wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Foundations of American Democracy

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In which form of government does a small group of elite people hold political power?

a)

direct democracy

b)

oligarchy

c)

monarchy

d)

totalitarian

2.

According to the pluralist theory of government, ________.

a)

government does what the majority of voters want it to do

b)

government policy is formed as a result of the competition between groups with different goals and interests

c)

ordinary people acting on their own have a significant influence on government

d)

wealthy people decide what government policy will be, and politicians have no interest in pleasing anyone else

3.

The elite theory of government maintains that ________.

a)

special interest groups make government policy

b)

politicians who have held office for a long time are favored by voters

c)

poor people and people of color should not be allowed to vote

d)

wealthy, politically powerful people control government, and government has no interest in meeting the needs of ordinary people

4.

Supporting the actions of the Democratic Party simply because one identifies oneself as a member of that party is an example of ________.

a)

partisanship

b)

ideology

c)

latent preference

d)

social capital

5.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) testifies in front of Congress to advocate for several laws, including one that would protect gun manufacturers from lawsuits concerning violence committed with weapons they made.

This is an example of which of the following models of democracy?

a)

Participatory democracy

b)

Direct democracy

c)

Pluralist democracy

d)

Elite democracy

6.

Which of the following aspects of the US Constitution best illustrates the concept of elite democracy?

a)

The ban on “corruption of the blood” in cases of treason

b)

The process for adding amendments to the Constitution

c)

The apportionment of representatives in the House according to state population

d)

The original wording of the Constitution regarding the selection of US senators

7.

Social contract is best defined as which of the following?

a)

The agreement between people and the government defining the rights and duties of each

b)

The system in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders

c)

The belief that the government’s right to rule comes from the people

d)

The belief that government should only have powers granted under the Constitution

8.

Which of the following aspects of the US Constitution best illustrates the concept of participatory democracy?

a)

The ban on religious oaths as a condition of holding office

b)

The process for choosing members of the House of Representatives

c)

The process for choosing Supreme Court justices

d)

The creation of the Electoral College

9.

Joe Biden was nominated to run as president by the Democratic Party this week. Who was the only other person to receive delegate votes at the Convention?

a)

Kamala Harris

b)

Elizabeth Warren

c)

Bernie Sanders

d)

Micheal Bllomberg

10.

A political system in which the government’s power is restricted by laws or a written Constitution.

a)

republicanism

b)

social contract

c)

natural rights

d)

limited government

11.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

US Constitution

c)

Bill of Rights

d)

Second Treatise on Government

12.

The right to life, liberty, and property, which no government may take away.

a)

social contract

b)

natural rights

c)

republicanism

d)

wut

13.

New York statesman who promoted replacing the Articles of Confederation with a stronger central government. He coauthored the Federalist Papers, which argued in favor of ratifying the Constitution.

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Ben Franklin

c)

Alexander Hamilton

d)

Eliza Schuyler

14.

Virginia statesman and major contributor to the US Constitution. He coauthored the Federalist Papers and wrote the Bill of Rights.

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

George Washington

c)

James Madison

d)

John Jay

15.

An essay written by James Madison, in which he argued that a strong representative government would be able to control the effects of factions.

a)

Brutus No. 1

b)

Federalist No. 10

c)

10th Amendment

d)

Strawberry Letter No. 23

16.

Brutus No. 1

a)

The fundamental laws and principles that govern the United States. The document was the result of several compromises between Federalists and Anti-Federalists surrounding the ratification of the Constitution.

b)

An Anti-Federalist essay which argued against a strong central government based on the belief that it would not be able to meet the needs of all US citizens.

c)

Madison's essay warning of the creation of factions.

d)

Cologne worn by Aaron Burr

17.

A form of democracy that emphasizes broad, direct participation in politics and civil society, in which most or all citizens participate in politics directly.

a)

hyperpluralistic democracy

b)

participatory democracy

c)

pluralist democracy

d)

elite democracy

18.

An example of elite democracy today is

a)

The method in how the US Senate is elected

b)

The United Nations

c)

The Electoral College

d)

The primary system of nomination

19.

Which Enlightenment philosopher's theory on natural rights inspired Thomas Jefferson's "life. liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

a)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

b)

Thomas Hobbes

c)

John Locke

d)

Voltaire

20.

Which former Donald Trump adviser was arrested on Thursday for fraud?

a)

Paul Manafort

b)

Michael Flynn

c)

Carter Page

d)

Steve Bannon