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Civics: Fall Semester Exam
Contributed by: Werth
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) New England Confederation
B) US Constitution
C) Declaration of Independence
D) Articles of Confederation
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) Independence from Great Britain
B) The abolishment of Magna Carta
C) Ratification of the Constitution
D) The Stamp Act
  • 3. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) delegates
B) charter
C) New England Confederation
D) Constitution
  • 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) too complex to understand
B) implied by the constitution
C) listed in the Bill of Rights
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) states
C) armed forces and the president
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) respect the rights of states
B) discourage concentration of power
C) decrease taxes
D) serve the public good
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) inherent powers
B) reserved powers
C) concurrent 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) 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) reserved powers
B) inherent powers
C) expressed powers
D) implied powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every 6 years
B) every year
C) every 10 years
D) every 20 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) Presidential succession
B) electoral college
C) executive agreement
D) executive privilege
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) party platform
B) reprieve
C) caucuses
D) electoral college
  • 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) speaker's recommendations
B) executive orders
C) civil service system
D) Spoils system
  • 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) Monarch may change the constitutution
C) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
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) none of these
B) reliable
C) boycott
D) ratify
  • 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) Constitution
B) none of these
C) Charter
D) Confederation
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) Declarations of independence
B) Magna Carta
C) English Constitution
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) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
D) Representation in the two houses of Congress
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) voting rights
B) family
C) school
D) ideology
  • 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 wording of the questions
B) the type of poll used
C) the order of the questions
D) the number of the questions asked
  • 31. All of the following are elements of ideology EXCEPT
A) basic beliefs about freedom
B) basic beliefs about opportunity
C) basic beliefs about happiness
D) basic beliefs about equality
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) serving as a gatekeeper
B) disciplining corrupt politicians
C) informing the public
D) acting as a watchdog
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 1st Amendment
B) 2nd Amendment
C) Articles of Confederation
D) 4th Amendment
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) Public Opinion
B) None of these
C) Polling
D) Censorship
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Censorship
B) Public Opinion
C) Reverse Polling
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) Reverse polling
B) posterizing
C) poll differential
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) exit poll
C) sample poll
D) real 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 speaker of the house
C) the VP and President
D) the chief justice
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) slightly positive way
B) extremely positive way
C) negative way
D) neutral way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) cut down on political spending
B) write legislation with lawmakers
C) can control the media
D) promote minority viewpoints
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
B) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
C) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
D) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) lobbying
B) approval
C) none of these
D) endorsement
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) professional group
B) none of these
C) case based group
D) trade organization
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) uniparty
B) one party
C) multiparty
D) two party
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Local and Federal
B) Local, City and State
C) Local, State and National
D) Town, City and County
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) wealthy
B) monarchies
C) dictatorships
D) at way
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) political extremism
B) political moderation
C) voter apathy
D) corruption
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) preprimary elections
B) primary elections
C) federal elections
D) general elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) a tax to finance primary elections
B) money paid to cast a ballot
C) money paid for the printing of ballots
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) telephone
C) mail
D) fax
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) educational background
B) age
C) residence
D) registration status
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) plural and singular
B) special and general
C) secondary and tertiary
D) multiparty and singleparty
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 4th
B) 1st
C) 3rd
D) 5th
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 1st
C) 4th
D) 9th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 1st
B) 2nd
C) 5th
D) 6th
  • 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) 5th & 8th
B) 5th & 6th
C) 4th & 5th
D) 1st & 2nd
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) assemble
B) vote
C) voice an opinion
D) be tried publicly
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 6th
B) 8th
C) 3rd
D) 1st
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
B) none of these
C) Decide if a defendant is guilty
D) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
  • 63. In a criminal case, who is the prosecuter?
A) The state
B) The accuser
C) The supreme court
D) none of these
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 10th
B) 9th
C) 3rd
D) 1st
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
B) None of these
C) a good movie with Ashley Judd
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) 29 days in jail
B) $10K fine
C) death
D) 10 years in prison
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Civil Trial
B) Criminal Trial
C) Personal 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) December 15, 1791
C) December 7, 1787
D) September 15, 1787
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) Civil Justice Amendments
B) None of these
C) Civil Rights Amendments
D) Civil War Amendments
  • 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) Poll Tax
B) Income Tax
C) Sur-Tax
D) Taxes
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 18th
B) 15th
C) 16th
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) 18 year old suffrage
C) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
D) Women's Lib Amendment
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