Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) Articles of Confederation
B) New England Confederation
C) Declaration of Independence
D) US Constitution
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) The abolishment of Magna Carta
B) Independence from Great Britain
C) Ratification of the Constitution
D) The Stamp Act
  • 3. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) charter
B) New England Confederation
C) Constitution
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) promoting respect for the law
D) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) implied by the constitution
B) too complex to understand
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) other branches
C) armed forces and the president
D) states
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) cabinet
B) Judicial Branch
C) Legislative Branch
D) Executive Branch
  • 8. The framers of the Constitution desired a national government that would do all of the following except
A) discourage concentration of power
B) decrease taxes
C) respect the rights of states
D) serve the public good
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) concurrent powers
B) reserved powers
C) expressed powers
D) inherent powers
  • 10. Allows Congress to stretch its authority in ways not specifically granted nor denied to it by the Constitution
A) Inherent Powers
B) Enabling act
C) extradition
D) Elastic Clause
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) Aristocrats
B) appropriations
C) constituents
D) PACs
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) regulate foreign trade
B) govern the District of Columbia
C) tax exports
D) borrow money
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) expressed powers
B) reserved powers
C) implied powers
D) inherent powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every 20 years
B) every 10 years
C) every 6 years
D) every year
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) executive privilege
B) plank
C) reprieve
D) popular vote
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) executive privilege
B) Presidential succession
C) executive agreement
D) electoral college
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) party platform
B) reprieve
C) electoral college
D) caucuses
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Foreign Policy
B) Executive Vote
C) Diplomatic Policy
D) Executive agreement
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) civil service system
B) Spoils system
C) executive orders
D) speaker's recommendations
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) Government officials
B) lawyers
C) Secretaries
D) Executive assistants
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Monarch may change the constitutution
B) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
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) maintaining order
C) providing services
D) resolving conflict
  • 23. Official Approval
A) none of these
B) ratify
C) boycott
D) reliable
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) prohibit
B) none of these
C) ratify
D) boycott
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Charter
B) Confederation
C) Constitution
D) none of these
  • 26. "Great Charter" that restricted the monarch's authority
A) English Constitution
B) Magna Carta
C) Magma Serta
D) Declarations of independence
  • 27. The Great Compromise concerned
A) The question of slavery in the States
B) Representation in the two houses of Congress
C) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
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) costly
B) opinionated
C) political
D) scientific
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the number of the questions asked
B) the wording of the questions
C) the type of poll used
D) the order of the questions
  • 31. All of the following are elements of ideology EXCEPT
A) basic beliefs about opportunity
B) basic beliefs about equality
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) disciplining corrupt politicians
C) serving as a gatekeeper
D) acting as a watchdog
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) Articles of Confederation
B) 1st Amendment
C) 4th Amendment
D) 2nd Amendment
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) Public Opinion
B) Polling
C) None of these
D) Censorship
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Public Opinion
B) Reverse Polling
C) Polling
D) Censorship
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) sampling
B) polling
C) public opinion
D) reverse polling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) poll differential
B) posterizing
C) Reverse polling
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) real poll
C) electoral poll
D) exit poll
  • 39. Lawsuits against tobacco companies by plaintiffs who have alleged smoking related illnesses are examples of
A) successful lobbying by non smokers
B) medical interest group projects
C) gerrymandering
D) class action suits
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) the speaker of the house
B) the chief justice
C) the VP and President
D) Government agencies and lawmakers
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) neutral way
B) slightly positive way
C) extremely 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) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
B) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
C) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
D) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) endorsement
B) lobbying
C) none of these
D) approval
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) case based group
B) none of these
C) trade organization
D) professional group
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) two party
B) uniparty
C) one party
D) multiparty
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Town, City and County
B) Local and Federal
C) Local, State and National
D) Local, City and State
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) wealthy
B) monarchies
C) at way
D) dictatorships
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) corruption
B) voter apathy
C) political extremism
D) political moderation
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) general elections
B) preprimary elections
C) primary elections
D) federal elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) money paid for the printing of ballots
B) a tax to finance primary elections
C) charged if a person voted more than once
D) money paid to cast a ballot
  • 52. In some states, citizens are allowed to vote by which of the following methods?
A) telephone
B) internet
C) fax
D) mail
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) registration status
B) residence
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) 1st
B) 4th
C) 5th
D) 3rd
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 9th
B) 4th
C) 5th
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) 4th
B) 6th
C) 5th
D) 1st
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 5th & 8th
B) 4th & 5th
C) 1st & 2nd
D) 5th & 6th
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) vote
B) be tried publicly
C) assemble
D) voice an opinion
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 1st
B) 6th
C) 8th
D) 3rd
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
B) Decide if a defendant is guilty
C) none of these
D) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
  • 63. In a criminal case, who is the prosecuter?
A) The state
B) none of these
C) The accuser
D) The supreme court
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 10th
B) 3rd
C) 9th
D) 1st
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) cannot be tried for the same crime twice
B) the highest $$ you can win with one question
C) a good movie with Ashley Judd
D) None of these
  • 66. What is the worst punishment you can receive if convicted in a criminal trial
A) 29 days in jail
B) $10K fine
C) 10 years in prison
D) death
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Personal Trial
B) Judge Judy Trial
C) Criminal Trial
D) Civil Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 4th
B) 8th
C) 1st
D) 10th
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) September 15, 1787
B) December 7, 1787
C) December 15, 1791
D) December 1, 1791
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) Civil War Amendments
B) Civil Justice Amendments
C) Civil Rights Amendments
D) None of these
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 25th
B) 12th
C) 20th
D) 19th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Progressivism
B) Prohibition
C) Repeal of Prohibition
D) Suffrage
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Taxes
B) Sur-Tax
C) Income Tax
D) Poll Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 18th
B) 16th
C) 17th
D) 15th
  • 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) Women's Lib Amendment
C) 18 year old suffrage
D) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
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