3.2.1.1 The constitutional framework of US government Quiz: AQA Politics, Unit 2

The 20 questions

1. When was the US Constitution drafted and adopted?

   • Drafted in 1803 and ratified in 1805
   • Drafted in 1776 and ratified in 1777
   • Drafted in 1865 and ratified in 1868
   • Drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1788

2. Which set of amendments makes up the Bill of Rights?

   • The twenty-second amendment, which limited presidential terms to two
   • The first five amendments, ratified in 1776
   • The thirteenth to fifteenth amendments, ratified after the Civil War
   • The first ten amendments, ratified in 1791

3. What does the principle of separation of powers mean in the US Constitution?

   • Power is held by the Supreme Court, which can overrule any decision of the other branches
   • Power is held entirely by the President, who delegates tasks to Congress and the courts
   • Power is shared equally between the states and the national government in all matters
   • Power is divided between the legislative, executive and judicial branches, each

4. What is the purpose of checks and balances?

   • Each branch can limit the actions of the others, preventing the concentration of power
   • Each branch is allowed to act without reference to the others, which speeds up decisions
   • Each state can veto federal laws it dislikes, so that all laws reflect state consensus
   • Each branch is restricted to one area of policy, so that no overlap ever occurs

5. What is federalism in the US system?

   • A system in which the Supreme Court sets policy for each state through its rulings
   • A system in which states can make treaties with foreign countries without federal approval
   • A system in which power is divided between the national government
   • A system in which all power is held by a single national government with no state role

6. How can the US Constitution be formally amended?

   • A simple majority in the House of Representatives, followed by a vote of the Senate
   • A proposal passed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, then ratified
   • A single vote of the President, who may then sign the amendment into law
   • A decision of the Supreme Court that is confirmed by a national referendum

7. Which statement about the US Constitution's amendment process is most accurate?

   • It is impossible, because the Constitution is designed to remain unchanged for all time
   • It is deliberately difficult, which helps explain why there have been relatively few amendments since the Bill of Rights
   • It requires approval by the Supreme Court in every case before it takes effect
   • It is simple, and amendments are passed every year by a simple majority in Congress

8. What do debates about the importance of the Constitution to contemporary government often focus on?

   • Whether the original text and its principles still shape how modern government works
   • Whether the Constitution should be replaced by a set of statutes passed each year by Congress
   • Whether the states should be abolished and replaced by a single national government
   • Whether the President should have the power to amend the Constitution without Congress

9. How does the Constitution protect civil liberties?

   • Through state laws that override any federal protection of individual rights
   • Through a national vote held every year on each individual right
   • Through the Bill of Rights and Supreme Court rulings that apply its protections
   • Through executive orders issued by the President without reference to any court

10. Which evaluation best supports the claim that federalism limits the power of the national government?

    • Federalism allows the Supreme Court to set aside any state constitution at will
    • Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states
    • Federalism gives the national government unlimited power over all matters of state law
    • Federalism means that states have no role in any aspect of national policy or law

11. Which description best matches a federal state relation example?

    • A state declaring war on a foreign country without any federal involvement
    • A state refusing to recognise any federal law passed by Congress in any circumstances
    • A state appointing justices to the Supreme Court in place of the Senate
    • A federal grant to a state that is conditional on the state meeting national requirements

12. What is the significance of the Supreme Court in protecting rights under the Constitution?

    • It can draft new amendments to the Constitution without any role for Congress or the states
    • It can interpret the Constitution and strike down laws that violate protected rights
    • It can remove the President from office for any policy the Court disagrees with
    • It can approve all state laws before they take effect, without any appeal

13. Which argument best supports the view that the Constitution is still central to US politics?

    • It has been largely replaced by statute, so its text has no effect on policy today
    • It has been superseded by Supreme Court rulings, which now make the Constitution irrelevant
    • Its framework governs institutions and rights
    • It applies only to the states and not to the federal government or its institutions

14. Which evaluation best supports the view that the amendment process is restrictive?

    • A simple majority in one house is enough to change any constitutional provision in the US
    • Amendments are made automatically each time the Supreme Court issues a landmark ruling
    • A two-thirds vote in both houses
    • Amendments can be made by the President alone, which makes the process very easy

15. Which statement about the relationship between federalism and rights is most accurate?

    • States are entirely free to ignore any constitutional right they choose, with no federal review
    • States may be required to protect rights that the national government has extended
    • Rights are determined by each state's governor alone, and courts have no role in them
    • Rights apply only at the federal level and never to the states under any circumstances

16. Which evaluation best assesses the statement that the Constitution is a living document?

    • Its text is updated every year by the President, so it has no fixed meaning at any time
    • Its brief text and amendment process require interpretation over time, which makes its meaning a matter of ongoing debate
    • Its text applies only to the Supreme Court and has no relevance to other branches or states
    • Its text has never required interpretation because every issue is settled in its wording

17. Which claim about the Constitution's origin and purpose is most accurate?

    • It was designed to give Congress unlimited power to create new states at will
    • It was designed to create a national framework with separated powers
    • It was designed as a temporary document that was intended to be replaced within a decade
    • It was designed to make the President the head of the states, with no separation of powers

18. Which principle divides power between a national government and the state governments?

    • Constitutional convention
    • Parliamentary sovereignty
    • Judicial restraint
    • Federalism

19. Which constitutional principle is illustrated by the President's veto of a bill passed by Congress?

    • Collective responsibility
    • Enumerated federalism
    • Judicial activism
    • Checks and balances

20. Which statement about civil liberties under the US Constitution is most accurate?

    • They are protected through the Bill of Rights
    • They are protected only by the President through executive orders issued each year
    • They are protected only by state constitutions, and not by the federal Constitution at all
    • They are protected only by a national vote held in every state on each liberty

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