FINAL EXAM: PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY

1. A legislature is

A) a group of people who support tyranny
B) a group of people who have the right to vote
C) a group of people chosen to make laws
D) a group of people elected to create charters

2. Freedom of the press

A) did not exist under English Law
B) led to John Peter Zenger's arrest
C) allowed everything except criticizing the government
D) meant that newspapers had to print the truth

3. The idea of direct democracy came from

A) ancient Athens
B) the Magna Carta
C) colonial newspapers
D) Roman Law

4. Tyranny refers to

A) a government controlled by citizens
B) a strong central government
C) a powerful monarchy
D) a government that abuses its power

5. Madison's plan for government

A) created a strong central government
B) seemed too weak to many delegates
C) was especially popular with the smaller states
D) was rejected almost immediately

6. The Great Compromise

A) showed the weaknesses of the Constitutional Convention
B) was never adopted by the delegates
C) established a two-house legislature
D) won by a huge majority of the votes at the Constitutional Convention

7. In order the the Constitution to go into effect it had to be approved by

A) a least nine state legislatures
B) the Continental Congress
C) The President
D) at least nine state conventions

8. Under federalism

A) state and federal governments have some shared and some separate powers
B) state and federal governments have completely different powers.
C) the federal government decides what powers the states have
D) the states can check the power of the federal government.

9. Separation of powers means that

A) each branch can limit the powers of the other branches.
B) power is divided among the three branches of government.
C) the judicial branch decides the powers of the other branches.
D) state and federal governments have different powers.

10. People who take "the fifth"

A) misunderstand the Constitution.
B) have to tell the truth even if it will send them to jail.
C) are admitting their guilt.
D) are using their constitutional right to remain silent.

11. In the Tinker case, the Supreme Court ruled that

A) political armbands disrupt classes and may not be worn.
B) armbands may be regulated by a school principal.
C) schools are not places for political demonstrations.
D) armbands are a form of speech protected by the First Amendment.

12. The 13th Amendment

A) gave African American men the right to vote.
B) made African Americans citizens of the states in which they lived.
C) abolished slavery.
D) was overturned by a later amendment.

13. The 14th Amendment

A) abolished slavery.
B) gave African American men the right to vote.
C) was found unconstitutional.
D) gave citizenship to African Americans born in the United States.

14. The 15th Amendment

A) made segregation illegal.
B) abolished slavery.
C) gave African American men the right to vote.
D) made African Americans citizens of the states in which they lived. B. made segregation illegal.

15. The 24th Amendment

A) has not yet been passed.
B) gave African Americans equal protection of the laws.
C) declared that citizens do not have to pay a tax to vote.
D) gave African American women the right to vote.

16. Women gained suffrage

A) from the 19th Amendment
B) from the 24th Amendment
C) from the 23rd Amendment
D) from the Bill of Rights

17. The Twenty-sixth Amendment granted the right to vote to

A) immigrants
B) all women
C) people between 18 and 21 years of age.
D) African American Women

18. The amendments to the Constitution are evidence that the Constitution

A) changes only in wartime
B) gives people too much power
C) is finally perfect
D) is flexible

19. The Supreme Court

A) must be obeyed except by the President.
B) can change the Constitution.
C) cannot overturn its earlier decisions.
D) has the final say over whether a law is constitutional.

20. Which statement does NOT describe what the colonists usually meant by religious freedom?

A) People could belong to any Christian church.
B) Non-Christians would be free to practice their religions.
C) Colonists could disagree with the Anglican 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 still protects the English nobles.
C) it lists the rights of England’s kings and queens.
D) it is England’s constitution.

22. Which was NOT a reason for revising the Articles of Confederation?

A) Congress had already agreed on a new form of government.
B) Congress could not settle disputes between states.
C) Congress could not enforce the laws.
D) Congress could not tax.

23. On the question of the slave trade, the delegates

A) could not reach agreement.
B) agreed that the national government could not end it before 1808.
C) agreed to end it in 1808.
D) agreed that each state should end it by 1808.

24. Which of the following is NOT a goal set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution?

A) to establish justice
B) to create a bicameral legislature
C) to provide for the common defense
D) to promote the general welfare

25. The main argument in favor of the Bill of Rights was that it would

A) test whether the amendment process worked.
B) win more public support for the new government.
C) make the Constitution more like the Magna Carta.
D) limit the constitutional powers of the federal government.

