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Civics: Fall Semester Exam
Contributed by: Werth
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) Declaration of Independence
B) US Constitution
C) Articles of Confederation
D) New England Confederation
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) The Stamp Act
B) The abolishment of Magna Carta
C) Ratification of the Constitution
D) Independence from Great Britain
  • 3. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Constitution
B) charter
C) New England Confederation
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) implied by the constitution
B) listed in the Bill of Rights
C) too complex to understand
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) armed forces and the president
B) states
C) cabinet
D) other branches
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) Executive Branch
B) Judicial Branch
C) Legislative Branch
D) cabinet
  • 8. The framers of the Constitution desired a national government that would do all of the following except
A) discourage concentration of power
B) respect the rights of states
C) serve the public good
D) decrease taxes
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) inherent powers
B) expressed powers
C) concurrent powers
D) reserved powers
  • 10. Allows Congress to stretch its authority in ways not specifically granted nor denied to it by the Constitution
A) extradition
B) Elastic Clause
C) Enabling act
D) Inherent Powers
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) constituents
B) Aristocrats
C) appropriations
D) PACs
  • 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) reserved powers
B) implied powers
C) inherent powers
D) expressed powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every 20 years
B) every year
C) every 6 years
D) every 10 years
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) executive privilege
B) reprieve
C) popular vote
D) plank
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) executive agreement
B) Presidential succession
C) electoral college
D) executive privilege
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) electoral college
B) party platform
C) caucuses
D) reprieve
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Diplomatic Policy
B) Executive Vote
C) Foreign Policy
D) Executive agreement
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) Spoils system
B) speaker's recommendations
C) civil service system
D) executive orders
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) Executive assistants
B) lawyers
C) Secretaries
D) Government officials
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
B) Monarch may change the constitutution
C) Monarch is elected every four years.
D) Head of state is a hereditary position
  • 22. All of the following are central functions of a government EXCEPT
A) pursuing truth
B) resolving conflict
C) maintaining order
D) providing services
  • 23. Official Approval
A) reliable
B) none of these
C) boycott
D) ratify
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) none of these
B) boycott
C) ratify
D) prohibit
  • 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) English Constitution
B) Magma Serta
C) Declarations of independence
D) Magna Carta
  • 27. The Great Compromise concerned
A) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
B) Representation in the two houses of Congress
C) The question of slavery in the States
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) scientific
B) opinionated
C) political
D) costly
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the type of poll used
B) the order of the questions
C) the number of the questions asked
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 opportunity
C) basic beliefs about happiness
D) basic beliefs about freedom
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) informing the public
B) disciplining corrupt politicians
C) serving as a gatekeeper
D) acting as a watchdog
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 2nd Amendment
B) 4th Amendment
C) 1st Amendment
D) Articles of Confederation
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) Polling
B) Censorship
C) Public Opinion
D) None of these
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Public Opinion
B) Polling
C) Reverse Polling
D) Censorship
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) reverse polling
B) polling
C) sampling
D) public opinion
  • 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) class action suits
B) medical interest group projects
C) successful lobbying by non smokers
D) gerrymandering
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) the VP and President
B) the chief justice
C) Government agencies and lawmakers
D) the speaker of the house
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) neutral way
B) extremely positive way
C) slightly positive way
D) negative way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) can control the media
B) cut down on political spending
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) none of these
B) lobbying
C) endorsement
D) approval
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) professional group
B) case based group
C) trade organization
D) none of these
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) one party
B) uniparty
C) multiparty
D) two 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) wealthy
B) dictatorships
C) at way
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) preprimary elections
B) federal elections
C) general elections
D) primary elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) a tax to finance primary elections
B) money paid to cast a ballot
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) internet
B) telephone
C) fax
D) mail
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) residence
B) registration status
C) age
D) educational background
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) secondary and tertiary
B) multiparty and singleparty
C) special and general
D) plural and singular
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 3rd
B) 5th
C) 1st
D) 4th
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 9th
B) 5th
C) 4th
D) 1st
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 2nd
B) 5th
C) 6th
D) 1st
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 4th
B) 6th
C) 5th
D) 1st
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 4th & 5th
B) 5th & 6th
C) 5th & 8th
D) 1st & 2nd
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) voice an opinion
B) vote
C) assemble
D) be tried publicly
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 3rd
B) 1st
C) 8th
D) 6th
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if a defendant is guilty
B) none of these
C) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
D) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
  • 63. In a criminal case, who is the prosecuter?
A) The supreme court
B) none of these
C) The state
D) The accuser
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 3rd
B) 9th
C) 1st
D) 10th
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
B) a good movie with Ashley Judd
C) None of these
D) the highest $$ you can win with one question
  • 66. What is the worst punishment you can receive if convicted in a criminal trial
A) $10K fine
B) 29 days in jail
C) death
D) 10 years in prison
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Personal Trial
B) Civil Trial
C) Criminal Trial
D) Judge Judy Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 1st
B) 4th
C) 10th
D) 8th
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) December 1, 1791
B) September 15, 1787
C) December 15, 1791
D) December 7, 1787
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) Civil Justice Amendments
B) Civil Rights Amendments
C) None of these
D) Civil War 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) Repeal of Prohibition
B) Prohibition
C) Progressivism
D) Suffrage
  • 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) 15th
B) 16th
C) 17th
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 Selective Service Registration Amendment
C) 18 year old suffrage
D) Women's Lib Amendment
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