PLATO Government End of Semester Test questions and answers

state a region controlled by a single political entity Which of the following most inspired the inclusion in the Declaration of Independence of the right of the people to revolt against a tyrannical government? A. the English Bill of Rights B. Montesquieu's De l'esprit des Lois (Spirit of Laws) C. Locke's Second Treatise D. the Virginia House of Burgesses C. Locke's Second Treatise Brainpower Read More Under feudalism, which group was responsible for ruling different regions of a country? A. peasants B. knights C. lords D. king C. Lords Which Roman contribution to political theory was adapted by the Founding Fathers? A. assembly B. empire C. representative government D. feudalism C. Representative government What effect did the Mayflower Compact have on American government? A. It reinforced British Parliament's control over the colonies. B. It gave settlers the power to establish colonies. C. It contributed to the development of representative democracy. D. It granted absolute authority to the colonial governors. C. It contributed to the development of representative democracy. Which ideal is not an essential element of the English political tradition? A. royal absolutism B. limits to the power of the king C. representation D. protection of certain rights A. Royal Absolutism How did Shays's Rebellion highlight major problems with the Articles of Confederation? A. By ending the rebellion, the strong central government angered the local state government. B. The rebellion showed that local farmers needed to defend themselves against the government. C. A prospering Massachusetts showed that a strong central government was not needed. D. State governments had difficulties fixing their economies and raising militias for defense. D. State governments had difficulties fixing their economies and raising militias for defense What was a major problem with the central government under the Articles of Confederation? A. The central government could collect unlimited taxes from the people. B. The president could make decisions without Congress's approval. C. Congress depended on the states for raising funds and defense. D. Citizens were not able to elect representatives to Congress. C. Congress depended on the states for raising funds and defense. Which document does the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence echo? A. John Locke's Second Treatise of Government B. Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan C. Baron de Montesquieu's The Spirit of Laws D. The US Constitution A. John Locke's Second Treatise of Government What form of government did the Articles of Confederation create? A. a republic with a chief executive B. a strong central government with many agencies and departments C. a government with legislative and judicial branches at the national level D. a league of free and independent states with a limited national government D. a league of free and independent states with a limited national government Which idea did most of the Founding Fathers, despite their differences, agree with? A. Confederation is the best political system available. B. Freedom must be protected by a central government. C. The new government needs to balance order and liberty. D. A limited monarchy should be established to ensure order. C. The new government needs to balance order and liberty. Which element of government does the Constitution give full sovereignty to? A. the state legislatures B. the president of the United States C. the Supreme Court D. the national government D. the national government Which issue was at the heart of one of the compromises made between northern and southern states during the Constitutional Convention of 1787? A. western land claims B. counting slaves in the population C. allowing new states into the union D. regulation of interstate commerce B. counting slaves in the population Which commitment of the framers is most clearly reflected in the Constitution as ratified in 1788? A. the idea of direct democracy B. the principle of limited government C. the abolition of slavery D. the primacy of the states B. the principle of limited government For the first 11 years of its existence, which governmental system did the United States use? A. monarchy B. confederation C. federation D. theocracy B. confederation What does a strict constructionist believe? A. The government should exercise only the powers specifically listed in the Constitution. B. The government may exercise powers implied by the Constitution, even if they are not explicitly listed. C. State laws retain supremacy over national laws when they are in conflict. D. The national government should not share power with the states. A. The government should exercise only the powers specifically listed in the Constitution. Why did the Founding Fathers include the Bill of Rights with the Constitution? A. to define the role of Congress to provide representation for the people B. to limit the power of the state governments to enact laws C. to protect the rights of individuals from the federal government D. to distribute powers between the judicial, legislative, and executive branches C. to protect the rights of individuals from the federal government