All political power is inherent in the people and government is instituted for their protection, security and benefit; and they have the right to alter, reform or abolish the same, in such manner as they may think proper.
-Constitution of the State of Arkansas of 1874, Article 2, Section 1
Use the passage to answer the questions.
Which of the following ideas are supported by the statement in the passage? Select all that apply.
A. The government of Arkansas is there to serve the people of Arkansas.
B. The people have the right to alter the government if they think they need to.
C. The government of Arkansas is the supreme authority in the state. D. The government knows what is best for the people of Arkansas.
A. The government of Arkansas is there to serve the people of Arkansas.
B. The people have the right to alter the government if they think they need to.
Which idea of U.S. government is most illustrated by the passage?
A. confederal system
B. separation of powers
C. veto power
D. popular sovereignty
D. popular sovereignty
Which of the following elected officials introduce laws in Congress that may become national laws?
A. U.S. representative or senator
B. governor of Arkansas
C. state representative or senator
D. mayor
A. U.S. representative or senator
What is the main difference between a presidential system and a parliamentary system of government?
A. The chief executive of a presidential system is called the president, while the chief executive of a parliamentary system is called the prime minister.
B. The presidential system is used mostly in the western hemisphere, whereas the parliamentary system is mostly used the eastern hemisphere.
C. The chief executive of the presidential system is separate from the legislature, but the chief executive of the parliamentary system is usually a member of the legislature.
D. The presidential system has a written constitution, while the parliamentary system does not.
C. The chief executive of the presidential system is separate from the legislature, but the chief executive of the parliamentary system is usually a member of the legislature.
Which of the following terms accurately describes the style of government set up in the U.S. Constitution? Select all that apply.
A. presidential system
B. parliamentary system
C. confederal system
D. federal system
E. unitary system
A. presidential system
D. federal system
What is the purpose of the legislative branch of a government?
A. to punish lawbreakers
B. to make sure that laws are carried out
C. to decide whether or not laws are following the constitution
D. to write and pass laws
D. to write and pass laws
How does the president check the power of Congress?
A. The president has the ability to veto any bill that Congress passes.
B. Only the president can introduce bills into the House of Representatives.
C. The president can refuse to let a passed bill move from one house to the other.
D. The president sets topics for bills every year, and any bill must align to one of those topics.
A. The president has the ability to veto any bill that Congress passes.
Which of the following is true about the legislative process?
A. A bill may skip the second house and go straight to the president with a two-thirds majority in the original house.
B. A bill may get stuck in committee in the House or Senate and never be considered by the full legislature.
C. All bills dealing with foreign trade must start in the Senate.
D. Senators are limited to six terms in office, and representatives are limited to two terms in office.
B. A bill may get stuck in committee in the House or Senate and never be considered by the full legislature.
From 1876 through 1964, Arkansas voted for the Democratic Party candidate for the president of the United States. Why did Arkansas begin to vote for Republican Party candidates in the 1960s? Did this reflect a shift in the beliefs of political parties or the beliefs of most voters?
The shift towards voting for Republican Party candidates in Arkansas in the 1960s was largely a result of growing opposition to federal government intervention on matters such as civil rights. During this time period, the Democratic Party was associated with civil rights legislation and the push for desegregation, which many Arkansans opposed. The Southern Strategy employed by the Republican Party, which sought to appeal to disaffected white voters in the South, also contributed to this shift.
Therefore, this shift in voting patterns was more reflective of a change in the beliefs of most voters rather than a change in the beliefs of the political parties themselves.