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Chapter 3: TheConstitution–Definitions & Short Answers

Directions: Answer the following questions in a well-organized paragraph.

Revolutionary Roots of the Constitution (p.58-70)

  1. Define the following
  • Declaration of Independence
  • social contract theory
  1. Summarize the objective of the First Continental Congress, and identify some of its accomplishments.
  1. How did John Locke's view on social contract theory impact Thomas Jefferson?

Articles of Confederation (p.70-72)

  1. Define the following:
  • Republic
  • Confederation
  • Articles of Confederation
  1. Why did the Articles of Confederation give more power to the states than the national government?
  1. Discuss the structure and powers outlined in the Articles of Confederation.
  1. Identify four reasons why the Articles of Confederation failed.

Shays’ Rebellion & the Constitutional Convention (p.72-77)

  1. Define the following:
  • legislative branch
  • executive branch
  • judicial branch
  • electoral college
  • extraordinary majority
  1. Discuss Shays's Rebellion and explain its historical significance.
  1. Identify the six features of the Virginia Plan.
  1. Identify the four features of the New Jersey Plan.
  1. Explain the Great Compromise concerning how representation would be determined for each state in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
  1. Describe the compromise at the Constitutional Convention that determined how the president would be selected through the Electoral College.

The Constitution – Articles 1-7 (p.77-86)

  1. Define the following:
  • republicanism
  • federalism
  • separation of powers
  • checks and balances
  • necessary and proper clause
  • judicial review
  • supremacy clause
  1. Explain the difference between enumerated and implied powers, and cite some examples of each.
  1. What constitutional provisions ensure that federal judges will be independent of the other branches?
  1. Describe how the slavery issue impacted how many seats a state would get in the House Of Representatives and the benefit of this compromise for the southern states.

Federalists v. Anti-Federalists (p.86-90)

  1. Define the following:
  • The Federalist Papers
  • Bill of Rights
  1. Summarize Madison's discussion of factions in Federalist #10 and #51 and their impact in a large republic.
  1. Discuss the idea of separation of powers outline in Federalists #48.

Amendment Process (p.90-99)

  1. Explain the manner in which the Constitution can be amended.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1.One interesting feature of the U.S. Constitution is that it is

a. / one of the longest documents of its type.
b. / remarkably detailed and precise.
c. / very much like the Articles of Confederation.
d. / a comprehensive document of only 4300 words
e. / divided into only three distinct articles.

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2.Ireland rejected the Reform Treaty that would unify Europe in 2008, but in October, 2009, Irish voters ratified the treaty in hopes that the European Union would

a. / improve Ireland’s national security.
b. / improve Ireland’s exercise of power at the federal level.
c. / prevent economic catastrophe caused by the worldwide collapse in the financial sector.
d. / widen the jurisdiction and scope of governmental power in Ireland.
e. / All of these

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3.The U.S. Constitution, written in 1787 for an agricultural society currently guides the political life of :

a. / an agrarian society.
b. / an elitist society.
c. / a democratic socialist society.
d. / a massive urban society in the post nuclear age.
e. / a multiparty parliamentary society.

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4.Since 1789, the typical constitution has lasted about ____ years.

a. / 165
b. / 140
c. / 98
d. / 52
e. / 17

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5.Which of the following might very well explain the durability of any given constitution?

a. / Creation by an open participatory process
b. / Specificity
c. / Flexibility through amendment.
d. / Flexibility through interpretation
e. / All of these

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6.Which of the following statements concerning the colonies is incorrect?

a. / Landowners could control and transfer property at will.
b. / There were no compulsory payments to support an established church.
c. / There was no ceiling on wages.
d. / There were no guilds of exclusive professional occupations.
e. / None of these

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7.The Daughters of Liberty opposed British rule by

a. / organizing large public protest marches.
b. / dumping tea into Boston Harbor.
c. / refusing to marry, date, or associate with British loyalists.
d. / engaging in violent guerilla actions.
e. / spinning their own cloth and using colonial products rather than buying imported British products.

