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EOC REVIEW: Foundations of American Government

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A written plan for government that describes the structure and powers of government is called a(n) . . .

a)

constitution.

b)

amendment.

c)

ordinance.

d)

legislature.

2.

A group of individual state governments that band together for a common purpose is called a(n) . . .

a)

confederation.

b)

parliament.

c)

colony.

d)

corporation.

3.

John Locke's ideas about the separation of powers inspired the Framers when they crafted the three-branch structure of the federal government under the Constitution.

a)

True

b)

False

4.

At the Constitutional Convention, delegates from the southern states wanted enslaved persons counted in a state's population to increase their power in the new House of Representatives.

a)

True

b)

False

5.

Why did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention decide to replace the Articles of Confederation?

a)

They were supposed to be replaced every 4 years.

b)

State legislatures demanded it.

c)

The government they created was too weak.

d)

The delegates had never favored them.

6.

What promise did the Federalists have to make about the Constitution to help win support for it's ratification?

a)

to abolish slavery

b)

to add a bill of rights

c)

to change it in 10 years

d)

to drop the Electoral College

7.

"This new national government will have the power to overwhelm the states and exercise tyranny over the people."

Which group would make such a statement about the Constitution?

a)

Anti-Federalists

b)

Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke

c)

Federalists

d)

Member of Shays' Rebellion

8.

What was the purpose of James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in writing The Federalist Papers?

a)

to criticize the Constitution

b)

to explain why the government under the Constitution would not work

c)

to praise the Articles of Confederation

d)

to win support for the Constitution

9.

In adding bills of rights to new state constitutions, Americans were inspired by . . .

a)

ancient Greece.

b)

the French Revolution.

c)

the English Bill of Rights.

d)

the US Constitution.

10.

Why was the national government under the Constitution stronger than the national government under the Articles of Confederation?

a)

It had the power to enforce its laws.

b)

The supremacy clause made state laws the highest in the land.

c)

It did not have the power to tax the people.

d)

State governments had been dissolved.

11.

The Great Compromise proposed by the committee headed by Roger Sherman called for . . .

a)

a two-house Congress.

b)

backing the New Jersey Plan.

c)

keeping the Articles of Confederation.

d)

creating the Supreme Court.

12.

The Virginia Plan contained the main features of the federal government today, including . . .

a)

a bill of rights.

b)

government departments.

c)

income taxes.

d)

three separate branches.

13.

The New Jersey Plan called for all of these features EXCEPT . . .

a)

a unicameral legislature.

b)

each state got one vote.

c)

expanded powers for Congress.

d)

a court system with judges.

14.

Under the Three-Fifths Compromise . . .

a)

every 3 slaves = 5 persons.

b)

slaves could only be counted on 3 plantations.

c)

3/5 of slaves counted toward seats in Congress.

d)

only 5 slaves from each plantation could be counted.

15.

The group of delegates who actually select the president and vice president are . . .

a)

the Constitutional Convention.

b)

the Electoral College.

c)

the Legislative Branch.

d)

the Rule of Law.

16.

_______________ convinced many national leaders that the Articles of Confederation were too weak to govern the country.

a)

Shays' Rebellion

b)

The Boston Tea Party

c)

The Three-Fifths Compromise

d)

The Northwest Ordinance

17.

States had less power under the Articles of Confederation than they have under the Constitution.

a)

True

b)

False

18.

divided into two parts, or houses

a)

bicameral

b)

ordinance

c)

legislation

d)

ratify

19.

In what way was it difficult to amend the Articles of Confederation?

a)

A majority of voters in each state had to approve a change.

b)

Changes had to be approved by a special court.

c)

One state could block a change.

d)

States had to vote to approve amendments twice.

20.

During Shays' Rebellion, an armed group of citizens showed the weakness of the Confederation government by . . .

a)

attacking a federal arsenal.

b)

attacking state tax officials.

c)

burning down buildings.

d)

stealing money from banks.

21.

Which state was the first to write and adopt a state constitution?

a)

Georgia

b)

New York

c)

Florida

d)

New Hampshire

22.

Why is the first national government of the US called a "confederation?"

a)

States were dependent on each other.

b)

States were relatively independent.

c)

States were stronger than local government.

d)

States were weaker than the national government.

23.

The Northwest Territory was bounded by . . .

a)

the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains.

b)

the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.

c)

the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

d)

the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

24.

One purpose of the Articles of Confederation was . . .

a)

it brought the colonies together to win independence.

b)

to limit the power of the states.

c)

to control trade between the colonies.

d)

to establish a national court system.

25.

The law that set rules for surveying and selling land in the Northwest Territory was the . . .

a)

Ordinance of 1785

b)

Northwest Ordinance.

c)

Articles of Confederation.

d)

Three-Fifths Compromise.

26.

The law that set rules for governing the new lands in the Northwest Territory was the . . .

a)

Northwest Ordinance.

b)

Ordinance of 1785.

c)

Great Compromise.

d)

Proclamation of 1763.

27.

a law

a)

ordinance

b)

constitution

c)

article

d)

confederation

28.

The Constitution was written by . . .

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

James Madison

c)

Alexander Hamiltion

d)

John Adams

29.

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called . . .

a)

the Bill of Rights.

b)

the Federalist Papers.

c)

the Supremacy Clause.

d)

the Articles of Confederation.

30.

A bill must pass both houses of Congress and be approved by the President to become law.

a)

True

b)

False

31.

