ThatQuiz Test Library Take this test now
Civics: Fall Semester Exam
Contributed by: Werth
  • 1. The nation's first plan of government was the
A) US Constitution
B) Declaration of Independence
C) New England Confederation
D) Articles of Confederation
  • 2. The Federalist Papers were written in support of
A) Independence from Great Britain
B) The Stamp Act
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) Constitution
B) New England Confederation
C) delegates
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) implied by the constitution
B) listed in the Bill of Rights
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) other branches
C) armed forces and the president
D) cabinet
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) cabinet
B) Executive Branch
C) Legislative Branch
D) Judicial 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) serve the public good
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) 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) Inherent Powers
B) Enabling act
C) extradition
D) Elastic Clause
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) appropriations
B) Aristocrats
C) PACs
D) constituents
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) regulate foreign trade
B) tax exports
C) govern the District of Columbia
D) borrow money
  • 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 6 years
B) every 20 years
C) every 10 years
D) every year
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) executive privilege
B) popular vote
C) reprieve
D) plank
  • 16. System that specifies who becomes leader of executive branch if the presidency becomes vacant
A) executive agreement
B) electoral college
C) executive privilege
D) Presidential succession
  • 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) Diplomatic Policy
B) Executive agreement
C) Executive Vote
D) Foreign Policy
  • 19. Giving government jobs to political supporters as a favor
A) civil service system
B) speaker's recommendations
C) Spoils system
D) executive orders
  • 20. Heads of cabinet departments
A) Secretaries
B) Government officials
C) Executive assistants
D) lawyers
  • 21. In a constitutional monarchy, the
A) Citizens must obey the constitution only if the monarch requires it
B) Monarch may change the constitutution
C) Head of state is a hereditary position
D) Monarch is elected every four years.
  • 22. All of the following are central functions of a government EXCEPT
A) resolving conflict
B) providing services
C) pursuing truth
D) maintaining order
  • 23. Official Approval
A) reliable
B) boycott
C) ratify
D) none of these
  • 24. Refusal to buy or use certain goods
A) boycott
B) prohibit
C) ratify
D) none of these
  • 25. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Confederation
B) none of these
C) Charter
D) Constitution
  • 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 question of slavery in the States
B) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
C) Representation in the two houses of Congress
D) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) voting rights
B) school
C) ideology
D) family
  • 29. George Gallups polling technique was better than other methods used because it was more
A) opinionated
B) costly
C) scientific
D) political
  • 30. All of the following affect poll results except
A) the type of poll used
B) the wording of the questions
C) the number of the questions asked
D) the order 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) informing the public
B) acting as a watchdog
C) serving as a gatekeeper
D) disciplining corrupt politicians
  • 33. Ensures the freedom of the press
A) Articles of Confederation
B) 1st Amendment
C) 2nd Amendment
D) 4th Amendment
  • 34. Collective opinion of large numbers of people
A) Polling
B) Censorship
C) None of these
D) Public Opinion
  • 35. Restricting information or speech that is perceived as being unacceptable
A) Polling
B) Public Opinion
C) Reverse Polling
D) Censorship
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) sampling
B) polling
C) reverse polling
D) public opinion
  • 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) electoral poll
B) real poll
C) sample poll
D) exit 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) medical interest group projects
D) class action suits
  • 40. What are the main targets of interest group lobbyists?
A) the VP and President
B) Government agencies and lawmakers
C) the speaker of the house
D) the chief justice
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) extremely positive way
B) negative way
C) slightly positive 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) promote minority viewpoints
D) can control the media
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
B) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
C) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
D) are experts in their areas and maintain large staffs
  • 44. Public statement of support for a certain political candidate
A) approval
B) none of these
C) lobbying
D) endorsement
  • 45. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a(n)
A) case based group
B) professional group
C) trade organization
D) none of these
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) uniparty
B) one party
C) two party
D) multiparty
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Local, State and National
B) Local and Federal
C) Local, City and State
D) Town, City and County
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) wealthy
B) at way
C) dictatorships
D) monarchies
  • 49. A plurality electoral system usually results in
A) political moderation
B) voter apathy
C) corruption
D) political extremism
  • 50. US, Local, State and national leaders are elected in
A) general elections
B) preprimary elections
C) federal elections
D) primary 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) fax
C) mail
D) internet
  • 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) plural and singular
B) secondary and tertiary
C) multiparty and singleparty
D) special and general
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 3rd
B) 5th
C) 1st
D) 4th
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 1st
B) 4th
C) 5th
D) 9th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 2nd
B) 5th
C) 6th
D) 1st
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 4th
B) 1st
C) 6th
D) 5th
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 4th & 5th
B) 5th & 6th
C) 5th & 8th
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) 6th
B) 3rd
C) 1st
D) 8th
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) Decide if a defendant is guilty
B) none of these
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 supreme court
B) The accuser
C) The state
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) a good movie with Ashley Judd
B) the highest $$ you can win with one question
C) None of these
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) 10 years in prison
B) $10K fine
C) 29 days in jail
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) 8th
B) 10th
C) 4th
D) 1st
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) December 1, 1791
B) September 15, 1787
C) December 15, 1791
D) December 7, 1787
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) None of these
B) Civil Rights Amendments
C) Civil War Amendments
D) Civil Justice 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) Prohibition
C) Progressivism
D) Repeal of Prohibition
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Sur-Tax
B) Taxes
C) Poll Tax
D) Income Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 18th
B) 17th
C) 15th
D) 16th
  • 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) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
C) 18 year old suffrage
D) Women's Lib Amendment
Created with That Quiz — where test making and test taking are made easy for math and other subject areas.