The fear that a national government might try to reunify with
Great Britain caused the Articles of Confederation to create a
weak national government.

A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The chief weakness of the Articles of Confederation was its
inability to levy and collect taxes from the states.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
The Shays' Rebellion proved that the Indians of the West were
still a threat to the settlers.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The Northwest Ordinance provided for the transition from
territorial status to statehood.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
James Madison was the President of the Constitutional
Convention of 1787.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The primary purpose of the Constitutional Convention (1787.
was to see if there was any basis for reuniting with Great Britain.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The Federalist is the formal name given to the U.S. Constitution.



A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The federal system under the U.S. Constitution provides for a
national government and one for each state.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
The national government is organized into two branches:
parliamentary (legislature and executive. and judicial.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
Legislative proportional representation means that states would
be represented equally.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The Virginia Plan at the Constitutional Convention would have
provided for a House of Representatives and a Senate based on
proportional representation.

A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
Among the enumerated powers of Congress are the power to
declare war and to lay and collect taxes.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
Presidents and federal judges who are impeached are subject to
imprisonment in a federal penitentiary.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The necessary and proper clause in the Constitution gives
Congress the power to make all laws that Congress feels is
appropriate for carrying out the enumerated powers.

A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
The supremacy clause in the Constitution provides that state law
is superior to federal law.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
Under the Constitution, Congress may not suspend the writ of
habeas corpus except in emergencies.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
The Constitution had nothing to say about the institution of
slavery.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The New Jersey Plan at the Constitutional Convention would
have provided for a House of Representatives based on equal
representation.

A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention
provided for a House of Representation based on proportional
representation and a Senate based on equal representation.

A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
The right of the U.S. Senate to approve or disapprove a treaty
made by a President is an example of the separation of powers.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
The framers created an electoral college method of choosing a
president because they trusted the judgment of the people.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
George Mason and the Anti-Federalists objected to the
Constitution because it gave too much power to the House
of Representatives.

A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The most important goal of the Anti-Federalists was to limit the
power of the central government.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
Federalists believed that natural rights were best protected by
a reliance on the separation of powers and checks and balances.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
Under the Constitution, state governments are prohibited from
entering into treaties with foreign nations.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
The President has the power to enforce laws made by Congress
under the Constitution.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
If a President vetoes a bill passed by Congress, Congress
can override that veto by a two-thirds vote in both Houses
of Congress.

A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
House of Representatives and Senate meet together to impeach
and try a President and federal judges.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
A President is elected by an electoral college elected by the
citizens in each state.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
Judicial review is the power of the Supreme Court to rule on the
constitutionality of acts of Congress and the President.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
Appellate jurisdiction is the authority of Supreme Court to act as
the judge in impeachment cases.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
George Mason (Virginia. did not sign the Constitution because it
granted too much power to the states.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
Benjamin Franklin defended the work of the Constitutional
Convention because it satisfied all of the delegates in every
respect.

A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
Because it did not contain a bill of rights, many Anti-Federalists
opposed ratification of the Constitution.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
The strongest supporters of the Constitution were those who
lived in agrarian communities.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The legislatures of the 13 states were given the authority to ratify
the Constitution.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
The Federalist is a series of essays published in New York
papers to promote support for ratification of the Constitution.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  A
Agreeing to strengthen the power of the national government was
the compromise the Federalists agreed to in order to win enough
Anti-Federalist support to ratify the Constitution.

A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
George Mason of Virginia was the leading Federalist who
championed ratification of the Constitution.


A.  True


B.  False


C.


D.


E.


Answer:  B
Why did the Continental Congress create a weak national
government under the Articles of Confederation?  The fear that


A.  Great Britain might try to re-unify the colonies under its
     authority.

B.  a strong national government would deprive Americans of
     their rights as had the British.

C.  the states would dominate the Union.


D.  the people would dominate the Union.


E.


Answer:  B
The chief weakness of the Articles of Confederation was



A.  its inability to levy and collect taxes from the states


B.  too much power over state governments and their citizens


C.  controlling foreign trade too much


D.  too much power to regulate trade among the states


E.


