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Principles of Democracy

Total questions: 16

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of these government actions is meant to ensure the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws?

a)

regulating trade with other nations

b)

prohibiting segregation in public facilities

c)

restricting illegal immigration into the country

d)

publishing election ballots in foreign newspapers

2.

Which of these is an example of separation of powers?

a)

Representatives rewrite a bill in committee meetings

b)

Representatives hold hearings to hear public opinion

c)

The President enforces a law passed by Congress

d)

The President fires a cabinet member who is performing poorly

3.

In which of these circumstances will a judge grant a writ of habeas corpus?

a)

the accused person is charged with negligence

b)

the accused person is being held without cause

c)

the accused person is under the age of eighteen

d)

the accused person is a repeat offender

4.

Which of these excerpts from the Constitution describes federalism?

a)

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases . . . arising under this Constitution. . . .

b)

The right of citizens . . . who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied on account of age.

c)

The right of the people to be secure in their persons against unreasonable searches shall not be violated. . . .

d)

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution . . . are reserved to the States. . . .

5.

“No freeman shall be taken or imprisoned . . . unless by the lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land.” —Magna Carta, 1215


Which of these constitutional protections is based on the principle described in the excerpt above?

a)

the right to petition the government

b)

the right to vote

c)

the right to a trial by jury

d)

the right to bear arms

6.

Which of these is a power reserved for state governments by the United States Constitution?

a)

Establish public schools

b)

Make treaties with foreign nations

c)

Taxation

d)

Power to coin money

7.

“The Government of [the United States], then, is . . . truly a government of the people. . . . Its powers are granted by them, and are to be exercised directly on them for their benefit.” —John Marshall, 1810


Which of these constitutional principles best applies to Marshall’s quotation?

a)

Judicial Review

b)

Checks and Balances

c)

Consent of the Governed

d)

Equal Protection

8.

Which of these excerpts from the United States Constitution best reflects the principle of checks and balances?

a)

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States . . . shall be the supreme Law of the Land. . . .”

b)

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States . . . are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

c)

“Every Bill which shall have passed [Congress] shall, before it becomes a Law, be presented to the President of the United States.”

9.

Based on the quote below, what principle of democracy is BEST represented.


"I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death." -- Patrick Henry,

1775

a)

Rule of Law

b)

Rights and Freedom

c)

Equal Protection

d)

Federalism

10.

Based on the quote below, what principle of democracy is BEST represented.


"We must confine ourselves to the powers described in the Constitution."

-- James Jackson, First

Congress.

a)

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Rule of Law

c)

Majority protects Minority

d)

Separation of Powers

11.

Based on the quote below, what principle of democracy is BEST represented.


"No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent."

-- Abraham Lincoln, 1854

a)

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Limited Government

c)

Equal Protection

d)

Rights and Freedoms

12.

Based on the quote below, what principle of democracy is BEST represented.


"The greatest [calamity] which could befall [us would be] submission to a government of unlimited powers." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1825.

a)

Federalism

b)

Majority protects Minority

c)

Limited Government

d)

Popular Sovereignty

13.

Based on the quote below, what principle of democracy is BEST represented.


"[The purpose of a written constitution is] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1782.

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Consent of the Governed

c)

Equal Protection

d)

Judicial Review

14.

Based on the quote below, what principle of democracy is BEST represented.


“The only stable state is the one in which all men are equal before the law.” - Aristotle

a)

Equal Protection

b)

Rights and Freedoms

c)

Consent of the Governed

d)

Rule of Law

15.

Based on the quote below, what principle of democracy is BEST represented.


“I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire

a)

Majority protects Minority

b)

Rights and Freeomds

c)

Equal Protection

d)

Consent of the Governed

16.

Extending the right to marry to LGBT couples is an example of which principles of democracy?

a)

Majority protects Minority

b)

Limited Government

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Federalism