FINAL EXAM: PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY
  • 1. A legislature is
A) a group of people who have the right to vote
B) a group of people who support tyranny
C) a group of people elected to create charters
D) a group of people chosen to make laws
  • 2. Freedom of the press
A) allowed everything except criticizing the government
B) led to John Peter Zenger's arrest
C) meant that newspapers had to print the truth
D) did not exist under English Law
  • 3. The idea of direct democracy came from
A) ancient Athens
B) colonial newspapers
C) the Magna Carta
D) Roman Law
  • 4. Tyranny refers to
A) a strong central government
B) a powerful monarchy
C) a government controlled by citizens
D) a government that abuses its power
  • 5. Madison's plan for government
A) was especially popular with the smaller states
B) was rejected almost immediately
C) seemed too weak to many delegates
D) created a strong central government
  • 6. The Great Compromise
A) established a two-house legislature
B) showed the weaknesses of the Constitutional Convention
C) won by a huge majority of the votes at the Constitutional Convention
D) was never adopted by the delegates
  • 7. In order the the Constitution to go into effect it had to be approved by
A) at least nine state conventions
B) the Continental Congress
C) a least nine state legislatures
D) The President
  • 8. Under federalism
A) state and federal governments have completely different powers.
B) the states can check the power of the federal government.
C) state and federal governments have some shared and some separate powers
D) the federal government decides what powers the states have
  • 9. Separation of powers means that
A) state and federal governments have different powers.
B) the judicial branch decides the powers of the other branches.
C) power is divided among the three branches of government.
D) each branch can limit the powers of the other branches.
  • 10. People who take "the fifth"
A) are admitting their guilt.
B) have to tell the truth even if it will send them to jail.
C) are using their constitutional right to remain silent.
D) misunderstand the Constitution.
  • 11. In the Tinker case, the Supreme Court ruled that
A) armbands may be regulated by a school principal.
B) schools are not places for political demonstrations.
C) political armbands disrupt classes and may not be worn.
D) armbands are a form of speech protected by the First Amendment.
  • 12. The 13th Amendment
A) made African Americans citizens of the states in which they lived.
B) gave African American men the right to vote.
C) was overturned by a later amendment.
D) abolished slavery.
  • 13. The 14th Amendment
A) abolished slavery.
B) gave citizenship to African Americans born in the United States.
C) gave African American men the right to vote.
D) was found unconstitutional.
  • 14. The 15th Amendment
A) made African Americans citizens of the states in which they lived. B. made segregation illegal.
B) gave African American men the right to vote.
C) abolished slavery.
D) made segregation illegal.
  • 15. The 24th Amendment
A) gave African Americans equal protection of the laws.
B) declared that citizens do not have to pay a tax to vote.
C) has not yet been passed.
D) gave African American women the right to vote.
  • 16. Women gained suffrage
A) from the 23rd Amendment
B) from the 24th Amendment
C) from the Bill of Rights
D) from the 19th Amendment
  • 17. The Twenty-sixth Amendment granted the right to vote to
A) immigrants
B) people between 18 and 21 years of age.
C) all women
D) African American Women
  • 18. The amendments to the Constitution are evidence that the Constitution
A) is finally perfect
B) gives people too much power
C) is flexible
D) changes only in wartime
  • 19. The Supreme Court
A) can change the Constitution.
B) cannot overturn its earlier decisions.
C) has the final say over whether a law is constitutional.
D) must be obeyed except by the President.
  • 20. Which statement does NOT describe what the colonists usually meant by religious freedom?
A) Non-Christians would be free to practice their religions.
B) Colonists could disagree with the Anglican church.
C) People could belong to any Christian church.
D) People would not be punished for joining the Presbyterian church.
  • 21. The Magna Carta is still important today because
A) it was an important step toward establishing rights that no government can take away.
B) it lists the rights of England’s kings and queens.
C) it still protects the English nobles.
D) it is England’s constitution.
  • 22. Which was NOT a reason for revising the Articles of Confederation?
A) Congress could not enforce the laws.
B) Congress could not tax.
C) Congress could not settle disputes between states.
D) Congress had already agreed on a new form of government.
  • 23. On the question of the slave trade, the delegates
A) agreed to end it in 1808.
B) agreed that each state should end it by 1808.
C) agreed that the national government could not end it before 1808.
D) could not reach agreement.
  • 24. Which of the following is NOT a goal set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution?
A) to create a bicameral legislature
B) to promote the general welfare
C) to establish justice
D) to provide for the common defense
  • 25. The main argument in favor of the Bill of Rights was that it would
A) make the Constitution more like the Magna Carta.
B) win more public support for the new government.
C) limit the constitutional powers of the federal government.
D) test whether the amendment process worked.
  • 26. All of the following are true about the powers of state government EXCEPT
A) none are shared with the national government.
B) they are part of the compromise called federalism.
C) the U.S. Constitution does not specifically list them.
D) states alone have the power to set up public school systems.
  • 27. State constitutions
A) are less detailed than the national Constitution.
B) were models for the national Constitution.
C) usually do not include a bill of rights.
D) cannot be amended.
  • 28. A common argument for strong state governments is that, compared to the federal government, they are
A) less corrupt.
B) better able to solve problems involving many states.
C) better able to serve their citizens’ needs.
