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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) Ratification of the Constitution
B) The abolishment of Magna Carta
C) The Stamp Act
D) Independence from Great Britain
  • 3. Principles and laws that are the foundation of a nation's government
A) Constitution
B) delegates
C) New England Confederation
D) charter
  • 4. All of the following are principles of a democracy EXCEPT:
A) allowing people to make choices
B) recognizing the worth and dignity of each person
C) promoting respect for the law
D) Providing justice without mercy
  • 5. Many of Congress' powers are
A) too complex to understand
B) listed in the Bill of Rights
C) implied by the constitution
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) states
D) armed forces and the president
  • 7. Which of the following bodies holds the "power of the purse"
A) Executive Branch
B) cabinet
C) Judicial 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) decrease taxes
C) discourage concentration of power
D) respect the rights of states
  • 9. Powers that are shared by the federal government and state governments are known as
A) inherent powers
B) expressed powers
C) concurrent powers
D) reserved 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) Elastic Clause
D) extradition
  • 11. Branches of interest groups that provide funds to candidates
A) Aristocrats
B) constituents
C) PACs
D) appropriations
  • 12. Congress has all of the following powers except the power to
A) tax exports
B) borrow money
C) govern the District of Columbia
D) regulate foreign trade
  • 13. What type of powers result from the elastic clause
A) reserved powers
B) implied powers
C) inherent powers
D) expressed powers
  • 14. How often is the census taken?
A) every year
B) every 20 years
C) every 10 years
D) every 6 years
  • 15. One issue contained in a party platform
A) reprieve
B) executive privilege
C) plank
D) popular vote
  • 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) electoral college
B) caucuses
C) reprieve
D) party platform
  • 18. Informal agreement with the government of another country?
A) Foreign Policy
B) Executive agreement
C) Executive Vote
D) Diplomatic Policy
  • 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) lawyers
C) Secretaries
D) Government officials
  • 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) providing services
B) resolving conflict
C) pursuing truth
D) maintaining order
  • 23. Official Approval
A) ratify
B) none of these
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) Constitution
B) none of these
C) Charter
D) Confederation
  • 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) Whether the chief executive should be a president or a king
C) Representation in the two houses of Congress
D) The addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution
  • 28. All of the following influence public opinion EXCEPT
A) voting rights
B) school
C) family
D) ideology
  • 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 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 freedom
B) basic beliefs about opportunity
C) basic beliefs about happiness
D) basic beliefs about equality
  • 32. All of the following are roles of the media except
A) disciplining corrupt politicians
B) acting as a watchdog
C) informing the public
D) serving as a gatekeeper
  • 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) Polling
B) Reverse Polling
C) Censorship
D) Public Opinion
  • 36. Questioning people about one or more issue
A) public opinion
B) reverse polling
C) polling
D) sampling
  • 37. Percent below and above the results of a poll
A) Reverse polling
B) Sampling error
C) posterizing
D) poll differential
  • 38. A ???? occurs just after people have voted, and it surveys a small number of voters in randomly chosen precincts.
A) exit poll
B) electoral poll
C) real poll
D) sample poll
  • 39. Lawsuits against tobacco companies by plaintiffs who have alleged smoking related illnesses are examples of
A) gerrymandering
B) class action suits
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 speaker of the house
C) Government agencies and lawmakers
D) the chief justice
  • 41. Throughout history, lobbying typically has been thought of in a(n)
A) negative way
B) extremely positive way
C) slightly positive way
D) neutral way
  • 42. One of the main benefits of interest groups is that they
A) write legislation with lawmakers
B) can control the media
C) cut down on political spending
D) promote minority viewpoints
  • 43. the majority of lobbyists
A) have doctoral degrees and give cabinet advice on controversial issues
B) appear on television newscasts and give speeches about their concerns.
C) have luxurious offices and meet with the president frequently
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) trade organization
B) none of these
C) case based group
D) professional group
  • 46. All of the following are major types of party systems EXCEPT
A) multiparty
B) two party
C) uniparty
D) one party
  • 47. The types of party organization in the US are
A) Local, State and National
B) Town, City and County
C) Local and Federal
D) Local, City and State
  • 48. Many countries that have one party political systems are
A) monarchies
B) wealthy
C) dictatorships
D) at way
  • 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) primary elections
B) federal elections
C) general elections
D) preprimary elections
  • 51. A poll tax was
A) a tax to finance primary elections
B) charged if a person voted more than once
C) money paid for the printing of ballots
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) internet
D) mail
  • 53. All of the following factors determine whether a person can vote except
A) educational background
B) residence
C) registration status
D) age
  • 54. Besides primaries, what are the two types of elections?
A) special and general
B) multiparty and singleparty
C) plural and singular
D) secondary and tertiary
  • 55. What amendment protects you from having to testify against yourself
A) 4th
B) 3rd
C) 5th
D) 1st
  • 56. The Guarantee of religious and political freedoms are given to us in what amendment?
A) 1st
B) 9th
C) 4th
D) 5th
  • 57. The NRA are strong supporters of what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 2nd
C) 6th
D) 1st
  • 58. TLO v. New Jersey was a case involving what amendment?
A) 5th
B) 4th
C) 6th
D) 1st
  • 59. What two amendments protect those accused of a crime?
A) 5th & 6th
B) 4th & 5th
C) 5th & 8th
D) 1st & 2nd
  • 60. The Bill of Rights guaranteed all of the following except
A) assemble
B) voice an opinion
C) be tried publicly
D) vote
  • 61. What amendment allows us to have legal representation?
A) 3rd
B) 6th
C) 8th
D) 1st
  • 62. What does a grand jury do?
A) none of these
B) Decide if there is enough evidence to send case to trial
C) Decide if a defendant is guilty
D) Decide if evidence was obtained legally or not
  • 63. In a criminal case, who is the prosecuter?
A) The supreme court
B) none of these
C) The accuser
D) The state
  • 64. Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the people in what amendment?
A) 3rd
B) 9th
C) 1st
D) 10th
  • 65. What best describes double jeopardy
A) a good movie with Ashley Judd
B) None of these
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) 29 days in jail
B) death
C) $10K fine
D) 10 years in prison
  • 67. A trial between two parties concerning money is knows as
A) Civil Trial
B) Criminal Trial
C) Personal Trial
D) Judge Judy Trial
  • 68. What amendment protects you from excessive bails fines and punishments?
A) 8th
B) 1st
C) 4th
D) 10th
  • 69. What date was the Bill of Rights ratified?
A) December 1, 1791
B) December 15, 1791
C) December 7, 1787
D) September 15, 1787
  • 70. Amendments 13,14,15 are knows as the :
A) None of these
B) Civil War Amendments
C) Civil Justice Amendments
D) Civil Rights Amendments
  • 71. Women were given the right to vote with what amendment?
A) 19th
B) 12th
C) 25th
D) 20th
  • 72. The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale, consumption, and transportation of alcohol, what was this amendment called?
A) Repeal of Prohibition
B) Suffrage
C) Progressivism
D) Prohibition
  • 73. What did the 24th Amendment abolish
A) Sur-Tax
B) Income Tax
C) Taxes
D) Poll Tax
  • 74. The amendment that gives Uncle Sam the right to tax our income is
A) 16th
B) 15th
C) 17th
D) 18th
  • 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 suffrage
C) Women's Lib Amendment
D) 18 year old Selective Service Registration Amendment
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