Political Science 1010 - American National Government » Spring 2021 » Module II Assessment

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Question #1
British colonists in North America in the late seventeenth century were greatly influenced by the political thought of __________.
A.   James Madison
B.   John Locke
C.   King James II
D.   Thomas Jefferson
Question #2
The agreement that citizens will consent to be governed so long as government protects their natural rights is called __________.
A.   the bill of rights
B.   the divine right of kings
C.   due process
D.   the social contract
Question #3
What important power did the national government lack under the Articles of Confederation?
A.   It could not conduct foreign affairs.
B.   It could not coin money.
C.   It could not impose taxes.
D.   It could not declare war.
Question #4
How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention resolve their disagreements regarding slavery?
A.   It was agreed that a state's slave population would be counted for purposes of representation but not for purposes of taxation.
B.   It was agreed that 60 percent of a state's slave population would be counted for purposes of both representation and taxation.
C.   It was agreed that a state's slave population would be counted for purposes of taxation but not for purposes of representation.
D.   It was agreed that Congress would abolish slavery in 1850.
Question #5
Why were The Federalist Papers written?
A.   To encourage people to vote for George Washington as the nation's first president.
B.   To oppose the admission of slaveholding states to the federal union.
C.   To encourage states to oppose the Constitution.
D.   To encourage New York to ratify the Constitution.
Question #6
What argument did Alexander Hamilton use to convince people that it was not dangerous to place power in the hand's of one man?
A.   One man could respond to crises more quickly than a group of men like Congress and it was easier to control the actions of one man than the actions of a group.
B.   It was easier to control the actions of one man than the actions of a group.
C.   One man could respond to crises more quickly than a group of men like Congress.
D.   That man would have to pass a religious test before he could become president; thus, citizens could be sure that he was of good character.
Question #7
How many states must ratify an amendment before it becomes law?
A.   all
B.   one-half
C.   two-thirds
D.   three-fourths
Question #8
What is the Bill of Rights?
A.   document authored by Thomas Jefferson that details the rights of citizens
B.   first ten amendments to the Constitution that protect individual freedoms
C.   twenty-seven amendments added to the Constitution over the years
D.   powers given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution
Question #9
Which statement about federal and unitary systems is most accurate?
A.   In a federal system, the constitution allocates powers between states and federal government; in a unitary system, powers are lodged in the national government.
B.   In a federal system, power is concentrated in the states; in a unitary system, it is concentrated in the national government.
C.   Today there are more countries with federal systems than with unitary systems.
D.   The United States and Japan have federal systems, while Great Britain and Canada have unitary systems.
Question #10
Which statement is most accurate about the sources of revenue for local and state governments?
A.   Taxes generate well over one-half of the total revenue for local and state governments.
B.   Between 30 and 40 percent of the revenue for local and state governments comes from grant money.
C.   Property axes generate well the most tax revenue for both local and state governments.
D.   Local and state governments generate an equal amount of revenue from issuing licenses and certificates.
Question #11
In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court invoked which provisions of the Constitution?
A.   taxing power and necessary and proper clause 
B.   commerce clause and supremacy clause
C.   necessary and proper clause and supremacy clause
D.   Tenth Amendment and spending clause
Question #12
Which statement about new federalism is not true?
A.   New Federalism is based on the idea that decentralization of responsibility enhances administrative efficiency.
B.   President Reagan was able to promote new federalism consistently throughout his administration.
C.   New Federalism was launched by President Nixon and continued by President Reagan.
D.   United States v. Lopez is a Supreme Court ruling that advanced the logic of new federalism.
Question #13
Which is not a merit of cooperative federalism?
A.   Federal assistance ensures some degree of uniformity of public services across states.
B.   Federal cooperation helps mitigate the problem of collective action among states.
C.   Cooperative federalism respects the traditional jurisdictional boundaries between states and the federal government.
D.   Federal assistance encourages state and local governments to generate positive externalities.
Question #14
Which statement about federal grants in recent decades is most accurate?
A.   The majority of federal grants are block grants.
B.   Block grants tend to gain more flexibility over time.
C.   The federal government allocates the most grant money to income security.
D.   The amount of federal grant money going to states has steadily increased since the 1960s.
Question #15
Which statement about unfunded mandates is false?
A.   The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act has prevented Congress from using unfunded mandates.
B.   New federalism does not promote the use of unfunded mandates,
C.   Title VI of the Civil Rights Act establishes crosscutting requirements.
D.   The Clean Air Act is a type of federal partial preemptive regulation.
Question #16
Which statement about immigration federalism is false?
A.   The Arizona v. United States decision struck down all of Arizona's most restrictive provisions on illegal immigration.
B.   Since the 1990s, states have increasingly moved into the policy domain of immigration.
C.   Federal immigration laws trump state immigration laws.
D.   States' involvement in immigration is party due to their interest in preventing illegal immigrants from accessing services such as education and welfare benefits.
Question #17
Which statement about the evolution of same-sex marriage is false?
A.   In the 1990s and 2000s, the number of state restrictions on same-sex marriage increased.
B.   The federal government became involved in this issue when it passed DOMA.
C.   United States v. Windsor legalized same-sex marriage in the United States.
D.   More than half the states had legalized same-sex marriage by the time the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal nationwide in 2015.
Question #18
Which statement about venue shopping is true?
A.   None of the statements are correct.
B.   Anti-abortion advocates have steered the abortion issue from the states up to the federal government.
C.   MADD steered the drinking age issue from the federal government down to the states.
D.   Both MADD and anti-abortion proponents redirected their advocacy from the states to the federal government.
Question #19
Which of the following is not a benefit of federalism?
A.   Federalism accommodates  a diversity of opinion.
B.   Federalism promotes political participation.
C.   Federalism encourages economic equality across the country.
D.   Federalism provides for multiple levels of government action.

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