All of the residents of Austin want the U.S. government to help widen the city’s highways. They ask their local member of the House of Representatives for help. What principle of the U.S. Constitution does that reflect?

A. Checks and balances
Incorrect. The citizens are expressing their wishes through an elected representative. That’s republicanism. It might also have been popular sovereignty, where the people are expressing their wishes, but that wasn’t an answer choice.

B. Republicanism
Correct! The citizens are expressing their wishes through an elected representative. That’s republicanism. It might also have been popular sovereignty, where the people are expressing their wishes, but that wasn’t an answer choice.

C. Individual Rights
Incorrect. The citizens are expressing their wishes through an elected representative. That’s republicanism. It might also have been popular sovereignty, where the people are expressing their wishes, but that wasn’t an answer choice.

D. Limited Government
Incorrect. The citizens are expressing their wishes through an elected representative. That’s republicanism. It might also have been popular sovereignty, where the people are expressing their wishes, but that wasn’t an answer choice.

Which excerpt from the Constitution best shows the principle of limited government?

A. “No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.”
Correct! This passage shows that Congress cannot make a bill of attainder or ex post facto law. That is a limitation on Congressional power.

B. "This Constitution. . . shall be the supreme Law of the Land."
Incorrect. This excerpt is from the Supremacy Clause, establishing the Constitution as the highest law in the U.S. Limited government means that the government has defined powers and that there are some things the government cannot do.

C. "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”
Incorrect. This excerpt is from the 14th Amendment, establishing who is a U.S. citizen. Limited government means that the government has defined powers and that there are some things the government cannot do.

D. "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States."
Incorrect. This excerpt is from Article II, establishing the presidency. Limited government means that the government has defined powers and that there are some things the government cannot do. This excerpt implies the opposite, putting the president in charge of the military.

Which of the following is a check on the power of the president?

A. The ability to negotiate treaties
Incorrect. The ability to negotiate treaties is a power of the president. When the president vetoes a law, he or she can be overridden by a vote of two-thirds of Congress. That is a check on presidential power.

B. The ability to veto laws
Incorrect. The ability to veto laws is a power of the president. When the president vetoes a law, he or she can be overridden by a vote of two-thirds of Congress. That is a check on presidential power.

C. The power to override a veto
Correct! When the president vetoes a law, he or she can be overridden by a vote of two-thirds of Congress. That is a check on presidential power.

D. The power to nominate judges
Incorrect. The ability to appoint judges is a power of the president. When the president vetoes a law, he or she can be overridden by a vote of two-thirds of Congress. That is a check on presidential power.

"The federal and State governments are in fact but different agents and trustees of the people, constituted with different powers, and designed for different purposes."

--James Madison, Federalist #46

The above excerpt demonstrates one view of what principle of the U.S. Constitution?

A. Individual Rights
Incorrect. The passage highlights the different role of federal and state governments, which is federalism.

B. Separation of Powers
Incorrect. The passage highlights the different role of federal and state governments, which is federalism.

C. Federalism
Correct! The passage highlights the different role of federal and state governments, which is federalism.

D. Checks and Balances
Incorrect. The passage highlights the different role of federal and state governments, which is federalism.

The creation of Social Security, which is not an enumerated power of Congress, required the government to invoke which clause to “stretch” its power?

A. The commander-in-chief clause
Incorrect. The ability to create all laws “necessary and proper” to execute its other powers has allowed Congress to expand the role of the federal government and create programs like Social Security.

B. The pursuit of happiness clause
Incorrect. The ability to create all laws “necessary and proper” to execute its other powers has allowed Congress to expand the role of the federal government and create programs like Social Security.

C. The popular sovereignty exception clause
Incorrect. The ability to create all laws “necessary and proper” to execute its other powers has allowed Congress to expand the role of the federal government and create programs like Social Security.

D. The necessary and proper clause
Correct! The ability to create all laws “necessary and proper” to execute its other powers has allowed Congress to expand the role of the federal government and create programs like Social Security.