypt
What event moved Congress to pass the War Powers Resolution of 1973?
The Vietnam War
Which of the following is NOT one of the three regular messages the Chief Executive sends to Capitol Hill each year?
The crisis update
What is the postponement of the execution of a sentence known as?
A reprieve
One of the most dramatic refusals of a Presidential pardon led to which Supreme Court case?
Burdick v. United States
Which of the following is NOT a main feature of a bureaucracy?
Line Agency
Nearly all of the federal bureaucracy is located in the-
Executive branch
Which of the following titles may only be used in association with agencies of Cabinet rank?
Department
Which of the following aids the chief executive and other administrators by offering advice and other assistance in the management of the organization?
Staff Agencies
The complex organization of the several separate agencies staffed by most of the President's closest advisors and assistants is known as-
The Executive Office of the President
How were the executive departments created?
By Congress
Which department does the attorney general lead?
The Department of Justice
Approximately how many independent agencies are there today?
150
Who is often referred to as the "father" of the spoils system?
Andrew Jackson
The purpose of the Pendleton Act was-
To make merit the basis for hiring and to lessen partisan control
The lists of applicants who pass tests and are qualified for federal employment are known as-
Registers
Any board which includes members from both parties is by its very nature-
Bipartisan
What major event convinced the American people that they not anyone else can live in isolation?
WWII
What major event convinced the American people that they not anyone else can live in isolation?
The president
Who does the President look to for both advice and formulation of the nation's foreign policy?
Secretary of State
Identify the nation's principle espionage agency-
CIA
The use of violence to intimidate a government or a society, usually for political or ideological reasons is known as-
Terrorism
What was the name of the first American satellite?
Explorer I
Which of the following is NOT another term used for the Selective Service System?
Enlistment
From the start, and for 150 years, American foreign policy was-
Isolationism
The strategy of maintaining the military might of the United States at so great a level that that very strength will discourage or prevent an attack on this country by any hostile power is known as-
Deterrence
The United States and the Soviet Union came perilously close to a nuclear conflict during what crisis?
The Cuban missile crisis
An agreement among countries in a particular part of the world to take collective action to defend each other is known as-
Regional Security Alliances
The Rio Pact is a restatement of what policy?
The Monroe Doctrine
Which courts hear most of the cases in this country?
State Courts
The special courts, created by Congress, are sometimes called-
Legislative Courts
When a case may be tried in either a federal court or a State court it is known as-
Concurrent juristidction
Which of the following does NOT describe the typical background of federal judges?
Political Science professors
The U.S. district courts handle approximately what percentage of the federal caseload a year?
80%
A dispute over the terms of a contract or a claim of patent infringement would be considered a-
Civil case
How many judges usually sit on panels of the court of appeals?
3
The courts power to decide the constitutionality of an act of government is known as-
Judicial Review
Which court decision assured the place of the judicial branch in the system of separation of powers?
Marbury v. Madison
Which of the following is NOT an accurate description of the jurisdiction and kinds of cases the Supreme Court accepts?
U.S. Tax Court cases
What may a Supreme Court justice choose to write if he or she believes that a point in the Court's opinion needs additional emphasis?
Concurring opinion
Under what circumstances can the government be taken to court?
The government can be taken to court only in cases in which Congress declares that the U.S. is open to suit
How long are the terms for the 16 judges that preside over the Court of Federal Claims?
15 years
A court of military personnel, used to try those accused of violating military law is known as a-
Court-martial
Which court hears appeals from the decisions made by the Department of Veteran Affairs?
The Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims
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