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AP Government Unit 1 Practice Multiple Choice Questions

Terms in this set (29)

The national government could not resolve state boundary disputes, currency was not accepted outside of local areas, the military could not put down even the smallest rebellions, and there was no national judicial system.... The national government did not have too much power
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were:
States were represented in the upper house, and individuals were represented in the lower house
What was the result of the Great Compromise?
The House of Representatives
Under the original Constitution, which branch or branches of government were selected directly by the citizens?
The Constitution is safeguarded from popular passions (of the majority)
What is the main result of Judicial Review?
a proposal accepted by 2/3 vote of Congress, a proposal accepted at a national convention called by Congress as requested by 2/3 of states, ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures, and ratification by 3/4 of states in special conventions
The amendment process includes
By nominating Federal judges, subject to Senate confirmation
How does the Constitution provide an executive check on the judicial branch?
The Anti-Federalists believed that a strong central government would be too distant from the people
How did the Anti-Federalists differ from the Federalists?
No religious tests to hold office
What guarantees of individual liberties were found in the original Constitution?
it creates gridlock in policy making, it makes it difficult for the government to act decisively in times of crisis, it makes it difficult to stimulate economic growth, and it damages our position of international leadership
Some criticisms of of separation of powers are that
It would strengthen the presidency in relation to Congress
What would be the impact of the line item veto on the separation of powers?
block grants, by which money from the national government is given to the states for discretionary use with broad guidlines
The best example of devolution is
federalism is one method for checking government's power and protecting personal liberty, concentrating power in a single entity might create tyranny, under the Articles of Confederation the national government was too dependent on states for survival, and a federal system provides balance of power between the state and national governments
The Founding Fathers devised a federal system because
is that it rarely had much practical significance
The impact of the Tenth Amendment
The Necessary and Proper clause
The constitutional provision that has been interpreted as weakening the 10th Amendment is
To carry out its economic powers Congress may reasonably decide to create a national bank, the Necessary and Proper clause enables Congress to take actions not specifically listed in the Constitution, and that states may not tax any federal institution
In McCulloch v Maryland, the Supreme Court determined that
Dual Federalism
The concept that the national government is supreme in its own sphere while the states are equally supreme in theirs is known as
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the national government had surplus money to spend on the states, in the late 20th century the income tax provided a flexible source of federal grant money, the federal government can print money when it is needed to fund programs, and state politicians can get federal money without having to take the unpopular political position of supporting expanding government
States have found federal funding attractive because
Block grants allow states to spend funds on any governmental purpose
States prefer block grants to categorical grants because
Mandates
Various pollution control laws require states to comply with federal standards for clean air, pure drinking water, and sewage treatment. These provisions are examples of
The opportunity for individuals to run for office, freedom of expression, competition among political parties, and voter perception that there is a meaningful choice
For representative government to work, what must be present?
They favored representative democracy over direct democracy, they believed that most citizens did not have the time, information, and expertise to make informed decisions, they recognized that representative democracy would proceed slowly, and they insisted on the protection of civil rights and civil liberties
What were the beliefs of the Framers of the Constitution?
There are so many groups that none of them can dominate the political process
The pluralist theory states that
The revolutionary movement of the 1770's and 1780's and the battle for civil rights in the 1950's and 1960's
Political events that show that Americans have sometimes taken risks too benefit future generations include
Americans wanting the federal government to play a bigger role in our lives until the 1980's, when this trend was reversed
An example of political beliefs changing overtime is
An analysis of the policy process and changes in the laws
One of the best barometers for measuring changes in who governs is
In many states voters can decide on issues through referendums
The best evidence that direct democracy is expanding in America today is that
Rule by the many
The most basic definition of democracy is
People have limited time and energy to consider the issues, people don't have enough expertise in many policy areas, people make decisions based on fleeting passions, and people will respond to popular demagogues
Criticisms of direct democracy include
A government can have power without having authority
How are power and authority related?
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