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Constitutional Democracy
p Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and
a champion of constitutional democracy?
a. Thomas Jefferson
b. George Washington
c. John Adams
d. John Locke
Answer: a
Topic: U.S. Government and Politics in Context (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.2 Describe the importance of citizen participation in
constitutional democracy.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. Which of the following is a feature of constitutional democracy?
a. government is limited by a written document
b. voting is required by law
c. laws are voted on by the people
d. voting rights are tied to property ownership
Answer: a
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
3. How is democracy defined?
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, a. everyone is involved in politics and policy making
b. government by the people
c. the fragmentation of powers
d. government by the few
Answer: b
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
4. How does the Constitution guard against tyranny of the majority?
a. by protecting certain rights, such as freedom of speech
b. by giving states the power to nullify federal laws
c. by requiring courts to issue decisions supported by public opinion
d. by requiring free and fair elections
Answer: a
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
5. What is the idea that a just government must derive its powers from the people it
governs called?
a. equality
b. popular consent
c. electoral politics
d. national supremacy
Answer: b
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
6. Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority is known as
which of the following?
a. tyranny of the majority
b. individual rights
c. majority rule
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, d. plurality principle
Answer: c
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
7. In which type of election is the winner always determined by who gets the most
votes, even if it is not more than half?
a. a runoff election
b. a plurality
c. a recall election
d. a majority
Answer: b
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
8. Head Start, a program for disadvantaged preschool children, reflects the belief in
ensuring __________.
a. balanced government
b. political equality
c. individualism
d. equal opportunity
Answer: d
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
9. Which of the following is a central feature of capitalism?
a. private property
b. separation of powers
c. government-controlled prices
d. equally distributed wealth
Answer: a
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
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, Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
10. What is a favorable condition for democracy?
a. equality of wealth
b. ideological divisions
c. instability in society
d. an educated citizenry
Answer: d
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
11. What role did George Washington play in the Constitutional Convention?
a. He represented the views of the Anti-Federalists.
b. He was the chief negotiator of the three-fifths compromise.
c. He presided over the meeting but spoke little during deliberations.
d. He supported preserving the Articles of Confederation.
Answer: c
Topic: The Constitutional Convention of 1787 (Action)
Learning Objective: 1.5 Identify the issues resolved by compromise during the
writing of the Constitution.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
12. Under the Articles of Confederation, how were disputes between the states settled?
a. by the Supreme Court
b. by the president
c. by state courts
d. by state legislatures
Answer: c
Topic: The Roots of the American Constitutional Experiment (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify pre-Revolutionary concepts central to the new
government and the problems under the Articles of Confederation.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
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Constitutional Democracy
p Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and
a champion of constitutional democracy?
a. Thomas Jefferson
b. George Washington
c. John Adams
d. John Locke
Answer: a
Topic: U.S. Government and Politics in Context (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.2 Describe the importance of citizen participation in
constitutional democracy.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. Which of the following is a feature of constitutional democracy?
a. government is limited by a written document
b. voting is required by law
c. laws are voted on by the people
d. voting rights are tied to property ownership
Answer: a
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
3. How is democracy defined?
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, a. everyone is involved in politics and policy making
b. government by the people
c. the fragmentation of powers
d. government by the few
Answer: b
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
4. How does the Constitution guard against tyranny of the majority?
a. by protecting certain rights, such as freedom of speech
b. by giving states the power to nullify federal laws
c. by requiring courts to issue decisions supported by public opinion
d. by requiring free and fair elections
Answer: a
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
5. What is the idea that a just government must derive its powers from the people it
governs called?
a. equality
b. popular consent
c. electoral politics
d. national supremacy
Answer: b
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
6. Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority is known as
which of the following?
a. tyranny of the majority
b. individual rights
c. majority rule
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, d. plurality principle
Answer: c
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
7. In which type of election is the winner always determined by who gets the most
votes, even if it is not more than half?
a. a runoff election
b. a plurality
c. a recall election
d. a majority
Answer: b
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
8. Head Start, a program for disadvantaged preschool children, reflects the belief in
ensuring __________.
a. balanced government
b. political equality
c. individualism
d. equal opportunity
Answer: d
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
9. Which of the following is a central feature of capitalism?
a. private property
b. separation of powers
c. government-controlled prices
d. equally distributed wealth
Answer: a
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
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, Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
10. What is a favorable condition for democracy?
a. equality of wealth
b. ideological divisions
c. instability in society
d. an educated citizenry
Answer: d
Topic: Defining Democracy (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.3 Describe democracy and the conditions conducive to its
success.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
11. What role did George Washington play in the Constitutional Convention?
a. He represented the views of the Anti-Federalists.
b. He was the chief negotiator of the three-fifths compromise.
c. He presided over the meeting but spoke little during deliberations.
d. He supported preserving the Articles of Confederation.
Answer: c
Topic: The Constitutional Convention of 1787 (Action)
Learning Objective: 1.5 Identify the issues resolved by compromise during the
writing of the Constitution.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
12. Under the Articles of Confederation, how were disputes between the states settled?
a. by the Supreme Court
b. by the president
c. by state courts
d. by state legislatures
Answer: c
Topic: The Roots of the American Constitutional Experiment (Structure)
Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify pre-Revolutionary concepts central to the new
government and the problems under the Articles of Confederation.
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
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