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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What kind of political thought was flourishing in the 1770s in America?
(a) Radical political thought.
(b) Conservative political thought.
(c) Aristocratic political thought.
(d) Practical political thought.

2. What were opponents of the resolution that was ultimately adopted afraid of?
(a) That foreign countries would be able to divide and conquer.
(b) That the federal government would become too powerful.
(c) That trade would be stifled.
(d) That the states would gain too much independence.

3. What did George Mason argue in the debate of June 4?
(a) He argued against a unified executive.
(b) He argued for an elected executive.
(c) He argued for a unified executive.
(d) He argued for an appointed executive.

4. Where did Mr. Sherman say election should take place?
(a) Among sitting representatives.
(b) In the Electoral College.
(c) In the popular polls.
(d) In the state legislatures.

5. What did James Madison recommend for the appointment of Supreme Court Justices?
(a) That judges should be elected.
(b) That judges should be appointed for seven-year terms.
(c) That appointments be susceptible to two-thirds vote override by the Congress.
(d) That appointments be beyond contest.

6. Why did many delegates support one resolution to this question?
(a) To limit the independence of the federal government.
(b) To avoid dissension.
(c) To reduce the federal government's power.
(d) To cater to the states' needs.

7. What were the delegates' intentions when they argued for election of Senators from state legislatures?
(a) Improving upon the process by which the people were represented.
(b) Raising the Senate above popular opinion.
(c) Insulating the federal government from individuals in the states.
(d) Creating a check against popular democracy.

8. Which form of government includes direct voting by the people?
(a) Constitutional monarchy.
(b) Representative democracy.
(c) Republic.
(d) Oligarchy.

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

10. How would government service be seen if government officers did not receive salaries, in the opinion of the man who proposed this?
(a) As a duty.
(b) As a privilege.
(c) As a stepping stone.
(d) As an entitlement.

11. What did George Mason say he feared, in his argument on June 4?
(a) That government will not have enough funding.
(b) That government will degenerate into monarchy.
(c) That government will degenerate into a tool of businesses.
(d) That government will degenerate into mob rule.

12. Which form of government includes a king whose powers are limited by a statement of the laws?
(a) Representative democracy.
(b) Empire.
(c) Republic.
(d) Constitutional monarchy.

13. What did Randolph argue at the convention?
(a) That the Articles of Confederation were sufficient.
(b) That the states should be trusted with managing their own affairs.
(c) That the Constitution would need to stress diplomacy with foreign nations.
(d) That the government needs to be strong to serve its purposes.

14. What theory was flourishing in the 1770s in America?
(a) The theory of institutional design.
(b) The theory of evolution.
(c) The theory of free trade and open markets.
(d) The theory of intelligent design.

15. What was the benefit of adopting the resolution that was ultimately adopted?
(a) It allowed the federal government to be effective.
(b) It resolved decades of inter-state tension.
(c) It created a need for a lot of inter-state lawsuits.
(d) It weakened the Articles of Confederation and gave the states more power.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Madison stress in his letter to George Washington?

2. What was Mr. Wilson's feeling about the compromise?

3. What did Madison say the country needed, in his letter to George Washington?

4. What did Mr. Hamilton argue during the debate over the length of Senatorial term-lengths?

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

(see the answer keys)

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