wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Government Final Quiz Practice

Total questions: 98

Worksheet time: 49mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which amendment gave 18 year olds the right to vote?

a)

Twenty-sixth Amendment

b)

Nineteenth Amendment

c)

Fourteenth Amendment

d)

Thirteenth Amendment

2.

Absolute power is called

a)

sovereignty

b)

supremacy

c)

confederacy

d)

coalition

3.

Which amendment made it illegal to deny the right to vote based on race or color?

a)

Nineteenth Amendment

b)

Fourteenth Amendment

c)

Thirteenth Amendment

d)

Fifteenth Amendment

4.

What is an amendment?

a)

a proposed bill in Congress

b)

a tax on income

c)

a change or addition to the Constitution

d)

a Presidential pardon

5.

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

a)

foreign policy

b)

checks and balances

c)

the military

d)

governors

6.

Basic rights to which all people are entitled are called

a)

the bill of rights

b)

human rights

c)

the constitution

d)

independent rights

7.

Who signs bills into law?

a)

The President

b)

Congress

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

The Chief Justice

8.

Which amendment gave citizenship to African Americans?

a)

Thirteenth Amendment

b)

Fourteenth Amendment

c)

Nineteenth Amendment

d)

Twenty-sixth Amendment

9.

an agreement in which each side gives up part of its demands

a)

parliament

b)

compromise

c)

ratification

d)

impeach

10.

What do the powers of overriding a veto, confirmation of judges and impeachment have in common?

a)

They keep Congress from becoming too powerful

b)

They enable Congress to dominate the other two branches

c)

They help Congress check the power of the other two branches

d)

They force the two chambers of Congress to cooperate with each other

11.

The clause in the Constitution that says federal laws are superior to state laws is called the

a)

supremacy clause

b)

necessary and proper clause

c)

states rights clause

d)

federal government clause

12.

supporters of the Constitution who urged its adoption

a)

bills

b)

antifederalists

c)

Preamble

d)

federalists

13.

The division of power between a central government and state governments is called

a)

sovereignty

b)

federalism

c)

despotism

d)

confederalism

14.

When America was born, each state already had one of these

a)

bank

b)

government

c)

army

d)

treaty system

15.

All of the following are powers of the Federal Government EXCEPT:

a)

To borrow money

b)

To coin money

c)

To declare war

d)

To decide who will serve as the governor in each state

16.

Which of these is the defining characteristic of a federal system of government?

a)

Elected representatives make decisions for the nation

b)

Power is divided between the central government and the various state governments

c)

Legislative actions are limited by a set of written guidelines

d)

A judicial branch with elected judges

17.

What was the first plan of government created by the 13 colonies after the war of independence?

a)

The US Constitution

b)

The Declaration of Independence

c)

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

d)

The Articles of Confederation

18.

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

a)

the Bill of Rights

b)

the Magna Carta

c)

the Federalist Papers

d)

the Declaration of Independence

19.

The idea of self government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

a)

Four score and

b)

When in the

c)

We the people

d)

In order to

20.

Which amendment protects the rights of journalists and news outlets?

a)

First Amendement

b)

Second Amendment

c)

Fourth Amendment

d)

Fifth Amendment

21.

What does "freedom of religion" mean?

a)

the right of the government to encourage religion

b)

the right to practice or not practice any religion

c)

the right to assemble

d)

the right to say what you want to say

22.

Which branch of the federal government is responsible for enforcing laws?

a)

Legislative

b)

Executive

c)

Judicial

d)

Military

23.

Which branch of the federal government is responsible for interpreting laws?

a)

Legislative

b)

Executive

c)

Judicial

d)

Military

24.

Which branch of the federal government is responsible for making laws?

a)

Legislative

b)

Executive

c)

Judicial

d)

Military

25.

A loose association of of states is called a

a)

confederation

b)

colony

c)

sovereignty

d)

declaration

26.

having to testify against oneself

a)

eminent domain

b)

due process of law

c)

self-incrimination

d)

bail

27.

The necessary and proper clause is also known as the

a)

federal clause

b)

supremacy clause

c)

elastic clause

d)

states rights clause

28.

What does "rule of law" mean?

a)

only some people must obey the law

b)

no one is above the law

c)

government leaders make the laws

d)

judges enforce the laws

29.

Why did the framers of the Constitution create three separate branches of government?

a)

To ensure that no one branch could dominate the other branches

b)

To provide for enough government officials to handle the volume of work

c)

To help people with different opinions to cooperate

d)

To increase the power of the central government

30.

Powers that are not actually stated in the Constitution are called

a)

absolute powers

b)

state powers

c)

implied powers

d)

unitary powers

31.

Which of the following is a power of the states?

a)

issue driver's licenses

b)

create an army

c)

make treaties with other countries

d)

regulate trade with foreign countries

32.

Which amendment gives powers to the state or people if they are not already given to the federal government?

a)

First Amendment

b)

Second Amendment

c)

Fifth Amendment

d)

Tenth Amendment

33.