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8.The goal of the First Continental Congress was to

a. / select a leader for the army of the colonies.
b. / restore harmony between Britain and the colonies.
c. / plan further resistance to the Coercive Acts.
d. / declare independence from Great Britain.
e. / draft a new constitution.

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9.When George McGovern tried to make Watergate an issue in the 1972 election,

a. / he gathered considerable support among Republican voters.
b. / the voters either did not understand or did not care.
c. / he offended leaders in the Democratic party.
d. / the election became even closer.
e. / the media rebuked him for "negative" campaigning.

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10.When Nixon resigned, Gerald Ford became the nation's first ____ president.

a. / succession
b. / two-term
c. / independent
d. / unelected
e. / nonpartisan

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11.The Declaration of Independence was based on input from many people, but its primary author was

a. / James Madison.
b. / John Quincy Adams.
c. / Benjamin Franklin.
d. / George Washington.
e. / Thomas Jefferson.

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12.John Locke's social contract theory was embodied in

a. / the Boston Revolution.
b. / the Declaration of Independence.
c. / the Intolerable Acts.
d. / None of these
e. / All of these

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13.In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson's statement that “all men are created equal” is similar to which theorist's belief that government is based on the “consent of the governed"?

a. / James Madison
b. / John Adams
c. / John Hancock
d. / Joseph Ellis
e. / John Locke

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14.The following historian maintains that Thomas Jefferson was not proposing in the Declaration Of Independence equality for individuals; rather, Jefferson was asserting the equality of peoples to enjoy the same rights of self-government that other peoples enjoyed:

a. / Charles Beard
b. / Robert Dahl
c. / Jack Rakove
d. / John Locke
e. / Carl Bernstein

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15.The “unalienable rights” identified by the Declaration of Independence are

a. / life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
b. / freedom of speech, press, and assembly.
c. / life, liberty, and property ownership.
d. / the right to own property and bear arms to protect it.
e. / equality, liberty, and equal protection.

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16.The last item in the original draft of the Declaration of Independence focused on

a. / taxation.
b. / representation in parliament.
c. / shipping.
d. / the quartering of soldiers.
e. / slavery.

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17.A result of the Second Continental Congress was

a. / the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
b. / a plan for the Boston Tea Party.
c. / a brief reconciliation with Britain.
d. / the decision to create thirteen colonies.
e. / increases in colonial taxes paid to England.

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18.By signing the Declaration of Independence, the rebels

a. / placed themselves under house arrest.
b. / committed an act of treason.
c. / excommunicated the king.
d. / put themselves in the state of nature.
e. / denounced British tax authority.

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19.The Revolutionary War created an agonizing choice for the following group to either remain loyal to England or join the revolutionaries, many of whom were opposed to this group’s religion:

a. / Protestants
b. / Agnostics
c. / Catholics
d. / Lutherans
e. / Mormons

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20.The War of Independence lasted about

a. / one year.
b. / two years.
c. / three years.
d. / four years.
e. / six and a half years.

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21.A republic is a government

a. / resting on the consent of the governed.
b. / based on majority law.
c. / ruled by two political parties.
d. / ruled by a monarch.
e. / divided by two opposing cultures but ruled by one ruler.

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22.In forging a new government, the biggest concern of the colonial revolutionaries was

a. / selecting an executive committee.
b. / limiting its powers.
c. / making it as democratic as possible.
d. / creating a strong central government.
e. / determining freedoms and rights to be protected.

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23.A confederation can best be described as

a. / a loose association of independent states.
b. / a government without a monarch.
c. / a government ruled by a dictator.
d. / a form of socialism.
e. / smaller units of government controlled by a larger government unit.

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24.The Articles of Confederationtook effect on March 1, 1781 following:

a. / adoption by the First Continental Congress.
b. / adoption by the Second Continental Congress.
c. / George Washington’s approval.
d. / approval by all thirteen states
e. / adoption by the Constitutional Convention.

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25.The Articlesjealousy guarded

a. / commerce.
b. / state sovereignty.
c. / freedom to travel.
d. / property rights.
e. / executive power.

