Question 1

The terms of appointments for senators are staggered so that the terms of one-third of the senators expire every

Accepted Answer

The terms of appointments for senators are staggered so that the terms of one-third of the senators expire every two years, ensuring a continuous but partial renewal of the Senate.

Question 2

The Georgia General Assembly, with its upper chamber (the Georgia Senate) and lower chamber (the Georgia House of Representatives), is an institution that exemplifies the principle of

Accepted Answer

The Georgia General Assembly is made up of two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives, which is a clear example of bicameralism. Bicameralism refers to the practice of having two legislative houses or chambers, which serves as a system of checks and balances and prevents the concentration of power in a single institution.

Question 3

The proposal to alter the Articles of Confederation by providing for a system of representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state or the proportion of each state's revenue contribution, or both, was known as the

Accepted Answer

The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison, called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population or the amount of revenue contributed by each state. This plan was in contrast to the New Jersey Plan, which proposed equal representation for each state in a unicameral legislature. The Connecticut Plan, also known as the Great Compromise, eventually combined elements of both plans to form the basis of the U.S. Constitution. The Massachusetts Plan and Rousseau solution are not relevant to this proposal.

Question 4

The Constitution grants the power to ratify treaties to the

Accepted Answer

The Constitution, in Article II, Section 2, grants the power to ratify treaties to the Senate. The House of Representatives does not have this power.

Question 5

What was the most difficult issue faced by the framers of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Slavery was a deeply controversial and divisive issue during the Constitutional Convention. Many delegates from northern states wanted to abolish slavery, while delegates from southern states wanted to protect their right to own slaves. This issue ultimately led to the Three-Fifths Compromise and the inclusion of a Fugitive Slave Clause in the Constitution.

Question 6

The question of counting slaves for purposes of representation was ultimately resolved by counting

Accepted Answer

The issue of counting slaves for representation in Congress was resolved through the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted every five slaves as three persons for purposes of representation. This compromise was included in the United States Constitution in 1787.

Question 7

Why did the smaller states object to the Virginia Plan?

Accepted Answer

The rationality principle states that individuals act in their own self-interest and seek to maximize their benefits. In this case, small states believed that the Virginia Plan favored larger and/or wealthier states, which would give them greater power in the national legislature. This would disadvantage the small states and limit their ability to influence national policy.

Question 8

The agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention to give each state an equal number of senators regardless of population but link representation in the House of Representatives to population became known as the

Accepted Answer

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a key agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It established a bicameral legislative system, with each state being represented equally in the Senate and through proportional representation in the House of Representatives. This compromise was critical in resolving the debates between the large and small states regarding representation in Congress, and ultimately paved the way for the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Question 9

The issue of counting slaves for purposes of representation was settled by the

Accepted Answer

The Three-Fifths Compromise settled the issue of counting slaves for purposes of representation. This compromise determined that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person in the census for the purpose of determining representation in the House of Representatives.

Question 10

Under the American Constitution, the sole power to originate revenue bills is vested in the

Accepted Answer

According to Article I, Section 7 of the US Constitution, "All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives." Therefore, the correct choice is D, the House of Representatives.

Question 11

The founder who probably had the most influence on the Virginia Plan (which served as the framework for the eventual Constitution) was

Accepted Answer

James Madison is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" and was a key figure in drafting the Virginia Plan, which proposed a strong central government with three branches and a bicameral legislature. Many of his ideas were incorporated into the eventual Constitution, making him the founder who had the most influence on it.

Question 12

Article I of the U.S.Constitution provides for the

Accepted Answer

Article I establishes the legislative branch of the government, which includes the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Question 13

Which branch of government has the power to create inferior (lower) courts, change the jurisdiction of federal courts, add or subtract federal judges, and even change the size of the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

Congress has the power to create inferior (lower) courts, change the jurisdiction of federal courts, add or subtract federal judges, and even change the size of the Supreme Court through legislation. The other branches do not have the authority to make such changes.

Question 14

The idea that the federal government can exercise only the powers specifically articulated in the Constitution is known as the doctrine of

Accepted Answer

The doctrine of expressed powers holds that the federal government can only exercise the powers specifically stated in the Constitution. This is in contrast to implied powers, which are powers that are not explicitly stated but can be inferred from the Constitution, and necessary and proper powers, which give Congress the authority to pass laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its expressed powers. Separation of powers is a different concept that refers to the distribution of powers among different branches of government. Original limits is not a recognized doctrine in constitutional law.

Question 15

Under the American Constitution, the part of elected government designed to be directly responsible to the people was the

Accepted Answer

The House of Representatives is the only option listed that is directly elected by the people. Senators are elected by state legislatures (prior to the 17th Amendment), the judiciary is appointed, the bureaucracy is not elected, and state militias are not a part of elected government.

Question 16

The framers of the American Constitution sought to prevent the perceived threat of excessive democracy through a number of institutional innovations.Which of these constitutional provisions MOST prevents the threat of excessive democracy?

Accepted Answer

The provision for a judicial branch selected indirectly with judges serving life terms (D) most directly prevents the threat of excessive democracy by insulating the judiciary from popular pressures and ensuring that judges can make decisions based on the law rather than public opinion. This creates a balance against the potential for majority rule to infringe on minority rights or the principles of justice.

Question 17

Under the unamended Constitution of 1787, how were U.S.senators selected?

Accepted Answer

Under the unamended Constitution of 1787, U.S. senators were selected by the state legislatures. This method was changed with the 17th Amendment in 1913, which established direct elections of senators by the people.

Question 18

A legislative assembly such as the Congress that is divided into two chambers (or houses) is best described as

Accepted Answer

A legislative assembly that is divided into two chambers (or houses) is called a bicameral system. This term comes from the Latin words "bi" (meaning two) and "camerus" (meaning chamber or room). The two chambers usually have different powers, functions, and membership, but they work together to pass laws and make decisions. The United States Congress, for example, is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which have different rules and procedures, but they both have to approve a bill before it becomes a law.

Question 19

The proposal offered by the smaller states during the Constitutional Convention that argued each state should be equally represented in the new regime regardless of its population was known as the

Accepted Answer

The proposal offered by the smaller states during the Constitutional Convention that argued each state should be equally represented in the new regime regardless of its population was known as the New Jersey Plan. This was in contrast to the Virginia Plan, which proposed representation based on population.

Question 20

In 2016, the five smallest states held roughly 0.5 percent of the seats in the U.S.House of Representatives and 10 percent of the seats in the U.S.Senate.These differing levels of representation of the five small states were the result of which decision during the Constitutional Convention?

Accepted Answer

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a decision made during the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature with one chamber, the House of Representatives, based on population, and the other chamber, the Senate, with two representatives per state. This compromise gave smaller states equal representation in the Senate and ensured that larger states had more influence in the House. Therefore, the differing levels of representation of the five small states in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate were the result of the Great Compromise.

Quiz 2: Constructing a Government: the Founding and the Constitution