Which amendment protects citizen's rights to bear arms?

a)

First Amendment

b)

Second Amendment

c)

Fifth Amendment

d)

Tenth Amendment

34.

Which amendment ended slavery?

a)

Thirteenth Amendment

b)

Fourteenth Amendment

c)

Nineteenth Amendment

d)

Twenty-sixth Amendment

35.

In which system of government is the central government weak and the local government strong?

a)

confederal

b)

federal

c)

unitary

36.

Who can veto bills?

a)

Congress

b)

the President

c)

the House of Representatives

d)

Supreme Court

37.

What is the supreme law of the United States?

a)

the Bill of Rights

b)

the Articles of Confederation

c)

the Constitution

d)

the Declaration of Independence

38.

Which of these people were given the right to vote in the original Constitution?

a)

white men

b)

women

c)

slaves

d)

Native Americans

39.

What is the primary job of the legislative branch of government?

a)

To interpret laws

b)

To enforce laws

c)

To make laws

d)

To dominate the other two branches

40.

All of the following are expressed powers of Congress EXCEPT:

a)

the power to organize all federal courts below the Supreme Court

b)

the power to provide for copyrights and patents to protect the work of inventors and artists

c)

the power to establish rules to allow foreign-born immigrants to become citizens of the United States

d)

the power to have complete authority over the executive and judicial branches

41.

The __________________ of the Constitution grants Congress power to pass unspecified laws that are "necessary and proper" for the exercise of its expressed powers.

a)

Elastic Clause

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

Strict Constructionism Amendment

d)

Redistricting Addendum

42.

How is representation in the House of Representatives determined?

a)

Population of a district

b)

Population of the state

c)

Equal representation of the states

d)

The electoral vote of a state

43.

What determines the number of seats in the Senate?

a)

The Constitution specifies the exact number of seats.

b)

The number of seats depends on the number of states. Each state gets two.

c)

Congress controls the number of seats.

d)

The number of seats depends on each state's population.

44.

Which of the following handles much of the legislative work in Congress?

a)

constituents

b)

committees

c)

cabinet

45.

Which of the following describes the steps a bill takes to becoming a law?

a)

Similar bill passed by both houses and then goes to the president, who may sign it into law.

b)

Same bill passed by both houses and then goes to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it and return it to Congress.

c)

Bill is passed by the president, and then goes to Congress, where it becomes a law if passed by a majority vote.

d)

Bill passed by the House, then sent to the Supreme Court to review before going to the Senate.

46.

Before a bill can be sent to the president, both chambers of Congress must vote to

a)

restore the original language.

b)

have a supermajority in favor.

c)

authorize the president to change it.

d)

approve the same version.

47.

If the president refuses to sign a bill, what does Congress have to do to override the veto?

a)

2/3 of Congress must vote for the bill.

b)

There is nothing that can be done. Congress is powerless when the president vetoes a bill.

c)

The Vice President must sign the bill instead.

d)

51% of the President's cabinet members must publicly endorse the bill.

48.

When deciding whether to vote for a law, members of Congress think about all of the following factors EXCEPT:

a)

Does the Constitution give Congress the power to pass the law?

b)

What is my personal opinion?

c)

What are the view of my political party?

d)

What am I going to wear to the presidential signing?

49.

How many US senators are there?

a)

100

b)

50

c)

435

d)

538

50.

What are the two bodies of the US Congress?

a)

The House of Representatives and the Supreme Court

b)

The Senate and the state legislatures

c)

The House of Representatives and the Senate

d)

The President and the Supreme Court

51.

How long is a term in the US House of Representatives?

a)

two years

b)

ten years

c)

six years

d)

four years

52.

How long is a Senator's term?

a)

two years

b)

ten years

c)

four years

d)

six years

53.

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

a)

governors

b)

checks and balances

c)

the military

d)

foreign policy

54.

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

a)

the original 13 colonies have more

b)

states with a Republican majority have more

c)

states with larger population have more

d)

states with larger square mileage have more

55.

Who is represented by a US Senator?

a)

all people of the state

b)

all politicians in the state

c)

all males in the state

d)

everyone in a Congressional district

56.

The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

a)

100

b)

538

c)

435

d)

50

57.

Who is represented by a member of the House of Representatives?

a)

only the citizens of the state

b)

only the voters of the state

c)

the entire state

d)

only those people who live in the district of that representative

58.

Another word for two houses is

a)

apportionment

b)

immunity

c)

bicameral

d)

enumerated

59.

Protection from getting arrested is

a)

immunity

b)

enumerated

c)

bicameral

d)

apportionment

60.

Another word for listed or numbered is

a)

immunity

b)

bicameral

c)

apportionment

d)

enumerated

61.

A word that means distributed based on population

a)

apportionment

b)

enumerated

c)

bicameral

d)

immunity

62.

Divide districts up by group

a)

legislate

b)

expulsion

c)

censure

d)

gerrymander

63.

removal from office

a)

expulsion

b)

censure

c)

gerrymander

d)

legislate

64.

