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Civics: Fall Semester Exam
Contributed by: Werth
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) Articles of Confederation
B) US Constitution
C) Declaration of Independence
D) New England Confederation
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) The Stamp Act
B) The abolishment of Magna Carta
C) Independence from Great Britain
D) Ratification of the Constitution
  • 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) Providing justice without mercy
B) allowing people to make choices
C) promoting respect for the law
D) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
  • 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) states
B) other branches
C) cabinet
D) armed forces and the president
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) Legislative Branch
B) cabinet
C) Executive Branch
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) respect the rights of states
C) discourage concentration of power
D) serve the public good
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) reserved powers
B) inherent powers
C) expressed powers
D) concurrent 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) Elastic Clause
D) Inherent Powers
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) appropriations
B) constituents
C) Aristocrats
D) PACs
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) borrow money
B) govern the District of Columbia
C) tax exports
D) regulate foreign trade
  • 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 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) popular vote
C) plank
D) reprieve
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) Presidential succession
B) executive agreement
C) electoral college
D) executive privilege
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) reprieve
B) electoral college
C) caucuses
D) party platform
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Executive agreement
B) Foreign Policy
C) Executive Vote
D) Diplomatic Policy
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) civil service system
B) speaker's recommendations
C) executive orders
D) Spoils system
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) lawyers
B) Secretaries
C) Government officials
D) Executive assistants
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Head of state is a hereditary position
B) Monarch may change the constitutution
C) Monarch is elected every four years.
D) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
  • 22. All of the following are central functions of a government EXCEPT
A) pursuing truth
B) maintaining order
C) providing services
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) none of these
C) boycott
D) prohibit
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Constitution
B) Confederation
C) Charter
D) none of these
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) Magma Serta
B) Magna Carta
C) English Constitution
D) Declarations of independence
  • 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) school
B) voting rights
C) family
D) ideology
  • 29. George Gallups polling technique was better than other methods used because it was more
A) scientific
B) opinionated
C) costly
D) political
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the type of poll used
B) the number of the questions asked
C) the wording of the questions
D) the order of the questions
  • 31. All of the following are elements of ideology EXCEPT
A) basic beliefs about freedom
B) basic beliefs about equality
C) basic beliefs about happiness
D) basic beliefs about opportunity
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) disciplining corrupt politicians
B) serving as a gatekeeper
C) informing the public
D) acting as a watchdog
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) 1st Amendment
B) Articles of Confederation
C) 2nd Amendment
D) 4th Amendment
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) None of these
B) Public Opinion
C) Censorship
D) Polling
  • 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) public opinion
B) polling
C) sampling
D) reverse polling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) posterizing
B) Sampling error
C) Reverse polling
D) poll differential
  • 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) real 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) successful lobbying by non smokers
C) gerrymandering
D) class action suits
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) Government agencies and lawmakers
B) the chief justice
C) the VP and President
D) the speaker of the house
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) negative way
B) slightly positive way
C) extremely positive way
D) neutral way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) write legislation with lawmakers
B) cut down on political spending
C) promote minority viewpoints
D) can control the media
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
B) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
C) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
D) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) endorsement
B) none of these
C) lobbying
D) approval
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) trade organization
B) professional group
C) case based group
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) Town, City and County
B) Local, State and National
C) Local and Federal
D) Local, City and State
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) at way
B) monarchies
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) federal elections
B) primary elections
C) preprimary elections
D) general 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) telephone
B) mail
C) internet
D) fax
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) residence
B) educational background
C) registration status
D) age
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) multiparty and singleparty
B) plural and singular
C) special and general
D) secondary and tertiary
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 4th
B) 5th
C) 3rd
D) 1st
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 4th
C) 1st
D) 9th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 1st
B) 6th
C) 2nd
D) 5th
  • 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) 4th & 5th
C) 5th & 6th
D) 1st & 2nd
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) be tried publicly
B) assemble
C) voice an opinion
D) vote
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 8th
B) 6th
C) 1st
D) 3rd
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if a defendant is guilty
B) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
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 supreme court
B) The state
C) The accuser
D) none of these
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 3rd
B) 9th
C) 10th
D) 1st
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) None of these
B) a good movie with Ashley Judd
C) the highest $$ you can win with one question
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) death
B) 29 days in jail
C) 10 years in prison
D) $10K fine
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Criminal Trial
B) Personal Trial
C) Civil Trial
D) Judge Judy Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 8th
B) 1st
C) 10th
D) 4th
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) December 15, 1791
B) December 7, 1787
C) September 15, 1787
D) December 1, 1791
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) Civil Rights Amendments
B) None of these
C) Civil War Amendments
D) Civil Justice Amendments
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 25th
B) 19th
C) 20th
D) 12th
  • 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) Poll Tax
B) Income Tax
C) Taxes
D) Sur-Tax
  • 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) 18 year old suffrage
B) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
C) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
D) Women's Lib Amendment
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