POLS 1101 Final Exam Study Guide Questions and
Answers
A system of checks and balances ____. - -gives each branch of the national government some
power over the others
-For James Madison, the notion that government is necessary depended strongly on ____. -
-his belief that people are self-interested and could not be trusted to rule themselves
-America predominantly uses which form of democracy? - -representative
-When group interests conflict with an individual's interest, a ____ occurs. - -Collective
Action Problem
-One of the most important public goods is ____. - -national defense
-Free riding tends to compromise ____. - -collective action
-A cohesive set of ideas and beliefs used for organizing the political world is an ____. - -
ideology
-In November of 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the United States' first written
constitution known as ____. - -United States Constitution
-Which part of the national government was formed under the Articles of Confederation? -
-special panels of judges to resolve disputes between states
-A faction is a group of ____ that seek to control government power to ___. - -minority or
majority interests, pursue their own interests
-The Federalists generally ____. - -supported increasing the authority of the national
government
-For James Madison, the problem associated with a tyranny of the majority was that ____. -
-large factions might capture control of the government and ignore the rights of those in
the minority.
-The Anti-Federalists ____. - -feared a strong national government, argued against
ratification of Constitution, wanted power to stay with the states
-Despite significant agreement on the need for a ________ national government at the
Constitutional Convention, there was serious division about ________. - -stronger, how much
stronger the federal government should be
, -What was NOT a source of significant conflict at the Constitutional Convention? - -
whether to throw out or amend the Declaration of Independence
-What WERE sources of conflict at the Constitutional Convention? - -how much power to
give to the legislative and executive branches, how to represent small/large states, slavery
-What power is NOT exclusive to the legislative branch? - -the ability to send troops into
armed conflict
-Which powers WERE exclusive to the legislative branch? - -raise revenue, regulate
interstate commerce, establish post offices, coin money
-The three principles that make up the primary framework of the Constitution are: - -
federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights
-What is an example of coercive federalism? - -The national government uses mandates or
regulations without giving states the money to execute and enforce the mandates or
regulations.
-A form of government that divides sovereign power across at least two political units - -
federalism
-One advantage of decentralized power in a federal system is that it ____. - -is a natural
check on the power of the federal government
-The ____ clause is vague but gives the national government a very broad grant of power to
carry out its responsibilities. - -necessary and proper
-Why is the supremacy clause important? - -it resolves conflicts between national and
state laws
-The power to levy taxes is considered a ____ power. - -concurrent
-The concept of dual federalism envisions what relationship between the federal and state
governments? - -each has distinct areas of authority with very little overlap
-The commerce clause specifically gives _____. - -Congress the power to regulate economic
exchange between the states
-What element of the Constitution affirms state sovereignty? - -10th amendment
-When the Supreme Court makes decisions in civil liberties cases, it frequently weighs the
protection of an individual's freedoms against the public good. In doing this, the Court is
____. - -balancing interests
-The Bill of Rights were included in the Constitution because of whose approval? - -states
Answers
A system of checks and balances ____. - -gives each branch of the national government some
power over the others
-For James Madison, the notion that government is necessary depended strongly on ____. -
-his belief that people are self-interested and could not be trusted to rule themselves
-America predominantly uses which form of democracy? - -representative
-When group interests conflict with an individual's interest, a ____ occurs. - -Collective
Action Problem
-One of the most important public goods is ____. - -national defense
-Free riding tends to compromise ____. - -collective action
-A cohesive set of ideas and beliefs used for organizing the political world is an ____. - -
ideology
-In November of 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the United States' first written
constitution known as ____. - -United States Constitution
-Which part of the national government was formed under the Articles of Confederation? -
-special panels of judges to resolve disputes between states
-A faction is a group of ____ that seek to control government power to ___. - -minority or
majority interests, pursue their own interests
-The Federalists generally ____. - -supported increasing the authority of the national
government
-For James Madison, the problem associated with a tyranny of the majority was that ____. -
-large factions might capture control of the government and ignore the rights of those in
the minority.
-The Anti-Federalists ____. - -feared a strong national government, argued against
ratification of Constitution, wanted power to stay with the states
-Despite significant agreement on the need for a ________ national government at the
Constitutional Convention, there was serious division about ________. - -stronger, how much
stronger the federal government should be
, -What was NOT a source of significant conflict at the Constitutional Convention? - -
whether to throw out or amend the Declaration of Independence
-What WERE sources of conflict at the Constitutional Convention? - -how much power to
give to the legislative and executive branches, how to represent small/large states, slavery
-What power is NOT exclusive to the legislative branch? - -the ability to send troops into
armed conflict
-Which powers WERE exclusive to the legislative branch? - -raise revenue, regulate
interstate commerce, establish post offices, coin money
-The three principles that make up the primary framework of the Constitution are: - -
federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights
-What is an example of coercive federalism? - -The national government uses mandates or
regulations without giving states the money to execute and enforce the mandates or
regulations.
-A form of government that divides sovereign power across at least two political units - -
federalism
-One advantage of decentralized power in a federal system is that it ____. - -is a natural
check on the power of the federal government
-The ____ clause is vague but gives the national government a very broad grant of power to
carry out its responsibilities. - -necessary and proper
-Why is the supremacy clause important? - -it resolves conflicts between national and
state laws
-The power to levy taxes is considered a ____ power. - -concurrent
-The concept of dual federalism envisions what relationship between the federal and state
governments? - -each has distinct areas of authority with very little overlap
-The commerce clause specifically gives _____. - -Congress the power to regulate economic
exchange between the states
-What element of the Constitution affirms state sovereignty? - -10th amendment
-When the Supreme Court makes decisions in civil liberties cases, it frequently weighs the
protection of an individual's freedoms against the public good. In doing this, the Court is
____. - -balancing interests
-The Bill of Rights were included in the Constitution because of whose approval? - -states
