Question 1

Constitutional democracy is a modern form of Athenian style direct democracy.

Accepted Answer

Constitutional democracy is a representative democracy where citizens elect individuals to represent their views and interests. Athenian style direct democracy involved citizens participating in the decision-making process themselves, without representatives.

Question 2

Alexander Hamilton's vision of a strong central government is the model for our U.S. Constitution.

Accepted Answer

Alexander Hamilton was a significant contributor to the writing of the U.S. Constitution and advocated for a strong central government. His ideas and beliefs heavily influenced the final draft of the Constitution, making his vision of a strong central government a key component of the document.

Question 3

The Founding Fathers were driven by a mix of idealism and realism.

Accepted Answer

The Founding Fathers believed in ideals such as liberty, equality, and democracy, but also recognized the practical considerations and compromises necessary to establish a new government and ensure its success.

Question 4

What term describes the concept of a form of government ruled by active citizens rather than elected/appointed officials?
A)Constitutional democracy
B)Republic
C)Direct democracy
D)Segmented democracy
E)None of the above

Accepted Answer

Direct democracy is a form of government where citizens directly participate in the decision-making process, without the intervention of elected or appointed representatives. This form of government originated in ancient Athens and was practiced through mechanisms such as the assembly, council, and courts. However, in modern times, direct democracy is not a practical form of government due to the complexity of decision-making, large populations, and the need for representation.

Question 5

Cosmopolitan democracy presupposes that the nation-state is less important in an age when we are all citizens of the world.

Accepted Answer

Cosmopolitan democracy emphasizes that all individuals are members of a global community and that nation-states should not be the primary unit of political organization. Instead, the goal of cosmopolitan democracy is to promote global governance and institutions that can address global problems and promote universal human rights and values.

Question 6

Hudson's four models represent actual democracies.

Accepted Answer

Hudson's four models are theoretical constructs designed to analyze and compare different aspects of political systems, not representations of actual democracies.

Question 7

Constitutional democracies stress order and a political economy above all else.

Accepted Answer

Constitutional democracies prioritize the protection of individual rights and freedoms above order and the political economy.

Question 8

Which of the following is an idea inherent in a constitutional democracy?
A)The majority always gets its way.
B)Government should be responsive, limited, and effective.
C)Ineffective government is an unavoidable side-effect.
D)There should be a popularly elected head of state.
E)The majority is never morally correct.

Accepted Answer

Government should be responsive to the needs and wants of the people, but also limited in its powers and effective in achieving its goals. This is a core concept of constitutional democracy, as outlined in the principles of the US Constitution and other democratic systems. The other options are not necessarily inherent in constitutional democracy - the majority may not always get its way, ineffective government is not desirable, and there may be different forms of leadership besides a popularly elected head of state. The statement that the majority is never morally correct is not a direct principle of constitutional democracy, but rather a philosophical perspective.

Question 9

Madison's plan to stop partisan factions from selfishness was to arm government with checks and balances, separation of powers, and federalism.

Accepted Answer

Madison believed that checks and balances, separation of powers, and federalism were key components in preventing partisan factions from promoting their own interests above the common good.

Question 10

In order to be considered a democracy, a government must function openly and according to a clear set of rules.

Accepted Answer

Democracy requires transparency and adherence to established rules and procedures in order to ensure fairness and accountability in government.

Question 11

Which of the Founding Fathers was wary of human ambition in a democratic system?
A)Thomas Jefferson
B)James Madison
C)Alexander Hamilton
D)Both B and C
E)All of the above

Accepted Answer

James Madison and Alexander Hamilton both expressed concerns about human ambition in a democratic system, advocating for checks and balances to mitigate its effects.

Question 12

A crosscutting cleavage leaves one entity cut off from all others.

Accepted Answer

A crosscutting cleavage occurs when a division exists within a group or society that affects multiple demographic characteristics or social issues. It does not necessarily leave one entity cut off from all others.

Question 13

Which of the following are the ideas of John Locke?
A)Meaningful freedom could not exist outside the realm of law.
B)The rule of law was unacceptable because it suppressed individual freedoms.
C)"Wherever Law ends, Tyranny begins."
D)The seventeenth century saw limited advances in the rule of law.
E)Both A and C

Accepted Answer

John Locke believed that meaningful freedom could only exist within the realm of law, but he also recognized that tyranny can arise when law ends. Therefore, both A and C are ideas of John Locke. Option B is incorrect because Locke believed in the importance of the rule of law. Option D is also incorrect because Locke saw significant progress in the development of the rule of law during the seventeenth century.

Question 14

Federalism helps protect civil and political liberties by limiting the scope of national government.

Accepted Answer

Federalism divides power between the national government and state governments, which helps prevent any one level of government from becoming too powerful and potentially violating civil and political liberties. By limiting the scope of national government, federalism allows state and local governments to play a larger role in protecting these liberties for their citizens.

Question 15

Reserved powers are protected by which Amendment?
A)Sixth Amendment
B)Eighth Amendment
C)Tenth Amendment
D)Fourteenth Amendment
E)None of the above

Accepted Answer

The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution explicitly states that any powers not granted to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people. These powers are known as reserved powers and are protected by the Tenth Amendment.

Question 16

John Calhoun favored a system that would allow the federal government to dictate policies to the states.

Accepted Answer

John C. Calhoun was a proponent of states' rights and believed that the federal government should have limited powers and that the states should be able to govern themselves.

Question 17

There is no one universally accepted model or theory of liberal democracy.

Accepted Answer

Liberal democracy is a complex and evolving concept with various interpretations and models, leading to a lack of consensus around a single theoretical approach or model. Different scholars and thinkers have proposed multiple models of liberal democracy that emphasize varying aspects of democracy, such as participation, representation, accountability, rule of law, and human rights. Additionally, liberal democracies around the world exhibit diverse institutional arrangements, electoral systems, constitutional frameworks, and political cultures, challenging the idea of a universal model of liberal democracy.

Question 18

Thomas Jefferson was more worried about the potential for abuse in majority rule than Alexander Hamilton.

Accepted Answer

Alexander Hamilton was more concerned about the potential for abuse in majority rule, advocating for a strong central government to prevent tyranny by the majority, whereas Thomas Jefferson had more faith in the virtues of a democratic system and the common man's ability to govern.

Question 19

Federalism is competitive as well as cooperative.

Accepted Answer

Federalism involves a division of power between the national government and state governments, which often leads to competition and cooperation between them. While the national government may have certain powers, the states also have the ability to pass their own laws and policies, creating a competitive environment. However, federalism also requires cooperation between the national and state governments on issues such as funding and shared programs. Therefore, federalism can be both competitive and cooperative.

Question 20

The Thirteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection for all.

Accepted Answer

The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery, while the Fourteenth Amendment addresses equal protection under the law.

Quiz 4: Constitutional Democracy: Models of Representation