Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) New England Confederation
B) US Constitution
C) Articles of Confederation
D) Declaration of Independence
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) The Stamp Act
B) Ratification of the Constitution
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) Constitution
B) New England Confederation
C) charter
D) delegates
  • 4. All of the following are principles of a democracy EXCEPT:
A) promoting respect for the law
B) allowing people to make choices
C) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
D) Providing justice without mercy
  • 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) cabinet
B) armed forces and the president
C) other branches
D) states
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) cabinet
B) Legislative Branch
C) Judicial Branch
D) Executive Branch
  • 8. The framers of the Constitution desired a national government that would do all of the following except
A) discourage concentration of power
B) decrease taxes
C) serve the public good
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) inherent 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) Elastic Clause
B) extradition
C) Enabling act
D) Inherent Powers
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) Aristocrats
B) appropriations
C) PACs
D) constituents
  • 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) expressed powers
B) reserved powers
C) implied powers
D) inherent 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) plank
B) popular vote
C) reprieve
D) executive privilege
  • 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) caucuses
B) party platform
C) reprieve
D) electoral college
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Diplomatic Policy
B) Executive agreement
C) Foreign Policy
D) Executive Vote
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) speaker's recommendations
B) executive orders
C) Spoils system
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) providing services
C) pursuing truth
D) resolving conflict
  • 23. Official Approval
A) boycott
B) reliable
C) none of these
D) ratify
  • 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) Confederation
B) Constitution
C) none of these
D) Charter
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) Magma Serta
B) Declarations of independence
C) English Constitution
D) Magna Carta
  • 27. The Great Compromise concerned
A) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
B) Representation in the two houses of Congress
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) voting rights
C) school
D) family
  • 29. George Gallups polling technique was better than other methods used because it was more
A) scientific
B) costly
C) opinionated
D) political
  • 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 equality
B) basic beliefs about freedom
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) Articles of Confederation
B) 1st Amendment
C) 2nd Amendment
D) 4th Amendment
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) None of these
B) Censorship
C) Public Opinion
D) Polling
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Reverse Polling
B) Censorship
C) Public Opinion
D) Polling
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) sampling
B) reverse polling
C) polling
D) public opinion
  • 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) 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) successful lobbying by non smokers
B) class action suits
C) gerrymandering
D) medical interest group projects
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) the chief justice
B) the speaker of the house
C) Government agencies and lawmakers
D) the VP and President
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) slightly positive way
B) extremely positive way
C) negative way
D) neutral way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) write legislation with lawmakers
B) promote minority viewpoints
C) can control the media
D) cut down on political spending
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
B) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
C) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
D) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) lobbying
B) approval
C) endorsement
D) none of these
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) case based group
B) none of these
C) trade organization
D) professional 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, City and State
C) Local and Federal
D) Local, State and National
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) wealthy
B) dictatorships
C) at way
D) monarchies
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) corruption
B) political moderation
C) voter apathy
D) political extremism
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) primary elections
B) general elections
C) preprimary elections
D) federal elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) charged if a person voted more than once
B) money paid to cast a ballot
C) a tax to finance primary elections
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) internet
C) telephone
D) fax
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) age
B) registration status
C) residence
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) 3rd
B) 1st
C) 5th
D) 4th
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 4th
C) 1st
D) 9th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 6th
C) 2nd
D) 1st
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 1st
C) 6th
D) 4th
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 5th & 8th
B) 1st & 2nd
C) 5th & 6th
D) 4th & 5th
  • 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) 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 supreme court
B) The accuser
C) none of these
D) The state
  • 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) a good movie with Ashley Judd
C) the highest $$ you can win with one question
D) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
  • 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) Personal Trial
B) Criminal Trial
C) Judge Judy Trial
D) Civil Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 4th
B) 10th
C) 8th
D) 1st
  • 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 Rights Amendments
B) Civil War Amendments
C) None of these
D) Civil Justice Amendments
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 25th
B) 19th
C) 20th
D) 12th
  • 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) Poll Tax
B) Income Tax
C) Sur-Tax
D) Taxes
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 18th
B) 16th
C) 17th
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) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
C) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
D) Women's Lib Amendment
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