Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) Articles of Confederation
B) New England Confederation
C) Declaration of Independence
D) US Constitution
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) Independence from Great Britain
B) Ratification of the Constitution
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) charter
C) New England Confederation
D) delegates
  • 4. All of the following are principles of a democracy EXCEPT:
A) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
B) Providing justice without mercy
C) allowing people to make choices
D) promoting respect for the law
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) implied by the constitution
B) specified in footnotes to amendments
C) listed in the Bill of Rights
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) armed forces and the president
B) cabinet
C) other branches
D) states
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) Judicial Branch
B) cabinet
C) Legislative Branch
D) Executive 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) discourage concentration of power
C) serve the public good
D) decrease taxes
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) concurrent powers
B) expressed powers
C) reserved 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) Enabling act
C) extradition
D) Inherent Powers
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) constituents
B) appropriations
C) Aristocrats
D) PACs
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) regulate foreign trade
B) tax exports
C) borrow money
D) govern the District of Columbia
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) expressed powers
B) implied powers
C) inherent powers
D) reserved powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every year
B) every 20 years
C) every 10 years
D) every 6 years
  • 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) Presidential succession
C) electoral college
D) executive privilege
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) reprieve
B) caucuses
C) party platform
D) electoral college
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Executive agreement
B) Diplomatic Policy
C) Executive Vote
D) Foreign Policy
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) Spoils system
B) executive orders
C) civil service system
D) speaker's recommendations
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) lawyers
B) Government officials
C) Secretaries
D) Executive assistants
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Monarch is elected every four years.
B) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
C) Head of state is a hereditary position
D) Monarch may change the constitutution
  • 22. All of the following are central functions of a government EXCEPT
A) pursuing truth
B) maintaining order
C) resolving conflict
D) providing services
  • 23. Official Approval
A) boycott
B) reliable
C) ratify
D) none of these
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) prohibit
B) boycott
C) none of these
D) ratify
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Constitution
B) Charter
C) Confederation
D) none of these
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) Magna Carta
B) Magma Serta
C) English Constitution
D) Declarations of independence
  • 27. The Great Compromise concerned
A) The question of slavery in the States
B) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
C) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
D) Representation in the two houses of Congress
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) family
B) school
C) voting rights
D) ideology
  • 29. George Gallups polling technique was better than other methods used because it was more
A) political
B) opinionated
C) scientific
D) costly
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the type of poll used
B) the order of the questions
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 equality
C) basic beliefs about opportunity
D) basic beliefs about happiness
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) serving as a gatekeeper
B) informing the public
C) acting as a watchdog
D) disciplining corrupt politicians
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 4th Amendment
B) 2nd Amendment
C) 1st Amendment
D) Articles of Confederation
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) Censorship
B) Public Opinion
C) None of these
D) Polling
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Public Opinion
B) Censorship
C) Reverse Polling
D) Polling
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) public opinion
B) reverse polling
C) sampling
D) polling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) Reverse polling
B) posterizing
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) electoral poll
B) real poll
C) exit poll
D) sample poll
  • 39. Lawsuits against tobacco companies by plaintiffs who have alleged smoking related illnesses are examples of
A) class action suits
B) gerrymandering
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) 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) neutral way
B) negative way
C) slightly positive way
D) extremely positive way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) promote minority viewpoints
B) write legislation with lawmakers
C) cut down on political spending
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) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
D) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) approval
B) none of these
C) lobbying
D) endorsement
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) none of these
B) case based group
C) professional group
D) trade organization
  • 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) Town, City and County
C) Local, City and State
D) Local, State and National
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) dictatorships
B) wealthy
C) monarchies
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) federal elections
B) general elections
C) primary elections
D) preprimary 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 to cast a ballot
D) money paid for the printing of ballots
  • 52. In some states, citizens are allowed to vote by which of the following methods?
A) mail
B) fax
C) telephone
D) internet
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) residence
B) registration status
C) age
D) educational background
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) secondary and tertiary
B) special and general
C) multiparty and singleparty
D) plural and singular
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 5th
B) 4th
C) 3rd
D) 1st
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 4th
B) 9th
C) 5th
D) 1st
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 6th
B) 2nd
C) 5th
D) 1st
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 1st
B) 6th
C) 5th
D) 4th
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 5th & 6th
B) 5th & 8th
C) 4th & 5th
D) 1st & 2nd
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) assemble
B) voice an opinion
C) be tried publicly
D) vote
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 6th
B) 8th
C) 3rd
D) 1st
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if a defendant is guilty
B) none of these
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) The state
D) none of these
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 10th
B) 1st
C) 3rd
D) 9th
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) None of these
B) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
C) the highest $$ you can win with one question
D) a good movie with Ashley Judd
  • 66. What is the worst punishment you can receive if convicted in a criminal trial
A) 29 days in jail
B) death
C) 10 years in prison
D) $10K fine
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Criminal Trial
B) Personal Trial
C) Judge Judy Trial
D) Civil Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 10th
B) 8th
C) 1st
D) 4th
  • 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 Justice Amendments
B) Civil Rights Amendments
C) None of these
D) Civil War Amendments
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 12th
B) 25th
C) 19th
D) 20th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Prohibition
B) Repeal of Prohibition
C) Progressivism
D) Suffrage
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Taxes
B) Income Tax
C) Poll Tax
D) Sur-Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 18th
B) 17th
C) 16th
D) 15th
  • 75. Afer the Vietnam War, the 26th Amendment was added to the Constitution, what was this amendment called?
A) 18 year old suffrage
B) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
C) Women's Lib Amendment
D) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
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