How many articles are there to the Constitution?

a)

7

b)

27

c)

10

d)

19

32.

Which Article of the Constitution lays out the powers of the Legislative Branch?

a)

Article I

b)

Article II

c)

Article IV

d)

Article VII

33.

Which Article of the Constitution lays out the powers and responsibilities of the Executive Branch?

a)

Article I

b)

Article II

c)

Article V

d)

Article VI

34.

Which Article of the Constitution lays out the powers of the Judicial Branch?

a)

Article I

b)

Article II

c)

Article III

d)

Article IV

35.

Which Article of the Constitution deals with states' rights?

a)

Article I

b)

Article IV

c)

Article V

d)

Article VII

36.

Which Article of the Constitution details the process of amending the Constitution?

a)

Article III

b)

Article IV

c)

Article V

d)

Article VII

37.

In which Article of the Constitution will you find the Supremacy Clause?

a)

Article I

b)

Article III

c)

Article V

d)

Article VI

38.

Which Article of the Constitution speaks about ratification of amendments?

a)

Article IV

b)

Article V

c)

Article VI

d)

Article VII

39.

Article IV of the Constitution explains the relationship between the states and . . .

a)

foreign governments.

b)

the national government.

c)

the people.

d)

the Supreme Court.

40.

Which branch of Congress is based on proportional representation?

a)

the Confederation Congress

b)

the White House

c)

the House of Representatives

d)

the Senate

41.

What are "enumerated" or "expressed" powers?

a)

Powers that are granted to the President by Congress

b)

Powers that are specifically listed in the Constitution

c)

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution

d)

Rights that are reserved for the states

42.

The ability of each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches is called . . .

a)

checks and balances.

b)

limited government.

c)

separation of powers.

d)

federalism.

43.

Who has the final authority on interpreting the Constitution?

a)

the Supreme Court

b)

the Senate

c)

the President

d)

the House of Representatives

44.

the law applies to everyone

a)

rule of law

b)

reserved powers

c)

popular sovereignty

d)

checks and balances

45.

powers that are set aside for the states

a)

reserved powers

b)

enumerated powers

c)

concurrent powers

d)

separation of powers

46.

the part of the Constitution that puts federal law over state law, and the Constitution over both

a)

supremacy clause

b)

reserved powers

c)

concurrent powers

d)

limited government

47.

the people's right to rule

a)

popular sovereignty

b)

rule of law

c)

limited government

d)

reserved powers

48.

the powers that both federal and state governments may exercise

a)

concurrent powers

b)

reserved powers

c)

expressed powers

d)

separation of powers

49.

the powers given to the federal government under the Constitution

a)

enumerated powers

b)

reserved powers

c)

concurrent powers

d)

separation of powers

50.

The idea that the government can only do what the people allow it to do.

a)

limited government

b)

popular sovereignty

c)

checks and balances

d)

separation of powers

51.

The Framers of the Constitution used the word "republic" to describe a representative democracy.

a)

True

b)

False

52.

What powers are held only by the federal government?

a)

legislative powers

b)

reserved powers

c)

concurrent powers

d)

enumerated powers

53.

Which example illustrates the Constitution's checks and balances in action?

a)

A president vetoes a bill passed by Congress.

b)

A Republican governor appoints an advisor from the Democratic Party.

c)

A Senate committee rejects a bill passed by the House of Representatives.

d)

A local newspaper publishes a story exposing corruption in the state General Assembly.

54.

Which statements explains how the rule of law protects citizens from abusive uses of government power?

a)

The president vetoes new laws passed by Congress.

b)

Elected officials have to follow the same laws as the people.

c)

Judges can selectively enforce laws to control other officials.

d)

The President is responsible for enforcing violations of the law.

55.

Which action can state governments take to propose an amendment to the US Constitution?

a)

Organize a convention of state legislatures

b)

Begin negotiations with the federal government

c)

Hold a referendum open to all of the state's voters

d)

Present an amendment for congressional ratification

56.

Which phrase describes the separation of powers found in the Constitution?

a)

compelling all branches of government to work together

b)

dividing authority among co-equal branches of government

c)

giving one branch of government authority over the other branches

d)

ensuring that each branch of government performs similar functions

57.

Which statement describes the difference between concurrent powers and reserved powers in a federal system?

a)

Reserved powers are kept for the state/local governments, and concurrent powers belong to the national government.

b)

Concurrent powers are shared between the levels of government, and reserved powers are kept for the state/local governments.

c)

Reserved powers are responsibilities that only the national government exercises, and concurrent powers are shared powers between all states.

d)

Concurrent powers are shared between the different levels of government, and reserved powers are kept only for the national government.

58.

Which statement best defines "federalism"?

a)

It is the sharing of power among multiple central governments.

b)

It is the sharing of power between central and state governments.

c)

It is the distribution of power among different state governments.

d)

It is the distribution of power between state and local governments.

59.

How does a federal government limit the roles and responsibilities of each level of government?

a)

The state and local governments delegate certain tasks to the national government.

b)

The state and local governments have more poliltical power than the national government.

c)

The national government has some responsibilities and the state and local governments have others.

d)

The national government has all of the power and delegates certain tasks to state and local governments.

60.

Presidential appointments to cabinet positions must be approved by . . .

a)

the Supreme Court.

b)

the Senate.

c)

the Electoral College.

d)

the House of Representatives.