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Government (Principles & Structure)

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Which branch of the government makes the laws?
a)
Legislative 
b)
Executive
c)
Judicial 
2.
Which branch of the government carries out the laws? 
a)
Legislative 
b)
Executive
c)
Judicial 
3.
The senate is a part of the___________ branch of the government. 
a)
Legislative 
b)
Executive
c)
Judicial
4.
Can declare a law unconstitutional.
a)
Judicial Branch
b)
Executive Branch
c)
Legislative Branch
d)
All 3 branches
5.
What is the highest court in the land?
a)
Supreme Court
b)
Judicial Branch 
c)
House of Representatives 
6.
How many Senators does each state have?
a)
2
b)
4
c)
6
7.
Who is the leader of the Executive Branch?
a)
Supreme Court Justices
b)
The President
c)
The Speaker of the House
8.
What is another name for the legislative branch? 
a)
executive
b)
judicial 
c)
Congress
9.
Who meets here? 
a)
The Legislative Branch
b)
The Executive Branch
c)
The Judicial Branch
10.
Who meets here? 
a)
The Legislative Branch
b)
The Executive Branch
c)
The Judicial Branch
11.
Who meets here? 
a)
The Legislative Branch
b)
The Executive Branch
c)
The Judicial Branch
12.
To reject is  to _________
a)
veto
b)
value 
c)
accept 
13.

Why is the Texas government separated between 3 branches?

a)

to increase the powers of each branch of government.

b)

to make specific agencies responsible for specific tasks.

c)

to make sure no branch becomes too powerful and spread out its job duties.

d)

to ensure voters know which party to vote for.

14.
According to the principle of popular sovereignty, all political power comes from the 
a)
people
b)
federal government
c)
local government
d)
state government
15.
*Both the U.S. and Texas establish courts.
*State governments and the U.S. government collect taxes.
*Both the U.S. government and the Texas government have the power to punish criminals.
These characteristics are an example of which principle of government?   
a)
federalism
b)
limited government
c)
individual rights
d)
republicanism
16.
To protect the rights of citizens, the writers of the Texas Constitution included a
a)
Conference Committee.
b)
Court of Appeals
c)
Bill of Rights.             
d)
Declaration of Independence.
17.

"For democracy to work, the people must be able to stay informed and to freely discuss issues. " What right does this represent?

a)

Right to keep and bear arms.

b)

Freedom of speech and the press.

c)

Protection from search and seizures.

d)

Freedom of religion.

18.

Which of the following actions would be protected by this passage from the Texas Bill of Rights? "The citizens shall have the right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good."

a)

Forcing lawmakers to leave the state when they pass a new law.

b)

Attacking police officers who have broken the law.

c)

Refusing to pay taxes that people feel are unfair.

d)

Gathering at the Texas capitol to peacefully protest a law.

19.
How does the Texas Constitution reflect the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances?
a)
The government is divided into three branches, each having a check on the others.
b)
The governor has the power to write new laws.
c)
The constitution may be amended if the voters approve.
d)
Interest groups try to persuade legislators to support their position.
20.
These rights are protected by which amendment?
Freedom of Religion. Freedom of speech. Freedom to petition the government.
a)
1st
b)
2nd
c)
3rd
d)
7th
21.
Which of the following is an example of Checks and Balances?
a)
Congress has the right to coin money.
b)
Judges are considered keepers of the peace in Texas.
c)
Every citizen of the Republic who was twenty-one years old and had lived for six months in Texas was able to vote for members of the general congress.
d)
The Governor has to approve new laws passed by the legislature, but the legislature could override a governor’s veto.
22.
The phrase “We the people” that reflects the power of American citizens is an example of which principle?
a)
 Individual Rights
b)
Limited Government
c)
Popular Sovereignty
d)
Federalism     
23.

“The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen/elected every second Year by the People”. The quote refers to which principle of government?

a)

Federalism

b)

Checks and Balances

c)

Separation of Powers

d)

Republicanism

24.
What is a responsibility of all adult U.S. citizens?
a)
Becoming a licensed driver.
b)
Owning a business.
c)
Running for office
d)
Serving on a jury.
25.
The 3 branches of government in Texas each have certain powers that are given to them by:
a)
The Declaration of Independence
b)
the governor
c)
voters
d)
the Texas Constitution
26.
Which two groups make up Congress?
a)
Governor and Supreme Court
b)
House of Representatives and Governor
c)
Senate and House of Representatives
d)
Supreme Court and Congress
27.
This agency oversees all of the schools in Texas.
a)
Texas Education Agency
b)
Agency of Schools
c)
School Agency of Texas
d)
Texas School Education Agency
28.

