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CIVICS AND ECON MIDTERM EXAM REVIEW 2020 - 2021

Total questions: 73

Worksheet time: 37mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Governments in the modern world, whether democratic or not, are similar in doing all of the following EXCEPT

a)

protecting citizens’ civil liberties.

b)

maintaining order

c)

maintaining a national defense

d)

providing public services

2.

According to John Locke the sole purpose of government is to

a)

protect natural rights.

b)

promote the common good.

c)

educate its people

d)

prevent anarchy

3.

The boundary lines of congressional districts must be redrawn every ten years to

a)

reflect population shifts indicated by the national census

b)

guaranteeing the turnover of the majority of congressional seats

c)

determine which party’s leader will be named speaker of the House

d)

increased the number of female and minority members of Congress

4.

How did the Stamp Act, the Tea Acts and the Intolerable Acts encourage American colonists to consider revolution against British rule?

a)

The laws generally ignored the interests of the King and left the colonies to self-government.

b)

The laws ignored the wishes of American representatives in Parliament, on issues of taxes levied in the American colonies

c)

The laws raised taxes in the American colonies without granting the colonies any representation in Parliament

d)

The laws exposed the British plan to expand the American colonies farther west on the continent

5.

When U.S. citizens elect members of Congress, they are practicing

a)

direct democracy

b)

authoritarianism

c)

totalitarianism

d)

representative democracy

6.

What did Shays' Rebellion and other weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation convince many Americans of the need for?

a)

a stronger central government.

b)

granting long-delayed bonuses to Revolutionary War veterans

c)

lower taxes.

d)

a vigilante effort by westerners to halt the Indian threat.

7.

Serving on a jury is a duty because the Constitution guarantees U.S. citizens the right to

a)

judge others.

b)

jury service.

c)

defend the nation.

d)

a trial by jury.

8.

A person can become a citizen of the United States by all of the following means EXCEPT

a)

By immigrating to the US and becoming a naturalized citizen

b)

Illegally entering the U.S.by crossing the border without permission

c)

being born beyond US jurisdiction to US Parents

d)

being born in the United States

9.

The concept that the relationship between government and the people is a voluntary agreement is called

a)

Federalism

b)

Social Contract

c)

Natural Rights

d)

Citizenship

10.

Voting in political elections is a

a)

mandatory obligation.

b)

legal duty

c)

legal duty and a privilege

d)

right and a responsibility

11.

The importance of the Mayflower Compact was that it set forth which of the following ideas?

a)

religious tolerance

b)

separation of church and state

c)

no taxation without representation

d)

government by consent of the governed and direct democracy

12.

Which political idea was being demonstrated when the President of the United States vetoes a bill?

a)

separation of powers

b)

checks and balances

c)

popular sovereignty

d)

supremacy clause

13.

Although Colorado recently legalized marijuana use, US laws still state smoking marijuana is illegal. Which provision of the Constitution says that state laws should not violate federal laws?

a)

Bill of Rights

b)

necessary and proper clause

c)

supremacy clause

d)

concurrent powers clause

14.

What is federalism?

a)

a form of government with elected representatives

b)

a division of power between the national and state governments

c)

a belief in the idea of national sovereignty

d)

a form of government in which elected officials make all economic decisions

15.

Which of the following best describes the concept of limited government?

a)

All political power belongs to the people.

b)

Government must operate within certain bounds set by the people and Constitution.

c)

The people must behave according to rules set by the government.

d)

Powers are divided among three independent branches of government.

16.

When there is a separation of powers,

a)

power is divided between the National Government and the States.

b)

the basic powers of government are held by a single agency.

c)

power is distributed among three independent branches of government.

d)

the people grant the States the authority to govern.

17.

The 7th Amendment guarantees you the right to sue someone for money or force them to carry out an action. What type of trial would this be?

a)

Criminal Trial

b)

Civil Trial

c)

Administrative Trial

d)

Bench Trial

18.

Under the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution law enforcement cannot search private property without the use of a?

a)

Bill of Attainder

b)

Writs of Assistance

c)

Subpoena

d)

Search Warrant

19.

The 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reminds citizens that criminal acts cannot be punished with?

a)

Cruel or Unusual Punishments

b)

The death penalty

c)

A jury of their peers

d)

Denaturalization

20.