D) more likely to provide equal opportunities.
  • 29. Seats in state legislatures are apportioned on the basis of the
A) needs of the districts.
B) area of the districts.
C) wealth of the districts.
D) population of the districts.
  • 30. One main difference between state legislatures and Congress is that
A) citizens in some states can propose and pass laws.
B) state legislators are appointed by the governor.
C) state legislatures cannot propose constitutional amendments.
D) all state legislators are volunteers.
  • 31. Most state tax revenue comes from
A) property and income taxes.
B) sales and excise taxes.
C) excise and property taxes.
D) income and sales taxes.
  • 32. The greatest source of executive power is the governor’s
A) power to change the state constitution.
B) budget-making role.
C) power to enforce laws.
D) role as commander in chief of the National Guard.
  • 33. Local governments are created by
A) the local voters.
B) the U.S. Constitution.
C) the state government.
D) a board of supervisors.
  • 34. The weak-mayor plan
A) is one type of commission plan.
B) gives executive power to the city manager.
C) requires direct election of the mayor by voters.
D) gives both legislative and executive power to a council.
  • 35. Local governments spend the most money on
A) jails
B) roads
C) schools
D) parks
  • 36. Education is paid for by
A) local, state, and federal governments.
B) local governments.
C) local government and the federal government.
D) state governments.
  • 37. Zoning is the power of local government to
A) divide power among city, state, and federal governments.
B) provide for public safety.
C) make rules for land use.
D) make sure that restaurants meet health standards.
  • 38. A job of the local planning commission is to
A) attract new businesses to a community.
B) set a city’s spending goals.
C) decide what form of government a city should have.
D) set goals for land use.
  • 39. To pay for the services they provide, local governments
A) dependentirelyonpropertytaxes.
B) can never collect income taxes
C) can collect any taxes they want.
D) depend on state and federal funds.
  • 40. Which is NOT a way that local governments cooperate?
A) building hospitals
B) providing emergency services
C) operating jails
D) combining their city councils
  • 41. Local, state, and federal governments disagree about all of the following EXCEPT
A) who will decide what kinds of services to provide.
B) that no one level of government can meet all citizens’ needs.
C) how to spend grant money.
D) how to spend grant money.
  • 42. The governors in many states have less power than the President to
A) make the budget.
B) influence lawmaking.
C) appoint top executive branch officials.
D) veto bills.
  • 43. The first unit of local government to form in the colonies was the
A) city
B) county
C) special district
D) township
  • 44. Capital includes
A) tools and factories.
B) time and energy
C) soil, minerals, and water.
D) knowledge and skills.
  • 45. In a market economy, economic choices are NOT affected by
A) central parking
B) profit seeking
C) competition
D) bargaining
  • 46. Most economic systems of the world today are
A) traditional economies
B) command economies
C) mixed economies.
D) market economies
  • 47. A command economy is
A) not based on choices.
B) largely based on choices made by producers and consumers.
C) able to meet all the wants of its people.
D) largely based on choices made by the government.
  • 48. The economy of the United States is
A) able to meet all the wants of its people.
B) largely based on choices made by producers and consumers.
C) not based on choices.
D) largely based on choices made by the government.
  • 49. Which of the following steps is NOT part of the circular flow of economic activity?
A) Consumers pay money for goods.
B) Producers sell goods for money.
C) Union members strike for higher wages.
D) Individuals work for wages.
  • 50. According to the law of demand, when the price of a commodity goes up
A) people will usually buy less of it.
B) the supply curve will slope down.
C) the demand curve will slope up.
D) people will usually buy more of it.
  • 51. According to the law of supply, when the price of a good goes up
A) producers will want to make less of it.
B) the demand curve will slope up.
C) the supply curve will slope down.
D) producers will want to make more of it.
  • 52. People who start a business take a risk in return for
A) the hope of earning a profit.
B) money borrowed from the bank.
C) rent, wages, and interest.
D) goods and services.
  • 53. Entrepreneurs are important in a market economy because they
A) make decisions about who should get goods and services.
B) keep corporations from getting too large.
C) take risks to start new businesses.
D) provide interest on investments.
  • 54. The major costs of running a business usually include
A) wages, rent, and interest.
B) shares of stock.
C) profit.
D) the market price.
  • 55. Most products, profits, and jobs in the United States are created by
A) sole proprietorships
B) stockholders
C) corporations
D) partnerships
  • 56. American workers formed labor unions because
A) they wanted control over working conditions
B) immigrants were taking their jobs.
C) their jobs required special skills.
D) they needed work.
  • 57. When unions and employers meet to reach agreement on wages and working conditions, it is called
A) a sit-down strike.
B) strikebreaking.
C) collective bargaining
D) a boycott.
  • 58. Labor unions have played a key role in bringing about all of the following gains EXCEPT
A) minimum wage laws.
B) laws protecting the safety of workers.
C) the shift from a manufacturing to a service economy.
D) banning child labor.
  • 59. Workers have a basic conflict with employers because
A) Employers want to keep costs high.
B) Workers want to keep profits high.
C) Employers want to increase profits
D) Workers want to limit wages.
  • 60. The first steps in learning how to manage your money include all of the following EXCEPT
A) understanding your income.
B) knowing what your expenses will be.
C) understanding stocks.
D) knowing what your goals and values are
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