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