Chapter 1

Navigation » List of Schools » California State University, Northridge » Political Science » POLS 155 – American Political Institutions » Fall 2021 » Chapter 1

Need help with your exam preparation?

Existing Quiz Clients Login here

Below are the questions for the exam with the choices of answers:

Try The Exam

Question #1

“The supreme law of the land” includes which of the following?

A the Ten Commandments

B the Declaration of Independence

C state laws

D the Constitution

Question #2

The Full Faith and Credit Clause was intended for which purpose?

A giving Congress the power to impeach the president

B specifying the supremacy of national law over state law

C delegating to Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce

D ensuring that states respect the laws of other states

Question #3

Which of the following accurately characterizes the Necessary and Proper Clause?

A It gives Congress the authority to carry out other vague powers.

B It potentially weakens the powers of Congress

C It is also known as the Commerce Clause.

D It was especially alarming to the Federalists.

Question #4

Which of these is considered a disadvantage of the amendment process?

A the fact that the amendment process’s rapid pace leads to hasty policy decisions

B the fact that the amendment process must be done before July 4 each year

C the fact that the amendment process can only be initiated by the president

D the amendment process’s consensus requirements

Question #5

Which of these is considered an advantage of the amendment process?

A Vague language engenders debate over interpretation.

B Vague language allows for flexibility and diversity in interpretation.

C The amendment process is speedy and allows for quick adjustment to social changes.

D Vague language means that agreement needs to be nearly unanimous.

Question #6

Which of the following statements about the amendment process is accurate?

A The amendment process is especially responsive to minority groups.

B It is much easier for an amendment to move past the proposal stage than it is for it to move past the ratification stage.

C Amendment language is designed to be concise and unambiguous.

D The failure of the Equal Rights Amendment shows the difficulty of modifying the Constitution.

Question #7

How does the information in this investigation about the passage of the 19th Amendment illustrate the idea that one person can make a difference? Choose the BEST answer.

A The suffrage movement was based on persuading individuals to change their minds, one person at a time.

B Both Alice Paulʼs leadership and determination and Harry Burnʼs deciding vote directly impacted the passage of the 19th Amendment.

C If Harry Burnʼs mother hadnʼt written him so many letters, women today still wouldnʼt be voting.

D It took many years for the dream of universal suffrage, expressed by the delegates at the Seneca Falls Convention, to ﬁnally come true.

Question #8

What was a significant influence on state representative Harry Burn’s crucial vote in favor of women’s suffrage?

A a newspaper editorial

B a debate between suffragists and anti-suffragists

C a letter from his mother

D a plea from his daughter

Question #9

Which of the following explains the legislative events leading up to the actual vote on the amendment by the Tennessee House on August 18, 1920?

A The state senate had approved the amendment, and the house of representatives was tied on the vote to table it, so the speaker of the house called for a vote on the amendment itself.

B The 19th Amendment was already ratiﬁed and added to the U.S. Constitution, but on the state level, Tennessee had yet to approve it.

C Tennessee was something of a “swing state” in regard to the amendment because the state senate was strongly in favor of approving it, while the house of representatives was opposed.

D The state house of representatives had already voted twice against approving the amendment, but the senate called for a new vote.

Question #10

Which of the following BEST describes the mood among suffragists and anti-suffragists alike during the time leading up to the special session of the Tennessee House of Representatives?

A Both sides were conﬁdent that they would win the number of votes they needed.

B Suspense and anxiety reigned, as neither side was sure about the outcome.

C The suffragists were fairly certain that they would get enough votes, but the anti-suffragists were starting to panic.

D The suffragists feared their side would not have enough votes, but the anti-suffragists were relaxed and self-assured.

Question #11

In the music video, the legislators voting on the amendment are portrayed as wearing roses pinned to their jackets. Based on the article, what was the significance of those ﬂowers?

A The legislators in favor of womenʼs suffrage wore roses to show their support for women.

