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