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) Independence from Great Britain
C) The abolishment of Magna Carta
D) The Stamp Act
  • 3. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) New England Confederation
B) delegates
C) Constitution
D) charter
  • 4. All of the following are principles of a democracy EXCEPT:
A) Providing justice without mercy
B) promoting respect for the law
C) allowing people to make choices
D) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) specified in footnotes to amendments
B) listed in the Bill of Rights
C) implied by the constitution
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) states
B) other branches
C) armed forces and the president
D) cabinet
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) cabinet
B) Legislative Branch
C) Executive Branch
D) Judicial 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) serve the public good
C) respect the rights of states
D) decrease taxes
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) reserved powers
B) concurrent powers
C) inherent powers
D) expressed powers
  • 10. Allows Congress to stretch its authority in ways not specifically granted nor denied to it by the Constitution
A) extradition
B) Enabling act
C) Elastic Clause
D) Inherent Powers
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) PACs
B) constituents
C) appropriations
D) Aristocrats
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) regulate foreign trade
B) tax exports
C) govern the District of Columbia
D) borrow money
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) expressed powers
B) inherent powers
C) reserved powers
D) implied powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every 10 years
B) every year
C) every 20 years
D) every 6 years
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) plank
B) executive privilege
C) popular vote
D) reprieve
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) Presidential succession
B) executive agreement
C) electoral college
D) executive privilege
  • 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) Diplomatic Policy
B) Foreign Policy
C) Executive Vote
D) Executive agreement
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) civil service system
B) Spoils system
C) speaker's recommendations
D) executive orders
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) Government officials
B) Executive assistants
C) Secretaries
D) lawyers
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Monarch may change the constitutution
B) Head of state is a hereditary position
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) providing services
C) maintaining order
D) resolving conflict
  • 23. Official Approval
A) ratify
B) reliable
C) boycott
D) none of these
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) none of these
B) ratify
C) boycott
D) prohibit
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Confederation
B) Charter
C) Constitution
D) none of these
  • 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) The question of slavery in the States
B) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
C) Representation in the two houses of Congress
D) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) family
B) voting rights
C) ideology
D) school
  • 29. George Gallups polling technique was better than other methods used because it was more
A) political
B) costly
C) opinionated
D) scientific
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the type of poll used
B) the wording of the questions
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 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) disciplining corrupt politicians
B) informing the public
C) serving as a gatekeeper
D) acting as a watchdog
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 2nd Amendment
B) 1st Amendment
C) Articles of Confederation
D) 4th 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) Reverse Polling
B) Censorship
C) Public Opinion
D) Polling
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) public opinion
B) polling
C) reverse polling
D) sampling
  • 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) 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) medical interest group projects
B) class action suits
C) gerrymandering
D) successful lobbying by non smokers
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) the VP and President
B) the speaker of the house
C) Government agencies and lawmakers
D) the chief justice
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) negative way
B) slightly positive way
C) neutral way
D) extremely positive way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) cut down on political spending
B) promote minority viewpoints
C) write legislation with lawmakers
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) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
D) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) none of these
B) lobbying
C) approval
D) endorsement
  • 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) one party
B) uniparty
C) two party
D) multiparty
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Town, City and County
B) Local and Federal
C) Local, City and State
D) Local, State and National
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) dictatorships
B) at way
C) wealthy
D) monarchies
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) political moderation
B) voter apathy
C) political extremism
D) corruption
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) general elections
B) primary elections
C) preprimary elections
D) federal elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) money paid to cast a ballot
B) a tax to finance primary elections
C) charged if a person voted more than once
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) registration status
B) residence
C) educational background
D) age
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) multiparty and singleparty
B) secondary and tertiary
C) plural and singular
D) special and general
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 4th
B) 3rd
C) 1st
D) 5th
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 9th
B) 5th
C) 1st
D) 4th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 2nd
C) 6th
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) 4th & 5th
C) 5th & 6th
D) 1st & 2nd
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) assemble
B) vote
C) be tried publicly
D) voice an opinion
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 3rd
B) 6th
C) 8th
D) 1st
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
B) Decide if a defendant is guilty
C) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
D) none of these
  • 63. In a criminal case, who is the prosecuter?
A) The accuser
B) The state
C) none of these
D) The supreme court
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 3rd
B) 10th
C) 9th
D) 1st
  • 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) $10K fine
B) death
C) 29 days in jail
D) 10 years in prison
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Personal Trial
B) Criminal Trial
C) Civil Trial
D) Judge Judy 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 1, 1791
C) December 15, 1791
D) December 7, 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) 12th
C) 20th
D) 19th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Suffrage
B) Prohibition
C) Progressivism
D) Repeal of Prohibition
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Sur-Tax
B) Poll Tax
C) Taxes
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) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
B) 18 year old suffrage
C) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
D) Women's Lib Amendment
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