Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) Articles of Confederation
B) US Constitution
C) Declaration of Independence
D) New England Confederation
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) Ratification of the Constitution
B) The Stamp Act
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) delegates
B) Constitution
C) charter
D) New England Confederation
  • 4. All of the following are principles of a democracy EXCEPT:
A) Providing justice without mercy
B) promoting respect for the law
C) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
D) allowing people to make choices
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) specified in footnotes to amendments
B) implied by the constitution
C) too complex to understand
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) armed forces and the president
C) states
D) other branches
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) Judicial Branch
B) Executive Branch
C) cabinet
D) Legislative Branch
  • 8. The framers of the Constitution desired a national government that would do all of the following except
A) decrease taxes
B) discourage concentration of power
C) respect the rights of states
D) serve the public good
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) inherent powers
B) reserved powers
C) expressed powers
D) concurrent powers
  • 10. Allows Congress to stretch its authority in ways not specifically granted nor denied to it by the Constitution
A) Enabling act
B) Inherent Powers
C) Elastic Clause
D) extradition
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) Aristocrats
B) appropriations
C) constituents
D) PACs
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) tax exports
B) govern the District of Columbia
C) borrow money
D) regulate foreign trade
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) implied powers
B) inherent powers
C) reserved powers
D) expressed powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every 20 years
B) every 6 years
C) every year
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) executive agreement
B) executive privilege
C) Presidential succession
D) electoral college
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) party platform
B) caucuses
C) electoral college
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) civil service system
B) executive orders
C) speaker's recommendations
D) Spoils system
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) lawyers
B) Government officials
C) Secretaries
D) Executive assistants
  • 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) pursuing truth
B) resolving conflict
C) providing services
D) maintaining order
  • 23. Official Approval
A) none of these
B) boycott
C) ratify
D) reliable
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) boycott
B) none of these
C) prohibit
D) ratify
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Charter
B) Constitution
C) none of these
D) Confederation
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) Declarations of independence
B) Magna Carta
C) Magma Serta
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) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
D) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) family
B) ideology
C) voting rights
D) school
  • 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 wording of the questions
B) the number of the questions asked
C) the order of the questions
D) the type of poll used
  • 31. All of the following are elements of ideology EXCEPT
A) basic beliefs about opportunity
B) basic beliefs about equality
C) basic beliefs about freedom
D) basic beliefs about happiness
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) disciplining corrupt politicians
B) acting as a watchdog
C) serving as a gatekeeper
D) informing the public
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 4th Amendment
B) Articles of Confederation
C) 2nd Amendment
D) 1st Amendment
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) None of these
B) Public Opinion
C) Polling
D) Censorship
  • 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) reverse polling
C) public opinion
D) polling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) Sampling error
B) posterizing
C) poll differential
D) Reverse polling
  • 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) medical interest group projects
B) successful lobbying by non smokers
C) gerrymandering
D) class action suits
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) the chief justice
B) Government agencies and lawmakers
C) the VP and President
D) the speaker of the house
  • 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) cut down on political spending
B) can control the media
C) write legislation with lawmakers
D) promote minority viewpoints
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
B) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
C) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
D) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) approval
B) endorsement
C) lobbying
D) none of these
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) none of these
B) professional group
C) case based group
D) trade organization
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) one party
B) multiparty
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) dictatorships
B) at way
C) monarchies
D) wealthy
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) political extremism
B) voter apathy
C) corruption
D) political moderation
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) primary elections
B) preprimary elections
C) general elections
D) federal elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) money paid to cast a ballot
B) a tax to finance primary elections
C) money paid for the printing of ballots
D) charged if a person voted more than once
  • 52. In some states, citizens are allowed to vote by which of the following methods?
A) telephone
B) mail
C) internet
D) fax
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) age
B) educational background
C) residence
D) registration status
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) plural and singular
B) special and general
C) multiparty and singleparty
D) secondary and tertiary
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 3rd
B) 1st
C) 4th
D) 5th
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 4th
B) 5th
C) 1st
D) 9th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 2nd
B) 5th
C) 1st
D) 6th
  • 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) 4th & 5th
B) 1st & 2nd
C) 5th & 6th
D) 5th & 8th
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) vote
B) be tried publicly
C) voice an opinion
D) assemble
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 8th
B) 6th
C) 3rd
D) 1st
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
B) none of these
C) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
D) Decide if a defendant is guilty
  • 63. In a criminal case, who is the prosecuter?
A) The accuser
B) none of these
C) The state
D) The supreme court
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 9th
B) 3rd
C) 1st
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) 10 years in prison
B) $10K fine
C) death
D) 29 days in jail
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Judge Judy Trial
B) Personal Trial
C) Criminal Trial
D) Civil Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 4th
B) 8th
C) 10th
D) 1st
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) December 15, 1791
B) December 7, 1787
C) December 1, 1791
D) September 15, 1787
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) Civil War Amendments
B) Civil Justice Amendments
C) None of these
D) Civil Rights Amendments
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 25th
B) 20th
C) 19th
D) 12th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Repeal of Prohibition
B) Progressivism
C) Prohibition
D) Suffrage
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Poll Tax
B) Taxes
C) Sur-Tax
D) Income Tax
  • 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) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
B) Women's Lib Amendment
C) 18 year old suffrage
D) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
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