26. All of the following are true about the powers of state government EXCEPT

A) states alone have the power to set up public school systems.
B) the U.S. Constitution does not specifically list them.
C) none are shared with the national government.
D) they are part of the compromise called federalism.

27. State constitutions

A) are less detailed than the national Constitution.
B) cannot be amended.
C) were models for the national Constitution.
D) usually do not include a bill of rights.

28. A common argument for strong state governments is that, compared to the federal government, they are

A) better able to solve problems involving many states.
B) better able to serve their citizens’ needs.
C) more likely to provide equal opportunities.
D) less corrupt.

29. Seats in state legislatures are apportioned on the basis of the

A) area of the districts.
B) needs 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) state legislators are appointed by the governor.
B) all state legislators are volunteers.
C) state legislatures cannot propose constitutional amendments.
D) citizens in some states can propose and pass laws.

31. Most state tax revenue comes from

A) sales and excise taxes.
B) property and income taxes.
C) excise and property taxes.
D) income and sales taxes.

32. The greatest source of executive power is the governor’s

A) role as commander in chief of the National Guard.
B) budget-making role.
C) power to change the state constitution.
D) power to enforce laws.

33. Local governments are created by

A) a board of supervisors.
B) the local voters.
C) the U.S. Constitution.
D) the state government.

34. The weak-mayor plan

A) is one type of commission plan.
B) requires direct election of the mayor by voters.
C) gives both legislative and executive power to a council.
D) gives executive power to the city manager.

35. Local governments spend the most money on

A) jails
B) parks
C) schools
D) roads

36. Education is paid for by

A) local government and the federal government.
B) state governments.
C) local, state, and federal governments.
D) local governments.

37. Zoning is the power of local government to

A) provide for public safety.
B) divide power among city, state, and federal governments.
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) set goals for land use.
B) set a city’s spending goals.
C) decide what form of government a city should have.
D) attract new businesses to a community.

39. To pay for the services they provide, local governments

A) can never collect income taxes
B) depend on state and federal funds.
C) can collect any taxes they want.
D) dependentirelyonpropertytaxes.

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) how to spend grant money.
B) who will decide what kinds of services to provide.
C) that no one level of government can meet all citizens’ needs.
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) veto bills.
D) appoint top executive branch officials.

43. The first unit of local government to form in the colonies was the

A) township
B) county
C) special district
D) city

44. Capital includes

A) tools and factories.
B) knowledge and skills.
C) time and energy
D) soil, minerals, and water.

45. In a market economy, economic choices are NOT affected by

A) profit seeking
B) competition
C) central parking
D) bargaining

46. Most economic systems of the world today are

A) command economies
B) traditional 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) largely based on choices made by producers and consumers.
B) able to meet all the wants of its people.
C) largely based on choices made by the government.
D) not based on choices.

49. Which of the following steps is NOT part of the circular flow of economic activity?

A) Union members strike for higher wages.
B) Producers sell goods for money.
C) Individuals work for wages.
D) Consumers pay money for goods.

50. According to the law of demand, when the price of a commodity goes up

A) people will usually buy more of it.
B) the supply curve will slope down.
C) people will usually buy less of it.
D) the demand curve will slope up.

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) rent, wages, and interest.
B) goods and services.
C) the hope of earning a profit.
D) money borrowed from the bank.

53. Entrepreneurs are important in a market economy because they

A) make decisions about who should get goods and services.
B) take risks to start new businesses.
C) keep corporations from getting too large.
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) corporations
B) stockholders
C) partnerships
D) sole proprietorships

56. American workers formed labor unions because

A) they wanted control over working conditions
B) they needed work.
C) immigrants were taking their jobs.
D) their jobs required special skills.

57. When unions and employers meet to reach agreement on wages and working conditions, it is called

A) strikebreaking.
B) a boycott.
C) a sit-down strike.
D) collective bargaining

58. Labor unions have played a key role in bringing about all of the following gains EXCEPT

A) the shift from a manufacturing to a service economy.
B) banning child labor.
C) laws protecting the safety of workers.
D) minimum wage laws.

59. Workers have a basic conflict with employers because

A) Workers want to keep profits high.
B) Employers want to increase profits
C) Workers want to limit wages.
D) Employers want to keep costs high.

60. The first steps in learning how to manage your money include all of the following EXCEPT

A) understanding stocks.
B) knowing what your goals and values are
C) understanding your income.
D) knowing what your expenses will be.

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