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26.TheArticles of Confederation failed because

a. / they did not provide an effective means for the government to raise money.
b. / they did not include an independent leader to direct the government.
c. / they did not give the government the power to regulate commerce.
d. / All of these
e. / None of these

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27.The painting by John Trumbull depicting the Declaration of Independence being presented to the patriots who would later sign it

a. / highlights the ceremonial moment when the committee presented its draft to the congress.
b. / accurately captures the room’s elegance.
c. / highlights the disputes of the delegates.
d. / displays the actual mahogany armchairs used by the delegates.
e. / none of the above

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28.Shays's Rebellion consisted of

a. / Massachusetts residents protesting New Hampshire's import tax on their state's products.
b. / farmers trying to prevent foreclosure on their property for debts and taxes owed.
c. / Massachusetts residents protesting the national government's tax on liquor.
d. / Bostonians throwing British tea into Boston Harbor.
e. / tobacco farmers protesting tariffs on their crops.

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29.When Congress first approved of a requisition for the establishment of a national army,

a. / every state except Virginia rejected the request for money.
b. / each state supplied a large amount of money.
c. / the states offered plenty of volunteers, but no money.
d. / Shays's Rebellion began.
e. / Alexander Hamilton opposed the decision.

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30.Originally, the Constitutional Convention's purpose was to

a. / eliminate the power of the Second Continental Congress.
b. / overturn articles amended by the Second Continental Congress.
c. / revise the Articles of Confederation.
d. / file a formal tax protest with England.
e. / adopt a new constitution.

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31.What constitutional crisis emerged from Shays's Rebellion?

a. / The conflict between farming and manufacturing interests could no longer be controlled.
b. / The national government intruded too easily into the states' affairs.
c. / Congress, under the Articles of Confederation,lacked the power to confront significant national emergencies.
d. / The national government, under the Articles of Confederation,was equipped to meet only naval attacks.
e. / The colonists already had created a new, more effective structure of government.

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32.The Constitution was written in

a. / 1492.
b. / 1704.
c. / 1812.
d. / 1776.
e. / 1787.

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33.Which of the following statements concerning the Constitutional Convention is incorrect?

a. / Thirteen states selected delegates.
b. / Seventy-four delegates were originally selected.
c. / Only fifty-five delegates arrived in Philadelphia.
d. / Attendance at convention sessions never surpassed thirty.
e. / None of these

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34.A group of delegates to the Constitutional Convention proposed a powerful national government to replace the weak confederation of states. This was known as the

a. / Marshall Plan.
b. / Virginia Plan.
c. / New Jersey Plan.
d. / Connecticut Compromise.
e. / Grand Compromise.

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35.A key component of the Virginia Plan was

a. / equal legislative representation for all states.
b. / that essential powers would be kept within the states.
c. / a strong national legislature.
d. / an executive who would have absolute veto power over legislative actions.
e. / strong states' rights.

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36.Larger states benefited most under what plan?

a. / The Articles of Confederation
b. / The Virginia Plan
c. / The New Jersey Plan
d. / The Great Compromise
e. / The Connecticut Compromise

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37.According to the New Jersey Plan, how was representation to be structured in Congress?

a. / There would be population-based representation in both houses.
b. / There would be one house, and representation in it would be based on population.
c. / States would have equal representation in one house and population-based representation in the other.
d. / There would be one house, and all states would have equal representation in it.
e. / Representation was to be based on the three-fifths compromise.

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38.The Great Compromise provided for

a. / a two-chamber legislature with equal representation for all states.
b. / a two-chamber legislature with equal representation for all states in one chamber and population-based representation in the other.
c. / a one-chamber legislature with representation based on population.
d. / a two-chamber legislature with representation based on population.
e. / upper-house members elected separately from lower-house members.

