Civics: Fall Semester Exam
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) US Constitution
B) Articles of Confederation
C) New England Confederation
D) Declaration of Independence
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) Ratification of the Constitution
B) The Stamp Act
C) Independence from Great Britain
D) The abolishment of Magna Carta
  • 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) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
B) promoting respect for the law
C) allowing people to make choices
D) Providing justice without mercy
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) listed in the Bill of Rights
B) implied by the constitution
C) specified in footnotes to amendments
D) too complex to understand
  • 6. Under the Constitution's system of checks and balances, each branch of government can restrict the powers of the
A) states
B) cabinet
C) armed forces and the president
D) other branches
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) cabinet
B) Judicial Branch
C) Executive Branch
D) Legislative Branch
  • 8. The framers of the Constitution desired a national government that would do all of the following except
A) serve the public good
B) discourage concentration of power
C) respect the rights of states
D) decrease taxes
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) reserved powers
B) inherent 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) Inherent Powers
B) Enabling act
C) extradition
D) Elastic Clause
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) PACs
B) constituents
C) appropriations
D) Aristocrats
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) govern the District of Columbia
B) regulate foreign trade
C) borrow money
D) tax exports
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) implied powers
B) reserved powers
C) inherent powers
D) expressed powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every year
B) every 20 years
C) every 6 years
D) every 10 years
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) reprieve
B) plank
C) executive privilege
D) popular vote
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) electoral college
B) Presidential succession
C) executive privilege
D) executive agreement
  • 17. Group of people chosen to vote for the vice president and president
A) caucuses
B) reprieve
C) party platform
D) electoral college
  • 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) Spoils system
B) speaker's recommendations
C) executive orders
D) civil service system
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) Executive assistants
B) Secretaries
C) lawyers
D) Government officials
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Monarch may change the constitutution
B) Monarch is elected every four years.
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) resolving conflict
C) maintaining order
D) providing services
  • 23. Official Approval
A) none of these
B) ratify
C) boycott
D) reliable
  • 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) Charter
B) Constitution
C) Confederation
D) none of these
  • 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) Representation in the two houses of Congress
B) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
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) ideology
B) voting rights
C) family
D) school
  • 29. George Gallups polling technique was better than other methods used because it was more
A) opinionated
B) scientific
C) costly
D) political
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the wording of the questions
B) the order of the questions
C) the type of poll used
D) the number of the questions asked
  • 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) 2nd Amendment
B) 1st Amendment
C) Articles of Confederation
D) 4th Amendment
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) Polling
B) Public Opinion
C) Censorship
D) None of these
  • 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) sampling
D) polling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) poll differential
B) Sampling error
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) class action suits
B) gerrymandering
C) medical interest group projects
D) successful lobbying by non smokers
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) the VP and President
B) the chief justice
C) Government agencies and lawmakers
D) the speaker of the house
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) neutral way
B) extremely positive way
C) slightly positive way
D) negative way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) cut down on political spending
B) can control the media
C) promote minority viewpoints
D) write legislation with lawmakers
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
B) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
C) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
D) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) approval
B) endorsement
C) none of these
D) lobbying
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) none of these
B) professional group
C) trade organization
D) case based group
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) one party
B) two party
C) uniparty
D) multiparty
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Local, City and State
B) Town, City and County
C) Local and Federal
D) Local, State and National
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) at way
B) dictatorships
C) monarchies
D) wealthy
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) political moderation
B) corruption
C) voter apathy
D) political extremism
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) general elections
B) federal elections
C) preprimary elections
D) primary elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) money paid to cast a ballot
B) a tax to finance primary elections
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) fax
B) telephone
C) mail
D) internet
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) residence
B) registration status
C) age
D) educational background
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) plural and singular
B) multiparty and singleparty
C) special and general
D) secondary and tertiary
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 5th
B) 3rd
C) 1st
D) 4th
  • 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) 2nd
C) 5th
D) 6th
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 6th
C) 1st
D) 4th
  • 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) be tried publicly
B) voice an opinion
C) assemble
D) vote
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 1st
B) 8th
C) 3rd
D) 6th
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) none of these
B) Decide if a defendant is guilty
C) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
D) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
  • 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) 9th
B) 3rd
C) 10th
D) 1st
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) the highest $$ you can win with one question
B) None of these
C) a good movie with Ashley Judd
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) $10K fine
B) 10 years in prison
C) death
D) 29 days in jail
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Civil Trial
B) Personal Trial
C) Judge Judy Trial
D) Criminal 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 15, 1791
B) September 15, 1787
C) December 1, 1791
D) December 7, 1787
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) Civil Rights Amendments
B) Civil Justice Amendments
C) None of these
D) Civil War Amendments
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 19th
B) 20th
C) 25th
D) 12th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Suffrage
B) Repeal of Prohibition
C) Progressivism
D) Prohibition
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Taxes
B) Poll Tax
C) Income Tax
D) Sur-Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 16th
B) 17th
C) 18th
D) 15th
  • 75. Afer the Vietnam War, the 26th Amendment was added to the Constitution, what was this amendment called?
A) Women's Lib Amendment
B) Non Prohibition for 18 year olds
C) 18 year old suffrage
D) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
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