1) Backers of a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution might consider the following strategy:

A. seeking support for such an amendment through approval by at least 34 state conventions, as almost occurred in the 1980s.
B. mounting a federal court case and seeking appeals to the Supreme Court.
C. pursuing approval of an amendment in the House and Senate, to then be sent to state legislatures.
D. collecting signatures to mount the proposal as a national referendum.

2) Which of the following presidents is credited with creation of the New Federalism?

A. Bill Clinton
B. George W. Bush
C. Ronald Reagan
D. Jimmy Carter

3) Which of the following issues were NOT a major concern of the Anti-Federalists concerning the Constitution?

A. The new powers granted to the national government
B. Ensuring that individual rights and liberties would be protected
C. Preserving the powers of the states
D. Ensuring that state criminal law would continue to be enforced by state courts

4) The primary motivation of the Framers, according to Charles Beard, was to:

A. protect their property rights through creation of a strong national government.
B. provide opportunities for political advancement for the Framers.
C. strengthen states' rights in order to allow more effective resolution of property disputes.
D. create an egalitarian system of property distribution.

6) A shift toward cooperative federalism was evidenced by President Obama's support of the stimulus bill that included temporary __________ funding for __________ functions such as education and public safety.

A. federal; federal
B. state; state
C. state; federal
D. federal; state

7) James Bryce believed that the Constitution was a fine example of:

A. mass democracy at work.
B. development of an oligarchical system of government.
C. an incrementally improved system not far removed from the Magna Carta.
D. a governing system that encouraged the proliferation of political parties.

9) Why was the division of power among the three branches of government an insufficient means to balance their powers?

A. The legislature, as the only initiator of laws, could dominate the other two branches.
B. Congress has more members than the other two branches.
C. Supreme Court judges are impeachable.
D. The president could become a dictator.

10) Which of the following is a true statement about the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?

A. Both factions distrusted the power of state governments.
B. Federalists were pessimistic about human nature, and Anti-Federalists were more optimistic about human nature.
C. The Anti-Federalists preferred a nonelected judiciary and indirectly elected president.
D. Both factions did not fear foreign threats.

11) President Bush and Governor Blanco struggled to agree about how to respond to Hurricane Katrina due to:

A. political differences and perceptions of incompetence by both.
B. President Bush never having been in a hurricane before.
C. Governor Blanco being a woman.
D. Mayor Nagin's lack of emotional response to the disaster.

13) Some might suggest that the Constitution favoured placing power in the hands of economic elites. Which of the following does NOT fit this argument?

A. The Electoral College
B. The election of senators
C. The Tenth Amendment
D. The presidential veto

15) Realistic application of constitutional principles depends on:

A. the hypocrisy of politicians.
B. the absolutist language of the document.
C. an understanding of the motives of the Framers.
D. current political relationships.

17) Many propertied elites, in the 1780s, were convinced that a strong __________ government was essential for the country to flourish.

A. state
B. national
C. oppositional
D. coordinated

18) Public education involves the federal government in which of the following ways?

A. Overseeing local school boards
B. Forbidding racial discrimination
C. Ensuring equal funding for all schools
D. Providing funding for school construction

19) Which of the following relationships is NOT an example of the system of checks and balances built into the Constitution?

A. A Supreme Court decision can be overturned by an amendment to the Constitution.
B. A presidential veto can be overridden by a supermajority of Congress.
C. House committee decisions can be overturned on the floor of the House by a majority vote.
D. Presidential use of the military is limited by the appropriations power of Congress.