ANSWERS ON THE BOTTOM
1. In what way was the government of ancient Athens different from that of the United States? (1 point)
Athens was a direct democracy in which citizens voted on laws themselves.
Athens was an oligarchy ruled by the wealthy members of the Council of Five Hundred.
Athens was a republic in which the people voted for their representatives.
Athens was an autocracy ruled by a dictator who had absolute power.
2. What principle of government presented by the U.S. Constitution is Montesquieu describing? Use this quote by the French Enlightenment thinker Baron de Montesquieu to answer the question.
In every government there are three sorts of power; the legislative; the executive, in respect to things dependent on the law of nations; and the executive, in regard to things that depend on the civil law.
(1 point)
federalism
republicanism
separation of power
sovereignty
3. If you know that a nation uses a parliamentary system of government, but have no other information, what do you know for certain about the structure of that government? (1 point)
who is allowed to participate in the governing process
the geographic distribution of power in the state
the relationship between the executive and legislative branches
that its laws must be collected in a written constitution
4. Which of the following demonstrates how the American government provides for the common defense of the nation? Use the Preamble to the Constitution to answer the question.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
(1 point)
creating state militias
maintaining national armed forces
supporting local police departments
establishing laws
5. According to the textbook, “Thomas Jefferson called the [Declaration of Independence] ‘pure Locke,’” referring to the English philosopher John Locke.
Which of the following ideas shows Locke’s influence on the Declaration of Independence? (1 point)
The king of England has a divine right to rule the colonists, so only God can remove his authority.
By violating the social contract with the colonists, the king has lost his authority to rule.
Without a king, the colonists will be able to return to a state of nature in which all men are free.
The king rules by right of force, so it is just for the colonists to overthrow the king using force.
6. Which of the following best paraphrases this statement? Read the excerpt and answer the question.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, . . .
–The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America
(1 point)
People must show allegiance to their king and country throughout their lives.
People need to help others understand their basic rights as citizens.
People owe their allegiance first to God, then to the monarch.
People are born with certain rights that no one can take from them.
7. The Intolerable Acts led most directly to which event? (1 point)
Stamp Act Congress
Constitutional Convention
First Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress
8. The Framers included the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution for the purpose of (1 point)
giving the federal government complete authority over all actions of state governments.
making the individual state governments more powerful than the federal government.
helping to settle disputes between different levels of government in the federal system.
making the Supreme Court the most powerful branch of the federal government.
9. Which of the following powers is a concurrent power shared by both the federal government and the state governments? (1 point)
making treaties or forming alliances with foreign governments
regulating public utilities such as gas or electric power
levying and collecting taxes from businesses and citizens
collecting duties or tariffs on imported goods
10. The Necessary and Proper Clause, shown below, is used to justify what category of government powers in the federal system?
[Congress has the power] to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
–Article I, Section 8
(1 point)
the powers reserved to the states
the implied powers of the federal government
the inherent powers of the federal government
the exclusive powers of the federal government and the states
ANSWERS:
A
C
C
B
B
D
C
C
C
B
1. In what way was the government of ancient Athens different from that of the United States? (Answer: A. Athens was a direct democracy in which citizens voted on laws themselves.)
To find the answer to this question, you can compare the different types of government systems. Ancient Athens was known for its direct democracy, where eligible citizens had the power to participate directly in decision-making and vote on laws. In contrast, the United States has a representative democracy, also known as a republic, where citizens elect representatives to make decisions and create laws on their behalf.
2. What principle of government presented by the U.S. Constitution is Montesquieu describing? Use this quote by the French Enlightenment thinker Baron de Montesquieu to answer the question. (Answer: C. separation of power)
To determine the principle of government described by Montesquieu in the quote, you can look for clues in the quote itself. Montesquieu mentions three types of power: legislative, executive (in respect to things dependent on the law of nations), and executive (in regard to things that depend on the civil law). This refers to the concept of separation of powers, which is a fundamental principle in the U.S. Constitution that separates power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
3. If you know that a nation uses a parliamentary system of government, but have no other information, what do you know for certain about the structure of that government? (Answer: C. the relationship between the executive and legislative branches)
To determine what you can know for certain about a parliamentary system of government, you can focus on the characteristics specific to this system. In a parliamentary system, the executive branch (headed by a prime minister or equivalent position) is directly accountable to the legislative branch (parliament). The government is formed based on the support of the majority party or coalition in the legislative branch. Therefore, you can be certain about the relationship between the executive and legislative branches in a parliamentary system.
4. Which of the following demonstrates how the American government provides for the common defense of the nation? Use the Preamble to the Constitution to answer the question. (Answer: B. maintaining national armed forces)
To determine how the American government provides for the common defense of the nation, you can analyze the Preamble to the Constitution. The Preamble states that one of the purposes of the Constitution is to "provide for the common defence." This indicates that the American government maintains national armed forces, such as the military, as a means to protect and defend the nation.
5. According to the textbook, “Thomas Jefferson called the [Declaration of Independence] ‘pure Locke,’” referring to the English philosopher John Locke. Which of the following ideas shows Locke’s influence on the Declaration of Independence? (Answer: B. By violating the social contract with the colonists, the king has lost his authority to rule.)
To determine the idea that shows Locke's influence on the Declaration of Independence, you need to understand Locke's philosophy and principles. John Locke argued that government's power is based on a social contract between the rulers and the ruled. If a ruler violates this social contract by depriving people of their natural rights, especially life, liberty, and property, the people have the right to rebel and establish a new government. The idea that the king has lost his authority to rule due to violating the social contract aligns with Locke's influence on the Declaration of Independence.
6. Which of the following best paraphrases this statement? Read the excerpt and answer the question.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, . . ." –The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America (Answer: D. People are born with certain rights that no one can take from them.)
To determine the best paraphrase of the given statement, you need to understand its meaning. The statement affirms that all individuals are inherently equal and possess certain rights that cannot be taken away by anyone. The paraphrase that accurately captures this is "People are born with certain rights that no one can take from them."
7. The Intolerable Acts led most directly to which event? (Answer: C. First Continental Congress)
To determine the event that was most directly influenced by the Intolerable Acts, you need to consider the historical context. The Intolerable Acts were a series of punitive measures imposed by the British Parliament on the American colonies in response to the Boston Tea Party. These acts rallied the colonial opposition to British rule and ultimately led to the convening of the First Continental Congress in 1774.
8. The Framers included the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution for the purpose of (Answer: C. helping to settle disputes between different levels of government in the federal system.)
To understand the purpose of the Supremacy Clause, you need to consider its role in the Constitution. The Supremacy Clause establishes that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land, overriding any conflicting state laws. Its purpose is to help settle disputes that may arise between different levels of government (federal and state) in the federal system.
9. Which of the following powers is a concurrent power shared by both the federal government and the state governments? (Answer: C. levying and collecting taxes from businesses and citizens)
To identify a concurrent power, you need to understand that it is a power that is shared and exercised by both the federal government and state governments. Among the options provided, levying and collecting taxes from businesses and citizens is one such power that both levels of government have the authority to exercise.
10. The Necessary and Proper Clause, shown below, is used to justify what category of government powers in the federal system? (Answer: B. the implied powers of the federal government)
To determine the category of government powers that the Necessary and Proper Clause justifies, you need to analyze its function. The Necessary and Proper Clause, also known as the Elastic Clause, grants the federal government the authority to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers. These necessary and proper laws are referred to as the implied powers of the federal government, giving it flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and carry out its responsibilities effectively.