Bill Swanson was arrested at North Lake Mall and accused of shoplifting. The police read Mr. Swanson his rights, took him to jail where he was fingerprinted, photographed, and given the opportunity to contact his attorney. Later the next day Mr. Swanson was taken before a judge where he plead "not guilty" to the shoplifting charges. Which part of the 5th amendment guarantees Mr. Swanson these rights?

a)

Eminent Domain

b)

Double Jeopardy

c)

Due Process

d)

Equal Protection

21.

Asia Smith is arrested by police for suspicion of burglary. The police continually question her to the point where she becomes frustrated and confused. At this point which Constitutional right would most benefit Ms. Smith?

a)

Right to a jury

b)

Rights to an attorney

c)

Protection against double jeopardy

d)

Rights to face your accuser

22.

The Ninth Amendment states that rights not listed in the Constitution, like the right to privacy is?

a)

forfeited.

b)

subject to change

c)

protected.

d)

suspended during wars.

23.

Which group strongly supported the rights of state governments and the addition of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution.

a)

Anti-Federalists

b)

Democrats

c)

Federalists

d)

Whigs

24.

The Bill of Rights was intended to do which of the following?

a)

to give all citizens the right to vote

b)

to establish formerly the two-party system

c)

to define the powers of the states

d)

to protect individual rights from government abuse

25.

What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?

a)

To express support for the appointment of Washington as the first president

b)

To provide a plan for government after the failure of the Articles of Confederation

c)

To encourage approval / ratification of the Constitution

d)

To justify the American Revolution to the colonies

26.

Why didn’t the Anti-Federalists like the Constitution?

a)

There was no established church.

b)

It gave individual citizens too much power and too many individual rights.

c)

The national government had too much power.

d)

The executive branch was not strong enough.

27.

What did the New Jersey plan propose?

a)

It provided for direct representation in the legislature

b)

It provided for a bicameral legislature

c)

It provided equal representation in the legislative branch

d)

It provided for representation based on population in the legislative branch

28.

How did the Connecticut(Great) Compromise overcome the conflict about representation?

a)

It required that the most representatives come from Connecticut

b)

It created one government for the large states and one for the small states.

c)

It created one house based on population and one house based on equal representation

d)

It preserved the form of representation described in the Articles of Confederation.

29.

What was the significance of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

a)

It resolved the debate on how much exports should be taxed

b)

It required 3/5 of the legislature to agree to pass a new law.

c)

It regulated the slave trade in the US.

d)

It allowed slaves to be counted as part of a state’s population, but they were also counted as property

30.

What happens after a two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress propose an amendment to the U.S.Constitution?

a)

The amendment can be approved with three-fourths of the state legislatures ratifying it.

b)

The amendment cannot become part of the Constitution without a popular referendum on it.

c)

The U.S. Supreme Court can prohibit members of Congress from taking a vote on the issue

d)

The amendment cannot become law until the president first vetoes it.

31.

Which of the following provisions of the Constitution most clearly reflects the principle of popular sovereignty?

a)

Voters can reject and replace representatives who serve them poorly.

b)

Power is divided between the federal and state governments.

c)

Congress may exercise powers that are not specifically listed in the Constitution.

d)

The Constitution may be interpreted through custom.

32.

Who can prevent the president of the United States from influencing the Supreme Court by blocking appointments to the bench?

a)

state legislatures

b)

the joint chiefs of staff

c)

governors

d)

the Senate

33.

During World War II a small group of top military and business leaders in Japan ran the wartime government. This arrangement was an example of a(n)

a)

Autocracy

b)

Oligarchy

c)

Republic

d)

Aristocracy

34.

Which of the following best describes the concept of “reserved powers” of the states?

a)

These are powers given to the states through the implied powers concept.

b)

These are powers not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states. Example "Issuing Marriage, doctor's and teacher's licenses"

c)

These are powers given only to Congress and are not available to the executive branch.

d)

These are powers such as foreign trade agreements over which the states maintain only a small amount of control

35.

The New Jersey plan differed from the Virginia plan in that:

a)

The New Jersey plan called for representation based on population in the legislature where the Virginia plan did not.

b)

The New Jersey plan called for equal representation "one state, one vote" while the Virginia Plan called for representation based on population.

c)

The New Jersey plan called for a strong central government where Virginia did not

d)

The New Jersey plan called for a president where the Virginia plan did not

36.

Why was the Virginia House of Burgesses important to the development of democracy in the colonies?

a)

It provided for direct election of senators

b)

It began the practice of legislative override of executive vetoes

c)

It created the first written constitution in America

d)

It provided an example of representative government

37.