B The legislators who had wives or sweethearts back home wore ﬂowers in their honor.

C In the Tennessee House of Representatives, Republican legislators wore red roses and Democratic legislators wore yellow roses.

D The legislators who supported suffrage wore yellow roses and those who opposed it wore red roses.

Question #12

Which of the following lobbying activities did both suffragists and anti-suffragists engage in, according to the article?

A handing out roses representing their cause

B bringing in famous musicians for concerts

C using social media to encourage supporters to contact their representatives

D rioting at state capitols where legislators were voting on the issue

Question #13

From the time of the original call for women’s suffrage at the Seneca Falls Convention, how long did it take to secure women’s right to vote?

A 37 years

B 72 years

C 56 years

D 23 years

Question #14

By what path was the 19th Amendment ratified and added to the Constitution?

A a vote in favor of ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures

B a vote in favor of ratification by two-thirds of the state legislatures

C a vote in favor of ratification by three-fourths of state ratification conventions

D a vote in favor of ratification by two-thirds of state ratification conventions

Question #15

Which of the following explanations BEST summarizes the requirements for amending the Constitution?

A An amendment must be proposed by two-thirds of Congress or a national convention and then ratified by three-fourths of either the state legislatures or state ratification conventions.

B An amendment must be proposed by a unanimous vote of a special amendments committee of Congress and then ratified by a majority of voters in a national election.

C An amendment must be proposed by either Congress (both houses) or the president and then ratified by a simple majority of either the state legislatures or governors.

D An amendment must be proposed by three-fourths of Congress or a national convention and then ratified by two-thirds of either the state legislatures or state ratification conventions.

Question #16

Which of the following statements BEST summarizes the anti-suffragistsʼ response to the suffragists’ argument that the inability to vote keeps women from being citizens?

A Women already are citizens; they do not vote because their work as citizens is in the domestic sphere, not the political sphere.

B Women donʼt need to be citizens, since they are meant to stay within the home and serve their families.

C Women who demand citizenship are hypocrites because they also argue that criminals and the mentally impaired should not have citizenship rights.

D Itʼs silly to equate voting with citizenship, because male criminals and mentally impaired people are other examples of non-voting citizens.

Question #17

According to the anti-suffragists (those opposing women’s right to vote), why should women not be allowed to vote?

A Women are too stupid to make good choices in the voting booth.

B Government is man’s work.

C Women are too pure to be tainted by the dirty business of politics.

D The welfare of children is woman’s work.

Question #18

According to those in favor of women’s suffrage, what was understood to be “woman’s work”?

A cooking

B housekeeping

C local government

D the welfare of children

Question #19

Why were many suffragists frustrated with the passage of the 15th Amendment?

A It specifically revoked women’s citizenship.

B It did not address the rights of states.

C It did not abolish slavery and involuntary servitude.

D It did not address voting rights for women.

Question #20

What was the purpose of the 15th Amendment?

A to guarantee that all U.S. citizens are granted the same equal protections under the law

B to guarantee that all U.S. citizens, regardless of economic status, can participate in elections

C to guarantee that all U.S. citizens, regardless of sex, have the same legal rights

D to ensure that citizens could not be denied the right to vote on the basis of race

Question #21

Which amendment(s) may be considered “coercive” in regard to the states?

A women’s suffrage

B the Civil War amendments

C income tax

D sovereign immunity

Question #22

Which amendment has the Supreme Court largely ignored?

A voting rights

B the right to bear arms

C prohibition

D sovereign immunity

Question #23

Eight of the seventeen amendments added after the Bill of Rights address which of the following issues?

A states’ rights

B taxes

C federal elections

D voting rights

Question #24

In total, how many amendments have been added to the U.S. Constitution?

A 27

B 33

C 10

D 28

Question #25

Roughly one-third of the amendments to the U.S. Constitution fall under which of the following categories?

