PLATO EDMENTUM US GOVERNMENT END OF SEMESTER TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is the primary purpose of most constitutions? A. to define a moral code for people to follow B. to provide a substitute for government C. to prevent a strong central government D. to define and limit government power E. to give the government absolute power D. to define and limit government power Under which type of government would state or provincial governments have the most sovereignty? A. parliamentary B. confederal C. federal D. totalitarian E. dictatorship B. confederal Brainpower Read More Previous Play Next Rewind 10 seconds Move forward 10 seconds Unmute 0:00 / 0:00 Full screen Imagine you are preparing a speech on social contract theory for your government class. As part of your speech, you need to focus on the idea that people have the authority to overthrow a government that has become tyrannical. Which Enlightenment text would be good source material? A. Hobbes's Leviathan B. Locke's Second Treatise of Government C. Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws D. Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England E. Machiavelli's The Prince B. Locke's Second Treatise of Government What is considered an important Roman contribution to American government? A. the idea of representative government in which people elect officials to speak for them B. the idea of a legislature that has more power than any other branch of government C. the idea that everyone is judged under the same interpretation of the law D. the idea that governments are only legitimate if they rule with the consent of their people E. the idea that people naturally give up some rights to a government for the sake of maintaining order in society A. the idea of representative government in which people elect officials to speak for them According to the Declaration of Independence, when do the people have the right to overthrow their government? A. when the government taxes the people too much B. when the people as a whole do not agree with the policies of the government C. when they are ruled by a king D. when the government fails to protect the fundamental rights of the people E. when the economy fails to create new jobs D. when the government fails to protect the fundamental rights of the people What was an important concern for the Founding Fathers when drafting the Articles of Confederation? A. avoiding the tyranny of a powerful central government B. granting only limited powers to the new monarchy C. providing new powers to the executive branch D. limiting the power of certain states in the Union E. preventing states from trading with other nations A. avoiding the tyranny of a powerful central government The Constitution created a federal system in the United States. Which of the following best describes a federal government? A. equal and full sovereignty granted to all states with a weak central government B. a parliament that grants limited power to each provincial government C. an executive branch that has great, sweeping powers to direct a nation D. power split and shared between the central and state governments E. a unicameral national legislature that provides equal voting to each state D. power split and shared between the central and state governments In 1783, which plan sought to highlight the need for a stronger national government and used army officers to threaten a coup d'état? A. Shays's Rebellion B. Newburgh Conspiracy C. The Virginia Plan D. The New Jersey Plan B. Newburgh Conspiracy What were the Founding Fathers trying to create when they divided powers between the judicial, legislative, and executive branches? A. republicanism B. executive privilege C. due process of law D. checks and balances E. a federal government D. checks and balances Which sentence in the US Constitution provides for limiting the power of government? A. "All persons born or naturalized in the United States . . . are citizens of the United States." B. "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived." C. "The president shall be commander in chief of the army and navy." D. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . . or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press." E. "The Constitution . . . shall be the supreme law of the land." D. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . . or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press." What is an enumerated power of Congress? A. a power specifically named in the Constitution B. a power given to it by the Supreme Court C. a power considered necessary to carry out other congressional duties D. a power given to it by the president E. a power restricted by the people A. a power specifically named in the Constitution In Congress, who has the right to unlimited debate and unlimited opportunity to offer amendments? A. the president B. senators C. the Speaker of the House D. the vice president E. majority leaders B. senators Imagine that you are writing a report on the people who most influenced a president during the administration. Which advisor would be the best source on a president's personal thoughts? A. the national security advisor B. the secretary of state C. the attorney general D. the chief of staff E. the secretary of treasury D. the chief of staff Which statement about the executive role of the president of the United States is true? A. The president fills the roles of head of state and head of government. B. The president's only role is the head of government. C. The president's only role is the head of state. D. The president fills the role of the chief justice of the supreme court. E. The president's role is ceremonial, with Congress serving the roles of head of state and head of government. A. The president fills the roles of head of state and head of government. "Stare decisis" means "let the decision stand." This concept is influential in our legal system and is most closely related with which legal term? A. habeas corpus B. precedent C. jurisdiction D. due process E. judicial review B. precedent Which sentence correctly states the relationship between the federal and the state judiciaries? A. Federal courts can overrule any state court in its interpretation of the law. B. The two always operate separately, and neither system ever interferes with the other's decisions. C. All state courts are trial courts, and all federal courts are appeals courts. D. State courts have original jurisdiction in civil cases, and federal courts have original jurisdiction in criminal cases. E. The two generally operate separately, although federal courts may overrule state court decisions that violate the US Constitution or federal law. E. The two generally operate separately, although federal courts may overrule state court decisions that violate the US Constitution or federal law. Which action is an example of direct democracy? A. protesting unfavorable government legislation B. voting for the recall of a state governor C. electing a member to the state senate D. serving as an official in the local government E. campaigning for a mayoral candidate in an upcoming election B. voting for the recall of a state governor