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Civics Midterm Review

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 1hrs 17mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What theory did Thomas Hobbes, Rousseau and Locke have in common in their influence to the founding fathers?

a)
Consent
b)
Natural Rights
c)
Social Contract
d)
Voting
2.

What term did Baron de Montesquieu use that best describes the division of the government into 3 specific branches with individual powers such as; the Legislative Branch having the authority to collect taxes, the Judicial Branch having the authority to declare laws unconstitutional, and the Executive Branch to negotiate treaties.

a)

Checks and Balances

b)

Tri-Government Balance

c)

Pyramid of Power

d)

Separation of Powers

3.

What is the purpose of interest groups?

a)

government agencies that raise awareness lead by political parties

b)

hold fundraisers to get candidates elected to office

c)

raise awareness and lobby to pass laws that support their agenda or beliefs

d)

influence public opinion polls to guide country in political direction that they agree with

4.

Which Enlightenment idea describes an agreement between the people and the government?

a)

Social Contract

b)

Separation of Powers

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

treaties

5.
John Locke's thinking influenced what American founder?
a)
George Washington
b)
Benjamin Franklin
c)
Alexander Hamilton
d)
Thomas Jefferson
6.

Where can this quote be found?

“Bills of attainder . . . are such special acts of the legislature, as inflict capital punishments upon persons supposed to be guilty of high offences, such as treason and felony, without any conviction in the ordinary course of judicial proceedings."

a)

Article I of the U.S. Constitution

b)

Article II of the U.S. Constitution

c)

Article III of the U.S. Constitution

d)

Bill of Rights

7.

How does the Bill of Rights protect citizens?

a)

provides protection of individual rights

b)

limits the power of the citizens

c)

describes the powers of the government

d)

identifies the individual powers of each branch of government

8.

protected the rights of English citizens, limited power of the king, and became the basis for the American Bill of Rights

a)
English Bill of Rights
b)
mercantilism
c)
representative government
d)
puritans
9.

agreement signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims in Plymouth, to consult each other about laws for the colony and a promise to work together to make it succeed; "Civil body politic" - Self Government / Social Contract

a)

magna carta

b)

Mayflower Compact

c)

Virginia House of Burgesses

d)

English Bill of Rights

10.
signed in 1215, was the first English document that limited power of the ruler
a)
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
b)
magna carta
c)
Mayflower Compact
d)
Declaration of Independence
11.
What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact?
a)
A charter of liberties agreed to by King John of England.  It made the king obey the same laws as citizens (1215)
b)
Written in 1689, this document was a shift of political power from the British monarchy to Parliament.
c)
A document written by the Pilgrims in 1620 establishing themselves as a political society and setting guidelines for self-government.
d)
This was a religious movement that became widespread in the American colonies in the 1730s
12.
What is the significance of the writing, Common Sense?
a)
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that criticized monarchies and convinced many American Colonists of the need to break away from Britain.
b)
This was a chant or protest called out by the colonies that were tired of being taxed on items without having a vote in the British Parliament
c)
(1774) laws passed by Parliament to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea
d)
This was the first  colonial legislature formed in Virginia in 1619.  This group made laws and its members were elected by the colonists
13.
What is the significance of the saying, "No Taxation without Representation?"
a)
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that criticized monarchies and convinced many American Colonists of the need to break away from Britain.
b)
This was a chant or protest called out by the colonists that were tired of being taxed on items without having a vote in the British Parliament
c)
(1774) laws passed by Parliament to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea
d)
This was the first  colonial legislature formed in Virginia in 1619.  This group made laws and its members were elected by the colonists
14.
Describe the idea of "Representative Government."
a)
A government that has been limited  in power by a constitution, or written agreement.
b)
The idea that the government serves to equally protect the rights of the people.
c)
A government where someone is elected to vote for (or represent) a group of people
d)
The idea that people can make decisions on how their government should work
15.
What three principles do the Declaration of Independence guarantee?
a)
Long life, love, freedom
b)
Freedom, Justice, Liberty
c)
Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness
d)
Love, Life, Liberty
16.
Describe the idea of "Limited Government."
a)
A government that has been limited  in power by a constitution, or written agreement.
b)
The idea that the government serves to equally protect the rights of the people.
c)
A government where someone is elected to vote for (or represent) a group of people
d)
The idea that people can make decisions on how their government should work
17.
What did Shays' Rebellion help Americans realize they needed?
a)
A strong national government
b)
A stronger militia
c)
A common currency
d)
The ability to sign peace treaties
18.

