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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) Articles of Confederation
D) Declaration of Independence
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) The Stamp Act
B) Independence from Great Britain
C) The abolishment of Magna Carta
D) Ratification of the Constitution
  • 3. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) delegates
B) Constitution
C) New England Confederation
D) charter
  • 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) allowing people to make choices
D) Providing justice without mercy
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) too complex to understand
B) implied by the constitution
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) 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) Executive Branch
B) Legislative Branch
C) cabinet
D) Judicial Branch
  • 8. The framers of the Constitution desired a national government that would do all of the following except
A) decrease taxes
B) serve the public good
C) respect the rights of states
D) discourage concentration of power
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) concurrent powers
B) expressed powers
C) inherent powers
D) reserved powers
  • 10. Allows Congress to stretch its authority in ways not specifically granted nor denied to it by the Constitution
A) Enabling act
B) Elastic Clause
C) extradition
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) borrow money
B) govern the District of Columbia
C) regulate foreign trade
D) tax exports
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) implied powers
B) expressed powers
C) inherent powers
D) reserved 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) 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) caucuses
B) electoral college
C) party platform
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) Secretaries
C) Government officials
D) lawyers
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
B) Monarch is elected every four years.
C) Head of state is a hereditary position
D) Monarch may change the constitutution
  • 22. All of the following are central functions of a government EXCEPT
A) pursuing truth
B) maintaining order
C) resolving conflict
D) providing services
  • 23. Official Approval
A) none of these
B) reliable
C) ratify
D) boycott
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) ratify
B) boycott
C) prohibit
D) none of these
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) none of these
B) Constitution
C) Confederation
D) Charter
  • 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) Representation in the two houses of Congress
B) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
C) The question of slavery in the States
D) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) school
B) family
C) voting rights
D) ideology
  • 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 number of the questions asked
B) the type of poll used
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 freedom
D) basic beliefs about opportunity
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) serving as a gatekeeper
B) acting as a watchdog
C) informing the public
D) disciplining corrupt politicians
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 1st Amendment
B) 2nd Amendment
C) 4th Amendment
D) Articles of Confederation
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) Public Opinion
B) Censorship
C) None of these
D) Polling
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Reverse Polling
B) Censorship
C) Public Opinion
D) Polling
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) polling
B) public opinion
C) reverse polling
D) sampling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) posterizing
B) Reverse polling
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) sample poll
B) exit poll
C) electoral 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) the speaker of the house
B) Government agencies and lawmakers
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) negative way
C) neutral way
D) extremely positive 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) promote minority viewpoints
D) write legislation with lawmakers
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
B) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
C) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
D) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
  • 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) 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) uniparty
B) multiparty
C) one party
D) two party
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Local, City and State
B) Local, State and National
C) Local and Federal
D) Town, City and County
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) monarchies
B) at way
C) wealthy
D) dictatorships
  • 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) primary elections
B) preprimary elections
C) general elections
D) federal 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) educational background
B) residence
C) age
D) registration status
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) secondary and tertiary
B) special and general
C) plural and singular
D) multiparty and singleparty
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 5th
B) 4th
C) 3rd
D) 1st
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 4th
B) 1st
C) 9th
D) 5th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 2nd
C) 1st
D) 6th
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 4th
B) 5th
C) 1st
D) 6th
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 1st & 2nd
B) 5th & 8th
C) 5th & 6th
D) 4th & 5th
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) voice an opinion
B) assemble
C) vote
D) be tried publicly
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 8th
B) 3rd
C) 6th
D) 1st
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
B) Decide if a defendant is guilty
C) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
D) none of these
  • 63. In a criminal case, who is the prosecuter?
A) The accuser
B) The supreme court
C) The state
D) none of these
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 10th
B) 1st
C) 3rd
D) 9th
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) a good movie with Ashley Judd
B) the highest $$ you can win with one question
C) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
D) None of these
  • 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) Civil Trial
B) Personal Trial
C) Criminal Trial
D) Judge Judy Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 8th
B) 10th
C) 4th
D) 1st
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) September 15, 1787
B) December 1, 1791
C) December 7, 1787
D) December 15, 1791
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) None of these
B) Civil Justice Amendments
C) Civil War Amendments
D) Civil Rights Amendments
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 12th
B) 20th
C) 25th
D) 19th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Progressivism
B) Prohibition
C) Suffrage
D) Repeal of Prohibition
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Income Tax
B) Poll Tax
C) Sur-Tax
D) Taxes
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 17th
B) 18th
C) 16th
D) 15th
  • 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) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
C) Women's Lib Amendment
D) 18 year old suffrage
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