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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where did James Madison argue government legitimacy came from?
(a) The power of the government.
(b) The political process itself.
(c) Consent of the governed.
(d) The righteousness of laws.

2. Which form of government includes a representative government without hereditary privilege?
(a) Republic.
(b) Representative democracy.
(c) Constitutional monarchy.
(d) Oligarchy.

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

4. Where did Mr. Gerry think the country's current troubles came from?
(a) Too little representation in government.
(b) Too little religion.
(c) Too much democracy.
(d) Too much foreign influence.

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

6. What was the objection to constitutional monarchy at the constitutional convention?
(a) The Americans' distaste following the war.
(b) The threat of tyranny of the masses.
(c) The possibility of a runaway executive.
(d) The threat of mob rule.

7. What did Edmund Randolph present to the delegates?
(a) Articles of Confederation.
(b) The Virginia Plan.
(c) The Great Compromise.
(d) The New Jersey Plan.

8. Who proposed that government officers not receive salaries?
(a) Benjamin Franklin.
(b) George Washington.
(c) James Madison.
(d) Alexander Hamilton.

9. 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 appointed by the Senate.
(b) He argued that the executive should be appointed by the Supreme Court.
(c) He argued that the executive should be elected by the people.
(d) He argued that the executive should be elected by the Congress.

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

11. What did the delegates argue concerning the question of whether the judiciary should be able to veto legislation?
(a) That the executive would thereby attain control over the legislature through the judiciary.
(b) That the judiciary would thereby acquire legislative power.
(c) That the judiciary would become the most powerful branch of government.
(d) That the executive would be rendered powerless.

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

13. What were Americans concluding by the 1780s?
(a) That the federal executive was too weak.
(b) That representation could have been earned without warfare.
(c) That there was too much power in the federal government.
(d) That mercantile colonialism had been a working model before the revolution.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What reason did Mr. Mason give for the view he presented at the convention?

2. What complaints were lodged against the proposal to elect Senators in state legislatures?

3. What reason did delegates give for Senators being elected in state legislatures?

4. What did the Virginia Plan propose to do to the Articles?

5. Where should budget bills start, according to the compromise?

(see the answer keys)

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