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US Constitution Act Study Guide
American Politics and US Constitution (C963)
Western Governors University
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PRE-ASSESSMENT: AMERICAN POLITICS AND THE US
CONSTITUTION (GVO1) PGVO
1.
Who was responsible for drafting the Bill of Rights and submitting it to Congress?
James Madison
- Why did the colonists oppose being taxed by Great Britain?
They did not have elected representatives in the House of Commons.
- What was a major difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution?
The Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national judiciary.
- Why did the framers design the government under the Articles of Confederation with a Congress?
They wanted a government based on the representation of the population.
- What did the Great Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that was finalized in the Constitution establish?
A two-chamber Congress
- What were the results of the three-fifths compromise?
It allowed slave states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for the purpose of representation.
- What was a Federalist argument in support of the ratification of the Constitution?
A strong national government is better for national defense and economic growth.
- Which concept was James Madison referencing when he stated, "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition" in Federalist, no. 51?
Separation of powers and checks and balances
What is a judicial check on the executive branch?
The Supreme Court can declare actions by the executive branch unconstitutional.
- What describes dual federalism?
State government and national government have exclusive authority in clearly defined jurisdictions.
- Which congressional action would be the result of the implied powers of Congress?
Congress passes a law raising the minimum wage to $10 per hour.
- What best explains why individual members of the Senate have more power than individual members of the House of Representatives?
The smaller total number of Senate members compared to the number of representatives
- What describes the equal proportions method of congressional apportionment?
Congressional districts are drawn in order to maintain similar numbers of voters in each district.
- What describes the process of bills becoming laws in Congress?
Bills change significantly through House and Senate revisions.
- Which power does the president have under the Constitution?
Appointing judges
- What is a protection against an elected president abusing powers for personal gain?
The restriction on presidents being elected to only two terms
- Which constitutional amendment established term limits for the president?
The Twenty-Second Amendment
What is true about campaign ads in primary elections?
They often try to raise the name recognition of a candidate.
- How are elections for the U. Senate conducted?
All Senate seats are up for election every six years.
- Which election cycle event allows local party members to select their delegates for a presidential election?
A caucus
- What was the purpose of creating the Federal Election Commission in the 1970s?
To ensure transparency in campaign financing
- Which type of policy would typically be promoted by public interest groups?
Government funding for public school education
- What is generally true of interest groups but not true of political parties?
They tend to be focused on a single issue.
- Why is it difficult to measure the influence of interest groups?
Interest groups tend to support lawmakers who would have likely supported the group's issues anyway.
- Which Supreme Court decision allowed super PACs to make unlimited contributions to political candidates?
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
- In which case did the Supreme Court establish that spending on political campaigns constituted political speech that is protected by the First Amendment?
Buckley v. Valeo
What is closely associated with a citizen being less likely to vote?
Having a lower income job
- What was required by states under the 1993 National Voter Registration Act?
It required states to allow citizens to register to vote when they sign up for driver’s licenses.
- What was the impact of the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, also known as the Motor Voter Act?
Voter registration increased, but voter turnout was largely unchanged.
- A voter casts a ballot for a candidate based solely on the candidate’s previous vote on a tax cut.
Which type of voting decision is demonstrated in this situation?
Retrospective
- Which amendment concerns the rights of individuals engaged in civil disputes?
The Seventh Amendment
- What was the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson?
It allowed racial segregation by establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine.
- In which types of cases would the Supreme Court use the standard of strict scrutiny?
Cases that restrict fundamental rights of protected classes
- Why was the separate-but-equal provision in Plessy v. Ferguson ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the Brown v. Board decision?
It violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
In which case did the Supreme Court rule there is a constitutional right to privacy that protects a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy?
Roe v. Wade
- Which amendment to the Constitution gave women the right to vote?
Nineteenth Amendment
- What is an appropriate characterization of media agenda setting?
It determines which events deserve public attention.
- What established the requirement that the executive branch provide information to private citizens and news outlets?
The Freedom of Information Act
- What describes the principle of prior restraint?
The government can prevent some information from being published if it affects national security.
- Which influence would having parents that are committed and vocal Democrats have on people's political socialization?
They would likely become strong Democrats.
- How do presidents use mandates after election?
They use their public support to implement campaign promises.
- What is a criticism of the bandwagon effect on American politics?
News media agencies provide more coverage to candidates that are leading in the polls.
US Constitution Act Study Guide
Course: American Politics and US Constitution (C963)
University: Western Governors University
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