Chapter 3: Federalism Trivia Quiz!
In this trivia quiz, we get to review all that we learned about federalism. This is a type of governance in which the national government shares its powers with other governmental units. How much did you understand in class? Take up the question below and get to find out for sure. Be on the lookout for quizzes on the other chapters.
- 1.A person who agreed with the melting-pot approach to racial and ethnic relations would be likely to support:
- A.
Stricter rules for immigrants to be eligible to vote in U.S. elections
- B.
English as the country’s official language
- C.
Amnesty for illegal immigrants currently living in the United States
- D.
Bilingual public education
- 2.Although James Madison believed in the necessity of ________, he feared a government that would ________.
- A.
A strong government; oppress those in the minority
- B.
A weak national government; not stand up against the states
- C.
Constitutional monarchy; be dominated by faction
- D.
Direct democracy; become dominated by the nation’s wealthy elite
- 3.The separation of powers refers to:
- A.
The division of authority between the national and state governments
- B.
Providing each part of government with some power over the others
- C.
Dividing a government into different branches with distinct areas of authority
- D.
The government’s dual responsibility of protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals while also providing for the safety and security of the larger society
- 4.Which of the following is a reason that there is conflict in politics?
- A.
Polls indicate that the American public wants conflict in politics, so elected officials oblige.
- B.
The United States has a long history of class-based conflict.
- C.
There are deep and longstanding divisions separating voters in red states and blue states.
- D.
There is no national consensus on some issues, nor is there a compromise position on every issue that will attract widespread support.
- 5.What is the blue text definition of Politics?
- A.
Citizens interacting with their government
- B.
The ability to get others to do what you want
- C.
A process of determining how power and resources are distributed in a society without recourse to violence
- D.
Conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments
- 6.The abortion issue is conflictual because:
- A.
The differences are rooted in self-interest, ideology, and personal beliefs
- B.
Politicians are inherently unwilling to compromise
- C.
Talk-radio hosts and others in the media manufacture conflict where none would otherwise exist on the issue
- D.
Most Americans hold only the most extreme positions on the issue
- 7.For James Madison, the notion that government is necessary depended strongly on:
- A.
His belief that people are self-interested
- B.
His belief that direct democracy was the only legitimate way to make collective decisions
- C.
His view that people were willing to sacrifice freedoms to make democracy work
- D.
His belief that factions could only be eliminated through force
- 8.Which of the following is part of the economic values of the United States?
- A.
Economic equality
- B.
From each according to his or her ability, to each according to his or her need
- C.
Economic individualism
- D.
Workplace democracy
- 9.The division of power between the national government and the state and local governments is called:
- A.
Federalism
- B.
Democracy
- C.
Oligarchy
- D.
Monarchy
- 10.An important realm of economic conflict in the United States today is:
- A.
Democrats and Republicans positions on redistributive tax policy
- B.
Policy of foreign affairs
- C.
Sanctions on foreign territores
- D.
Bonds given to citizens
- 11.Which of the following is an example of a public good?
- A.
The interstate highway system
- B.
A new business that creates jobs in a community
- C.
Food produced by local farmers
- D.
Volunteering time to a political campaign
- 12.Republicans are more likely than Democrats to favor:
- A.
Lower taxes and less spending on social policies
- B.
Higher taxes and less spending on social policies
- C.
Fewer restrictions on individual behavior
- D.
Regulation of business to promote product safety
- 13.The federal government is considered by many to be large because:
- A.
Its activities touch on the everyday lives of Americans in many different ways
- B.
Democrats have controlled Congress for most of the last two decades
- C.
Members of Congress spend too much money on their campaigns
- D.
State and local governments have been weakened recently by the courts
- 14.What did British philosopher Thomas Hobbes mean by the term state of nature?
- A.
Hobbes was referring to the lack of organization among people who have no government.
- B.
Hobbes was referring to a world in which people lived in harmony with other living creatures, conserved natural resources, and respected the environment.
- C.
Hobbes was referring to his belief that a society without government was the best society because it was how the “state of nature” intended things to be.
- D.
Hobbes was referring to his belief that all people were basically good.
- 15.The Bush and Clinton families best fit into which theory of democracy?
- A.
Elite democracy
- B.
Participatory democracy
- C.
Pluralist democracy
- D.
Oligarchic democracy
- 16.The Treasury Department issues bonds to:
- A.
Fund the federal government when its expenditures exceed its revenues
- B.
Print and coin money
- C.
Protect the integrity of the stock market
- D.
Offset the U.S. trade deficit
- 17.The Greek philosopher Aristotle developed a classification scheme for governments that was based on three distinguishable types:
- A.
Monarchy, aristocracy, and polity
- B.
Rule by none, rule by one, and rule by law
- C.
Executive, legislative, and judicial systems
- D.
Unitary systems, federal systems, and confederations
- 18.If one group took power and established an official state religion, James Madison would describe the situation as:
- A.
An example of the tyranny of a faction imposing its will on the rest of the nation
- B.
The inevitable result of human nature, but which government is powerless to control
- C.
Unfortunate, but acceptable if the majority of people desired this
- D.
A stage in the evolution of government
- 19.Which of the following did the Founders of the U.S. Constitution cite as a reason to have a government?
- A.
To secure liberty
- B.
To ensure a two-party system
- C.
To protect individuals from making poor decisions that may cause harm to themselves
- D.
To conquer territory, build empires, and promote national interests around the world
- 20.Which philosopher described the idea of a collective-action problem?
- A.
David Hume
- B.
Adam Smith
- C.
Thomas Hobbes
- D.
James Madison
- 21.What was Madison afraid of when he wrote Federalist #51?
- A.
The tyranny of the majority
- B.
The tyranny of a strong central government
- C.
Complained that the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was completely illegal because it had only been called to revise the Articles of Confederation, not draw up a new constitution.
- D.
The dangers of a rich elite taking over the government
- 22.Which of the following concepts reflects the need to balance the principle of self-government against the rights of specific groups?
- A.
Providing for majority rule while protecting minority rights
- B.
Creating a legislative government while allowing for executive leadership
- C.
Providing for minority rule while protecting majority rights
- D.
Protecting small states from powerful large states
- 23.Which of the following events played the most prominent role in highlighting the need for the Annapolis Convention?
- A.
Shays’s Rebellion
- B.
The publication of Common Sense
- C.
The Revolutionary War
- D.
The Declaration of Independence
- 24.The agreement that led to the legislature having two houses is called the:
- A.
Great Compromise
- B.
Three-fifths Compromise
- C.
Missouri Compromise
- D.
Virginia Plan
- 25.The main reaction to the failure of the Articles of Confederation was to:
- A.
Make the national government stronger
- B.
Eliminate the state governments
- C.
Rein in the power of the national government
- D.
Focus on resolving debates between the state governments
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