List complaints against someone

a)

gerrymander

b)

censure

c)

legislate

d)

expulsion

65.

to make laws

a)

gerrymander

b)

legislate

c)

censure

d)

expulsion

66.

What age does someone have to be in order to be a Representative?

a)

30

b)

35

c)

25

d)

18

67.

Which Article of the Constitution created the Legislative Branch?

a)

Article IV

b)

Article II

c)

Article I

d)

Article III

68.

How old does a citizen have to be to vote in the election for President of the US?

a)

16

b)

18

c)

21

d)

25

69.

In what month do we vote for President?

a)

November

b)

April

c)

October

d)

February

70.

What is the length of term for President?

a)

10 years

b)

2 years

c)

4 years

d)

six years

71.

Who is in charge of the federal executive branch?

a)

the President

b)

Congress

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

the Speaker of the House

72.

Who is Commander in Chief of the military?

a)

the Secretary of Defense

b)

the President

c)

the Secretary of State

d)

the Attorney General

73.

What does "rule of law" mean?

a)

no one is above the law

b)

everyone must follow the law

c)

government leaders must follow the law

d)

all of the answers

74.

What does the President's Cabinet do?

a)

declare war

b)

advise the President

c)

make laws

d)

collect taxes

75.

What are the two major political parties?

a)

Democrat and Republican

b)

Green and Communist

c)

Libertarian and Progressive

d)

Socialist and Independent

76.

Who can veto bills?

a)

Congress

b)

the President

c)

the House of Representatives

d)

Supreme Court

77.

If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

a)

the President Pro Tempore

b)

the Speaker of the House

c)

the Vice President

d)

The Secretary of the Treasury

78.

Who signs bills into law?

a)

State Legislatures

b)

Congress

c)

the Supreme Court

d)

the President

79.

Who makes federal laws?

a)

the President

b)

the Supreme Court

c)

Congress

d)

State Legislatures

80.

What is the primary job of the legislative branch of government?

a)

To interpret laws

b)

To enforce laws

c)

To make laws

d)

To dominate the other two branches

81.

The __________________ of the Constitution grants Congress power to pass unspecified laws that are "necessary and proper" for the exercise of its expressed powers.

a)

Elastic Clause

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

Strict Constructionism Amendment

d)

Redistricting Addendum

82.

What determines the number of seats in the Senate?

a)

The Constitution specifies the exact number of seats.

b)

The number of seats depends on the number of states. Each state gets two.

c)

Congress controls the number of seats.

d)

The number of seats depends on each state's population.

83.

Before a bill can be sent to the president, both chambers of Congress must vote to

a)

restore the original language.

b)

have a supermajority in favor.

c)

authorize the president to change it.

d)

approve the same version.

84.

What age does someone have to be to be a Senator?

a)

30

b)

25

c)

35

d)

18

85.

A document signed by colonists in Plymouth to set up a government

a)

Stamp Act

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Compact

d)

Pariament

86.

A document signed by the king giving permission to set up a colony

a)

Stamp Act

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Declaratory Act

d)

Charter

87.

A law requiring colonists to provide house to British soldiers rent free

a)

Intolerable Acts

b)

Townshend Revenue Act

c)

Quartering Acts

d)

Declaratory Act

88.

A letter to the king of England declaring the colonists free from British rule

a)

Declaratory Act

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Intolerable Acts

d)

Quartering Acts

89.

A tax on the colonies on things they imported

a)

Stamp Act

b)

Quartering Acts

c)

Townshend Revenue Act

d)

Declaratory Acts

90.

A tax on the colonies that forced them to buy expensive stamps for documents

a)

Quartering Acts

b)

Stamp Act

c)

Townshend Revenue Act

d)

Declaratory Act

91.

A law cracking down on rebelious activity by the colonists

a)

Intolerable Acts

b)

Stamp Act

c)

Declaratory Act

d)

Quartering Acts

92.

A decree that said all laws passed by the colonists were invalid

a)

Townshend Revenue Acts

b)

Stamp Act

c)

Declaratory Act

d)

Intolerable Acts

93.

A system of government created by the British in the 1600s

a)

Charter

b)

Compact

c)

Parliament

d)

Democracy

94.

The country that ruled the 13 American colonies before the Revolutionary War was

a)

Britain

b)

France

c)

France

d)

France

95.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

a)

George Washington

b)

Abraham Lincoln

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

James Madison

96.

Which amendment protects people from having to provide soldiers with a space to live?

a)

Fifth Amendment

b)

Third Amendment

c)

Tenth Amendment

d)

Second Amendment

97.

What is one reason colonists came to America?

a)

for the experience of traveling across the ocean

b)

freedom

c)

to join a civic group

d)

none of these

98.

Naturalized citizens are

a)

people who take the US and pass the citizenship test

b)

A legal resident of the US who is a citizen of another country

c)

a person born naturally in the US