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39.The Great Compromise resolved what issue?

a. / The power of large versus small states
b. / A strong or weak executive
c. / A strong upper-house legislature versus a weak one
d. / Representation based on an equal representation provision
e. / A strong or weak national court system

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40.The method for choosing the president was designed to address which of the following concerns?

a. / The people's desire to have a direct voice in the selection of the chief executive
b. / Distrust of the judgment of the people and the small states' fears that the large states would dominate the selection process
c. / Large states' fears that small states would dominate the selection process
d. / The demand that each state have an equal voice in selecting the president
e. / Fear that a plural executive would possess too many powers

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41.Which of the following best identifies the basis for state representation in the electoral college?

a. / Population
b. / Number of senators
c. / Number of representatives in the House
d. / Number of representatives in Congress
e. / Geographic size of each state

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42.Which of the following statements is incorrect?

a. / The House of Representatives can bring impeachment charges against the president.
b. / The Senate is given the sole power to try the president on the House’s impeachment charges.
c. / The Senate can convict, and thus remove, a president only by a two-thirds vote.
d. / The Senate convicted and removed President Andrew Johnson.
e. / None of these

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43.Republicanism is a form of government in which power

a. / is divided between the state and national levels.
b. / is concentrated in one political party.
c. / is divided among three branches.
d. / is separated between some elected and some appointed government officials.
e. / resides in the people and is exercised by their elected representatives.

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44.The idea of republicanism may be traced to the philosopher

a. / Socrates.
b. / Plato.
c. / Aristotle.
d. / Heraclitus.
e. / Zeno.

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45.Federalism, or the division of power between a national government and regional units, stands in contrast to

a. / pluralism.
b. / unitary government.
c. / republican government.
d. / autocratic government.
e. / majoritarian government.

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46.In assigning the powers of government, the Constitution

a. / identifies the powers the states and national government share.
b. / lists the powers of the national government but does not address the powers of the states.
c. / lists the powers given to the national government and the powers denied the states and leaves all other powers to the states.
d. / specifically identifies all of the powers of the national and state governments.
e. / enumerates national, state, and local government powers specifically, including all powers that each level of government may not exercise.

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47.Under separation of powers, the U.S. system keeps power among branches balanced by enabling one branch to counter the actions of another by the use of

a. / federalism.
b. / republicanism.
c. / authority.
d. / economic manipulation.
e. / checks and balances.

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48.The constitutional provision that allows Congress to override the president's veto is an example of

a. / federalism.
b. / implied powers.
c. / checks and balances.
d. / separation of powers.
e. / enumeration.

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49.The assignment in the Constitution of lawmaking, law-enforcing, and law-interpreting functions to the legislative, executive, and judicial branches respectively is known as:

a. / judicial review.
b. / direct democracy.
c. / inherent powers.
d. / a separation of powers.
e. / none of the above.

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50.The constitutional provision found in Article I, Section 8, which gives Congress the means to execute its powers, is an example of what type of power?

a. / Inherent
b. / Implied
c. / Derived
d. / Reserved
e. / Enumerated

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51.A constitutional clause that allows for a broad interpretation of implied powers is known as a(n) ____ clause.

a. / earmark
b. / reciprocal
c. / rudimentary
d. / elastic
e. / ornate

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52.The Constitutionrequires ____ to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” under ____ power.

a. / the Supreme Court; implied
b. / the president; enumerated
c. / police officers; express
d. / Congress; incorporated
e. / the bureaucracy; superseding

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53.Congress exercises a potential check on the judicial branch through its constitutional power to

a. / create or eliminate lower federal courts..
b. / appoint federal judges.
c. / remove federal judges that declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.
d. / eliminate the U.S. Supreme Court.
e. / none of the above

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54.The Constitutional article that enabled Alaska and Hawaii to become states is

a. / Article VI.
b. / Article III.
c. / Article IV.
d. / Article VIII.
e. / Article V.

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55.If a state's drinking laws allowed eighteen-year-olds to drink alcoholic beverages in violation of the federal government's age requirement of twenty-one, the federal government's age restriction would supersede the state's law based upon the

a. / hold harmless clause.
b. / elastic clause.
c. / establishment clause.
d. / implied law clause.
e. / supremacy clause.

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56.In keeping with the supremacy clause, Article VI requires that all national and state officials, elected or appointed:

a. / have a religious affiliation
b. / pay taxes
c. / take an oath to support the Constitution
d. / own property
e. / be a practicing attorney

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57.The single most important factor leading to the Constitutional Convention was