Intro to American Government Exam
Questions with Correct Answers
The Constitution specified that states would have certain powers called "reserved"
powers and the central government would have powers written in the Constitution
called "implied" powers. - ANSWER-False
All of the following are reasons the Founders opted for a federal structure of
government, EXCEPT: - ANSWER-It would help insure the concept that the Federal
government was "supreme" over states.
The American experience suggests that many of the Antifederalists' primary
concerns were not unwarranted. - ANSWER-True
In United States v. Lopez, the Supreme Court said that Congress had exceeded its
commerce clause power by creating gun-free zones around schools. - ANSWER-
True
Historically, when disputes have arisen over who has power, the central government
or the state, over an issue, it goes to the ________ for resolution - ANSWER-The
Supreme Court
Germany, Mexico and the United States all have Federal government structures
which means they all centralize power in the same way. - ANSWER-False
In the case of Gibbons v Ogden, John Marshall ruled that any commerce that occurs
between two or more states can be regulated by the federal government. -
ANSWER-True
As the economy of the North shifted to a manufacturing economy, the North
experienced tremendous job growth which in turn increased the Northern population
and led to more Northern represenation in Congress. As a result, Congress began to
create taxes on imports (which protects Northern producers from foreign
competition) which hurt the agricultural economy of the South because the South's
largest customer, England, could no longer profitably sell textiles in the U.S. As a
result, the South felt that the North was passing laws which directly damaged the
wealth and health of Southerners. So they believed they should seceed from the
United States. - ANSWER-1. manufacturing
2.representation
3. all of the above
4. agricultural
5. secede from
,When the Framers drafted the Constitution, the Antifederalist opposed it primarily on
the grounds that the new government - ANSWER-gave too much power to the
national government
Devolution refers to the transfer of authority and power from the central government
back to the state from where it was originally located. - ANSWER-true
According to Announcement #6, which I sent you this week, since property rights in
Mexico are not as secure as they are in the US, my grandmother makes only limited
investments into her home in Michoacan. - ANSWER-false
The Constitution says the the Federal government has only a very limited set of
powers and yet the US Federal government employs more people than any other
organization on Earth - 3 million directly employees, 13 million indirectly.
That's beyond dispute.
This massive expansion in the size and scope of the Federal government has come
primarily through a convenient interpretation of one power - the commerce clause. -
ANSWER-true
Put the history of American Federalism in proper historical order. - ANSWER-1. The
Marshall Years, during which time the Supreme Court helps the federal government
expand it size and scope
2. The Jackson Years, during which time State governments begin to resist the
growing power of the Federal government
3. The Civil War, when the federal and state governments go to war over who should
have the final say over the rights of state citizens
4. Dual federalism, when the federal government and states leave each other alone
5. Cooperative federalism, when state governments seek federal help and the
federal government uses the opportunity to expand
6.Devolution - when attempts are made to shrink the size of government as return
power to the states
The following cartoons and newspaper all appeared in 1937. They all relate to an
instance in which a President (executive branch) became angry with the Supreme
Court (legislative branch) and attempted to "reorganize" that branch to suit his
needs. Many people consider FDR one of the greatest Presidents in American
history, but this is clearly an example of a President tampering with the principles of
separation of powers and checks and balances. - ANSWER-True
Cities with super tax bases don't have to worry too much about angry city residents
who are unhappy with their city's policies but cities with normal tax bases do. -
ANSWER-True
A moral hazard is when a government policy, program or plan doesn't turn out how
the government wanted. - ANSWER-False
According to Announcement #2, the minimum number of sentences that your
discussion replies must have is - ANSWER-5
, According to Announcement #2, I will only grade your 1st reply to discussion
prompts. - ANSWER-True
According to Announcement #6 where I provided the answers to natural
rights/private property question, the Founders believed that private property rights
create a HUGE incentive to becoming a knowledgeable citizen because property
owners had something to LOSE which would compel them, out of pure self-interest,
to want to become knowledgeable about politics and government in order to protect
what they had. - ANSWER-True
All of the following are basic elements of the U.S. political culture EXCEPT -
ANSWER-liberty
equality
STABILITY
individualism
accountability
Americans are more willing to tolerate __________ than __________. - ANSWER-
economic inequality; political inequality
No matter how one feels about the role of religion in politics, religion has played a
large role all of the following political struggles EXCEPT - ANSWER-Affirmative
Action
Religious diversity flourished in the United States due to the absence of a(n) -
ANSWER-an official government religion.
The MOST important source of political values in the United States is probably -
ANSWER-the family
Civil society is used to describe - ANSWER-private, voluntary groups
Putnam worried that Americans might be losing social capital because - ANSWER-
they are less and less likely to join voluntary associations.
According to lecture, an individualistic culture emphasizes how the environmental
enables an individual to achieve things - ANSWER-false
Americans are more likely to believe in equality of results than in equality of
opportunity. - ANSWER-false
According to lecture, Republicans are conservative and Democrats are liberal -
ANSWER-false
Classical liberalism essentially refers to the idea of limited government and
government assistance for those in need. - ANSWER-false
According to lecture, the decline in trust that Americans have for government might
be the result of - ANSWER-A. Excessive numbers of baby boomers
Questions with Correct Answers
The Constitution specified that states would have certain powers called "reserved"
powers and the central government would have powers written in the Constitution
called "implied" powers. - ANSWER-False
All of the following are reasons the Founders opted for a federal structure of
government, EXCEPT: - ANSWER-It would help insure the concept that the Federal
government was "supreme" over states.