The Americans borrowed many ideas from John Locke's social contract. Among these was the right to abolish an abusive and unresponsive government "England". This ideas was first formally expressed by Americans in which document?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

The Petition of Right

c)

Declaration of Rights

d)

Constitution

38.

Rights in the U.S. Constitution are listed in the Bill of Rights, while rights in the North Carolina Constitution are listed in the?

a)

Article I Declaration of Rights

b)

Preamble to the North Carolina Constitution

c)

Article 4 Rights and Privileges of Citizens

d)

Ratification Process

39.

What is one "Check" placed on the governor by the North Carolina Constitution?

a)

Bills can be passed with less than a majority vote

b)

The General Assembly appoints the Council of State

c)

The General Assembly can override the Governor's veto

d)

The Governor needs 3/4ths approval of the General Assembly to appoint judges

40.

The Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights influenced the future U.S. Constitution by establishing which principles?

a)

Trial by jury

b)

No taxation without consent

c)

Limiting the power of government

d)

All of these choices are correct

41.

Baron De Montesquieu theorized that government abuse of power could be controlled through the concept of?

a)

Natural Rights

b)

Separation of Church and State

c)

Separation of Powers

d)

Social Contract

42.

The federal court system consists of

a)

federal district courts, federal appeals courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

b)

federal appeals courts, state appeals courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

c)

federal district courts, state supreme courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

d)

local courts, state courts, and federal district courts.

43.

Which of the following established the principle of federal judicial review?

a)

U.S. Constitution

b)

Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas

c)

Judiciary Act of 1789

d)

Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison

44.

Which case would most likely be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court?

a)

a lawsuit to stop construction of a new highway near an elementary school

b)

A trial involving the murder of a federal official

c)

a case in which a defendant’s rights are denied and the case is further appealed from the US Courts of Appeal

d)

a case in which there is a hung jury

45.

Al Worth gets arrested on a charge of kidnapping. Kidnapping is a federal crime. He is tried in the Federal District Court because this court has

a)

appellate jurisdiction.

b)

concurrent jurisdiction.

c)

dynamic jurisdiction

d)

original jurisdiction.

46.

Al Bore receives 50.3% of the popular vote in the presidential election. George Rush receives only 49.7% of the popular vote, but is still elected president because the president is chosen by

a)

the people

b)

the Senate

c)

The Electoral College

d)

the states

47.

Which executive department would deal with meeting with leaders of foreign countries and other diplomats?

a)

Department of State

b)

Department of Commerce

c)

Department of Health and Human Services

d)

Department of Transportation

48.

The 22nd Amendment limits the president to

a)

2 terms or 8 years

b)

2 terms or 10 years

c)

2 consecutive terms

d)

2 non-consecutive terms

49.

Which of the following definitions describes standing committees?

a)

they exist in a few policy areas and in their membership is drawn from both the Senate and House

b)

they are committees formed only when in the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms

c)

they are committees appointed for a specific purpose and specific length of time

d)

they are permanently established committees formed to handle bills in different policy areas

50.

When the Republican Party took control of the North Carolina General Assembly in 2010 they redrew the congressional district lines so that the Republicans would have more representatives than the Democrats in Congress. Redrawing political districts to favor one party over another is known as

a)

Gerrymandering

b)

Filibustering

c)

Reapportionment

d)

Impeachment

51.

Billy Greenwood was suspected of growing marijuana in his house. When the police came to search the house, Billy invoked his Fourth Amendment right and refused to allow the police search his house without a warrant. This is an example of...

a)

Freedom of Speech

b)

Right to Bear Arms

c)

No unreasonable search and seizure

d)

No self-incrimination

52.

The First Amendment provision for freedom of religion both prohibits an establishment of an official religion by the government and

a)

Provides guarantees for funding churches

b)

Prohibits discrimination against any religious group

c)

Allows free exercise of religion by citizens

d)

Supports only monotheistic beliefs

53.

"We the People," the first three words of the Preamble to the Constitution, reaffirms the principle of

a)

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Limited Government

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Separation of Powers

54.

The goals of the Constitution are clearly listed in

a)

Article I

b)

Article V

c)

The Preamble

d)

The Bill of Rights

55.