A taxes

B prohibition

C civil liberties

D suffrage

Question #26

Why did the Framers make it relatively difficult to amend the Constitution? Choose the BEST answer.

A They intended for all ratified amendments to have widespread support.

B They wanted to limit the power of all branches of government in this regard.

C They intended to limit the states’ influence on the Constitution.

D They believed the Constitution was meant to be more or less permanent and unchanging.

Question #27

How have the vast majority of constitutional amendments been passed?

A through proposal at a national convention called by Congress in response to petitions from two-thirds of the states and approval by conventions held in three-fourths of the states

B through proposal by a two-thirds vote in Congress, and approval by three-fourths of the state legislatures

C through proposal by a two-thirds vote in Congress and approval by conventions held in three-fourths of the states

D through proposal at a national convention called by Congress in response to petitions from two-thirds of the states and approval by three-fourths of the state legislatures

Question #28

Which stage of the amendment process requires a greater majority for passage?

A the proposal stage

B the ratification stage

C the drafting stage

D the publication stage

Question #29

Amending the Constitution
It is best to think of the amendment process as a decision tree. At a few points along the way, there are decisions that have to be made by several actors in order to move to the next phase in the sequence. Explained broadly, amending the Constitution is a two-stage process. In the first stage, amendments are proposed by one of two methods: they can be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate or by a national convention called by Congress in response to petitions by two-thirds of the states. Of these two methods of proposal, only the first has ever been employed.
If either of those two decisions is made, then an amendment moves to the ratification phase of the process. Ratification can also be done using one of two methods: a proposed amendment has been ratified when it has been approved by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or by special ratification conventions held in three-fourths of the states. Of these two methods of ratification, the second has only been used once—to ratify the 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition.

Why does the text describe the amendment process as a decision tree? Choose the BEST answer.

A Proposals for amendments may come from any branch of government.

B The amendment process is comprised of a series of decisions made by various actors.

C The amendment process has many stages, all of which pertain to one core decision.

D Every state must make the decision to ratify an amendment.

Question #30

Freedom in the World 2019: Russia
Overview
Power in Russia’s authoritarian political system is concentrated in the hands of President Vladimir Putin. With loyalist security forces, a subservient judiciary, a controlled media environment, and a legislature consisting of a ruling party and pliable opposition factions, the Kremlin is able to manipulate elections and suppress genuine dissent. Rampant corruption facilitates shifting links among bureaucrats and organized crime groups.

Key Developments in 2018
Vladimir Putin easily won a fourth term as president in a March election that excluded viable opposition candidates.
In October, compelled by budget constraints, Putin signed deeply unpopular pension legislation that increased the retirement age for men from 60 to 65 and for women from 55 to 60. Thousands of people had participated in protests against the change, leading to hundreds of arrests across the country.
The pro-Kremlin United Russia party generally dominated regional elections during the year, though it lost its hold on the governorship in four of the 22 regions at stake.
The authorities blocked the popular messaging application Telegram in April. Also that month, journalist Maksim Borodin was found dead at his Yekaterinburg residence under suspicious circumstances, after investigating the deaths of Russian mercenaries fighting in Syria.

According to the above excerpts from Freedom House’s 2019 profile on Russia, in what ways has the Russian political system diverged from the fundamental principles established in the Russian Constitution?

A The Russian government has restricted free speech, maintained dominance over the media, and limited political competition.

B The Russian government has ignored human dignity, tortured prisoners, and frequently used capital punishment.

C The Russian government has banned religious practices, established prison camps for dissidents, and required citizens to join the ruling United Russia party.

D The Russian government has failed to provide healthcare, parental leave, and retirement pensions to most citizens in need of such social-welfare programs.

Question #31

Freedom in the World 2019: United States
Overview
The United States is arguably the world’s oldest existing democracy. Its people benefit from a vibrant political system, a strong rule-of-law tradition, robust freedoms of expression and religious belief, and a wide array of other civil liberties. However, in recent years its democratic institutions have suffered erosion, as reflected in partisan manipulation of the electoral process, bias and dysfunction in the criminal justice system, flawed new policies on immigration and asylum seekers, and growing disparities in wealth, economic opportunity, and political influence.