Answer:  A
Some Founders believed that majority rule could be a threat to



A.  states' rights


B.  local self-government


C.  natural rights


D.  constitutional government


E.


Answer:  D
A major weakness of the national government under the Articles
of Confederation was its


A.  lack of authority to regulate interstate trade


B.  unequal representation of the states


C.  power to violate individual rights


D.  combination of executive and judicial functions in a single
     branch of government

E.


Answer:  A
Why was the Shays' Rebellion important?



A.  It was the last effort of Loyalists to try to re-unite with Great
     Britain.

B.  It proved that Articles of Confederation was incapable of
     dealing with major issues.

C.  It showed that Indians of the West were still a threat to
     settlers.

D.  It was the first slave uprising that showed that the slaves
     would challenge slavery.

E.


Answer:  B
The Northwest Ordinance was significant because



A.  it allowed extension of slavery into the Northwest


B.  it provided that state claims for lands in the West would be
     honored

C.  it provided that Loyalists would be compensated for losses in
     the Revolution with land in the Northwest

D.  it provided for the transition from territorial status to
     statehood for territories in the Northwest

E.


Answer:  D
Which of these American statesmen did not attend the
Constitutional Convention (1787.?


A.  George Washington


B.  Thomas Jefferson


C.  Benjamin Franklin


D.  Alexander Hamilton


E.  James Madison


Answer:  B
Who was the president of the Constitutional Convention?



A.  James Madison


B.  Benjamin Franklin


C.  Roger Sherman


D.  George Washington


E.  James Wilson


Answer:  D
The delegates to the Philadelphia Convention were authorized to



A.  draft treaties governing international trade


B.  write a new constitution for the nation


C.  amend the Articles of Confederation


D.  develop a plan for admitting new states to the union


E.


Answer:  C
What was the primary purpose of the Constitutional Convention?



A.  to create a new governmental system


B.  to see if there was a basis for reuniting with Great Britain


C.  to see if the United States would admit Canada to the Union


D.  to propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation


E.


Answer:  D
The Federalist is



A.  a series of newspaper articles explaining and defending the
     Constitution to citizens of New York

B.  the appeal to Great Britain to allow United States to annex
     Canada

C.  the first name given to the national capitol


D.  the formal name given to U.S. Constitution


E.


Answer:  A
The Federal System under the constitution provides for



A.  a government for each of the states


B.  a national government only


C.  two governments, national and one for each state


D.  a national government and governments for every two states


E.


Answer:  C
The Federal system under the constitution provides for what
organization of the national government?


A.  two branches:  parliamentary (executive and legislative. and
     judicial

B.  two branches:  legislative and judicial


C.  four branches:  legislative, executive, judicial and
     bureaucratic

D.  three branches:  legislative, executive and judicial


E.


Answer:  D
A system of proportional representation means that           
while equal representation means that            in the legislature.


A.  states would be equally represented; states would be
     represented according to population

B.  states would be equally represented in both cases


C.  states would be represented according to population


D.  states would be represented according to population; states
     would be equally represented

E.


Answer:  D
The Virginia Legislative Plan at the Constitutional Convention
would have provided for


A.  House of Representatives based on proportional
     representation and a Senate based on equal representation

B.  House of Representatives based on equal representation and
     a Senate based on proportional representation

C.  House of Representatives and a Senate based on equal
     representation

D.  House of Representatives and a Senate based on proportional
     representation

E.


Answer:  D
In the debate over representation in Congress, the larger states
generally favored


A.  equal representation


B.  proportional representation


C.  bipartisan representation


D.  limited representation


E.


Answer:  B
Which of the following are not among the enumerated powers
granted to Congress under the Constitution?


A.  to lay and collect taxes


B.  to regulate commerce among the states and with foreign
     nations

C.  to direct foreign policy


D.  to declare war


E. 


Answer:  C
What is involved when Congress successfully impeaches and
tries a President or members of federal judiciary?


