Civics Review

Civics Review

Reviewing the elements of Civics in Mr. Cid's U.S. History

Multiple Choice

What were the Articles of Confederation?

• This was an alternate name for the Declaration of Independence

• America's first plan or system of government

• A series of books which expressed the ideas Americans hope to live up to

• A plan of government written by George Washington personally

Multiple Choice

What kind of government did the Articles of Confederation create for the new United States?

• A very weak central government, with most of the power being left to the states, which mostly did their own thing

• A strong central government, where the states had very little power and were closely united

• A system where each state was entirely its own country

• The Articles of Confederation did not specify how the new government would work

Multiple Choice

What was important about Shays' Rebellion?

• It made Americans realize that the Articles of Confederation worked well and provided a solid system of government

• It led to a second American revolution led by Thomas Jefferson in which he became the new president

• It scared people and made them realize that the Articles of Confederation were not working; if America was going to survive, it would need a better system of government

• It forced the country into a civil war, with Americans fighting against Americans

Multiple Choice

What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

• To write a new Constitution; they planned to get rid of the Articles from the start

• To amend, or make changes to the Articles of Confederation

• To split the country in half and form two new countries

• To negotiate union with Canada and return the United States to British control

Multiple Choice

After attempting to amend or change the Articles of Confederation, what did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention realize?

• The Articles had too many problems to fix; they would need do away with them and write a new plan of government from scratch

• The Articles of Confederation were fine as they were and should be kept as America's system of government

• With some fixes and amendments, the Articles of Confederation could remain America's system of government

• America could not function without Great Britain and should request to re-join the British Empire

Multiple Choice

What is a constitution?

• A declaration of independence from another country or empire

• A kind of election for a president

• A system of government where different groups are loosely related to each other, mostly doing their own thing

• A plan of government, a way to establish how a government works

Multiple Choice

What does ratification mean?

• Rejection

• Approval, certification, making official

• Cancellation

• Opposition

Multiple Choice

What did Federalists promise Anti-Federalists would be added to the Constitution to get them to ratify it?

• A Bill of Rights

• A limit on taxation

• An opt-out clause

• A promise that they would choose the first president

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between equal and proportional representation?

• Equal representation is based on population; proportional representation is the same for everyone

• Proportional representation is based on population; equal representation is the same for everyone

• There is no difference; these are two terms for the same thing

Multiple Choice

What was the Great Compromise?

• The compromise which said that 3/5 slaves would be counted as part of a state's population for the purpose of representation

• A compromise between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans which agreed to a bicameral Congress with one house based on population and another being equal for each state

• The peace treaty between the United States and Great Britain which ended the Revolutionary War

• The compromise which said that the United States would be a constitutional monarchy

Multiple Choice

The word bicameral means:

• A legislature (law-making body) with two houses or chambers

• A country with two kings

• A legislature has a single house or chamber

• A country is divided into two main regions

Multiple Choice

What was the 3/5s compromise

• The compromise which said that 3/5 slaves would be counted as part of a state's population for the purpose of representation

• A compromise between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans which agreed to a bicameral Congress with one house based on population and another being equal for each state

• The peace treaty between the United States and Great Britain which ended the Revolutionary War

• The compromise which said that the United States would be a constitutional monarchy

Multiple Choice

In a republic, the people:

• elect representatives to make laws

• directly create the laws themselves

Multiple Choice

What is popular sovereignty?

• Power belongs to the government and the people must obey the government

• Power belongs to the government and the government decides what rights it will allow the people

• The people have the power and decide how much power to give to their government

• There are no laws and people are permitted to do whatever they please

Multiple Choice

In the United States, how do we know what the limits of government power are? What document can we turn to know our rights and the limits of government power?

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Declaration of Independence

• Magna Carta

• The Constitution

Multiple Choice

What is separation of powers?