There are ____________ U.S. (federal) senators.

a)

100

b)

0

c)

20

d)

435

29.
The number of representatives a state has is based on the state's _________________________.
a)
location
b)
name
c)
population
d)
altitude
30.
One of your civic responsibilities is to...
a)
give money to a political campaign
b)
write letters to congress
c)
vote
31.
A serious crime such as murder or arson is called?
a)
misdemeanor
b)
felony
c)
indictment
32.
The sharing of powers and duties between the states and the national government is known as
a)
checks and balances
b)
separation of powers
c)
federalism
33.

Civil law deals with all of the following EXCEPT

a)

murder cases

b)

divorce

c)

child custody

34.
Principle of government in which freedoms and privileges cannot be taken away from the people.
a)
Checks and Balances
b)
Limited Government
c)
Popular Sovereignty
d)
Individual Rights
35.

Sources of taxes include property taxes, sales tax, lottery sales, and fuel taxes.

a)

True

b)

False

36.
The US and Texas Constitution share similar language, have three branches of government and bill of rights
a)
True
b)
False
37.
Principle of government that grants you the right to choose leaders to represent you
a)
Bill of Rights
b)
Republicanism
c)
Limited government
d)
Popular Sovereignty
38.
The structure of the Legislative branch is:
a)
Governor, attorney-general, appointees
b)
Bicameral: Senate and House of Representatives
c)
Supreme Court, county courts, local courts
39.
The structure of the Judicial branch is:
a)
Governor, attorney-general, appointees
b)
Bicameral: Senate and House of Representatives
c)
Supreme Court, county courts, local courts
40.
The principle that the government should not have too much power
a)
Popular Sovereignty
b)
Limited Power of Government
c)
Federalism
41.

The principle that branches should be able to stop each other from being crazy or acting against the will of the people.

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Checks and Balances

c)

Republicanism

42.
A veto is an example of:
a)
Separation of Power
b)
Checks and Balances
c)
Popular Sovereignty
43.
The Federal government being the only one allowed to declare war is an example of:
a)
Limited Power of Government
b)
Federalism
c)
Individual Rights
44.
Senators and Representatives are examples of:
a)
Limited Power of Government
b)
Republicanism
c)
Individual Rights
45.

there are boundaries to the government's power and EVERYONE must obey the law - NO ONE is above the law

a)

popular sovereignty

b)

checks and balances

c)

limited government

d)

individual rights

46.

Personal freedoms or privileges guaranteed by the Bill of Rights...

a)

limited government

b)

checks and balances

c)

popular sovereignty

d)

individual rights

47.
            Both the federal and state governments can impose taxes.
a)
Federalism
b)
Limited Government
c)
Separation of Powers
d)
Checks and Balances
48.
Government is by the consent of the governed.
a)
Federalism
b)
Popular Sovereignty
c)
Limited Government
d)
Republicanism
49.
Congress may impeach judges and the president.
a)
Federalism
b)
Popular Sovereignty
c)
Checks and Balances
d)
Separation of Powers
50.
Government officials are never above the law.
a)
Limited Government
b)
Popular Sovereignty
c)
Checks and Balances
d)
Federalism
51.
The right to bear arms.
a)
Individual Rights
b)
Popular Sovereignty
c)
Federalism
d)
Republicanism
52.
Freedom of speech, religion, press, petition, and assembly.
a)
Individual Rights
b)
Federalism
c)
Popular Sovereignty
d)
Checks and Balances
53.

County clerks manage all of the following EXCEPT...

a)

Property Records

b)

Vital Records

c)

Education Records

d)

Tax Records

54.

If elected, governors in Texas can serve _________ terms.

a)

8

b)

unlimited

c)

4

d)

2

55.

"I have the right to protest my government because I have some complaints they need to hear about" is an example of which principle?

a)

Limited Government

b)

Republicanism

c)

Checks & Balances

d)

Individual Rights

56.

Under the principle of federalism, Texas is an independent state that is free to establish some of it own laws, but it must still abide by the laws of federal government as written in the __________ ?

a)

US Constitution

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

Declaration of Natural Rights

d)

Declaration of Independence

57.

When bills are passed by Texas' legislative branch, the governor can veto it or sign it. This is an example of which principle?

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Checks & Balances

c)

Republicanism

d)

Popular Sovereignty

58.

When a person is being criminally charged (prosecuted) by the government, they can request a speedy trial and a trial by jury. This is all part of the due process of law. For this reason, this requirement is a necessity of the American citizen:

a)

Serve as a protester

b)

Serve in congress

c)

Serve as a juror

d)

Serve as a clerk

59.

There are 27 U.S. amendments. In Texas, there are 491. Why in the world do we have so many more amendments in the Texas Constitution?

a)

Texas legislators felt that having only 27 changes or amendments was not enough.

b)

Texas likes to have so many laws because it allows the people to know what they can and can't do.

c)

Texas goes through so many changes and our state government needs to be able to adapt and be flexible to those changes.

60.

As an independent state within the U.S., the federal government gives Texas the power to establish some of its own rules and laws. What principle is this example of?

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Checks & Balances

c)

Popular Sovereignty

d)

Federalism

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