The principle of separation of powers is reflected in the president's ability to enforce law while Congress makes law. However, the president can veto law passed by Congress if he thinks a law extends beyond Congress's powers. Which other principle of the Constitution does this example illustrate?

a)

Checks and Balances

b)

Weight and Measures

c)

Full Faith and Credit

d)

Habeas Corpus

56.

A concurrent (shared) power is a power that is shared by the national and state governments. Which of the following is an example of a concurrent (shared) power?

a)

Coining money

b)

Enforcing laws

c)

Regulating interstate commerce

d)

Creating post offices

57.

Reserved powers are those granted only to the states. Based on the diagram, which of the following is a reserved power?

a)

the power to coin money

b)

the power to establish courts

c)

the power to establish local governments

d)

the power to borrow money

58.

If freedom of assembly was not a protected right, American citizens would be unable to

a)

join political groups that promote new social policies

b)

write a blog filled with lies about the president

c)

trust newspapers to print the truth about the government

d)

write letters criticizing government policies

59.

Washington D.C. proposed a ban on handguns. The Supreme Court declared the ban unconstitutional because it violates the 2nd Amendment right to

a)

Right to bear arms

b)

Right to a speedy and public trial

c)

No Unreasonable Search and Seizure

d)

Right to Free Expression

60.

This U.S. Constitutional Amendment provided such basic rights as the right to face your accuser, rights to an attorney, call witnesses on your behalf and being given a fair and public trial.

a)

1st Amendment

b)

4th Amendment

c)

5th Amendment

d)

6th Amendment

61.

The Magna Carta was important because of which concept?

a)

Individual Rights

b)

Separation of Powers

c)

Limited the power of the King

d)

Checks and Balances

62.

Historical document that was the 1st to establish a "unified law code" or law which is the same for everyone.

a)

Roman Twelve Tables

b)

The Magna Carta

c)

Hammurabi's Code

d)

Napoleonic Code

63.

This elected body became the first "representative democracy" in the American colonies. Elected representatives would meet during the year and discuss problems around the colony.

a)

The Mayflower Compact

b)

The Virginia House of Burgesses

c)

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

d)

The Maryland Act of Toleration

64.

American historical period in which people who were accused of crimes were tortured, denied a fair trial and executed.

a)

The English Bill of Rights 1689

b)

The Salem Witch Trials

c)

Justinian's Code

d)

The Petition of Right

65.

Once England established colonies in North America, they effectively took a hands-off approach to their colonial possessions and let them practice self-government in exchange for a constant supply of raw materials. This approach becomes known as?

a)

Greetings and Salutations

b)

Salutary Neglect

c)

Salary Neglect

d)

Neglectful Governance

66.

Latin phrase which means "To produce the body", it requires police to bring a person arrested or detained before a judge and to provide that judge with a valid reason for that person's detention or arrest.

a)

Habeas Corpus

b)

Jus Solis

c)

Jus Sanguinis

d)

Ipso Facto

67.

Document signed by King George III of England which forbid American colonists from settling in lands past the Appalachian Mountains.

a)

The Stamp Act

b)

The Intolerable Acts

c)

The Navigation Acts

d)

The Proclamation of 1763

68.

This small but effective band of patriots harassed British tax collectors, refused to cooperate with the British and eventually bring about the Boston Tea Party in opposition to British taxes on tea.

a)

The Sons of Liberty

b)

The Sons of Anarchy

c)

The Cousins of Calamity

d)

The Sons of Silence

69.

March 5th, 1770 witnessed five Americans shot dead in the streets of Boston at the hands of British soldiers. This event would soon become known as the?

a)

The Boston Beat Down

b)

The Boston Brawl

c)

The Boston Massacre

d)

The Philadelphia Punchout

70.

What is the current composition / makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court?

a)

9 associate justices and one chief justice

b)

5 associate justices and 5 chief justices

c)

8 associate justices and 1 chief justice

d)

5 associate, 5 assistant and 1 chief justice

71.

In 2011 President Barack Obama sent Navy Seals into Pakistan with orders to capture or kill Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. This is an example of the president's role as

a)

Chief Executive

b)

Chief Diplomat

c)

Commander in Chief

d)

Chief Legislator

72.

Which executive department is responsible for federal law enforcement and punishment of criminals?

a)

State Department

b)

Interior Department

c)

Justice Department

d)

Defense Department

73.

North Carolina has 15 electoral votes. The number of electoral votes for each state is determined by

a)

registered voters it has.

b)

square miles the state covers.

c)

U.S. senators and representatives the state has.

d)

people who voted in the previous presidential election.