Political Science 155 Dr. Rebecca Britton

Introduction to American Government Fall 2011

QUIZ #1 STUDY GUIDE

Quiz #1 covers half of the assigned course material on the Constitutional framework. (Quiz

#2 covers the other half.) Quiz #1 will include 30 multiple choice, true-false, and matching

questions. These quizzes are designed to test your knowledge and understanding of the context,

process, and outcome of the Constitutional convention of 1787.

General Guidelines for study are as follows:

• Consider the various motivations, interests, and concerns expressed by the framers

during debate at the constitutional convention. Also, consider how the convention context

influenced the process of drafting the constitution.

• Know definitions of key concepts. Where appropriate, be able to match passages from the

Constitution to the concept reflected in the passage.

“approaching democracy”

bicameralism

checks and balances

elitism

federalism

order, freedom, equality

populism

republicanism

separation of powers

• For all key provisions of the Constitution covered in the course, there is a corresponding

location in the Constitution, by Article and Section number or by amendment number.

You will be required to know the substance of all key assigned provisions, although

memorizing constitution locations by article and section is not required.

Preparation to answer the specific study questions listed below will include reviewing lecture

material, assigned readings in the textbook and be perusing passages of the Constitution.

The three sources referenced to help your study include: (1) lecture notes (for all questions

typed in regular black font), (2) the U.S. Constitution (referred to as USC) and (3) passages

within textbook chapters (referred to as TCh, followed by the appropriate page numbers of the

2nd

full edition). Remember, questions typed in italics are addressed in reading material only.

Major Course Themes

1. What connection does the Constitution have to our study of current political and

government processes?

2. What is meant by the expression, “approaching democracy”?

The Constitution Context

3. What problems existed with the Articles of Confederation and which six goals are

mentioned in the preamble of the Constitution?

4. What possible motivations or interests of the framers led them to attend the

constitutional convention and may have influenced the writing of specific provisions of

the Constitution?

5. What were the areas of ready agreement among the framers? What were the sources of

greatest conflict?

Establishing Strong National Government

6. Look over the major areas of policymaking Congress is empowered to govern. (Art. 1,

Sec. 8)

7. To whom does the Constitution grant the power to enforce national laws? (USC Art. 2

Sec. 3; TCh 398)

8. Where is “judicial power” vested under the Constitution? (USC Art. 3)

Five Major Compromises at the Framing

9. What were the key provisions of the “Great Compromise”? (USC Art. 1, Sec.1-3, 7; TCh

37-39)

10. What were the key provisions of the Electoral College compromise? (USC Art. 1, Sec. 1;

TCh 40-41)

11. What were the key provisions of the Trade Policy compromise? (USC Art. 1, Sec. 8-10)

12. Which provisions in the Constitution reflect Northern capitulation to Southern interests on

the slavery issue?

13. What was the key provision of the Three-Fifths Compromise? (USC Art. 1, Sec. 2; TCh

42)

14. What were the key elements of the Bill of Rights compromise? (USC Amendments 1-10;

TCh 44-46)

The Practical application of Philosophical Values

15. How is the Constitution an example of “republicanism”?

16. What recommended governing strategy of John Locke’s is reflected in the Constitution’s

distribution of power?

17. What 3 governing concepts reflect the framers’ attempt to fragment government power

in order to prevent government from becoming a source of tyranny? (TCh 8, 34)

18. What is the term length for each national office: House, Senate, President, and Federal

Judge? (USC Art. 1, Sec. 2-3, Art. 2, Sec. 1, Art. 3, Sec. 1)

19. Who has the power to bring impeachment charges against the president? Who has the

power to conduct all impeachment trials?(TCh 27) Who presides over the impeachment

trial of the president? (USC Art. 1 Sec. 3)

20. Under what circumstances can a president kill a bill by doing nothing? (USC Art. 1 Sec.

7; TCh 382)

Adaptability of the Constitution Over Time

21. What 3 mechanisms enable our Constitution to adapt over time as our nation’s fundamental

governing document? (USC Art. 5; TCh 53-57)

22. What are two ways in which an amendment to the Constitution can be proposed? What

are two ways a proposed amendment can be ratified? (USC Art. 5; TCh 54-55)

23. Of what importance is the Marbury v. Madison decision to the interpretation power of the

Supreme Court? (TCh 56, 188-89)

24. What is the power of judicial review? How did a landmark Supreme Court decision

establish this power? (TCh 188-189)

Who, What, When, Why, and How?

25. What is the basic topic of each of the original seven articles of the Constitution. (USC)

26. What is deficit spending? (USC Art. 1, Sec. 9; TCh 563) Which branch is responsible

for such spending? (USC Art. 1 Sec. 8; TCh 563)

27. What are the qualifications to hold office for the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate,

and President. (USC Art. 1 Sec, 2-3, Art. 2 Sec 1; TCh 266)

28. The original House of Representatives was designed with how many seats? How many

people were represented by each member? (USC Art. 1 Sec. 2). Today, how many

people are represented by each House member? (TCh 353)