A.  They go to federal prison.


B.  They are subject to a trial in federal court.


C.  They must run again for their office or be re-appointed.


D.  They are removed from office.


E.


Answer:  D
The necessary and proper clause provides Congress what power
under the Constitution?


A.  to assume executive power when a President is impeached


B.  to return states to territorial status


C.  to make all other laws that Congress feels are appropriate for
     carrying out the enumerated powers

D.  assume judicial power when a judge is impeached


E.


Answer:  C
According to the supremacy clause of the Constitution, "supreme
law of the land" refers to


A.  acts of the president


B.  decisions of the Supreme Court


C.  the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties


D.  laws passed by state legislatures


E.


Answer:  C
The supremacy clause says that



A.  state law is superior to federal law.


B.  Congress is superior to President and the courts.


C.  Constitution and all laws and treaties approved by Congress
     are the supreme law of the land.

D.  a national initiative passed by all the people is the supreme
     law of the land

E.


Answer:  C
Under the Constitution, Congress is prohibited form each of the
following EXCEPT


A.  suspending the writ of habeas corpus except in emergencies


B.  passing any ex post facto laws


C.  regulating commerce among the states


D.  passing any bills of attainder


E.


Answer:  C
Which of the following provisions dealing with slavery was not
provided for under the Constitution when it was ratified?


A.  national government would not interfere with the slave trade
     earlier than 1808

B.  slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person for purposes of
     taxation and representation

C.  fugitive slave clause provided that slaves who escaped to
     other states must be returned to their owners

D.  abolition of slavery


E.


Answer:  D
The New Jersey Legislative Plan at the Constitutional
Convention would have provided for a House of Representatives
based on

A.  equal representation


B.  proportional representation


C.  half of legislature based on equal representation and half on
     proportional representation

D.  one-quarter based on equal representation and three-quarters
     based on proportional representation

E.


Answer:  A
The Great Compromise presented by Connecticut broke the
deadlock over legislative apportionment among the states by
providing for a

A.  House of Representatives which represent the states equally
     and a Senate which represent the states according to
     population
B.  House of Representatives and a Senate which would equally
     represent the states

C.  House of Representatives and a Senate which would
     represent the states according to population

D.  House of Representatives which represent the states
     according to population and a Senate which would represent
     the states equally
E.


Answer:  D
Under the Constitution, state governments are prohibited from
each of the following EXCEPT


A.  creating their own money


B.  making ex post facto laws or bills of attainder


C.  requiring citizens of other states from obeying their laws and
     regulations

D.  entering into treaties with foreign nations


E.


Answer:  C
Under the Constitution, the President has the following executive
powers, EXCEPT


A.  enforcing laws made by Congress


B.  pardoning people convicted of federal crime


C.  declaring war


D.  negotiating treaties with other nations


E.


Answer:  C
Which is an accurate statement regarding a President's veto
power?


A.  president may only veto money bills


B.  president must have permission of Congress to veto a bill


C.  Congress can override a veto by a two-thirds vote in both
     houses of Congress

D.  if Congress overrides a veto, the President can appeal the
     issue to the people for approval

E.


Answer:  C
The right of the Senate to approve or disapprove a treaty made
by the President is an example of


A.  the "general welfare" clause


B.  separation of powers


C.  proportional representation


D.  federalism


E.


Answer:  B
Why did the Framers adopt the electoral college method of
choosing a President?


A.  They did not trust the judgment of the people.


B.  They were afraid the people would not vote.


C.  They had used that system in the colonies.


D.  They modeled it after the successful British system.


E.


Answer:  A
Which is an accurate description of the impeachment process?



A.  House of Representatives or the Senate can bring charges
     against a federal official.

B.  Only the Senate can hold the trial to determine the official
     guilt or innocence.

C.  If found guilty, the official has to stand trial in federal court.


D.  If found not guilty, Congress must issue an official apology.


E.


Answer:  B
Which of the following methods of selecting a President is
accurate?


A.  election by simple majority in both houses of Congress


B.  election by a simple majority of the nation's governors


C.  election by a simple majority of electors chosen at the state
     level

D.  election by a simple majority of all of the nation's voters


E.