According to the diagram, The Democratic Party is the majority party, and the Republican party is the minority party. Which group would control the agenda of the Legislative branch?

a)

Democratic Party

b)

Republican Party

19.

what event occurred in 1786-1787 where there was an uprising/ riot of Massachusetts farmers, led by Daniel Shays, to protest high taxes, heavy debt, and farm foreclosures led the US Government to realize the Articles needed to be changed

a)

Shay's Rebellion

b)

Marbury v. Madison

c)

Alien and Sedition Acts

d)

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

20.

What would be a good title for this list of qualifications?

a)

Qualifications to become a Natural Born Citizen

b)

Qualifications to become a U.S. President

c)

Qualifications to become a naturalized Citizen

21.
What is the last step of the naturalization process?
a)
Declaring intent
b)
Oath of Allegiance
c)
Taking a History/English Test
d)
Immigrating Legally, Living in the US 5 years
22.

This picture of a juror's name tag illustrates what duty/obligation of citizens?

a)

Attending school

b)

obtaining license

c)

Paying taxes

d)

Serving on a jury

23.

What purpose of government would Thomas Jefferson believe to be true?

"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."

excerpt from Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson

a)

Give power to federal government

b)

Protect rights of the people

c)

Taxes support government programs

24.

What is the introduction to the Constitution - where the six purposes of government are listed?

1. Form a More Perfect Union

Meaning: Organize a stronger government to maintain law and order but weak enough not to impose on liberty

2. Establish Justice

Meaning: Broad statement to ensure the populous is not wronged by common daily activities, and there is a method to handle disputes

3. Insure Domestic Tranquility

Meaning: Keep and affirm the peace among different people, groups, and individuals in society

4. Provide for the Common Defence

Meaning: Ability to raise an army or navy to protect against foreign threats

5. Promote the General Welfare

Meaning: Government promotes the well-being of citizens

6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty

Meaning: Enjoy the protections in the Constitution and natural rights of liberty

a)

Articles of Confederation

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Bill of Rights

d)

Preamble

25.
In the Preamble, what does it mean when it says, "We the people..."?
a)
The constitution was written for all the people of the United States.
b)
The constitution was only written for the delegates at the Constitutional Convention.
c)
Referring to "the people" who authored the constitution.
d)
The people of Massachusetts.
26.
With regard to the U.S. government, what is the meaning of the phrase "checks and balances"?
a)
Idea that natl govt can check the power of the state govts
b)
Each of the 3 branches of govt can limit power of other 2
c)
Federal gov't has equal powers as local gov't
27.
Why were checks and balances necessary?
a)
Prevent any branch from becoming more powerful than the others
b)
Prevent the judicial branch from becoming more powerful than the executive
c)
Prevent the executive from being more powerful than the judicial
d)
Prevent the legislature from controlling the judical and the executive branches
28.

Which group wanted to ensure that individual rights were protected in the new constitution and supported Bill of Rights?

a)

Federalist

b)

Anti-Federalist

29.

Which group saw no need to include a bill of rights in the new constitution as they believed that states already protected individual rights?

a)

Federalist

b)

Ant-Federalist

30.

what two parties does the Two-Party System in America include?

a)

Republicans and Green Party

b)

Republicans and Democrats

c)

Democrats and Libertarian

d)

Green Party and Democrats

31.
In the Constitution, the implied powers of Congress come from the 
a)
Necessary and Proper Clause
b)
Supremacy Clause
c)
Relative Clause
d)
Santa Clause
32.

Federalists wanted (click 2)

a)

Strong State Government

b)

Strong National Government

c)

No Bill of Rights

d)

Bill of Rights

33.

Why did the Articles of confederation fail?

a)

Too much sugar

b)

Federal Government had all the power

c)

State Government had all the power

d)

Green Bay Packers had all the power

34.
1st Amendment
a)
Freedom of speech, religion, press petition and assembly
b)
No illegal searches and seizures
c)
The right to bear arms
d)
No quartering troops
35.
2nd Amendment 
a)
Freedom of speech, religion, press petition and assembly
b)
No illegal searches and seizures
c)
The right to bear arms
d)
No quartering troops
36.
3rd Amendment 
a)
Freedom of speech, religion, press petition and assembly
b)
No illegal searches and seizures
c)
The right to bear arms
d)
No quartering troops
37.
4th Amendment 
a)
Freedom of speech, religion, press petition and assembly
b)
No illegal searches and seizures
c)
The right to bear arms
d)
No quartering troops
38.

