US History Quiz 4A - Constitutional Principles (15 Questions)

The following is a quiz with the Constitutional Principles based questions.

Take this quiz as often as you would like. You goal for this exam should be 60% or higher.

1 The fact that the United States Constitution provided for federalism and a system of checks and balances suggests that

	the original thirteen states sought to dominate the national government
	its writers desired the national government to rule over the states
	its writers feared a concentration of political power
	the American people of that time supported a military government

2 In the late 1780's, some key states were persuaded to ratify the Constitution by the promise that provision would be made for

	low taxes
	a bill of rights
	a national court system
	national assumption of state debts

3 Base your answer on the quotation below and on your knowledge of social studies.

... He [the President] shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law: but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.

– Article II, Section 2, Clause 2, Constitution of the United States

This portion of the Constitution illustrates the principle of

	checks and balances
	executive privilege
	judicial review
	implied powers

4 Base your answer to question on the passage below and on your knowledge of social studies.

. . . An elective despotism, was not the government we fought for; but one which should not only be founded on free principles, but in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among several bodies of magistracy [governance], as that no one could transcend their legal limits, without being effectually checked and restrained by the others. . . .

— James Madison, Federalist No. 48, 1788

Which principle of the United States Constitution is supported by this passage?

	representative government
	writ of habeas corpus
	separation of powers
	due process of law

5 Base your answer on the following poster and on your knowledge of social studies.

Source: Government Publishing Office, 2013

Which statement most accurately describes a relationship between the branches of government shown on this diagram?

	If the executive branch vetoes a bill from the legislative branch, there is no possibility of the bill becoming a law.
	The judicial branch has the power to invalidate laws and actions of both the legislative and executive branches.
	Members of the judicial branch may be appointed and removed by the executive branch.
	The executive branch may sign or veto laws created by the judicial branch.

6 Base your answer on the following passage and on your knowledge of social studies.

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

Source: Amendment V, United States Constitution, 1791

This amendment was included in the Bill of Rights in order to ensure which of the following?

	protection against excessive bail
	freedom of speech
	rights of the accused
	right to bear arms

7 In both Schenck v. United States (1919) and Korematsu v. United States (1944), the Supreme Court ruled that during wartime

	civil liberties may be limited
	women can fight in combat
	drafting of noncitizens is permitted
	sale of alcohol is illegal

8 Base your answer on this quotation from the 14th amendment to the Constitution and on your knowledge of social studies.

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;..."

An important effect that the principle state in this quotation had on the United States legal system was to

	extend the protections of the Bill of Rights to include actions of state governments
	permit states to define United States citizenship in their own ways
	reduce the control of the Federal Government over the legal rights of citizens
	make state governments less democratic

9 Base your answer on the statements below and on your knowledge of social studies.

• Speaker A: A leader is not ultimately responsible to the people but to God, from whom the leader derives the right to govern.

• Speaker B: Each citizen is entitled to a voice in government. Therefore, government should be run by those representatives elected directly by the citizens so that the will of the citizens is expressed.

• Speaker C: History has taught us that the concentration of political power leads to the abuse of that power. Therefore, power should be divided among national, state, and local governments.

• Speaker D: Life is a struggle. Those who seize and maintain political power represent the strongest and most competent of that society and earn the right to govern.

The principle of federalism contained in the Constitution of the United States is most consistent with the ideas of Speaker

	A
	B
	C
	D

10 The term federalism is best described as the

	division of power between the national government and state governments
	creation of a two-house legislature in the national government
	method of reviewing laws and executive actions
	establishment of three branches of government

11 Base your answer on the following excerpt and on your knowledge of social studies.

"The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur..."

Source: Article II, Section 2, United States Constitution

Which of the following best illustrates the role of "Commander in Chief" described in this section of the Constitution?

	President Franklin D. Roosevelt implementing the New Deal during the 1930s.
	President Woodrow Wilson negotiating the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
	President Theodore Roosevelt calling for and signing the Meat Inspection Act in 1906.
	President Dwight Eisenhower responding to the integration crisis in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957.

12 Base your answer on the following passage and on your knowledge of social studies.

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes..."

Source: Article I, Section 8, United States Constitution

Which later Supreme Court decision strengthened a congressional power listed in this section of the Constitution?

	Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
	Marbury v. Madison (1803)
	United States v. Nixon (1974)
	Korematsu v. United States (1944)

13 What is the first step in adding an amendment to the United States Constitution?

	approval by the president
	review by the Supreme Court
	vote by the people in a national referendum
	passage by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress

14 Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below and on your knowledge of social studies.

Source: National Archives (adapted)

What is the best title for this diagram?

	Methods of Amending the Constitution
	Procedures of the Executive Branch
	Process of Nominating Presidential Candidates
	Admission of New States to the Union

15 Base your answer on the following passage and on your knowledge of social studies.

"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress..."

Source: Article V, United States Constitution

This section of the Constitution led most directly to which of the following?

	Bill of Rights
	Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
	Emancipation Proclamation
	Nullification Crisis

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