Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) Declaration of Independence
B) US Constitution
C) New England Confederation
D) Articles of Confederation
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) The abolishment of Magna Carta
B) Ratification of the Constitution
C) The Stamp Act
D) Independence from Great Britain
  • 3. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) charter
B) Constitution
C) New England Confederation
D) delegates
  • 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) listed in the Bill of Rights
B) implied by the constitution
C) specified in footnotes to amendments
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) states
C) other branches
D) cabinet
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) Legislative Branch
B) Judicial Branch
C) cabinet
D) Executive Branch
  • 8. The framers of the Constitution desired a national government that would do all of the following except
A) decrease taxes
B) serve the public good
C) respect the rights of states
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) expressed powers
D) reserved powers
  • 10. Allows Congress to stretch its authority in ways not specifically granted nor denied to it by the Constitution
A) Enabling act
B) Elastic Clause
C) extradition
D) Inherent Powers
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) appropriations
B) PACs
C) Aristocrats
D) constituents
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) borrow money
B) govern the District of Columbia
C) regulate foreign trade
D) tax exports
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) inherent powers
B) expressed powers
C) implied powers
D) reserved powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every year
B) every 20 years
C) every 6 years
D) every 10 years
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) popular vote
B) plank
C) executive privilege
D) reprieve
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) electoral college
B) executive agreement
C) Presidential succession
D) executive privilege
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) party platform
B) electoral college
C) caucuses
D) reprieve
  • 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) speaker's recommendations
B) Spoils system
C) executive orders
D) civil service system
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) Executive assistants
B) Secretaries
C) lawyers
D) Government officials
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Head of state is a hereditary position
B) Monarch is elected every four years.
C) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
D) Monarch may change the constitutution
  • 22. All of the following are central functions of a government EXCEPT
A) maintaining order
B) pursuing truth
C) resolving conflict
D) providing services
  • 23. Official Approval
A) ratify
B) none of these
C) reliable
D) boycott
  • 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) Charter
B) none of these
C) Constitution
D) Confederation
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) English Constitution
B) Declarations of independence
C) Magna Carta
D) Magma Serta
  • 27. The Great Compromise concerned
A) Representation in the two houses of Congress
B) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
C) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
D) The question of slavery in the States
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) ideology
B) school
C) family
D) voting rights
  • 29. George Gallups polling technique was better than other methods used because it was more
A) costly
B) opinionated
C) political
D) scientific
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the wording of the questions
B) the type of poll used
C) the number of the questions asked
D) the order of the questions
  • 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) acting as a watchdog
B) serving as a gatekeeper
C) disciplining corrupt politicians
D) informing the public
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) Articles of Confederation
B) 4th Amendment
C) 2nd Amendment
D) 1st 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) Polling
B) Censorship
C) Reverse Polling
D) Public Opinion
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) sampling
B) polling
C) public opinion
D) reverse polling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) Sampling error
B) posterizing
C) Reverse polling
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) sample poll
C) exit poll
D) electoral poll
  • 39. Lawsuits against tobacco companies by plaintiffs who have alleged smoking related illnesses are examples of
A) class action suits
B) medical interest group projects
C) successful lobbying by non smokers
D) gerrymandering
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) Government agencies and lawmakers
B) the VP and President
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) extremely positive way
C) slightly positive way
D) neutral 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) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
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) approval
C) endorsement
D) lobbying
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) case based group
B) none of these
C) professional group
D) trade organization
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) uniparty
B) two party
C) one party
D) multiparty
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Local, City and State
B) Local and Federal
C) Local, State and National
D) Town, City and County
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) monarchies
B) dictatorships
C) wealthy
D) at way
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) voter apathy
B) corruption
C) political extremism
D) political moderation
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) general elections
B) preprimary elections
C) federal elections
D) primary elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) charged if a person voted more than once
B) money paid to cast a ballot
C) money paid for the printing of ballots
D) a tax to finance primary elections
  • 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) educational background
B) age
C) registration status
D) residence
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) secondary and tertiary
B) plural and singular
C) special and general
D) multiparty and singleparty
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 5th
B) 3rd
C) 1st
D) 4th
  • 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) 6th
B) 5th
C) 1st
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) 4th & 5th
B) 1st & 2nd
C) 5th & 6th
D) 5th & 8th
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) be tried publicly
B) assemble
C) voice an opinion
D) vote
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 3rd
B) 6th
C) 1st
D) 8th
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
B) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
C) none of these
D) Decide if a defendant is guilty
  • 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) 3rd
B) 1st
C) 9th
D) 10th
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) the highest $$ you can win with one question
B) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
C) None of these
D) a good movie with Ashley Judd
  • 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) Personal Trial
B) Judge Judy Trial
C) Civil Trial
D) Criminal Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 8th
B) 10th
C) 4th
D) 1st
  • 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) Civil War Amendments
B) None of these
C) Civil Rights Amendments
D) Civil Justice Amendments
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 19th
B) 25th
C) 12th
D) 20th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Suffrage
B) Progressivism
C) Prohibition
D) Repeal of Prohibition
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Income Tax
B) Sur-Tax
C) Taxes
D) Poll Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 16th
B) 18th
C) 15th
D) 17th
  • 75. Afer the Vietnam War, the 26th Amendment was added to the Constitution, what was this amendment called?
A) 18 year old suffrage
B) Women's Lib Amendment
C) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
D) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
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