Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) US Constitution
B) New England Confederation
C) Declaration of Independence
D) Articles of Confederation
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) Ratification of the Constitution
B) Independence from Great Britain
C) The abolishment of Magna Carta
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) Providing justice without mercy
B) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
C) allowing people to make choices
D) promoting respect for the law
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) too complex to understand
B) specified in footnotes to amendments
C) implied by the constitution
D) listed in the Bill of Rights
  • 6. Under the Constitution's system of checks and balances, each branch of government can restrict the powers of the
A) cabinet
B) states
C) other branches
D) armed forces and the president
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) Executive Branch
B) cabinet
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) serve the public good
B) respect the rights of states
C) discourage concentration of power
D) decrease taxes
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) reserved powers
B) concurrent powers
C) inherent powers
D) expressed powers
  • 10. Allows Congress to stretch its authority in ways not specifically granted nor denied to it by the Constitution
A) Inherent Powers
B) extradition
C) Elastic Clause
D) Enabling act
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) PACs
B) Aristocrats
C) constituents
D) appropriations
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) regulate foreign trade
B) govern the District of Columbia
C) borrow money
D) tax exports
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) reserved powers
B) expressed powers
C) implied powers
D) inherent powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every 20 years
B) every 6 years
C) every 10 years
D) every year
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) popular vote
B) plank
C) reprieve
D) executive privilege
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) executive agreement
B) executive privilege
C) electoral college
D) Presidential succession
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) electoral college
B) party platform
C) reprieve
D) caucuses
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Diplomatic Policy
B) Foreign Policy
C) Executive Vote
D) Executive agreement
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) civil service system
B) Spoils system
C) executive orders
D) speaker's recommendations
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) Secretaries
B) Government officials
C) Executive assistants
D) lawyers
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Head of state is a hereditary position
B) Monarch may change the constitutution
C) Monarch is elected every four years.
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) resolving conflict
B) providing services
C) pursuing truth
D) maintaining order
  • 23. Official Approval
A) reliable
B) boycott
C) none of these
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) none of these
B) Constitution
C) Confederation
D) Charter
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) Declarations of independence
B) Magma Serta
C) Magna Carta
D) English Constitution
  • 27. The Great Compromise concerned
A) Representation in the two houses of Congress
B) The question of slavery in the States
C) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
D) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) school
B) voting rights
C) ideology
D) family
  • 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 order of the questions
B) the type of poll used
C) the number of the questions asked
D) the wording 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) Polling
B) None of these
C) Public Opinion
D) Censorship
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Censorship
B) Public Opinion
C) Reverse Polling
D) Polling
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) reverse polling
B) public opinion
C) polling
D) sampling
  • 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) real poll
B) exit 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) 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 chief justice
B) Government agencies and lawmakers
C) the speaker of the house
D) the VP and President
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) extremely positive way
B) negative way
C) slightly positive way
D) neutral way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) promote minority viewpoints
B) can control the media
C) write legislation with lawmakers
D) cut down on political spending
  • 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) approval
B) none of these
C) endorsement
D) lobbying
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) professional group
B) trade organization
C) case based group
D) none of these
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) one party
B) uniparty
C) multiparty
D) two party
  • 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) wealthy
B) at way
C) monarchies
D) dictatorships
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) political moderation
B) corruption
C) political extremism
D) voter apathy
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) preprimary elections
B) general elections
C) federal elections
D) primary elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) money paid for the printing of ballots
B) money paid to cast a ballot
C) charged if a person voted more than once
D) a tax to finance primary elections
  • 52. In some states, citizens are allowed to vote by which of the following methods?
A) internet
B) mail
C) telephone
D) fax
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) age
B) residence
C) registration status
D) educational background
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) plural and singular
B) multiparty and singleparty
C) special and general
D) secondary and tertiary
  • 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) 9th
B) 1st
C) 5th
D) 4th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 2nd
B) 1st
C) 5th
D) 6th
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 1st
B) 4th
C) 6th
D) 5th
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 1st & 2nd
B) 5th & 6th
C) 4th & 5th
D) 5th & 8th
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) be tried publicly
B) voice an opinion
C) vote
D) assemble
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 6th
B) 1st
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) 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) The supreme court
B) none of these
C) The state
D) The accuser
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 9th
B) 10th
C) 3rd
D) 1st
  • 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) 10 years in prison
B) death
C) $10K fine
D) 29 days in jail
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Civil Trial
B) Personal Trial
C) Criminal Trial
D) Judge Judy Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 4th
B) 10th
C) 1st
D) 8th
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) December 1, 1791
B) September 15, 1787
C) December 7, 1787
D) December 15, 1791
  • 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) 12th
D) 25th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Progressivism
B) Repeal of Prohibition
C) Suffrage
D) Prohibition
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Taxes
B) Sur-Tax
C) Poll Tax
D) Income Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 16th
B) 17th
C) 18th
D) 15th
  • 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 suffrage
C) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
D) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
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