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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did the New Jersey Plan resolve the question of the relationship of state laws to federal laws?
(a) It gave the states priority in matters of trade, but the federal government priority in military matters.
(b) State laws could still take precedence.
(c) The Supreme Court would decide on a state-by-state basis which laws took precedence.
(d) Congressional laws were still the law of the land.

2. Why did delegates argue that Senators should be elected in state legislatures?
(a) The House of Representatives would be counter-balanced.
(b) The government would be composed of professional politicians.
(c) The states would therefore have an interest in preserving the federal government.
(d) The state legislatures would thereby gain power against the federal government.

3. What was the dominant fear about the executive?
(a) The power to impose taxes.
(b) The power to regulate trade.
(c) The power to go to war.
(d) The power to appoint judges.

4. What did Mr. Mason propose in his arguments of June 4?
(a) That the executive be chosen in popular elections.
(b) That there be two executives, like Roman consuls.
(c) That the executive be appointed by Congress.
(d) That there be an executive for each region.

5. What kind of representation did James Madison advocate?
(a) Representation by state.
(b) Representation by person.
(c) Representation by revenue.
(d) Representation by state size.

6. How many branches of government did Mr. Madison propose be elected?
(a) Three.
(b) At least one.
(c) Two.
(d) He proposed that all government positions should be elected.

7. What plan did James Madison favor?
(a) A federal plan.
(b) A state-centric plan.
(c) A diplomatic plan.
(d) An isolationist plan.

8. What did Madison say the country needed, in his letter to George Washington?
(a) A central coordinating committee.
(b) A charismatic leader.
(c) A dispassionate umpire.
(d) Short presidential terms.

9. Which bodies were the delegates considering as electors of Representatives in the House?
(a) Property owners or free men.
(b) The people or state legislatures.
(c) State legislatures or the national senate.
(d) Special committees or state legislatures.

10. What did Gouverneur Morris argue concerning the question of whether the executive should be chosen by the legislature?
(a) He argued that the executive should be elected by the Congress.
(b) He argued that the executive should be appointed by the Senate.
(c) He argued that the executive should be elected by the people.
(d) He argued that the executive should be appointed by the Supreme Court.

11. What reason did Mr. Mason give for the view he presented at the convention?
(a) The people could not be trusted to govern themselves.
(b) The populace needed power but they also needed to be checked.
(c) Democracy was dangerous for a country without precedents.
(d) Representation should be the one fully democratic part of government.

12. Alexander Hamilton gave a speech that expressed what value?
(a) The value of a strong federal government.
(b) The value of independent states.
(c) The value of abolishing slavery.
(d) The value of low tariffs.

13. What did William Paterson offer the convention?
(a) The Great Compromise.
(b) The New Jersey Plan.
(c) The Virginia Plan.
(d) The Missouri Compromise.

14. What did all the delegates at the federal convention agree on?
(a) The rights of a king.
(b) The importance of a strong central government.
(c) Laissez-faire economic policy.
(d) Government by consent.

15. What was the objection to democracy at the constitutional convention?
(a) The problems with devising a scheme of representation.
(b) The threat of mob rule.
(c) The danger of foreign influence.
(d) The threat of concentrated executive power.

Short Answer Questions

1. What must the government use its power to protect the people from, in James Madison's opinion?

2. What deliberative body created a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?

3. What thoughts did Mr. Wilson express at the convention?

4. What thoughts did Mr. Madison express on the topic of elections during debate at the convention?

5. Where did James Madison argue government legitimacy came from?

(see the answer keys)

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