LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
School of Government
GOVT 407 — American National Government
Exam 3 Practice Questions & Verified Solutions (2026/2027)
50 Questions | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified Solutions)
Instructions: Select the best answer for each question. Answers are provided in bold green with rationales
in italics.
Core Domains Covered:
• The Presidency (Powers, Roles, Executive Orders, War Powers)
• The Bureaucracy (Structure, Function, Accountability, Iron Triangles)
• The Judiciary (Structure, Judicial Review, Supreme Court Powers, Judicial Philosophy)
• Civil Liberties (Bill of Rights, First Amendment, Due Process)
• Civil Rights (Equal Protection, Discrimination, Voting Rights)
• Public Policy Process (Agenda Setting, Implementation, Evaluation)
• Scenario-Based Constitutional Analysis
1. Which constitutional power allows the President to negotiate agreements with foreign
nations?
A. Power of the purse
B. Treaty-making power
C. Power to declare war
D. Power of judicial review
Answer: B. Treaty-making power
Rationale: Article II, Section 2 grants the President the power to make treaties with the advice and
consent of the Senate. The power of the purse (A) and declaring war (C) belong to Congress; judicial
review (D) belongs to the Judiciary.
2. What is the primary function of the federal bureaucracy?
A. To make laws
B. To implement and administer public policy
C. To interpret the Constitution
D. To elect the President
Answer: B. To implement and administer public policy
Rationale: The bureaucracy executes laws passed by Congress and policies set by the President.
Lawmaking (A) is legislative; interpretation (C) is judicial; elections (D) are conducted by
states/election bodies.
3. Which Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review?
A. Brown v. Board of Education
B. Marbury v. Madison
GOVT 407 — Exam 3 Practice Questions | Page 1
, C. Roe v. Wade
D. Plessy v. Ferguson
Answer: B. Marbury v. Madison
Rationale: Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the Supreme Court's power to declare acts of
Congress unconstitutional (judicial review). Brown (A) addressed segregation; Roe (C) addressed
abortion; Plessy (D) addressed "separate but equal."
4. The First Amendment protects all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Freedom of speech
B. Freedom of religion
C. Right to bear arms
D. Freedom of the press
Answer: C. Right to bear arms
Rationale: The right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment. The First Amendment
protects speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
5. Which level of scrutiny is applied to cases involving racial discrimination?
A. Rational basis test
B. Intermediate scrutiny
C. Strict scrutiny
D. Minimal scrutiny
Answer: C. Strict scrutiny
Rationale: Strict scrutiny is the highest level of judicial review, applied to suspect classifications like
race. It requires a compelling government interest and narrowly tailored means. Rational basis (A) is
for economic issues; intermediate (B) is for gender.
6. What is the purpose of the War Powers Resolution of 1973?
A. To give the President unlimited war powers
B. To limit the President's ability to commit troops without Congressional approval
C. To abolish the Department of Defense
D. To declare war automatically
Answer: B. To limit the President's ability to commit troops without Congressional
approval
Rationale: The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of
committing troops and withdraw them within 60 days unless Congress authorizes further action,
checking executive war powers.
7. Which agency is responsible for regulating interstate commerce?
A. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
B. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
C. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
D. All of the above regulate aspects of commerce
Answer: D. All of the above regulate aspects of commerce
Rationale: Multiple agencies regulate interstate commerce within their jurisdictions: FCC
(communications), EPA (environmental impact on commerce), FTC (trade practices). The Commerce
Clause grants Congress broad regulatory authority.
8. The concept of "selective incorporation" refers to:
A. Applying the Bill of Rights to the states via the 14th Amendment
GOVT 407 — Exam 3 Practice Questions | Page 2
School of Government
GOVT 407 — American National Government
Exam 3 Practice Questions & Verified Solutions (2026/2027)
50 Questions | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified Solutions)
Instructions: Select the best answer for each question. Answers are provided in bold green with rationales
in italics.
Core Domains Covered:
• The Presidency (Powers, Roles, Executive Orders, War Powers)
• The Bureaucracy (Structure, Function, Accountability, Iron Triangles)
• The Judiciary (Structure, Judicial Review, Supreme Court Powers, Judicial Philosophy)
• Civil Liberties (Bill of Rights, First Amendment, Due Process)
• Civil Rights (Equal Protection, Discrimination, Voting Rights)
• Public Policy Process (Agenda Setting, Implementation, Evaluation)
• Scenario-Based Constitutional Analysis
1. Which constitutional power allows the President to negotiate agreements with foreign
nations?
A. Power of the purse
B. Treaty-making power
C. Power to declare war
D. Power of judicial review
Answer: B. Treaty-making power
Rationale: Article II, Section 2 grants the President the power to make treaties with the advice and
consent of the Senate. The power of the purse (A) and declaring war (C) belong to Congress; judicial
review (D) belongs to the Judiciary.
2. What is the primary function of the federal bureaucracy?
A. To make laws
B. To implement and administer public policy
C. To interpret the Constitution
D. To elect the President
Answer: B. To implement and administer public policy
Rationale: The bureaucracy executes laws passed by Congress and policies set by the President.
Lawmaking (A) is legislative; interpretation (C) is judicial; elections (D) are conducted by
states/election bodies.
3. Which Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review?
A. Brown v. Board of Education
B. Marbury v. Madison
GOVT 407 — Exam 3 Practice Questions | Page 1
, C. Roe v. Wade
D. Plessy v. Ferguson
Answer: B. Marbury v. Madison
Rationale: Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the Supreme Court's power to declare acts of
Congress unconstitutional (judicial review). Brown (A) addressed segregation; Roe (C) addressed
abortion; Plessy (D) addressed "separate but equal."
4. The First Amendment protects all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Freedom of speech
B. Freedom of religion
C. Right to bear arms
D. Freedom of the press
Answer: C. Right to bear arms
Rationale: The right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment. The First Amendment
protects speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
5. Which level of scrutiny is applied to cases involving racial discrimination?
A. Rational basis test
B. Intermediate scrutiny
C. Strict scrutiny
D. Minimal scrutiny
Answer: C. Strict scrutiny
Rationale: Strict scrutiny is the highest level of judicial review, applied to suspect classifications like
race. It requires a compelling government interest and narrowly tailored means. Rational basis (A) is
for economic issues; intermediate (B) is for gender.
6. What is the purpose of the War Powers Resolution of 1973?
A. To give the President unlimited war powers
B. To limit the President's ability to commit troops without Congressional approval
C. To abolish the Department of Defense
D. To declare war automatically
Answer: B. To limit the President's ability to commit troops without Congressional
approval
Rationale: The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of
committing troops and withdraw them within 60 days unless Congress authorizes further action,
checking executive war powers.
7. Which agency is responsible for regulating interstate commerce?
A. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
B. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
C. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
D. All of the above regulate aspects of commerce
Answer: D. All of the above regulate aspects of commerce
Rationale: Multiple agencies regulate interstate commerce within their jurisdictions: FCC
(communications), EPA (environmental impact on commerce), FTC (trade practices). The Commerce
Clause grants Congress broad regulatory authority.
8. The concept of "selective incorporation" refers to:
A. Applying the Bill of Rights to the states via the 14th Amendment
GOVT 407 — Exam 3 Practice Questions | Page 2
