Grade 12 United States GovernemnUnit 1 Assessment

Which one of the following characteristics is most likely to be found in an unlimited government?

• Freedom of speech

• Multi-party system

• One-party system (one party dominates the politics)

• Protection of human rights comes from the constitution

In a limited government, the rights of the governed are typically detailed in what type of document?

• Constitution

• Declaration of independence

• Federal code

• Political party platform

Which philosopher believed that a government headed by a king was the best form and maintained that the social contract was an agreement only among the people and not between them and their king?

• Thomas Hobbes

• John Locke

• Baron de Montesquieu

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

According to John Locke, which of the following existed as natural rights within the state of nature and could, therefore, never be taken away?

• Divine right

• Checks and balances

• Life, liberty, and property

• Law and order

According to the excerpt above from the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which of the following is NOT true regarding the legislative powers of the State?

• They should be separate and distinct from the judicial powers.

• The legislative branch should be the supreme branch of government with the most powers.

• Members of the legislative branch should be freely elected by the people.

• The legislative branch cannot tax or deprive the people of their property without their consent.

According to James Madison, what is the governing principle that must be made commensurate to the danger of attack?

• Checks and balances

• Representative government

• Executive privilege

• Popular sovereignty

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on government?

• Favored a weak central government and strong state governments

• Believed the creation of a bill of rights was necessary

• Favored the legislative branch having more power than the executive

• Believed a large republic ensured the best protection of individual freedoms

What is the purpose of checks and balances?

• It ensures that no branch becomes too powerful

• It determines if a law is unconstitutional

• It provides the citizens with representatives

• It divides the power between the state and federal governments

Which of the following best exemplified the concept of 'rule of law' in the U.S. Constitution?

• The President's ability to issue executive orders without Congressional approval

• The requirement that all citizens must pay taxes to support the government

• The principle that no one is above the law, including government officials

• The power of Congress to impeach and remove a sitting President or other government officials

Which of the following is not a right listed in the Bill of Rights?

• Freedom of speech, press, religion

• Equal protection under the law

• The right to a speedy and public trial

• The powers not delegated to the United States is reserved to the States