Deck 3: Constitutions: Operating Instructions

Question 1

Judicial federalism is the idea that the courts determine the boundaries of ______ relations.

A) state-federal
B) local-state
C) local-federal
D) federal-international

Answer 1

A

Question 2

______ has the longest state constitution in the United States.

A) California
B) New York
C) Florida
D) Alabama

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Alabama has convened a constitutional convention as recently as ______.

A) 1901
B) 1800
C) 2011
D) 2000

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The only state that can choose to run up debt as the federal government does is ______.

A) California
B) Vermont
C) Colorado
D) Oregon

Question 5

______ is the right to vote.

A) The franchise
B) Mobilization
C) Civil liberty
D) Qualification

Question 6

______ governments have plenary power, or power that is not constrained.

A) Local
B) State
C) County
D) Federal

Question 7

In the more democratic, northern states, ______ could vote during the late 1700s.

A) everyone
B) landowners only
C) most white men
D) white men and women

Question 8

Legal documents put together by the British Crown to dictate the governance of the colonies were called ______.

A) contracts
B) constitutions
C) charters
D) companies

Question 9

Ballot initiatives and referendums are two types of ______.

A) dual constitutionalism
B) federalism
C) direct democracy
D) balanced budgets

Question 10

The principle that government should be divided into branches is known as ______.

A) federalism
B) consolidation
C) separation of powers
D) bicameralism

Question 11

______ is a set of moral and political rules based on divine law and is binding on all people.

A) God's law
B) Biological law
C) Moral law
D) Higher law

Question 12

Which U.S. Constitutional amendment gives state governments plenary power?

A) Fourth
B) Sixth
C) Tenth
D) Fourteenth

Question 13

The formal methods for changing states constitutions are legislative proposals, ballot initiatives, referendums, and ______.

A) court decisions
B) federal overrides
C) constitutional conventions
D) mutiny

Question 14

Laws passed by legislatures authorizing the transfer of money to the executive branch are called ______.

A) allocation bills
B) financial transfer bills
C) appropriations bills
D) authorization bills

Question 15

The three branches of a separated system are legislative, executive, and ______.

A) bureaucratic
B) gubernatorial
C) presidential
D) judicial

Question 16

State constitutions tend to be far ______ than the U.S. Constitution.

A) shorter
B) longer
C) more formal
D) more inclusive

Question 17

The U.S. Constitution has been formally changed ______ times.

A) 0
B) 17
C) 27
D) 66

Question 18

In California, Proposition ______ restricted increases on real estate taxes, making it difficult for localities to raise money.

A) 10
B) 13
C) 15
D) 20

Question 19

______ is the only U.S. state with a unicameral legislature.

A) Utah
B) Nebraska
C) Vermont
D) Georgia

Question 20

______ is the power to reject a portion of a bill while leaving the rest intact.

A) Specific rejection
B) Alteration power
C) Line-item veto
D) Gubernatorial veto

Question 21

California's Proposition 98 mandates that about 40 percent of California's revenue goes toward ______.

A) social welfare programs
B) tax cuts
C) education
D) business incentives

Question 22

______ establish operating procedures for local governments.

A) Colonial contracts
B) Municipal charters
C) Colonial charters
D) Municipal contracts

Question 23

A ______ is a procedure that allows the electorate to either accept or reject a law passed by the legislature.

A) ballot initiative
B) ratification
C) referendum
D) recall

Question 24

______ was the first state to allow women to vote.

A) Nebraska
B) Wyoming
C) Vermont
D) Oregon

Question 25

______ was the first state to allow same-sex civil unions.

A) Utah
B) Wyoming
C) Connecticut
D) Vermont

Question 26

______ is the power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the constitution.

A) Judicial review
B) Judicial ratification
C) Court review
D) Court ratification

Question 27

The three branches of government established by state constitutions are judicial, legislative, and ______.

A) executive
B) bureaucratic
C) gubernatorial
D) congressional

Question 28

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) defined a limited right to ______.

A) privacy
B) bear arms
C) representation by an attorney
D) remain silent

Question 29

Constitutional ______ are additions that make changes.

A) revisions
B) proposals
C) amendments
D) reforms

Question 30

Municipal charters establish operating procedures for ______.

A) constitutional committees
B) ballot initiatives
C) state governments
D) local governments

Question 31

______ was the first state to adopt initiatives in 1898.

A) South Dakota
B) California
C) Oregon
D) Colorado

Question 32

In ______ states, legislatures tend to meet frequently.

A) individualistic
B) moralistic
C) traditionalistic
D) Southern

Question 33

The last state constitutional convention held in the United States was in ______.

A) Alabama
B) Washington
C) Rhode Island
D) Texas

Question 34

An assembly convened for amending or replacing a constitution is called a ______.

A) constitutional convention
B) constitutional delegation
C) periodical constitutional meeting
D) ratification convention

Question 35

A state's ______ reflect(s) its history, culture, geography, and political ideals.

A) governor
B) constitution
C) sociodemographics
D) topography

Question 36

A vote of the entire electorate to approve a constitutional change is called a ______.

A) repeal
B) recall
C) rationalization
D) ratification

Question 37

The oldest U.S. state constitution is ______ constitution.

A) Maryland's
B) Massachusetts's
C) Virginia's
D) Maine's

Question 38

During the ______ period, the Southern states were governed under the direction of the Union army.

A) Reformation
B) Progressive
C) Reconstruction
D) New Deal

Question 39

Self-governance that is granted to localities by states is referred to as ______.

A) home style
B) a municipal charter
C) home rule
D) local governance

Question 40

Proposition 13 in California dealt with restrictions on raising ______.

A) income taxes
B) sales taxes
C) estate taxes
D) property taxes

Question 41

What is natural law? How do these ideals affect Americans today?

Question 42

The U.S. Constitution has about ______ words.

A) 5,000
B) 7,400
C) 10,000
D) 50,000

Question 43

What are the advantages and disadvantages of judicial federalism?

Question 44

Citizens voting directly on a proposed constitutional amendment is one example of delegated democracy.

Question 45

What are the advantages and disadvantages of direct democracy?

Question 46

What are the ways in which state constitutions can be amended?

Question 47

Constitutional conventions and constitutional review commissions are the same thing.

Question 48

______ are amendments or additions to a bill that are unrelated to the primary topic of the main bill.

A) Revisions
B) Requests
C) Amendments
D) Riders

Question 49

Plenary power is power that is not limited or constrained.

Question 50

What are the main ways in which state constitutions differ from one another?

Question 51

Most states require a simple majority to pass a constitutional amendment.

Question 52

Higher law is the theory that rights come from a divine source, rather than from governments or men.

Question 53

Under the principles of natural law, constitutions create rights.

Question 54

What are the main ways in which state constitutions differ from the U.S. Constitution?

Question 55

John Adams supported giving women the right to vote.

Question 56

The U.S. Constitution is a very long, detailed document.

Question 57

The British constitution is not a singular written document.

Question 58

The Electoral College system can result in a candidate winning the presidency after losing the popular vote.