3A.1.2 Key features of the US Constitution Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Politics, Unit 3

The 20 questions

1. Which political system divides power between the national government and individual state governments?

   • Unitary system
   • Confederation
   • Federalism
   • Separation of powers

2. Which principle divides US government responsibilities into legislative, executive, and judicial branches?

   • Bicameralism
   • Federalism
   • Checks and balances
   • Separation of powers

3. Which power allows the US President to reject legislation passed by Congress?

   • Veto
   • Filibuster
   • Executive order
   • Pardon

4. What congressional vote majority is required to override a presidential veto?

   • Two-thirds
   • Three-fifths
   • Simple majority
   • Three-quarters

5. Which judicial body holds the ultimate authority to declare laws unconstitutional?

   • House of Representatives
   • Senate
   • Supreme Court
   • President

6. Which 1803 Supreme Court landmark case established the power of judicial review?

   • Marbury v Madison
   • McCulloch v Maryland
   • Plessy v Ferguson
   • Brown v Board

7. Which constitutional principle gives each branch of government powers to limit the other branches?

   • Checks and balances
   • Popular sovereignty
   • Separation of powers
   • Federalism

8. Which Senate power acts as a key constitutional check on executive appointments?

   • Executive order
   • Power of purse
   • Legislative veto
   • Advice and consent

9. Which structural feature of the US Congress demonstrates the principle of bicameralism?

   • Fifty state legislatures
   • One executive office
   • Three government branches
   • Two legislative chambers

10. Which type of constitutional power is explicitly granted to the federal government?

    • Implied powers
    • Enumerated powers
    • Concurrent powers
    • Reserved powers

11. What mechanism has most expanded federal power over traditional state policy areas?

    • State referendums
    • Executive pardons
    • Judicial filibusters
    • Federal mandates

12. What constitutionally divides power between a national government and regional states?

    • Federal system
    • Unitary system
    • Confederal system
    • Autocratic system

13. Which constitutional check can Congress use against Supreme Court justices?

    • Impeachment
    • Judicial review
    • Executive order
    • Presidential pardon

14. Which constitutional clause allows Congress to stretch its enumerated powers to govern effectively?

    • Supremacy Clause
    • Commerce Clause
    • Elastic Clause
    • Takings Clause

15. What political feature frequently causes legislative gridlock within the US constitutional checks and balances?

    • Party polarisation
    • Judicial restraint
    • Direct democracy
    • Executive privilege

16. Which concept describes federalism with a clear constitutional division between distinct federal and state spheres?

    • New federalism
    • Dual federalism
    • Creative federalism
    • Cooperative federalism

17. Which term describes federalism where national and state governments share responsibilities and policy funding?

    • Devolution
    • Cooperative federalism
    • Coercive federalism
    • Dual federalism

18. Which policy area remains primarily controlled by individual US states under reserved powers?

    • Currency printing
    • Law enforcement
    • Foreign policy
    • Treaty ratification

19. What potential disadvantage of federalism can lead to unequal civil rights protections across the US?

    • Federal tyranny
    • Hyper-partisanship
    • National gridlock
    • Regional inequality

20. Which constitutional amendment reserves ungranted powers to the states or the people?

    • Fourteenth Amendment
    • Tenth Amendment
    • Fifth Amendment
    • First Amendment

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