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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Separation Of Powers
Which of these is not a check on the power of the Executive that is specified in the Constitution?
Congress can impeach a President.
The Supreme Court can declare Executive acts unconstitutional.
Congress can override a Presidential veto.
Congress must approve treaties with foreign nations.
All of these are checks on the power of the Executive.
All of these are checks on the power of the Executive.
All of these powers are considered checks and balances provided, an attempt to prevent the Executive Branch from devolving into a tyrannical body. All of these powers have limits, in order to prevent tyranny from any of the other branches as well. This separation of powers, and checks and balances, is a fundamental concept of the United States Constitution and the Federal Republic system that prevails in America.
Example Question #1 : Separation Of Powers
Passage adapted from Baron de Montesquieu's Spirit of the Laws (1748)
When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates [government officials], there can be no liberty; because apprehensions [fears] may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws to execute them in a tyrannical manner…
Given the passage provided, which solution would Baron de Montesquieu offer to avoid the enactment of tyrannical laws?
Granting freedom of speech
Reinstating absolute monarchies
Separating the branches of government
Limiting natural laws
Separating the branches of government
Montesquieu wrote about how to best organize government to avoid the abuse of power. His writings are the influence to separate our government into separate branches, each with its own responsibility and power to keep the others from becoming more powerful than the others. His thinking was inflential on, and largely in line, with many early constitutional thinkers, who focused on placing systems of checks and balances within the governmental framework they set up.
Example Question #1 : Separation Of Powers
What is the main purpose of auxiliary precautions?
Auxiliary precautions serve as a check on legislative decisions
Auxiliary precautions divide and separate power among government institutions
Auxiliary precautions counterbalance majority ruling
Auxiliary precautions provide the structure of governmental institutions
Auxiliary precautions limit governmental power
Auxiliary precautions divide and separate power among government institutions
While auxiliary precautions do limit governmental power, there is a better answer available. The main purpose of auxiliary precautions is to divide and separate power among government institutions. They serve as a system of checks and balances to ensure that one branch of government does not attain too much power.
Example Question #1 : Separation Of Powers
According to the Constitution, who was given specific authority to declare war?
the Senate only
the Supreme Court
Congress
national convention
the President
Congress
As part of the checks and balances and separation of powers, the Founders, wanted war-making decision making to rest with Congress, the body that represents the people. That way, war would not be waged at the whim of an executive.
Example Question #1 : Separation Of Powers
The Constitution gives the power over the nation’s armed forces to the
Supreme Court
President
General of the Army
Congress
Secretary of Defense
President
As part of the separation of powers, ultimate authority over the military was to be given to the president. That way, the military would always be subordinated to civilian authority.
Example Question #92 : Ap Us Government
Which clause provides that the Constitution shall be the supreme law of the land?
supremacy
necessary and process
full faith and credit
primary
due process
supremacy
Article VI of the constitution outlines that the constitution, treaties made, and laws of congress shall be the supreme law of the land. This clause ensures that state and local governments recognize the supremacy of the constitution and national law.
Example Question #1 : Separation Of Powers
Which of the following is not one of Congress’s economic powers, as established by the Constitution?
The power to manage interstate and international trade
The power to pass taxes
The power to grant freedom to runaway slaves
The power to issue and value money
The power to grant freedom to runaway slaves
Unfortunately, the Constitution upheld the practice of slavery. One of the key ways in which this was accomplished was the mandates placed on both Congress and the individual state governments to return any captured runaway slaves to their owners; granting freedom to a slave was seen as depriving the owner of the income that the slave’s labor would provide. The Constitution was especially concerned with creating and maintaining a strong national economy, and so Congress’s various economic powers were clearly defined within the document. Among other provisions, Congress was empowered to issue and value money, to pass taxes, to regulate interstate (between two or more states) and international commerce, to govern bankruptcy proceedings, to guard copyrights and patents, and to prosecute any counterfeiters and/or pirates.
Example Question #93 : Ap Us Government
Which of the following officials hold office for life or until retirement?
Secretary of State
The President
Senator
Supreme Court justice
Speaker of the House
Supreme Court justice
Supreme Court Justices are the only officials that serve for life. This was based on the idea that judicial decisions should be free of political influence, therefore a justice does not fear political reprisals for making controversial decisions.
Example Question #94 : Ap Us Government
Before the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified, how were senators selected?
By state governors
By state convention
By the president
Direct election
By state legislatures
By state legislatures
The Senate was to be the house of wisdom. Therefore, the political elites of different states would choose among themselves who had the political capacity and experience to serve in the Senate.
Example Question #1 : Separation Of Powers
Which of the following is a congressional check on the president?
Congress can pardon persons convicted by federal courts
Congress can declare laws unconstitutional
Congress can nominate judges
The speaker of the house can act as supreme military leader in cases of emergency
Congress can refuse to ratify treaties
Congress can refuse to ratify treaties
According to the constitution, the president has the power to negotiate treaties, but ultimately, they must be approved by the senate. Only the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional and all other powers listed are reserved to the executive.
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