AmG Quiz - Six Basic Constitutional Principles

Which part of the Constitution says that the Constitution and the laws and treaties of the United States are "the supreme Law of the Land"?

• the Necessary and Proper Clause
• the Full Faith and Credit Clause
• the Supremacy Clause
• the Tenth Amendment

Which part of the Constitution reserves certain powers to the States?

• the Necessary and Proper Clause
• the Full Faith and Credit Clause
• the Supremacy Clause
• the Tenth Amendment

The principle of popular sovereignty is based on the belief that

• the government must be run by officials who are appointed to office by their predecessors.
• the government gets its power from the people and can exist only with their consent.
• the people have the authority to declare any federal or State law unconstitutional by voting on it.
• the people do not have to obey any laws with which they disagree.

Which of the constitutional principles listed was Madison describing and defending in the quotation below?

• popular sovereignty
• checks and balances
• federalism
• judicial review

Which basic constitutional principle does the following quote from the text refer to?

• separation of powers
• limited government
• popular sovereignty
• due process of law

If Congress passes a law, but the President quickly vetoes it, who has the power to override the President's veto?

• a popular vote by the U.S. citizens
• the Supreme Court
• no one, the bill is dead
• the House of Representatives and the Senate

Which of the following best explains the Supreme Court's ruling in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

• The Supreme Court ruled that the Tenth Amendment protects the reserved powers of the states.
• The Supreme Court ruled that the President may serve an indefinite term during national emergencies.
• The Supreme Court ruled that the Necessary and Proper Clause gives the National Government implied powers.
• The Supreme Court ruled that the courts have the power of judicial review.

The Framers chose federalism in order to

• unite citizens under one centralized federal government.
• create a national government while still preserving the rights of the States to govern themselves.
• leave all power to make laws with each State.
• create a workable compromise among the States to share power.

"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many...may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."

• popular sovereignty
• separation of powers
• due process of law
• rule of law

The constitutional principle of judicial review provides

• the House of Representatives with the power to override decisions made in federal courts.
• the courts with the power to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action.
• the President with the power to veto a bill that was passed by both houses.
• the House and Senate with the power to intercede and settle disputes between the executive and judicial branches.