Questions and Answers
Until the Constitution was ratified, the document that established and defined the government of the United States was the ______.
Articles of Confederation
It is true that state governments could pass a law negating a federal law within their boundaries if they believed the federal law was unconstitutional according to the Supreme Court's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819).
False
Which clause of the Constitution gives the federal government broad powers in many policy areas?
Interstate Commerce Clause
While the practice of separate schools for black and white students was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), segregation in public accommodations remained legal until the passage of the ______.
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What is a reason the power of the two major parties is in decline in the United States?
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The Supreme Court's power of judicial review was established by which decision?
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Which group is MOST likely to participate in an election?
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A filibuster occurs when a majority of the Senate supports a bill, but the majority is not large enough to produce the ______ needed to end debate on the bill.
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Which action of the president has no basis in the Constitution?
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The percentage of federal jobs held by women increased between 1982 and 2002.
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What is an independent federal regulatory agency?
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It is possible for the Electoral College to choose a president who did not have the most electoral votes.
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The Supreme Court's decision in Texas v. Johnson was based on which right?
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What best describes American political culture?
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What statement best summarizes the data shown in the line graph above?
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Which of the following is a concurrent power in the American system of federalism?
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How are the House of Representatives and the Senate most similar?
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What is an open seat in a congressional election?
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Congress has little actual power, which describes a reason why it generally fails to perform the function of national leader as the Constitutional Convention intended.
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The main function of the president's cabinet is?
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What correctly describes political socialization?
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Which statement best describes reapportionment?
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Study Notes
Foundational Documents
- The Articles of Confederation served as the first governing document of the United States prior to the Constitution's ratification.
McCulloch v. Maryland
- The Supreme Court's ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) did not support state laws that negate federal laws, affirming federal supremacy.
Federal Powers
- The Interstate Commerce Clause empowers the federal government with broad authority over many policy areas.
Civil Rights
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared separate schools for black and white students unconstitutional, but segregation in public accommodations remained until the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Political Parties
- Major political parties in the U.S. are losing influence as candidates increasingly self-fund their campaigns rather than relying on party support.
Judicial Review
- The power of judicial review was established through the Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison.
Electoral Participation
- Individuals with college degrees are the demographic most likely to participate in elections.
Filibuster
- A filibuster is a tactic employed in the Senate when the majority supports a bill but cannot muster the 60 votes needed to end debate.
Presidential Powers
- Serving as a political party leader lacks constitutional basis for the president.
Employment Trends
- The percentage of federal jobs held by women did not see an increase from 1982 to 2002 according to available data.
Regulatory Agencies
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an example of an independent federal regulatory agency.
Electoral College
- The Electoral College can potentially elect a president without the candidate receiving the most electoral votes.
Freedom of Speech
- Texas v. Johnson established that flag-burning is protected under the First Amendment's freedom of speech.
American Political Culture
- American political culture centers around shared beliefs such as individual rights, majority rule, and limited government.
Court Case Data
- Federal civil and criminal cases have surged since 1970, with civil cases experiencing the most significant increase.
Federalism
- Concurrent powers in the American federal system include the authority to levy taxes.
Legislative Similarities
- The House of Representatives and Senate share similarities in the influence of standing committees during the legislative process.
Federal Government Growth
- Factors contributing to the growth of federal power relative to states include conditional funding, the expansion of interstate commerce, and the Supremacy Clause.
Congressional Elections
- An open seat refers to a congressional district evenly divided between Republican and Democratic voters, indicating potential competitiveness.
Congressional Function
- Congress often struggles to fulfill its role as a national leader as originally intended by the Constitutional Convention.
Presidential Cabinet
- The primary role of the president's cabinet is to provide counsel and advice to the president.
Political Socialization
- Political socialization is the ongoing process where individuals form their political values and beliefs.
Reapportionment
- Reapportionment involves reallocating seats in the House of Representatives based on population changes.
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