Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) Articles of Confederation
B) Declaration of Independence
C) US Constitution
D) New England Confederation
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) Independence from Great Britain
B) Ratification of the Constitution
C) The abolishment of Magna Carta
D) The Stamp Act
  • 3. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) charter
B) delegates
C) New England Confederation
D) Constitution
  • 4. All of the following are principles of a democracy EXCEPT:
A) allowing people to make choices
B) promoting respect for the law
C) Providing justice without mercy
D) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) listed in the Bill of Rights
B) specified in footnotes to amendments
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) armed forces and the president
C) other branches
D) cabinet
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) Judicial Branch
B) cabinet
C) Legislative Branch
D) Executive Branch
  • 8. The framers of the Constitution desired a national government that would do all of the following except
A) serve the public good
B) discourage concentration of power
C) decrease taxes
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) Inherent Powers
B) extradition
C) Enabling act
D) Elastic Clause
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) constituents
B) PACs
C) appropriations
D) Aristocrats
  • 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) inherent powers
C) reserved powers
D) implied powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every 6 years
B) every 10 years
C) every 20 years
D) every year
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) popular vote
B) executive privilege
C) reprieve
D) plank
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) executive privilege
B) electoral college
C) executive agreement
D) Presidential succession
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) electoral college
B) caucuses
C) party platform
D) reprieve
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Foreign Policy
B) Diplomatic Policy
C) Executive Vote
D) Executive agreement
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) civil service system
B) speaker's recommendations
C) Spoils system
D) executive orders
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) lawyers
B) Government officials
C) Executive assistants
D) Secretaries
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Monarch may change the constitutution
B) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
C) Head of state is a hereditary position
D) Monarch is elected every four years.
  • 22. All of the following are central functions of a government EXCEPT
A) providing services
B) maintaining order
C) pursuing truth
D) resolving conflict
  • 23. Official Approval
A) reliable
B) ratify
C) none of these
D) boycott
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) ratify
B) prohibit
C) boycott
D) none of these
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) none of these
B) Constitution
C) Charter
D) Confederation
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) Magma Serta
B) English Constitution
C) Declarations of independence
D) Magna Carta
  • 27. The Great Compromise concerned
A) Representation in the two houses of Congress
B) The question of slavery in the States
C) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
D) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) ideology
B) family
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) opinionated
D) scientific
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the type of poll used
B) the number of the questions asked
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 happiness
C) basic beliefs about opportunity
D) basic beliefs about freedom
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) acting as a watchdog
B) informing the public
C) disciplining corrupt politicians
D) serving as a gatekeeper
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 1st Amendment
B) Articles of Confederation
C) 2nd Amendment
D) 4th Amendment
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) Censorship
B) Polling
C) Public Opinion
D) None of these
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Reverse Polling
B) Public Opinion
C) Polling
D) Censorship
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) polling
B) reverse polling
C) public opinion
D) sampling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) poll differential
B) posterizing
C) Reverse polling
D) Sampling error
  • 38. A ???? occurs just after people have voted, and it surveys a small number of voters in randomly chosen precincts.
A) exit poll
B) electoral poll
C) real poll
D) sample 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) class action suits
D) gerrymandering
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) the speaker of the house
B) the VP and President
C) the chief justice
D) Government agencies and lawmakers
  • 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) write legislation with lawmakers
B) can control the media
C) cut down on political spending
D) promote minority viewpoints
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
B) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
C) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
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) endorsement
C) lobbying
D) approval
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) trade organization
B) professional group
C) none of these
D) case based group
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) multiparty
B) two party
C) one party
D) uniparty
  • 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) at way
B) dictatorships
C) monarchies
D) wealthy
  • 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) preprimary elections
B) general elections
C) primary elections
D) federal elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) money paid to cast a ballot
B) money paid for the printing of ballots
C) a tax to finance primary elections
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) internet
B) fax
C) mail
D) telephone
  • 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) plural and singular
B) secondary and tertiary
C) multiparty and singleparty
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) 1st
B) 5th
C) 4th
D) 9th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 1st
C) 6th
D) 2nd
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 4th
C) 6th
D) 1st
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 1st & 2nd
B) 4th & 5th
C) 5th & 8th
D) 5th & 6th
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) assemble
B) be tried publicly
C) voice an opinion
D) vote
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 1st
B) 3rd
C) 6th
D) 8th
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if a defendant is guilty
B) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
C) none of these
D) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
  • 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) 1st
B) 9th
C) 3rd
D) 10th
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) a good movie with Ashley Judd
B) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
C) the highest $$ you can win with one question
D) None of these
  • 66. What is the worst punishment you can receive if convicted in a criminal trial
A) death
B) 29 days in jail
C) 10 years in prison
D) $10K fine
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Judge Judy Trial
B) Criminal Trial
C) Personal Trial
D) Civil Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 10th
B) 1st
C) 8th
D) 4th
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) December 1, 1791
B) December 7, 1787
C) December 15, 1791
D) September 15, 1787
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) Civil Justice Amendments
B) Civil Rights Amendments
C) Civil War Amendments
D) None of these
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 19th
B) 12th
C) 25th
D) 20th
  • 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) Sur-Tax
C) Taxes
D) Income Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 16th
B) 17th
C) 15th
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) 18 year old suffrage
C) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
D) Women's Lib Amendment
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