5th Amendment

a)

No self-incrimination

No double jeopardy

Due process

b)

The right to a jury trial in civil cases involving more than $20

c)

No cruel and unusual punishment

No excessive bail

d)

The right to a fair, speedy and public trial in criminal cases.

The right to a lawyer.

39.

6th Amendment

a)

No self-incrimination

No double jeopardy

Due process

b)

The right to a jury trial in civil cases involving more than $20

c)

No cruel and unusual punishment

No excessive bail

d)

The right to a fair, speedy and public trial in criminal cases.

The right to a lawyer.

40.

7th Amendment

a)

No self-incrimination

No double jeopardy

Due process

b)

The right to a jury trial in civil cases involving more than $20

c)

No cruel and unusual punishment

No excessive bail

d)

The right to a fair, speedy and public trial in criminal cases.

The right to a lawyer.

41.

8th Amendment

a)

No self-incrimination

No double jeopardy

Due process

b)

The right to a jury trial in civil cases involving more than $20

c)

No cruel and unusual punishment

No excessive bail

d)

The right to a fair, speedy and public trial in criminal cases.

The right to a lawyer.

42.
9th Amendment 
a)
Electoral College established
b)
Powers not granted to the federal government are reserved by the states.
c)
The naming of certain rights in the Constitution does not take away from the rights that are not named
d)
States sued in state courts
43.
10th Amendment 
a)
Electoral College established
b)
Powers not granted to the federal government are reserved by the states.
c)
The naming of certain rights in the Constitution does not take away from the rights that are not named
d)
States sued in state courts
44.
Which basic principle of government is represented by this statement.  People are the source of all government power.
a)
rule of law
b)
representative government
c)
consent of the governed
d)
federalism
45.
Where can the Bill of Rights be found in the Constitution?
a)
Introduction
b)
Articles
c)
First 10 amendments
d)
Preamble
46.

What group of people did the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments expand rights to?

a)

Women

b)

African American men (former slaves)

c)

Juveniles

d)

Immigrants

47.
Since 1860s the ____________________ and ____________________party have dominated American politics. 
a)
Green,  Libertarian 
b)
Communists, Socialists
c)
Anarchist, Theocracy 
d)
Democratic, Republican
48.

What principle suggests that even a person in authority must be held accountable to the law?

a)

separation of powers

b)

taxation without representation

c)

checks and balances

d)

rule of law

49.

Requirements to be a member of _________________

  • U.S. Citizen (natural born - through law of blood or law of soil - OR naturalized)

  • Resident of state you want to represent


What choice below would best complete the title for this list of requirements

a)

President

b)

Congress

50.

What similarity do both ancient Greece and Ancient Rome have in common with the United States?

a)

Elections/Voting

b)

lobbying

c)

Constitutions

d)

Separation of Powers

51.
organizations of people with a common interest that try to influence government policies and decisions
a)
interest groups
b)
lobby
c)
lobbyist
d)
public interest groups
52.

Why is it important to analyze political ads before choosing a candidate to vote for?

a)

Political ads only contain propaganda and lies.

b)

Political ads probably don't feature up-to-date information.

c)

The purpose of political ads is to convince people to vote for candidates, and they might not show all sides of an issue.

d)

Political ads can be a good source of information, because they often show balanced viewpoints of all issues.

53.

What's the most direct way to use mass media to promote political change?

a)

voting in elections

b)

writing letters to politicians

c)

purchasing ads

d)

staging political demonstrations

54.
Which type of communication is shown in this image?
a)
Accurate
b)
Propaganda
c)
Symbolism
d)
Bias
55.
Propaganda can use both bias and symbolism to influence the public.
a)
True
b)
False
56.

The president may sign a ________________ to make an agreement with another country but the Senate must approve it!

a)

Treaty

b)

Bill

c)

amendment

d)

custom

57.

In which house does the impeachment process of the president of the U.S. begin?

a)

The Oval Office

b)

The White House

c)

The House of Representative

d)

The Senate

58.
The ability of the president to reject a bill is called a(n)
a)
veto
b)
rejection
c)
conference
d)
pigeonhole
59.
The Elastic Clause or "Necessary and Proper" clause gives Congress which type of powers?
a)
implied
b)
enumerated
c)
non-legislative
d)
judicial
60.

What role is the president in when leading military orders?

a)

Head of the State

b)

Commander in Chief

c)

Chief Executive

d)

Party Chief

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