Government 1st Semester Review

​Government First Semester Review

By Kimberly Bailey

Multiple Choice

What is a common criticism of the Electoral College system in the United States?

• It gives the incumbent candidate an unfair advantage

• It gives some states more influence than others.

• It reduces campaign spending in large states.

• It allows each state to select its own delegates.

Open Ended

Based on the trend in the table, what was likely the outcome of the 1994 midterm elections?

Multiple Choice

Which THREE scenarios would likely occur in the United States under the Articles of Confederation, but not the Constitution?

• I
• II
• III

• IV
• V

Open Ended

Which step is incorrect and why?

Multiple Choice

The United States government is a representative democracy. How do dictatorships differ from this type of government?

• In dictatorships, citizens vote for their leaders in elections.

• In dictatorships, many political parties are represented in the government.

• In dictatorships, citizens have little say in government affairs

• In dictatorships, government power is limited by checks and balances.

Multiple Choice

what is one key difference between being a citizen of American democracy and being a citizen of a totalitarian state?

• Citizens in American democracy have greater freedom of expression than citizens in totalitarian states.

• Citizens in American democracy have more restrictions on political participation than citizens in totalitarian states.

• Citizens in totalitarian states have more choices of candidates in elections than citizens in American democracy.

• Citizens in totalitarian states have greater influence on government policy than citizens in American democracy.

Multiple Choice

what is the role of the Electoral College in US elections?

• to confirm the popular vote

• to train political candidates

• to manage the election

• to elect the president

Multiple Choice

In order for a United States citizen to receive a fair trial, other citizens must

• evaluate judges

• vote in elections

• pay poll taxes

• serve on juries

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a responsibility of local government

• establishing a county postal service

• maintaining a city police force

• regulating interstate trade

• establishing a state's system of public education

Multiple Choice

In which example is Shawn, a citizen of Missouri, engaging in the activity that best reflects the direct democracy of ancient Greek city-states?

• Shawn campaigns to serve as mayor of a Missouri city.

• Shawn campaigns to represent Missouri in Congress.

• Shawn votes to approve a new state law in a referendum.

• Shawn votes for a candidate in a presidential election.

Multiple Choice

Which action by the governor of Georgia is an example of maintaining public safety?

• Delivering a speech to the General Assembly of Georgia

• Sending Georgia's National Guard to help after a disaster

• Working on Georgia's budget with the Secretary of Finance

• Attending a meeting on the Georgia economy

Multiple Choice

In 1857, Congress began requiring all states who entered the union to adopt a referendum process, and, beginning in 1898 with South Dakota, many states began adopting initiative processes. What BEST explains the reason for these developments?

• to improve the efficiency of state governments through representative democracy

• to provide checks on the power of leaders through representative democracy

• to give citizens the ability to influence lawmaking through direct democracy

• to create the capacity for citizens to remove elected leaders through direct democracy

Multiple Choice

The influence of this idea on the members of the Constitutional Convention is evident through

• the guarantee of due process rights.

• the separation of government powers.

• the emphasis on popular sovereignty.

• the establishment of a federal system.

Multiple Choice

What does Magna Carta show about people's relationship with their monarchs in the 1200s?

• People began to reject the social restrictions of the feudal system.

• People began to doubt that monarchs were God's representatives.

• People began to demand that monarchs respect their natural rights

• People began to believe that monarchs were chosen by God.

Multiple Choice

Which statement summarizes the original Federalist position on the Bill of Rights?

• Additional amendments were needed, given the constitution's lack of individual protections.

• Adopting the Bill of Rights was too risky because it might threaten ratification of the Constitution.

• The Bill of Rights should be adopted because national sovereignty should always come before states' rights.

• No amendments were needed, as the Constitution already had protections against excessive government power.

Multiple Choice

How is the number of representatives awarded to a state in the US House of Representatives determined?

• by the number of electoral districts in the state

• by the amount of taxes collected by the state

• by the geographical size of the state

• by the population of the stat

Multiple Choice

Why were the impeachment clauses incorporated into the US Constitution?

• to limit the influence of the US government over the state governments

• to enable citizens to directly control the actions of the government

• to prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful

• to make it easy for members of government to pass laws for the country

Multiple Choice

What political idea is best represented by the President Vetoing a Bill?

