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Civics: Fall Semester Exam
Contributed by: Werth
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) US Constitution
B) New England Confederation
C) Declaration of Independence
D) Articles of Confederation
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) Ratification of the Constitution
B) Independence from Great Britain
C) The Stamp Act
D) The abolishment of Magna Carta
  • 3. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) New England Confederation
B) Constitution
C) charter
D) delegates
  • 4. All of the following are principles of a democracy EXCEPT:
A) allowing people to make choices
B) Providing justice without mercy
C) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
D) promoting respect for the law
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) implied by the constitution
B) too complex to understand
C) specified in footnotes to amendments
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) armed forces and the president
B) other branches
C) cabinet
D) states
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) Legislative Branch
B) Judicial Branch
C) Executive Branch
D) cabinet
  • 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) serve the public good
D) respect the rights of states
  • 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) Enabling act
C) Inherent Powers
D) Elastic Clause
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) constituents
B) PACs
C) Aristocrats
D) appropriations
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) tax exports
B) govern the District of Columbia
C) regulate foreign trade
D) borrow money
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) inherent powers
B) expressed powers
C) reserved powers
D) implied powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every year
B) every 10 years
C) every 20 years
D) every 6 years
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) reprieve
B) executive privilege
C) popular vote
D) plank
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) Presidential succession
B) executive privilege
C) electoral college
D) executive agreement
  • 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) Diplomatic Policy
B) Foreign Policy
C) Executive agreement
D) Executive Vote
  • 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) Executive assistants
B) Secretaries
C) Government officials
D) lawyers
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Head of state is a hereditary position
B) Monarch is elected every four years.
C) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
D) Monarch may change the constitutution
  • 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) ratify
C) none of these
D) boycott
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) boycott
B) prohibit
C) none of these
D) ratify
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Confederation
B) none of these
C) Constitution
D) Charter
  • 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) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
B) The question of slavery in the States
C) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
D) Representation in the two houses of Congress
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) ideology
B) voting rights
C) school
D) family
  • 29. George Gallups polling technique was better than other methods used because it was more
A) opinionated
B) political
C) costly
D) scientific
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the number of the questions asked
B) the order of the questions
C) the type of poll used
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 freedom
D) basic beliefs about happiness
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) informing the public
B) serving as a gatekeeper
C) disciplining corrupt politicians
D) acting as a watchdog
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 4th Amendment
B) 2nd Amendment
C) 1st Amendment
D) Articles of Confederation
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) Polling
B) None of these
C) Public Opinion
D) Censorship
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Polling
B) Reverse Polling
C) Public Opinion
D) Censorship
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) reverse polling
B) sampling
C) polling
D) public opinion
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) Sampling error
B) poll differential
C) posterizing
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) exit poll
C) sample poll
D) electoral poll
  • 39. Lawsuits against tobacco companies by plaintiffs who have alleged smoking related illnesses are examples of
A) gerrymandering
B) successful lobbying by non smokers
C) class action suits
D) medical interest group projects
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) Government agencies and lawmakers
B) the chief justice
C) the speaker of the house
D) the VP and President
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) negative way
B) extremely positive way
C) neutral way
D) slightly 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) promote minority viewpoints
D) cut down on political spending
  • 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) approval
D) endorsement
  • 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) multiparty
B) one party
C) two party
D) uniparty
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Local, State and National
B) Local and Federal
C) Local, City and State
D) Town, City and County
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) at way
B) dictatorships
C) wealthy
D) monarchies
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) corruption
B) voter apathy
C) political moderation
D) political extremism
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) federal elections
B) primary elections
C) general elections
D) preprimary elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) money paid to cast a ballot
B) charged if a person voted more than once
C) a tax to finance primary elections
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) fax
C) mail
D) telephone
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) registration status
B) age
C) educational background
D) residence
  • 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) 5th
B) 1st
C) 3rd
D) 4th
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 4th
C) 9th
D) 1st
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 6th
B) 5th
C) 1st
D) 2nd
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 6th
B) 1st
C) 4th
D) 5th
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 5th & 6th
B) 5th & 8th
C) 4th & 5th
D) 1st & 2nd
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) voice an opinion
B) vote
C) be tried publicly
D) assemble
  • 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 a defendant is guilty
B) none of these
C) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
D) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
  • 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) 9th
B) 1st
C) 10th
D) 3rd
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) None of these
B) a good movie with Ashley Judd
C) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
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) 10 years in prison
B) 29 days in jail
C) death
D) $10K fine
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Personal Trial
B) Civil Trial
C) Judge Judy Trial
D) Criminal Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 1st
B) 10th
C) 8th
D) 4th
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) December 1, 1791
B) December 7, 1787
C) September 15, 1787
D) December 15, 1791
  • 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) 12th
B) 25th
C) 19th
D) 20th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Suffrage
B) Progressivism
C) Repeal of Prohibition
D) Prohibition
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Taxes
B) Income Tax
C) Poll Tax
D) Sur-Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 15th
B) 16th
C) 18th
D) 17th
  • 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) Women's Lib Amendment
C) 18 year old suffrage
D) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
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