POLS 1 – Quiz 2

What was the most common form of taxation during the colonial era? the income tax taxes on commercial products and activities the animal head tax taxes for use of governmental services and lands taxes on private property

The Stamp Act was a tax on commerce. prohibition on all unofficial mail. law permitting the Crown to open mail. prohibition on alcohol. tax on sugar, molasses, and other commodities.

Compared with the Articles of Confederation, federalism under the Constitution has led to greater centralization of power. increased state autonomy. the establishment of unitary government. more local autonomy, at the expense of the states. a weaker national military.

A ________ is a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for powers expressly delegated to a national government. republic confederation democracy bicameral state unitary state

The essential dilemma of a limited government raised by the ratification debates is a government too weak to do harm also cannot do good. power sharing is inherently unstable and too often violent. a government of expressed powers will slip into an oligarchy. government may promote civil virtue only at the expense of national power. a government of limited powers will be unable to protect national security.

The decision to give the national government control over commerce and finance was motivated primarily by the framers' desire to end slavery in the United States. eliminate state and local governments. promote economic development and protect property from radical state legislatures. build international alliances. guarantee economic equality for all citizens.

In order to signify that the enumerated powers were meant to be a source of strength to the national government and not a limitation on it, the framers of the federal Constitution added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. included provisions for direct democracy in the Constitution. included the full faith and credit clause in the Constitution. included the elastic clause in the Constitution. made it difficult to amend the Constitution.

What is the term length of a federal judge? two years four years six years ten years barring impeachment, life

During the ratification debates, who were the Antifederalists? those who opposed the new Constitution because they wanted a weaker central government those who opposed the Constitution because it did not create a strong enough central government those who opposed the Constitution because it did not provide women with the right to vote those who supported the Constitution those who believed that the United States should enter into a confederation with Britain and Canada

How did the framers attempt to reassure citizens that their views would be represented in the new government created by the Constitution? by allowing citizens to vote directly on all laws enacted by the federal government by making the Constitution very easy to amend by requiring the direct election of senators, members of the House, and the president by giving the federal judiciary the power of judicial review by defining the new government's most important powers, such as collecting taxes, borrowing money, and regulating commerce, as belonging to Congress

How many amendments to the Constitution have been formally proposed in Congress in U.S. history? fewer than 50 fewer than 100 between 100 and 200 between 1,000 and 1,500 over 11,000

The events that led to the Revolutionary War were triggered by which of the following? The British raised revenue by increasing the tax rate of the colonies. The British had established suspicious alliances with Indian tribes during the French and Indian Wars. American separatists assassinated King George III. Protestant fundamentalists in New England attempted to establish a theocracy. The British attempted to end slavery in the colonies.

How was political power in Congress divided under the Articles of Confederation? Each state had an equal vote. Each state's votes were proportionate to its population. The states were not formally represented in Congress. Each state's power depended on its geographic size. Each state's power depended on its economic wealth.

The supremacy clause states that Congress is the most powerful branch of government. establishes that no branch of government is supreme over others. announces that the Constitution and all laws made under it are superior to any state laws. announces that state laws are superior to any federal laws. declares that no European powers shall interfere in North America.

What led British officials to raise taxes on the American colonists during the 1760s? the amount spent on fighting the French and Indian Wars the cost of war against Napoleon in Europe the expenses incurred in colonizing South Africa the extensive roads and canals built by the British in North America the desire to penalize the colonists for their actions during the Boston Tea Party

The Three-fifths Compromise determined that three out of every five slaves would be counted for purposes of representation and taxation. determined the ratio between free states and slave states. created a bicameral legislature. declared that the states would pay three-fifths of the Revolutionary War debt, and the federal government would pay the rest. determined that all American citizens would pay three-fifths of their incomes to the federal government in taxes every year.

The system of shared powers, divided between a central government and the states, is called ________. the electoral college federalism statism checks and balances the separation of powers

The most important political value for the framers of the Constitution was ________. democracy political equality economic equality individual liberty civic virtue

How did the colonists' victory in the Revolutionary War change the balance of political power in the new states? Royal land, office, and patent holders became the controlling force in many state legislatures, and pre-Revolutionary radicals were significantly weakened. Royal land, office, and patent holders were significantly weakened, and pre-Revolutionary radicals became the controlling forces in many state legislatures. Royal land, office, and patent holders became the controlling force in many state legislatures, and royalists were placed in positions of power in the federal government. Royal land, office, and patent holders became the controlling force in many state legislatures, and women were placed in positions of power in the federal government. Royal land, office, and patent holders were significantly weakened, and Native Americans were placed in positions of power in many states.

The most common method of passing an amendment to the Constitution is passage in both houses of Congress by a two-thirds vote, followed by a majority vote in three-fourths of the state legislature. passage in both houses of Congress by a two-thirds vote, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state supreme courts. proposal by the president, which is supported by two-thirds of the state legislatures. passage by a constitutional convention, called by three-fourths of the states. passage by the initiative process in three-fourths of the states and unanimous approval by the Supreme Court.