The American experience suggests that many of the Antifederalists' primary
concerns were not unwarranted. - ANSWER-True
In United States v. Lopez, the Supreme Court said that Congress had exceeded its
commerce clause power by creating gun-free zones around schools. - ANSWER-
True
Historically, when disputes have arisen over who has power, the central government
or the state, over an issue, it goes to the ________ for resolution - ANSWER-The
Supreme Court
Germany, Mexico and the United States all have Federal government structures
which means they all centralize power in the same way. - ANSWER-False
In the case of Gibbons v Ogden, John Marshall ruled that any commerce that occurs
between two or more states can be regulated by the federal government. -
ANSWER-True
As the economy of the North shifted to a manufacturing economy, the North
experienced tremendous job growth which in turn increased the Northern population
and led to more Northern represenation in Congress. As a result, Congress began to
create taxes on imports (which protects Northern producers from foreign
competition) which hurt the agricultural economy of the South because the South's
largest customer, England, could no longer profitably sell textiles in the U.S. As a
result, the South felt that the North was passing laws which directly damaged the
wealth and health of Southerners. So they believed they should seceed from the
United States. - ANSWER-1. manufacturing
2.representation
3. all of the above
4. agricultural
5. secede from
,When the Framers drafted the Constitution, the Antifederalist opposed it primarily on
the grounds that the new government - ANSWER-gave too much power to the
national government
Devolution refers to the transfer of authority and power from the central government
back to the state from where it was originally located. - ANSWER-true
According to Announcement #6, which I sent you this week, since property rights in
Mexico are not as secure as they are in the US, my grandmother makes only limited
investments into her home in Michoacan. - ANSWER-false
The Constitution says the the Federal government has only a very limited set of
powers and yet the US Federal government employs more people than any other
organization on Earth - 3 million directly employees, 13 million indirectly.
That's beyond dispute.
This massive expansion in the size and scope of the Federal government has come
primarily through a convenient interpretation of one power - the commerce clause. -
ANSWER-true
Put the history of American Federalism in proper historical order. - ANSWER-1. The
Marshall Years, during which time the Supreme Court helps the federal government
expand it size and scope
2. The Jackson Years, during which time State governments begin to resist the
growing power of the Federal government
3. The Civil War, when the federal and state governments go to war over who should
have the final say over the rights of state citizens
4. Dual federalism, when the federal government and states leave each other alone
5. Cooperative federalism, when state governments seek federal help and the
federal government uses the opportunity to expand
6.Devolution - when attempts are made to shrink the size of government as return
power to the states
The following cartoons and newspaper all appeared in 1937. They all relate to an
instance in which a President (executive branch) became angry with the Supreme
Court (legislative branch) and attempted to "reorganize" that branch to suit his
needs. Many people consider FDR one of the greatest Presidents in American
history, but this is clearly an example of a President tampering with the principles of
separation of powers and checks and balances. - ANSWER-True
Cities with super tax bases don't have to worry too much about angry city residents
who are unhappy with their city's policies but cities with normal tax bases do. -
ANSWER-True
A moral hazard is when a government policy, program or plan doesn't turn out how
the government wanted. - ANSWER-False
According to Announcement #2, the minimum number of sentences that your
discussion replies must have is - ANSWER-5
, According to Announcement #2, I will only grade your 1st reply to discussion
prompts. - ANSWER-True
According to Announcement #6 where I provided the answers to natural
rights/private property question, the Founders believed that private property rights
create a HUGE incentive to becoming a knowledgeable citizen because property
owners had something to LOSE which would compel them, out of pure self-interest,
to want to become knowledgeable about politics and government in order to protect
what they had. - ANSWER-True
All of the following are basic elements of the U.S. political culture EXCEPT -
ANSWER-liberty
equality
STABILITY
individualism
accountability
Americans are more willing to tolerate __________ than __________. - ANSWER-
economic inequality; political inequality
No matter how one feels about the role of religion in politics, religion has played a
large role all of the following political struggles EXCEPT - ANSWER-Affirmative
Action
Religious diversity flourished in the United States due to the absence of a(n) -
ANSWER-an official government religion.
The MOST important source of political values in the United States is probably -
ANSWER-the family
Civil society is used to describe - ANSWER-private, voluntary groups
Putnam worried that Americans might be losing social capital because - ANSWER-
they are less and less likely to join voluntary associations.
According to lecture, an individualistic culture emphasizes how the environmental
enables an individual to achieve things - ANSWER-false
Americans are more likely to believe in equality of results than in equality of
opportunity. - ANSWER-false
According to lecture, Republicans are conservative and Democrats are liberal -
ANSWER-false
Classical liberalism essentially refers to the idea of limited government and
government assistance for those in need. - ANSWER-false
According to lecture, the decline in trust that Americans have for government might
be the result of - ANSWER-A. Excessive numbers of baby boomers
