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Civics First Semester Final Exam

Total questions: 36

Worksheet time: 35mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How did Montesquieu's Enlightenment view of separation of powers influence the founding fathers?

a)

They created three separate branches of government

b)

They established separate government for each state

c)

They helped separate the british colonies from Britain

d)

They created a central government separate from each state.

2.

How did the Magna Carta limit the power of the English monarchy?

a)

It abolished, or ended, the monarchy

b)

It created free elections for government.

c)

It led to creating a parliament to approve of new taxes

d)

It wrote a new constitution for the English government

3.

What check does the U.S. Senate have on the president?

a)

veto legislation

b)

appointing judges

c)

declaring laws unconstitutional

d)

Impeachment power

4.

What was the Anti-Federalists' greatest concern about ratifying the U.S. Constitution?

a)

The lack of a federal court system.

b)

The lack of a bill of rights.

c)

The lack of legislative veto power.

d)

The lack of a strong military

5.

Which viewpoint was common among Anti-Federalists?

a)

There is no need for a separate Bill of Rights.

b)

The Constitution does not give enough power to the states.

c)

The Constitution will not strengthen the government.

d)

A strong national government will protect the people in times of crisis

6.

What does the phrase "insure domestic tranquility" in the Preamble of the Constitution mean?

a)

Give land to the homeless

b)

Fight wars on foreign soil

c)

Keep the homeland at peace

d)

Provide citizens with insurance

7.

According to Enlightenment thinker John Locke, what did natural law protect?

a)

Government, elections, and voters

b)

Speech, religion, and thought

c)

Life, Liberty, and Property

d)

People, Homes, work

8.

This is when the people make an agreement to form a community and under which the government protects them in exchange for them obeying the government.

a)

natural law

b)

Social Contract

c)

Common sense

d)

Individual liberty

9.

According to Enlightenment thinker John Locke’s social theory, what might happen if government passed unfair laws that violated natural law?

a)

Citizens should obey their government’s unfair laws.

b)

Citizens should be able to overthrow their government.

c)

Citizens should choose what laws they wanted to break.

d)

Citizens should not protest what laws their government passed.

10.

"...That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."

Based on the excerpt, where should governments get their power?

a)

from Parliament

b)

from the king

c)

from the elected leaders

d)

from the people or citizens

11.

The introduction to the U.S. Constitution is formally known as?

a)

Preliminary

b)

Parliament

c)

Preamble

d)

Precedent

12.

The English document created in 1215 A.D. that guaranteed citizens could not be imprisoned without a trial is called?

a)

Mardi Gras

b)

Monte Carlo

c)

Mayflower Compact

d)

Magna Carta

13.

What was the first document that established a government in the American colonies?

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

Magna Carta

c)

Monte Carlo

d)

Mardi Gras

14.
Guarantees freedom from quartering soldiers in our homes
a)
1st Amendment
b)
3rd Amendment
c)
5th Amendment
d)
7th Amendment
15.
Guarantees freedom of religion
a)
1st Amendment
b)
3rd Amendment
c)
5th Amendment
d)
7th Amendment
16.
Guarantees freedom from Double Jeopardy (being tried for the same crime twice)
a)
1st Amendment
b)
9th Amendment
c)
5th Amendment
d)
7th Amendment
17.
Guarantees freedom to assemble peacefully
a)
1st Amendment
b)
9th Amendment
c)
5th Amendment
d)
7th Amendment
18.
Guarantees the right of citizens to bear arms (own guns)
a)
2nd Amendment
b)
4th Amendment
c)
6th Amendment
d)
8th Amendment
19.
Forbids cruel and unusual punishment
a)
2nd Amendment
b)
4th Amendment
c)
6th Amendment
d)
8th Amendment
20.

A change to the Constitution

a)

bill

b)

representation

c)

majority

d)

amendment

21.

First and failed plan for government for the United States of America

a)

the Mayflower Compact

b)

the Common Sense pamphlet

c)

the Treaty of Paris

d)

the Articles of Confederation

22.

Number of branches in the United States government

a)

four

b)

three

c)

two

d)

one

23.

The legislative branch

a)

writes laws

b)

enforces laws

c)

decided the fairness of laws

d)

is your in-laws

24.

Which branch of the government does the president head?

a)

the cabinet branch

b)

the executive branch

c)

the Supreme Court branch

d)

the branch called Congress

25.

If a law is unconstitutional, it may be thrown out by which branch of the government?

a)

the judicial branch

b)

the executive branch

c)

the legislative branch

d)

a veto

26.

Who vetoes bills?

a)

the President

b)

the Majority Leader

c)

the President Pro Tempore

d)

the Speaker of the House of Representatives

27.

Which of the following lines is part of the Preamble to the Constitution?

a)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal

b)

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation

c)

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union

28.

What are the first 3 words of the Constitution?

a)

We are people

b)

We the people

c)

We as people

d)

We are the people

29.

What are the first ten amendments of the Constitution called?

a)

Charter

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

Articles of Confederation

d)

Magna Carter

30.

A system of __________ and __________ is used to keep any one branch of the government from being dominant, or having too much power.

a)

checks and balances

b)

power and authority

c)

politics and philosophy

d)

life and liberty

31.

What does “taxation without representation” mean?

a)

taxing someone who does not live in the country

b)

not taxing a certain group of people

c)

taxing someone without giving them a voice in government

d)

taxing everyone the same amount

32.
According to the Declaration of Independence, where does government get its power?
a)
From the King
b)
From the Supreme Court
c)
From God
d)
From the people
33.

What are unalienable rights?

a)

Rights that government cannot take away

b)

Rights that government takes away

c)

rights for aliens

d)

Government is needed to promote equality

34.

What are the three unalienable rights that all people have?

a)

Food, Shelter, and Clothing

b)

Life, Liberty and Death

c)

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

35.

Why was the Declaration of Independence written?

a)

To stop taxes from the British Empire.

b)

To make a United States army.

c)

To gain independence from the British Empire

d)

To install their own king in America

36.

What are our natural rights according to Jefferson? (He got the idea from John Locke.)

a)

Freedom of speech, religion, and press

b)

Life, liberty, and property

c)

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

d)

Voting, rebelling, and health