Key Developments in 2018
The opposition Democratic Party took control of the lower house of Congress in November elections, which also featured contests for one-third of the Senate and numerous state-level offices. Turnout was the highest for midterm elections since 1914, and spending was the highest ever for US midterm elections.
Among numerous other judicial appointments, President Donald Trump secured his second appointment to the Supreme Court in October, when the Senate narrowly approved Judge Brett Kavanaugh to succeed retiring justice Anthony Kennedy after a tempestuous hearing process in which Kavanaugh was accused of past sexual abuse.
The administration took several steps aimed at tightening control over immigration that ran afoul of due process standards and both US and international law. They included an attempt to block asylum applications for those who cross the border outside official ports of entry, though that and other policies were being contested in the courts at year’s end.
The investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election made significant progress during the year, resulting in criminal charges against multiple Russian nationals and guilty pleas from several Americans associated with Trump’s campaign.

According to the above excerpt from Freedom House’s 2019 profile on the United States, in what ways has the U.S. political system diverged from the fundamental principles established in the U.S. Constitution?

A The Trump administration’s numerous judicial appointments included Judge Brett Kavanaugh, whose confirmation was controversial.

B The United States experienced the highest voter turnout for a midterm election since 1914, with the highest spending in history.

C After the 2018 midterm elections, the Democratic Party gained control of the lower house of Congress (the House of Representatives).

D The Trump administration’s policies on immigration breached American and international law and disregarded due process standards.

Question #32

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding criminal rights in the United States and Russia?

A The Russian Constitution specifically allows capital punishment for extremely grave offenses, but the U.S. Constitution does not.

B The Russian Constitution establishes that all citizens have the right to legal assistance, but the U.S. Constitution does not.

C Both constitutions describe a right to a public trial, but the Russian Constitution limits this right to only capital punishment cases.

D The U.S. Constitution includes a right to privacy in the home, but the Russian Constitution does not.

Question #33

How do the civil liberties articulated in the Russian Constitution compare with those articulated in the amendments to the U.S. Constitution?

A The Russian Constitution establishes a right to freely associate in public organizations and assembly, but the U.S. Constitution does not.

B Both constitutions protect free speech, but the Russian Constitution includes language that stipulates limits to this freedom.

C The U.S. Constitution protects individuals from discrimination based on sex, race, nationality, or religion, but the Russian Constitution does not.

D Both constitutions guarantee the right to a speedy, public trial, but the U.S. Constitution does not protect the right of the accused to confront witnesses.

Question #34

What is the separation-of-powers arrangement found in the governments of both the United States and Russia, as outlined in their constitutions?

A Both governments have three independent branches, and each country’s constitution is the supreme law of the land.

B In both countries, there are three branches of government, but none of these branches have any power.

C Both governments have three branches, with the executive branch being the central force of state power.

D In both countries, the constitution has supreme power, but only the executive branch enforces that power.

Question #35

According to Chapter 1, article 15, what are the fundamental principles identified in the first chapter of the Russian Constitution?

A The state has no role in upholding or implementing the rights of citizens.

B The Constitution of the Russian Federation is the supreme law of the land.

C The rights and freedoms of citizens are the supreme value.

D The president of the federation shall decide the rights and freedoms of citizens.

Question #36

Which of the following concepts is established in Article I of the U.S. Constitution?

A the legal status of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land

B the president’s authority to fill judicial vacancies when the Senate is in recess

C the enumerated powers of Congress

D the definition of treason

Question #37

What type of government do both the United States and Russian constitutions envision?

A territorial

B aristocratic

C monarchical

D republican

Question #38

Which of the following interpretations BEST explains the significance of the wording of each constitution’s preamble?