• judicial review

• Checks and Balances

• Direct Democracy

• Federalism

Multiple Choice

The Commerce clause and the Elastic clause of the Constitution are notable for

• expanding the authority of the states to conduct their own affairs.

• granting power to the legislative branch of the federal government

• granting power to the executive branch of the federal government

• expanding the authority of court systems to resolve disputes

Multiple Choice

The principle of United States government that is best illustrated in this headline is

• popular sovereignty

• representative democracy

• concurrent and reserved powers

• checks and balances

Multiple Choice

Which is necessary to amend the Constitution of the United States?

• Majority vote by the Electoral College

• Unanimous vote by both houses of Congress

• Ratification by legislatures or conventions in the state

• Recommendation by the executive and judicial branches in the states

Multiple Choice

The filibuster is an important process for

• maintaining separation of powers.

• enabling direct democracy.

• ensuring majority rule.

• protecting minority rights.

Multiple Choice

Which congressional power did the Senate use in the described example?

• Congress's investigative powers

• Congress's legislative powers

• Congress's advice and consent powers

• Congress's appointment confirmation powers

Multiple Choice

Which example illustrates the role of interest groups in the United States?

• The American Psychiatric Association files an amicus brief endorsing legal access to marriage for same-sex couples in the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges.

• The Democratic National Committee recruits a popular celebrity to run for governor of a swing state on a platform of raising corporate taxes and promoting clean energy.

• A former president of the United States accepts a large sum of money from a publishing company in exchange for the rights to the president’s memoirs.

• A wealthy individual uses their personal wealth to fund a campaign to secure the Republican Party nomination for president of the United States.

Multiple Choice

When interest group members write a letter to representatives to vote a certain way on an issue, this is called

• demonstrating

• lobbying

• policymaking

• campaigning

Multiple Choice

Other than the impeachment process, what allows for the removal of the president of the United States from office?

• the Elastic Clause, granting Congress the power to carry out its duties

• Article III, outlining the power and structure of the federal judicial branch

• the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, concerning vacancies in the presidency

• Article II, outlining the power and structure of the federal executive branch

Multiple Choice

The Articles of the Constitution include the Supremacy Clause, which states that

• State laws are supreme over federal laws

• Federal laws are supreme over state laws

• Local laws are supreme over state laws

• All laws are equal

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an enumerated power of Congress?

• Regulating education

• Declaring War

• Issuing driver's licenses

• Conducting Elections

Multiple Choice

This is a permanent committee in Congress that oversees bills that deal with certain kinds of issues.

• Joint Committee

• Select Committee

• Standing Committee

• Conference Committee

Multiple Choice

“We the People of the United States do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” – this quote from the Constitution would pertain to what idea of government?

• Rule of Law

• Due Process

• Self Government

• Limited Government

Multiple Choice

What type of government has a national and state governments working together and sharing power?

• Unitary

• Federal

• Confederal

• Democracy

Multiple Choice

What type of democracy is the United States Congress an Example of?

• Direct Democracy

• Representative Democracy

• Parliamentary Democracy

• Fake Democracy

Multiple Choice

The passage is from Federalist 51, written by James Madison in 1788. Which constitutional principle does Madison describe in the passage?

• popular sovereignty

• Judicial Review

• Checks and Balances

• Separation of Powers

Multiple Choice

Why was the Three-Fifths Compromise created?

• to allow cloture to be invoked, ending a filibuster in the Senate, with the support of 60 senators

• to prescribe the proportion of states required to ratify a constitutional amendment

• to provide a formula by which slaves would be counted for states' representation in the House of Representatives

• to establish the percentage of votes necessary for electors to be chosen under the original provisions of the Electoral College system

Multiple Choice

What is the largest source of state revenue?

• Income Tax

• General Sales Tax

• Property Tax

• Ad Volerum Tax

Multiple Choice

What source of revenue pays for schools?

• Income Tax

• General Sales Tax

• Property Tax

• Ad Volerum Tax

Multiple Choice

One way for people to become the mayor is to be elected by

• members of the Governor's cabinet

• legislative representatives of the county

• members of the General Assembly

• registered voters of the city

Multiple Select

I am ready for the Final Exam!

• Gonna Ace It!

• I will Pass

• Still need to study

• We have a Final Exam?