PSC American Government and Institutions 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The U.S. Constitution establishes a system of 'checks and balances.' Which of the following is an example of the legislative branch checking the executive?
- The Supreme Court striking down a law as unconstitutional
- Congress overriding a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority (Correct answer)
- The president nominating federal judges
- The Senate confirming Supreme Court justices
Correct answer: Congress overriding a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority
Congress can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds majority in both chambers, checking executive power over legislation.
Question 2: What is the purpose of the Electoral College in U.S. presidential elections?
- To conduct exit polls and verify election results
- To formally elect the president and vice president through state-allocated electors (Correct answer)
- To review the constitutionality of election laws
- To certify that candidates meet eligibility requirements
Correct answer: To formally elect the president and vice president through state-allocated electors
The Electoral College is the body of electors, allocated by state based on congressional representation, that formally elects the president and vice president of the United States.
Question 3: Which principle established in Marbury v. Madison (1803) gives the Supreme Court the power to invalidate laws that violate the Constitution?
- Executive privilege
- Judicial review (Correct answer)
- Habeas corpus
- Due process
Correct answer: Judicial review
Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review, asserting the Supreme Court's authority to declare laws unconstitutional and void.
Question 4: In the U.S. federal system, powers specifically assigned to the national government by the Constitution are called:
- Reserved powers
- Concurrent powers
- Enumerated (delegated) powers (Correct answer)
- Police powers
Correct answer: Enumerated (delegated) powers
Enumerated (also called delegated or expressed) powers are those explicitly listed in the Constitution as belonging to the federal government, such as coining money and regulating interstate commerce.
Question 5: The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects which of the following freedoms?
- The right to bear arms and quartering of soldiers
- Speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition (Correct answer)
- Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
- Rights of the accused in criminal proceedings
Correct answer: Speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, religion (free exercise and establishment clauses), press, peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government.
Question 6: What is 'federalism' as practiced in the United States?
- A system where the federal government holds all sovereign power
- A division of power between the national government and state governments (Correct answer)
- The dominance of the federal courts over state courts
- A system requiring unanimous agreement among states for policy changes
Correct answer: A division of power between the national government and state governments
American federalism divides sovereign power between the national (federal) government and the 50 state governments, each with their own spheres of authority.
PSC American Government and Institutions 1
The U.S.
Constitution establishes a system of 'checks and balances.' Which of the following is an example of the legislative branch checking the executive?