US Gov't

Question 1

What was a primary issue addressed by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, also known as the McCain-Feingold Bill?

Answer 1

regulates the financing of political campaigns. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act placed tighter restricts on the acceptance of soft money, money not designated for a particular candidate but rather placed in a party’s general or administrative funds. It also restricted issue ads and raised the limits on allowable hard money donations, those designated to a specific candidate’s campaign.

Question 2

Presidential succession

Answer 2

President > VP > Speaker of the House > President pro tempore of the Senate > cabinet secretaries in the order in which their departments were created

Question 3

According to the Constitutional principle of checks and balances, what oversight can Congress exercise in respect to the Presidential power of appointment?

Answer 3

Senate may reject cabinet level nominees. U.S. Constitution grants the President the power of appointment to numerous high ranking government positions with the approval of the Senate. This includes federal judges, ambassadors, and public ministers and consuls, which has been interpreted to include Cabinet Secretaries.

Question 4

According to the Declaration of Independence, what is the primary purpose for creating government?

Answer 4

Government exists to protect basic human rights. “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, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men…”

Question 5

Bill of Rights

Answer 5

Collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution written by James Madison and recommended by George Mason to assuage Anti-Federalists who were against its ratification.

Question 6

The Federalist Papers, authored by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, are historically relevant for which of the following reasons?

Answer 6

These essays explained and defended the new Constitution and were instrumental in securing its ratification. Most historians today agree that they remain the best commentary on our Constitution and its political theories and principles.

Question 7

Accurate statement about determining a winner in a Presidential election in which no candidate receives a majority?

Answer 7

The 12th Amendment to the Constitution, approved in 1804, established the procedure of determining a winner in a Presidential election with no candidate possessing a majority of votes. The candidates with the highest number of votes, not to exceed three candidates, will be given to the House of Representatives for a vote. Each state votes as a contingent sharing one vote. The House must vote, repeatedly if needed, until one candidate receives a majority of votes with a quorum of 2/3 represented by one or more members.

Question 8

Which of the following countries has a lower tax burden when considered as a percentage of the GNP?

Answer 8

Mexico at about 18.5%. U.S. is at about 27% while Germany, U.K., and Denmark are well over 30%

Question 9

Department of Homeland Security

Answer 9

1. Transportation Security Administration
2. United States Secret Service
3. Federal Emergency Management Agency

Question 10

Federal Bureau of Investigation is under jurisdiction of which cabinet?

Answer 10

Justice Department

Question 11

The U.S. Constitution creates a federalist system in which _______.

Answer 11

power is divided between national and state levels of government. Federalism is defined as system of shared power between a central government and smaller regional governments.

Question 12

The Fifth through Eighth Amendments to the United States Constitution protect the individual right to ______.

Answer 12

due process in a court of law such as legal representation, speedy jury trial, reasonable bail, and no cruel or unusual punishment.

Question 13

Which best describes the primary responsibilities of the President’s Chief of Staff?

Answer 13

Supervision of White House staff and management of the Presidential appointment calendars and Presidential access. This role is administrative while at the same time also serves in the capacity of personal advisor.

Question 14

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Answer 14

Established the doctrine of judicial review. The Supreme court declared a law passed by Congress to be unconstitutional. This established the power of the courts to interpret the Constitution and its laws.

Question 15

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Answer 15

The Constitution gives the federal government certain implied powers.

Question 16

Cooper v. Aaron (1958)

Answer 16

States cannot nullify decisions of the federal courts. Only the federal courts can decide when the Constitution is violated.

Question 17

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Answer 17

Illegally obtained material cannot be used in a criminal trial.

Question 18

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Answer 18

Indigent (poor) defendants must be provided representation without charge.

Question 19

Terry v. Ohio (1968)

Answer 19

Stop and frisks do not violate the Constitution under certain circumstances.

Question 20

U.S. v. Nixon (1974)

Answer 20

The President is not above the law.

Question 21

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Answer 21

Even offensive speech such as flag burning is protected by the First Amendment.

Question 22

CDC

Answer 22

Center for Disease Control and Prevention is the leading government agency in monitoring, reducing, and researching the spread of diseases in the United States.

Question 23

GAO

Answer 23

an independent agency not under the control of the executive branch. It reports directly to Congress and has the primary task of watchdog over government spending.

Question 24

19th amendment

Answer 24

ratified in 1920, prohibited the denial of voting rights based on gender.

Question 25

Current federal court interpretation of the First Amendment prohibits which of the following based on the establishment clause?

Answer 25

prayer organized by school officials violates the establishment clause even if participation is voluntary. This does not apply to student initiated prayer towards which public school officials must by neutral and not hostile.

Question 26

Which describes the date of the Presidential election?

Answer 26

The first Tuesday after the first Monday of November every fourth year

Question 27

Who were the first Presidential candidates to debate on television?

