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Worksheets

State Government

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 1hrs 6mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The Pennsylvania government allows for what process?

a)

direct initiative

b)

Pennsylvania does not have any of these processes.

c)

recall

d)

indirect initiative

2.

Federalism is a system whereby national government and state governments

a)

share all powers.

b)

divide all powers.

c)

share some powers and divide others.

d)

change powers from time to time.

3.

The PA legislature is called what?

a)

Senate

b)

Congress

c)

House of Representatives

d)

General Assembly

4.

What would be an example of an excise tax ("sin tax")?

a)

A tax on the sale of alcohol.

b)

A tax on your property.

c)

A tax on your income.

d)

A tax on imports.

5.

Which of the following is a major responsibility of state governments?

a)

declaring war

b)

making treaties with other countries

c)

providing public education

d)

coining money

6.

States raise most of their money from

a)

bonds.

b)

lotteries.

c)

categorical grants.

d)

taxes.

7.

What is an example of a concurrent (shared) power within the system of Federalism, that states heavily rely on to fund state government?

a)

The power to tax and borrow money.

b)

The power to prosecute crimes.

c)

The power to coin money.

d)

The power to declare war.

8.

The power of recall is

a)

the ability to use evidence from past rulings to determine current issues.

b)

a process for removing elected officials from office.

c)

a procedure used by Congress to review a bill.

d)

the ability of the President to reconvene Congress.

9.

True or False? The structure of the Pennsylvania state government is very similar to the structure of the federal government.

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

10.

The responsibilities of the state courts include all of the following EXCEPT

a)

act as a check on the state's legislative and executive branches.

b)

decide on the constitutionality of state laws.

c)

define the division of power between the state and federal governments.

d)

protect the rights and freedoms of each of their state's citizens.

11.

The major difference between an initiative and a referendum is that an initiative

a)

begins with citizens, while the referendum begins with the legislature offering a bill to citizens for approval or rejection.

b)

is a proposed bill offered by citizens, while a referendum is a bill rejected by citizens.

c)

is used to create new programs, while a referendum is used to halt funding on an existing program.

d)

is a check on the executive branch, while the referendum is a check on the judicial branch.

12.

One unique distinction from the presidency of a state governor is that they can

a)

line item veto legislation

b)

declare war

c)

appoint all judges

d)

sign bills into laws

13.

True or False? A major expenditure of the Pennsylvania state government is Medicaid.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

Which of the following executive officers is responsible for official records and documents as well as election supervision?

a)

the lieutenant governor

b)

the attorney general

c)

the secretary of state

d)

the governor

15.

A categorical grant differs from a block grant in that it

a)

is given for a more general purpose than a block grant.

b)

is not granted by the federal government.

c)

is given for a more specific purpose than a block grant.

d)

does not come with any conditions that must be met by the state.

16.

The three levels of the state court system, from least to most powerful, are

a)

trial courts, appeals courts, and the supreme court.

b)

the supreme court, trial courts, and appeals courts.

c)

appeals courts, trial courts, and the supreme court.

d)

trial courts, the supreme court, and the appeals courts.

17.

States receive money from the federal government in the form of

a)

grants.

b)

bonds.

c)

lotteries.

d)

taxes.

18.

What is an example of a similarity between the office of president and the office of governor?

a)

Both appoint all judges

b)

Both can deploy troops overseas

c)

Both can pardon individuals accused of crimes

d)

Both can appoint ambassadors

19.

What executive branch role is head prosecutor for the state?

a)

the governor

b)

the secretary of state

c)

the lieutenant governor

d)

the attorney general

20.

Pennsylvania's judges are _______ to office.

a)
elected
b)

appointed

c)

hired

d)

forced in