• A government with multiple levels (federal, state, local) which share power

• The idea that power should be divided into different branches, not concentrated in on person or group

• The idea that branches of government should check on each other and balance each other's power out

• A government with elected representatives

Multiple Choice

What is the job of the legislative branch?

• To make laws

• To carry out and enforce the law

• To interpret the law and apply it to specific cases

Multiple Choice

Who is the legislative branch in our country?

• Congress

• The President and those who work for the president

• The Supreme Court and lower courts

Multiple Select

Which of the following are the houses of Congress in the United States, according to the Constitution? Check all correct answers.

• The House of Burgesses

• The Senate

• The House of Commons

• The House of Representatives

Multiple Choice

What is a "bill" in Congress?

• An amount of money that needs to be paid

• The national debt of the United States

• A proposal for a law

• A letter from the Speaker of the House

Multiple Choice

What is the job of the executive branch?

• To make laws

• To carry out and enforce the law

• To interpret the law and apply it to specific cases

Multiple Choice

Who is the executive branch in our country?

• Congress

• The President and those who work for the president

• The Supreme Court and lower courts

Multiple Choice

True or False: with enough votes, Congress can override a presidential veto and turn a bill into a law without the President.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is the job of the judicial branch?

• To make laws

• To carry out and enforce the law

• To interpret the law and apply it to specific cases

Multiple Choice

Who is the judicial branch in our country?

• Congress

• The President and those who work for the president

• The Supreme Court and lower courts

Multiple Choice

Justices (judges) on the Supreme Court have the power of judicial review, which means they can declare laws to be constitutional or unconstitutional. If a law or part of a law goes against the Constitution, what happens to it?

• The Constitution must be amended or changed

• It cannot be a law, or the specific part cannot be law

• Congress must negotiate with the Supreme Court

• The Supreme Court is ignored and the law goes on

Multiple Choice

Which branch of government makes the laws?

• Legislative (Congress: Senate and House of Representatives)

• Executive (President, Vice President, Cabinet)

• Judicial (Supreme Court and lower courts)

Multiple Choice

Which branch of government carries out and enforces the law?

• Legislative (Congress: Senate and House of Representatives)

• Executive (President, Vice President, Cabinet)

• Judicial (Supreme Court and lower courts)

Multiple Choice

Which branch of government interprets the law and applies it to specific cases?

• Legislative (Congress: Senate and House of Representatives)

• Executive (President, Vice President, Cabinet)

• Judicial (Supreme Court and lower courts)

Multiple Choice

What is federalism?

• A loose association of states that can do whatever they want

• A system of government led by a president

• A system of government with different levels of government such as national, state, and local

• A system of government based on a code of law

Multiple Choice

What are the two main levels of the American federal system?

• Federal/national and state

• State and municipal

Multiple Choice

What are powers called which the Constitution specifically gives to the federal government?

• Enumerated/Delegated Powers

• Reserved Powers

• Concurrent Powers

Multiple Choice

The Constitution says that any powers not specifically given to the federal government are left to the states. These are called:

• Enumerated/Delegated Powers

• Reserved Powers

• Concurrent Powers

Multiple Choice

Powers which both the federal and state governments share are called:

• Enumerated/Delegated Powers

• Reserved Powers

• Concurrent Powers

Multiple Choice

What does it mean to amend the Constitution, as in an amendment?

• To make a change or addition

• To nullify the Constitution and write an entirely new Constitution

• To vote for a new President

• To nominate a justice to the Supreme Court

Multiple Choice

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, which list individual rights to be protected, are known as:

• Bills of Attainder

• Writs of Certiorari

• The Bill of Rights

• The Magna Carta

Open Ended

What are some examples of rights protected by the Bill of Rights in the Constitution? Why might it be important to protect these?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following means that the government must follow proper procedures to safeguard a person's rights before taking action against them or punishing them?

• Due process

• Extradition

• Liberty

• Naturalization

Multiple Choice

The formal process of becoming a citizen is called:

• Due process

• Extradition

• Liberty

• Naturalization