Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) Declaration of Independence
B) Articles of Confederation
C) US Constitution
D) New England Confederation
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) The abolishment of Magna Carta
B) The Stamp Act
C) Ratification of the Constitution
D) Independence from Great Britain
  • 3. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Constitution
B) delegates
C) New England Confederation
D) charter
  • 4. All of the following are principles of a democracy EXCEPT:
A) allowing people to make choices
B) promoting respect for the law
C) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
D) Providing justice without mercy
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) specified in footnotes to amendments
B) listed in the Bill of Rights
C) implied by the constitution
D) too complex to understand
  • 6. Under the Constitution's system of checks and balances, each branch of government can restrict the powers of the
A) other branches
B) cabinet
C) states
D) armed forces and the president
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) cabinet
B) Executive Branch
C) Legislative Branch
D) Judicial Branch
  • 8. The framers of the Constitution desired a national government that would do all of the following except
A) discourage concentration of power
B) decrease taxes
C) serve the public good
D) respect the rights of states
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) expressed powers
B) concurrent powers
C) inherent powers
D) reserved powers
  • 10. Allows Congress to stretch its authority in ways not specifically granted nor denied to it by the Constitution
A) Elastic Clause
B) Enabling act
C) extradition
D) Inherent Powers
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) PACs
B) constituents
C) appropriations
D) Aristocrats
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) govern the District of Columbia
B) regulate foreign trade
C) tax exports
D) borrow money
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) reserved powers
B) implied powers
C) inherent powers
D) expressed powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every 6 years
B) every 20 years
C) every 10 years
D) every year
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) popular vote
B) reprieve
C) plank
D) executive privilege
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) executive privilege
B) executive agreement
C) electoral college
D) Presidential succession
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) electoral college
B) caucuses
C) reprieve
D) party platform
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Executive agreement
B) Foreign Policy
C) Executive Vote
D) Diplomatic Policy
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) civil service system
B) executive orders
C) speaker's recommendations
D) Spoils system
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) lawyers
B) Secretaries
C) Government officials
D) Executive assistants
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Monarch is elected every four years.
B) Monarch may change the constitutution
C) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
D) Head of state is a hereditary position
  • 22. All of the following are central functions of a government EXCEPT
A) pursuing truth
B) resolving conflict
C) maintaining order
D) providing services
  • 23. Official Approval
A) none of these
B) boycott
C) reliable
D) ratify
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) prohibit
B) boycott
C) ratify
D) none of these
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Charter
B) Constitution
C) Confederation
D) none of these
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) Magna Carta
B) English Constitution
C) Declarations of independence
D) Magma Serta
  • 27. The Great Compromise concerned
A) The question of slavery in the States
B) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
C) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
D) Representation in the two houses of Congress
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) voting rights
B) family
C) school
D) ideology
  • 29. George Gallups polling technique was better than other methods used because it was more
A) costly
B) political
C) opinionated
D) scientific
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the type of poll used
B) the number of the questions asked
C) the wording of the questions
D) the order of the questions
  • 31. All of the following are elements of ideology EXCEPT
A) basic beliefs about happiness
B) basic beliefs about freedom
C) basic beliefs about equality
D) basic beliefs about opportunity
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) acting as a watchdog
B) disciplining corrupt politicians
C) serving as a gatekeeper
D) informing the public
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 1st Amendment
B) Articles of Confederation
C) 4th Amendment
D) 2nd Amendment
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) None of these
B) Censorship
C) Polling
D) Public Opinion
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Reverse Polling
B) Public Opinion
C) Censorship
D) Polling
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) polling
B) sampling
C) public opinion
D) reverse polling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) posterizing
B) Reverse polling
C) Sampling error
D) poll differential
  • 38. A ???? occurs just after people have voted, and it surveys a small number of voters in randomly chosen precincts.
A) exit poll
B) sample poll
C) real poll
D) electoral poll
  • 39. Lawsuits against tobacco companies by plaintiffs who have alleged smoking related illnesses are examples of
A) gerrymandering
B) class action suits
C) medical interest group projects
D) successful lobbying by non smokers
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) the VP and President
B) Government agencies and lawmakers
C) the speaker of the house
D) the chief justice
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) slightly positive way
B) extremely positive way
C) neutral way
D) negative way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) promote minority viewpoints
B) cut down on political spending
C) can control the media
D) write legislation with lawmakers
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
B) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
C) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
D) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) none of these
B) lobbying
C) approval
D) endorsement
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) trade organization
B) professional group
C) none of these
D) case based group
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) multiparty
B) two party
C) uniparty
D) one party
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Local and Federal
B) Local, City and State
C) Local, State and National
D) Town, City and County
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) at way
B) wealthy
C) dictatorships
D) monarchies
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) corruption
B) political extremism
C) political moderation
D) voter apathy
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) preprimary elections
B) federal elections
C) primary elections
D) general elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) a tax to finance primary elections
B) money paid for the printing of ballots
C) charged if a person voted more than once
D) money paid to cast a ballot
  • 52. In some states, citizens are allowed to vote by which of the following methods?
A) telephone
B) mail
C) internet
D) fax
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) age
B) educational background
C) registration status
D) residence
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) plural and singular
B) special and general
C) secondary and tertiary
D) multiparty and singleparty
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 1st
B) 5th
C) 4th
D) 3rd
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 1st
B) 4th
C) 9th
D) 5th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 1st
B) 6th
C) 5th
D) 2nd
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 6th
C) 4th
D) 1st
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 1st & 2nd
B) 4th & 5th
C) 5th & 6th
D) 5th & 8th
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) assemble
B) voice an opinion
C) vote
D) be tried publicly
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 1st
B) 6th
C) 8th
D) 3rd
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) none of these
B) Decide if a defendant is guilty
C) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
D) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
  • 63. In a criminal case, who is the prosecuter?
A) The accuser
B) The supreme court
C) none of these
D) The state
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 1st
B) 9th
C) 3rd
D) 10th
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) None of these
B) a good movie with Ashley Judd
C) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
D) the highest $$ you can win with one question
  • 66. What is the worst punishment you can receive if convicted in a criminal trial
A) 29 days in jail
B) $10K fine
C) 10 years in prison
D) death
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Personal Trial
B) Criminal Trial
C) Judge Judy Trial
D) Civil Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 8th
B) 1st
C) 4th
D) 10th
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) December 15, 1791
B) December 1, 1791
C) September 15, 1787
D) December 7, 1787
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) None of these
B) Civil Rights Amendments
C) Civil War Amendments
D) Civil Justice Amendments
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 12th
B) 19th
C) 25th
D) 20th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Repeal of Prohibition
B) Suffrage
C) Prohibition
D) Progressivism
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Taxes
B) Poll Tax
C) Income Tax
D) Sur-Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 18th
B) 16th
C) 15th
D) 17th
  • 75. Afer the Vietnam War, the 26th Amendment was added to the Constitution, what was this amendment called?
A) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
B) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
C) Women's Lib Amendment
D) 18 year old suffrage
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