A The phrases “We the People of the United States” and “We, the multinational people of the Russian Federation” suggest that both countries’ founders believed all citizens were equal and entitled to rights and protections.

B The phrases “perfect Union” and “proceeding from the universally recognized principles of equality” suggest that the framers of both constitutions thought they were forming a perfect, utopian country.

C The phrases “establish Justice” and “preserving the historically established state unity” suggest that neither justice nor state unity had existed in these places before the constitutions were written.

D The phrases “United States,” “Union,” and “sovereign statehood of Russia”—and the lack of any references to states or provinces—suggest that the constitutions mean to emphasize a strong central government.

Question #39

Which Article of the Constitution declares the national government to be supreme?

A Article IV

B Article I

C Article V

D Article VI

Question #40

Article III gives Congress power over the judicial branch in which of the following ways?

A It empowers Congress to create the Supreme Court.

B It enables Congress to appoint federal judges.

C It permits Congress to overrule the decisions of lower federal courts.

D It allows Congress to choose the number of justices on the Supreme Court.

Question #41

What does Article II do?

A It vests executive power in the president.

B It describes the system of checks and balances.

C It discusses the sharing of power among the states.

D It establishes the number of justices on the Supreme Court.

Question #42

The powers granted to Congress are enumerated in which article of the Constitution?

A Article IV

B Article I

C Article II

D Article III

Question #43

What are the three major parts of the Constitution?

A the Preamble, the articles, and the amendments

B the Preamble, the branches of government, and the state and national governments and amendment process

C the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary

D the Commerce Clause, the Necessary and Proper Clause, and the Supremacy Clause

Question #44

How does the U.S. Constitution differ from many state constitutions?

A The U.S. Constitution has far more text than most state constitutions.

B The U.S. Constitution has more articles than most state constitutions.

C The U.S. Constitution is amended more frequently than most state constitutions.

D The U.S. Constitution has a much more rigorous amendment process.

Question #45

Why has federalism been a subject of ongoing debate?

A because it is uncertain whether the current system ensures people are indirectly represented

B because most contemporary issues revolve around the continued struggle for power between national and state governments

C because the majority of Americans want to limit the power of the national government

D because the powers of the executive branch have exceeded those of Congress and the judiciary

Question #46

The Framers divided power among which three branches of government?

A the military, the chief executive, and the Supreme Court

B the executive, the cabinet, and the military

C the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary

D the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the president

Question #47

The principle of the separation of powers was PRIMARILY intended to do which of the following?

A limit the power of the people

B limit the power of the states

C create an effective federal court system

D limit the power of the central government

Question #48

Why did the Framers choose a republican form of government when drafting the Constitution?

A They wanted to preserve a weak central government.

B They wanted to ensure that the people would be represented indirectly.

C They wanted to enhance states’ rights.

D They wanted one branch of government to wield more power than the others.

Question #49

What did it take for Virginia and New York to finally agree to ratify the Constitution?

A a promise to establish a national bank during the first session of Congress

B an agreement to count each enslaved person as two-fifths of a person

C an executive order opening Western territories for settlement

D a promise to amend the document to clarify the limits on national government power

Question #50

Why was the support of New York and Virginia considered important?

A Ratification from eleven of thirteen states was required for adoption.

B New York and Virginia were two of the most populous states.

C Unanimous consent was required.

D The Constitution would not have enough backing without New York and Virginia.

Question #51

The Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation in which of the following ways?

A The Constitution established term limits for legislators.

B The Constitution gave Congress the power to establish a national court system.

C The Constitution required unanimous consent to amend the document.

D The Constitution allowed the states to coin money.

Question #52

Which of the following was established by the Constitution?

A voting rights for people who were enslaved

B a bicameral legislature

C a prime minister

D one-year legislative terms

Question #53

Debates at the Constitutional Convention surrounding the executive branch included which of the following?

