Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) Declaration of Independence
B) US Constitution
C) New England Confederation
D) Articles of 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) Constitution
D) New England Confederation
  • 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) Providing justice without mercy
D) allowing people to make choices
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) listed in the Bill of Rights
B) too complex to understand
C) implied by the constitution
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) other branches
C) states
D) armed forces and the president
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) cabinet
B) Executive Branch
C) Legislative Branch
D) Judicial Branch
  • 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) discourage concentration of power
C) serve the public good
D) decrease taxes
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) concurrent powers
B) inherent powers
C) reserved powers
D) expressed powers
  • 10. Allows Congress to stretch its authority in ways not specifically granted nor denied to it by the Constitution
A) Elastic Clause
B) Inherent Powers
C) extradition
D) Enabling act
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) PACs
B) Aristocrats
C) appropriations
D) constituents
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) govern the District of Columbia
B) regulate foreign trade
C) tax exports
D) borrow money
  • 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 20 years
C) every year
D) every 6 years
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) popular vote
B) reprieve
C) executive privilege
D) plank
  • 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) party platform
B) reprieve
C) electoral college
D) caucuses
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Executive Vote
B) Diplomatic Policy
C) Executive agreement
D) Foreign Policy
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) Spoils system
B) civil service system
C) executive orders
D) speaker's recommendations
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) Government officials
B) Executive assistants
C) lawyers
D) Secretaries
  • 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) Monarch may change the constitutution
D) Head of state is a hereditary position
  • 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) none of these
C) reliable
D) boycott
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) boycott
B) prohibit
C) ratify
D) none of these
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Constitution
B) Charter
C) Confederation
D) none of these
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) Magna Carta
B) English Constitution
C) Magma Serta
D) Declarations of independence
  • 27. The Great Compromise concerned
A) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
B) The question of slavery in the States
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) school
D) ideology
  • 29. George Gallups polling technique was better than other methods used because it was more
A) opinionated
B) political
C) scientific
D) costly
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the order of the questions
B) the type of poll used
C) the wording of the questions
D) the number of the questions asked
  • 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) informing the public
C) serving as a gatekeeper
D) acting as a watchdog
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 1st Amendment
B) 4th Amendment
C) Articles of Confederation
D) 2nd Amendment
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) Public Opinion
B) None of these
C) Censorship
D) Polling
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Reverse Polling
B) Public Opinion
C) Censorship
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) poll differential
B) Reverse polling
C) posterizing
D) Sampling error
  • 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) exit 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) gerrymandering
C) class action suits
D) successful lobbying by non smokers
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) Government agencies and lawmakers
B) the VP and President
C) the speaker of the house
D) the chief justice
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) slightly positive way
B) negative 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) promote minority viewpoints
C) can control the media
D) cut down on political spending
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
B) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
C) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
D) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) endorsement
B) none of these
C) approval
D) lobbying
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) professional group
B) trade organization
C) none of these
D) case based group
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) two party
B) multiparty
C) uniparty
D) one party
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Local, City and State
B) Local and Federal
C) Local, State and National
D) Town, City and County
  • 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 extremism
B) political moderation
C) corruption
D) voter apathy
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) general elections
B) federal elections
C) primary elections
D) preprimary elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) money paid for the printing of ballots
B) charged if a person voted more than once
C) a tax to finance primary elections
D) money paid to cast a ballot
  • 52. In some states, citizens are allowed to vote by which of the following methods?
A) mail
B) internet
C) fax
D) telephone
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) educational background
B) registration status
C) residence
D) age
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) plural and singular
B) multiparty and singleparty
C) special and general
D) secondary and tertiary
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 5th
B) 1st
C) 3rd
D) 4th
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 9th
B) 1st
C) 4th
D) 5th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 6th
C) 1st
D) 2nd
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 6th
B) 4th
C) 5th
D) 1st
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 1st & 2nd
B) 4th & 5th
C) 5th & 6th
D) 5th & 8th
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) voice an opinion
B) be tried publicly
C) assemble
D) vote
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 3rd
B) 8th
C) 6th
D) 1st
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
B) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
C) Decide if a defendant is guilty
D) none of these
  • 63. In a criminal case, who is the prosecuter?
A) The state
B) The accuser
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) 1st
B) 10th
C) 3rd
D) 9th
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) the highest $$ you can win with one question
B) a good movie with Ashley Judd
C) None of these
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) Criminal Trial
B) Judge Judy Trial
C) Civil Trial
D) Personal Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 10th
B) 4th
C) 1st
D) 8th
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) September 15, 1787
B) December 15, 1791
C) December 1, 1791
D) December 7, 1787
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) None of these
B) Civil Rights Amendments
C) Civil War Amendments
D) Civil Justice Amendments
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 20th
B) 12th
C) 19th
D) 25th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Prohibition
B) Repeal of Prohibition
C) Progressivism
D) Suffrage
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Poll Tax
B) Sur-Tax
C) Income Tax
D) Taxes
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 17th
B) 16th
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) Women's Lib Amendment
C) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
D) 18 year old suffrage
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