Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) Articles of Confederation
B) New England Confederation
C) US Constitution
D) Declaration of Independence
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) The abolishment of Magna Carta
B) The Stamp Act
C) Ratification of the Constitution
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) charter
D) delegates
  • 4. All of the following are principles of a democracy EXCEPT:
A) promoting respect for the law
B) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
C) allowing people to make choices
D) Providing justice without mercy
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) implied by the constitution
B) too complex to understand
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) armed forces and the president
B) cabinet
C) states
D) other branches
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) Executive Branch
B) Judicial Branch
C) Legislative Branch
D) cabinet
  • 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) decrease taxes
C) serve the public good
D) discourage concentration of power
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) inherent powers
B) expressed powers
C) reserved powers
D) concurrent powers
  • 10. Allows Congress to stretch its authority in ways not specifically granted nor denied to it by the Constitution
A) extradition
B) Inherent Powers
C) Elastic Clause
D) Enabling act
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) Aristocrats
B) PACs
C) constituents
D) appropriations
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) borrow money
B) tax exports
C) regulate foreign trade
D) govern the District of Columbia
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) implied powers
B) reserved powers
C) inherent powers
D) expressed powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every 20 years
B) every year
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) executive privilege
D) Presidential succession
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) electoral college
B) reprieve
C) caucuses
D) party platform
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Foreign Policy
B) Executive Vote
C) Executive agreement
D) Diplomatic 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) Government officials
B) Secretaries
C) Executive assistants
D) lawyers
  • 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) resolving conflict
B) providing services
C) pursuing truth
D) maintaining order
  • 23. Official Approval
A) boycott
B) reliable
C) ratify
D) none of these
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) prohibit
B) ratify
C) none of these
D) boycott
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) none of these
B) Confederation
C) Charter
D) Constitution
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) English Constitution
B) Magma Serta
C) Declarations of independence
D) Magna Carta
  • 27. The Great Compromise concerned
A) Representation in the two houses of Congress
B) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
C) The question of slavery in the States
D) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
  • 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) scientific
D) opinionated
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the number of the questions asked
B) the type of poll used
C) the order of the questions
D) the wording of the questions
  • 31. All of the following are elements of ideology EXCEPT
A) basic beliefs about opportunity
B) basic beliefs about happiness
C) basic beliefs about equality
D) basic beliefs about freedom
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) informing the public
B) disciplining corrupt politicians
C) acting as a watchdog
D) serving as a gatekeeper
  • 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) Censorship
B) None of these
C) Polling
D) Public Opinion
  • 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) reverse polling
B) public opinion
C) polling
D) sampling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) Reverse polling
B) Sampling error
C) posterizing
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) sample poll
D) exit 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 speaker of the house
B) the chief justice
C) the VP and President
D) Government agencies and lawmakers
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) extremely positive way
B) neutral way
C) slightly positive way
D) negative way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) write legislation with lawmakers
B) cut down on political spending
C) promote minority viewpoints
D) can control the media
  • 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) none of these
B) approval
C) lobbying
D) endorsement
  • 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) one party
B) two party
C) uniparty
D) multiparty
  • 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) monarchies
B) dictatorships
C) at way
D) wealthy
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) political extremism
B) corruption
C) political moderation
D) voter apathy
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) preprimary elections
B) primary elections
C) federal elections
D) general elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) a tax to finance primary elections
B) money paid for the printing of ballots
C) charged if a person voted more than once
D) money paid to cast a ballot
  • 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) registration status
B) residence
C) age
D) educational background
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) plural and singular
B) secondary and tertiary
C) special and general
D) multiparty and singleparty
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 4th
B) 5th
C) 1st
D) 3rd
  • 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) 1st
B) 2nd
C) 6th
D) 5th
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 6th
B) 5th
C) 4th
D) 1st
  • 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) vote
B) assemble
C) voice an opinion
D) be tried publicly
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 8th
B) 3rd
C) 1st
D) 6th
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) none of these
B) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
C) Decide if a defendant is guilty
D) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
  • 63. In a criminal case, who is the prosecuter?
A) The state
B) none of these
C) The supreme court
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) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
B) a good movie with Ashley Judd
C) None of these
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) Judge Judy Trial
B) Civil Trial
C) Personal Trial
D) Criminal Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 10th
B) 4th
C) 8th
D) 1st
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) September 15, 1787
B) December 7, 1787
C) December 15, 1791
D) December 1, 1791
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) Civil War Amendments
B) Civil Justice Amendments
C) Civil Rights Amendments
D) None of these
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 19th
B) 20th
C) 25th
D) 12th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Suffrage
B) Progressivism
C) Repeal of Prohibition
D) Prohibition
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Taxes
B) Sur-Tax
C) Income Tax
D) Poll Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 15th
B) 16th
C) 17th
D) 18th
  • 75. Afer the Vietnam War, the 26th Amendment was added to the Constitution, what was this amendment called?
A) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
B) Women's Lib Amendment
C) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
D) 18 year old suffrage
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