Question 1

Under a ______ system, the structures of government are placed entirely in the hands of a national government.

Accepted Answer

In a unitary system, power is centralized in the hands of the national government, which holds authority over subnational entities such as states or provinces. This is in contrast to federal or confederal systems where power is divided between the national government and subnational units, or where the national government is weak and subordinate to the states or provinces. Monarchy is a type of government structure that is independent of the degree of centralization and can exist in any of the above systems.

Question 2

Angel McClary Raich and Diane Monson filed suit against the federal government in which state?

Accepted Answer

Angel McClary Raich and Diane Monson lived in California and filed their lawsuit against the federal government in California, claiming that the federal government should not be able to interfere with their use of medical marijuana under California state law.

Question 3

The Constitution clearly establishes that ultimate political authority rests with the

Accepted Answer

The Constitution begins with the words "We the People" and establishes a government that derives its power from the consent of the governed. This means that the ultimate political authority resides with the people themselves.

Question 4

The federal government has argued that it has the authority to control drugs at the national and state levels because of their financial and business impact on a national level.In applying this argument, they are relying upon the ______ Clause.

Accepted Answer

The argument made by the federal government suggests that they have the authority to regulate drugs because of their impact on national commerce. This argument is based on the Commerce Clause in the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce.

Question 5

______ has contributed to the growth of national power when combined with the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Accepted Answer

The vagueness in the language of the specific powers of the national government, when combined with the Necessary and Proper Clause, has allowed for an expansion of national power by enabling a broad interpretation of those powers.

Question 6

Most of the enumerated powers in the Constitution were granted to the ______ branch.

Accepted Answer

The majority of the enumerated powers, also known as expressed powers, are granted to the legislative branch, which includes Congress. Examples of these powers include the ability to create laws, regulate commerce, declare war, and set taxes. The executive branch (A) has some enumerated powers, such as the power to serve as commander-in-chief of the military and negotiate treaties, but these are more limited. The judicial branch (C) has its own set of powers, such as interpreting the Constitution and checking the other branches for constitutional violations, but these are not enumerated powers in the same sense as those granted to Congress. The bureaucratic branch (D) is not a formal branch of government and does not have any enumerated powers.

Question 7

Recent focus has been on the recognition of same-sex marriage licenses issued in one state and carried forward to another that failed to recognize same-sex marriage.This would most likely be considered a violation of which of the following important clauses?

Accepted Answer

The Full Faith and Credit Clause mandates that each state must recognize and respect legal actions and court rulings issued by other states, including marriage licenses. Therefore, failure to recognize a same-sex marriage license granted in one state in another state would be a violation of the Full Faith and Credit Clause.

Question 8

Raich and Monson were using marijuana under California's

Accepted Answer

Raich and Monson were using marijuana for medical purposes under California's Compassionate Use Act, which allows for the use of marijuana with a doctor's recommendation for certain medical conditions. It is not legal for recreational use under California law, and the other options listed are not relevant to the case.

Question 9

Which of the following is most often used along with the Necessary and Proper and Supremacy Clauses to create federal law and policy?

Accepted Answer

The Commerce Clause is often used along with the Necessary and Proper and Supremacy Clauses to create federal law and policy. The Commerce Clause gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, which is a broad power that has been used to address a variety of issues, such as civil rights, environmental protection, and healthcare.

Question 10

Under a ______ system of government, powers are shared between the national government and the states.

Accepted Answer

In a federal system, powers are divided between the national and state governments. The national government has authority over certain areas, while the states retain control over others. This allows for a balance of power and the ability to address issues at both levels of government. Confederal systems give more power to the individual states or regions, while unitary systems concentrate power at the national level. Democracy refers to the form of government where power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives.

Question 11

Powers that are explicitly granted to the government in the Constitution are known as ______ powers.

Accepted Answer

Enumerated powers are explicitly listed in the Constitution, including powers such as coin money, declare war, and regulate commerce.

Question 12

Key to a true federal system is the existence of

Accepted Answer

A true federal system requires constitutional protections for each level of government against encroachment on its powers by the other level. This ensures a balance of power and prevents either the national government or state governments from becoming too dominant. Options A and D suggest extreme approaches to limiting power, which could lead to imbalance and potential conflicts. Option B suggests a direct democracy, which is not necessarily a characteristic of a federal system.

Question 13

While the Constitution created much of the basic framework for the division of power, it failed to perfectly delineate

Accepted Answer

The Constitution established a federal system in which power is shared between the national government and state governments, but there is some overlap between national and state powers that is not clearly defined in the Constitution. This has led to ongoing debates and court cases about the extent of federal power versus states' rights.

Question 14

Under a confederal system, such as the Articles of Confederation, national power comes from the

Accepted Answer

Under a confederal system, power is primarily held by the individual states, with limited power given to a central government. In the case of the Articles of Confederation, the states held most of the power, while the national government had limited authority. Therefore, national power came from the states.

Question 15

In general, the powers of the national government are ______ written and described by the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

The Constitution explicitly outlines the powers of the national government in articles such as Article I, which outlines the powers of Congress, and Article II, which outlines the powers of the President. These powers are not left to interpretation and are clearly defined.

Question 16

One of the most important statements about where the people's authority is located is the ______ Clause.

Accepted Answer

The Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, establishes that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties made under its authority, constitute the supreme law of the land. This clause is crucial in determining the authority of the people as it places the Constitution and federal law above state laws.

Question 17

The Necessary and Proper Clause is also called the ______ Clause.

Accepted Answer

The Necessary and Proper Clause is also known as the Elastic Clause, as it grants Congress the power to make any laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its other powers and responsibilities as outlined in the Constitution. The other options listed are separate clauses in the U.S. Constitution that grant various powers and rights, but they are not explicitly connected to the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Question 18

Marijuana is considered a Class I narcotic under which of the following federal laws?

Accepted Answer

Marijuana is considered a Class I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which is a federal law. The other options listed are either unrelated to drug classification or pertain to different laws and acts.

Question 19

The new system of government created by the Constitution in which government would be divided between the national and state levels is best described as

Accepted Answer

Federalism is the system of government in which power is divided between a central government (in this case, the national government) and regional governments (in this case, the state governments). This is the form of government established by the Constitution, in which certain powers are delegated to the national government (such as the power to regulate commerce and declare war), while other powers are reserved to the states (such as the power to regulate intrastate commerce and conduct elections).

Question 20

The Constitution is least clear on the way(s)in which authority and power would be vested to

Accepted Answer

The Constitution does not provide specific guidance on how Americans should create and maintain other structures of government beyond the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches. This was left up to the individual states and the people to decide for themselves.

Quiz 3: Federalism