A who should serve as the nation’s first executive

B how the executive should be controlled by the states

C where the executive should live

D how to elect the executive

Question #54

Which of the following plans for representation was incorporated into the Connecticut Compromise?

A Each state would be proportionally represented in one house of a bicameral legislature.

B Each state would have one vote in a unicameral legislature.

C Each state would have two votes in a unicameral legislature.

D Each state would be proportionally represented in a unicameral legislature.

Question #55

Which plan presented at the Constitutional Convention called for the establishment of three branches of government?

A the Rhode Island Plan

B the Florida Plan

C the Virginia Plan

D the New Jersey Plan

Question #56

As the Constitution was being drafted, who were MOST in support of equal representation in the national legislature?

A the Federalists

B large states, such as Virginia

C the anti-Federalists

D small states, such as Rhode Island

Question #57

What led the Founders to realize that the Articles of Confederation needed to be reconfigured?

A memories of the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party

B the vulnerability of the new nation due to the lack of an executive

C similarities between the executive branch and the British Crown

D the ability of states to coin money

Question #58

Which of the following was a component of the Articles of Confederation?

A lack of state sovereignty

B ratification of the Articles by unanimous consent of the states

C a strong executive branch

D a bicameral legislature

Question #59

Why didn’t the Articles of Confederation establish an executive branch of government?

A The colonists did not expect the Articles of Confederation to last.

B The colonists were afraid that a single executive would become tyrannical.

C The colonists were afraid of mob rule.

D The colonists were afraid of a weak central authority.

Question #60

What concerned the Founders in drafting the Articles of Confederation?

A the power of the central government to raise an army

B the incredible power of small states

C a weak central government

D mob rule

Question #61

The Articles of Confederation specified that the United States would be which form of government?

A a constitutional monarchy

B a direct democracy

C a republic

D a bureaucracy

Question #62

Which document served as the system of government for the colonies during the Revolutionary War?

A Bill of Rights

B Declaration of Independence

C Treaty of Paris

D Articles of Confederation

Question #63

What did the Declaration of Independence actually do?

A It dissolved colonial allegiance to Great Britain.

B It ended the war with Great Britain.

C It outlined the principles a national government should incorporate.

D It established a new system of government.

Question #64

What were the main ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence?

A the supremacy of the legislative branch

B individual liberties and the government’s duty to protect them

C states’ rights and the government’s duty to protect them

D the supremacy of the executive branch

Question #65

Who was given the primary responsibility for drafting the Declaration of Independence?

A George Washington

B James Madison

C Thomas Jefferson

D Benjamin Franklin

Question #66

Which section of the Declaration of Independence contains arguments on the right to revolution?

A the fourth section, describing attempts at reconciliation

B the second section, based on Lockean philosophy

C the third section, outlining the oppressive actions of the Crown

D the first section, or preamble

Question #67

The Coercive Acts caused which of the following events?

A the Boston Tea Party

B the French and Indian War

C the meeting of the First Continental Congress

D the meeting of the Second Continental Congress

Question #68

Which of the following was a component of the Coercive Acts?

A the establishment of prison colonies in the Americas

B a requirement for colonists to quarter British soldiers

C the levying of heavy taxes on staples such as sugar and tea

D the 1774 meeting of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia

Question #69

What was the colonists’ primary complaint about the rule of the British Crown?

A that they did not have any leeway to self-govern

B that they were forced to work in unsanitary conditions

C that they were subject to oppressive taxes from the British Crown

D that they were not allowed to keep enslaved people

Question #70

The U.S. Constitution is considered to be which of the following?

A the only attempt at establishing a government in the United States

B a fundamentally flawed document that created an unstable government

C the first attempt to organize political structures in the United States

D the oldest existing federal constitution

Try The Exam

Fresh Grad Lands Job as Real Estate Agent With Help from Professional Writers

Need help with your exam preparation?

Below are the questions for the exam with the choices of answers:

Christian S.

Tyra

Linda

Manush

We accept payment