Answer 27

When Nixon and Kennedy became the first Presidential candidates to debate on television in 1960, appearance and demeanor became almost as important as substance.

Question 28

Which of the following is not a goal of the federal government, under the U.S. Constitution, as described in the preamble?

Answer 28

Keeping peace around the world. The Preamble to the Constitution states as its goals, “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…” It does not mention any goals related to foreign nations.

Question 29

What is the term of service for a U.S. Senator and how often are Senate elections held?

Answer 29

Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution provides for a six year term for Senators. One third of the Senate is up for reelection every two years.

Question 30

What are Presidential powers explicitly granted in the Constitution?

Answer 30

The right to appoint Ambassadors; The right to grant reprieves and pardons; The right to convene Congress; the right to make treaties; the right to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate; issuing executive orders is NOT a given power.

Question 31

Which of the following served as the United States first written plan of government?

Answer 31

The Articles of Confederation were written by a committee for the Continental Congress during the American Revolution and became our first plan for national government. The Articles were in place from 1781 until 1788 when our current Constitution was ratified

Question 32

Who served as the first African-American Supreme Court justice?

Answer 32

Thurgood Marshall, who was appointed in 1967 by President Lyndon Johnson and served on the court for almost 24 years.

Question 33

Clarence Thomas

Answer 33

Second African American justice on the supreme court (associate justice)

Question 34

who is the chief justice of the supreme court?

Answer 34

John G Roberts, Jr.

Question 35

Abe Fortas

Answer 35

former Supreme Court Associate justice who was the attorney representing Gideon in the landmark case Gideon v. Wainwright

Question 36

According to the Constitution, who has the authority to regulate trade with foreign nations?

Answer 36

According to Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, “The Congress shall have the Power To…regulate Commerce with foreign Nations…”

Question 37

What is a Writ of Habeas Corpus?

Answer 37

The Constitution states that the Writ of Habeas Corpus cannot be suspended except in times of invasion, rebellion, or public safety emergency. This means the government cannot hold prisoners without due process.

Question 38

Which of the following best describes the process for choosing Electors in Presidential Elections as established by the Constitution?

Answer 38

Each state legislature determines the process for selecting Electors from that state and is allowed the number of Electors equal to that state’s total representatives in Congress. Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution describes the process of choosing members of the Electoral College, giving each state discretion in the process.

Question 39

The election of which President introduced the modern Democratic party?

Answer 39

The election of Andrew Jackson in 1828 marked the split of the old Democratic-Republican party and the formation of a new Democratic party heavily supported by farmers and Americans living in the south and west. This party has evolved considerably, but is the same organization as today’s Democratic party.

Question 40

What is the minimum age required for the office of President?

Answer 40

35, must also be natural born citizen, and have fourteen years of residency,

Question 41

Which of the following situations would describe a primary election?

Answer 41

Primary elections allow political parties to choose candidates to run in general elections.

Question 42

Who is considered to be the “Father of the Constitution” for his role in writing the document?

Answer 42

James Madison came to the Constitutional Convention with a proposal called the Virginia Plan which eventually became the foundation of the Constitution. He also took extensive notes of Convention proceedings and wrote many essays defending the Constitution that helped secure its ratification (Federalist papers, along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay)

Question 43

Which Presidential cabinet department plays the lead role in advising the President on foreign policy?

Answer 43

The Department of State helps the President analyze and formulate foreign policy and protect America ‘s interest around the world. Foreign ambassadors fall under the umbrella of this department.

Question 44

During the Constitutional Convention in 1787, an agreement was reached known as the Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise, Roger Sherman) to settle a dispute over representation in Congress.How were states divided over this issue?

Answer 44

The dispute over representation centered on a disagreement over whether it should be equal for all states or based on population. The compromise involved creating a Congress with two houses, representation in one based on population and equal representation in the other.

Question 45

FCC

Answer 45

Federal Communications Commission which has regulatory authority over most communications using mediums other than print.

Question 46

Which of the following is the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate?

Answer 46

Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution gives this responsibility to the Vice President who does not vote except in the case of a tie. In his or her absence or assumption of Presidential duty, the Presidential pro tempore takes over

Question 47

President Pro Tempore of the Senate

Answer 47

The second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate, and that the Senate must choose a president pro tempore. Since 1890, the most senior senator in the majority party has generally been chosen to be president pro tempore; this tradition has been observed without interruption since 1949

Question 48

The Constitution has been amended how many times?

Answer 48

27 (the first 10 are the bill of rights)

Question 49

True or False: the federal government has constitutional authority over education

Answer 49

FALSE, they do not, but they can distribute and withhold funds to compel state and local cooperation with education standards.

Question 50

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 took steps enforce the provisions of which amendment?

Answer 50

The Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibits discrimination in the voting process based on race. Many states had produced legislation that circumvented this amendment without directly violating it. The Civil Rights Act was sweeping federal legislation aimed at eliminating state and local obstacles to voting rights.