Answer:  C
What is the electoral college?



A.  the institution of higher learning which trains the nation's
     federal public employees.

B.  college which trains the nation's diplomats


C.  the aggregate of electors who elect a President


D.  college that trains polling place personnel for conducting
     elections

E.


Answer:  C
Judicial review is power of the Supreme Court to



A.  act as judge in impeachment proceedings


B.  judge on ability of lower court judges to serve on the bench


C.  determine the constitutionality of acts of Congress and the
     President

D.  hear cases in which it has original jurisdiction


E.


Answer:  C
Appellate jurisdiction means that the Supreme Court



A.  hears cases that bypass lower courts and go directly to the
     Supreme Court

B.  hears cases on appeal which have first been heard in lower
     courts

C.  has authority to act as a judge in impeachment proceedings


D.  judges on ability of lower court judges to serve on the bench


E.


Answer:  B
Why did George Mason (Virginia. not sign the Constitution and
strongly objected to it?


A.  It didn't grant enough power to the President.


B.  It granted too much power to the states.


C.  It created a national government weaker than that under the
     Articles of Confederation.

D.  It did not contain a bill of rights which protected individual
     rights.

E.


Answer:  D
How did Benjamin Franklin defend the work of the
Constitutional Convention?


A.  It's a perfect document, perfectly written.


B.  It represented the unanimous feelings of all of the delegates
     at the Convention.

C.  It would satisfy the states by giving them more power than
     they enjoyed under the Articles of Confederation

D.  While not perfect, it was the best that compromise among
     the delegates would allow

E.


Answer:  D
What major flaws did the Anti-Federalists see in the new
Constitution presented to the states for ratification?


A.  It gave too much power to the state governments at the
     expense of the national government.

B.  It gave too much power to the Congress at expense of the
     President.

C.  It did not include a bill of rights.


D.  It did not guarantee the states a republican form of
     government.

E.


Answer:  C
The strongest supporters of the anti-Federalists who were
challenging the Constitution were to be found in           
communities.

A.  urban


B.  diverse


C.  agrarian


D.  western


E.


Answer:  C
The major objection to the Constitution by George Mason and
other anti-Federalists was that


A.  the judicial branch lacked sufficient power


B.  it gave too much power to the House of Representatives


C.  certain actions required more than a simple majority vote


D.  it failed to contain a bill of rights


E.


Answer:  D
Who ratified the Constitution?



A.  Once signed by the delegates, it was ratified and went into
     effect.

B.  The people in a majority vote.


C.  Ratifying conventions in each state whose delegates were
     elected by the people.

D.  The legislatures of the 13 states.


E.


Answer:  C
The Federalist are/is



A.  a series of essays published in New York papers to promote
     the Constitution among the public in New York and Virginia

B.  the official name given to the Constitution


C.  the name given to the President's residence


D.  the official name of the legislative capitol in
     Washington, D.C.

E.


Answer:  A
The Federalists won over enough Anti-Federalist support to
insure ratification of the Constitution by


A.  threatening that anarchy was only other alternative


B.  agreeing to strengthen the power of the national government
     when the First Congress met

C.  agreeing that a bill of rights would be drafted by the First
     Congress to be added to the Constitution

D.  threatening that re-unification with Great Britain was the
     only other alternative

E.


Answer:  C
Which of the following was not a Federalist?



A.  Alexander Hamilton of New York


B.  James Madison of Virginia


C.  John Jay of New York


D.  George Mason of Virginia


E.


Answer:  D
The most important goal of the Anti-Federalists was to limit the



A.  powers of the central government


B.  legislative supremacy of Congress


C.  enumeration of individual rights


D.  Supreme Courts' power of judicial review


E.


Answer:  A
The Federalists believed that the best way to protect natural
rights was to


A.  have a bill of rights in the Constitution


B.  rely on separation of powers and checks and balances


C.  provide for a highly educated people


D.  allow all adult males the right to vote


E.


Answer:  B