Chapter 3 Reading Quiz w/ AoC and Constitution

Which of the following was a significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• The central government had the power to levy taxes and regulate interstate commerce.

• The executive branch had the authority to enforce laws and maintain a standing army.

• The central government lacked the power to enforce laws and had no national judiciary.

• The Articles established a strong and unified national government with centralized control.

How did the Articles of Confederation address the issue of representation in the national legislature?

• Representation was based on population, with larger states having more representatives.

• Each state had an equal vote in the national legislature regardless of its size or population.

• Representation was determined by the wealth of each state, with wealthier states receiving more votes.

• The national legislature was unicameral, with representatives elected by state governors.

Which of the following principles is most directly addressed by the Constitution’s system of checks and balances?

• Federalism

• Popular Sovereignty

• Separation of Powers

• Judicial Review

Which Constitutional clause has been interpreted to allow for a broad interpretation of federal powers?

• The Supremacy Clause

• The Commerce Clause

• The Necessary and Proper Clause

• The Due Process Clause

Which of the following best describes the process of amending the U.S. Constitution?

• An amendment must be proposed by a national referendum and approved by a two-thirds vote in Congress.

• An amendment must be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress and then ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures.

• An amendment can be proposed by a simple majority in Congress and does not require state ratification.

• An amendment must be proposed by a constitutional convention and ratified by a national vote.

Match the following

• Confederation or Confederal System

• A system of government where state governments are sovereign, and the national government can do only what the states permit.

• Federal System

• A system of government where the national and state governments share sovereignty.

• Unitary System

• A system of government where sovereignty is fully vested in the national government, not the states.

• Dual Federalism

• Idea that the federal and state governments share power in many policy areas.

• Cooperative Federalism

• Doctrine holding that the national government is supreme in its sphere, the states are supreme in theirs, and the two spheres should be kept separate.

What was the primary constitutional issue addressed in McCulloch v. Maryland?

• The power of the federal government to regulate interstate commerce

• The constitutionality of the Bank of the United States and the power of states to tax it

• The right of states to enforce federal laws within their jurisdictions

• The extent of the President’s power to issue executive orders

Which of the following best describes the process of a state initiative?

• A process by which voters directly approve or reject a proposed law or constitutional amendment.

• A procedure that allows voters to remove an elected official from office before their term ends.

• A method by which voters can propose new laws or amendments to the state constitution and vote on them directly.

• A system where the state legislature refers a proposed law or amendment to the voters for approval.

Which of the following is a key characteristic of block grants compared to categorical grants?

• Block grants are allocated for specific programs with detailed guidelines, while categorical grants offer more general funding.

• Block grants provide more discretion to states and local governments in how the funds are used, while categorical grants come with strict federal requirements.

• Categorical grants offer broader funding that can be used for various purposes, while block grants are limited to a single, specific purpose.

• Categorical grants are more flexible in use compared to block grants, which require detailed spending reports.

What is the primary goal of the "devolution revolution" in American politics?

• To increase the federal government's power and control over state and local policies.

• To transfer certain powers and responsibilities from the federal government to state and local governments.

• To eliminate the distinction between federal and state powers altogether.

• To centralize decision-making authority within the federal government for more uniform policies.