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Government Semester Exam

Total questions: 64

Worksheet time: 1hrs 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

God created the state and that God had given those of royal birth the right to rule.

a)

Force Theory

b)

Evolutionary Theory

c)

Divine Right Theory

d)

Social Contract Theory

2.

One person or a small group claimed control over an area and forced all within to submit to that person’s or group’s rule

a)

Force Theory

b)

Evolutionary Theory

c)

Divine Right Theory

d)

Social Contract Theory

3.

People voluntarily came together and created the state.

a)

Social Contract Theory

b)

Evolutionary Theory

c)

Divine Right Theory

d)

Chaos Theory

4.

A government in which a single person holds unlimited political power

a)

Democracy

b)

Autocracy

c)

Oligarchy

d)

Paliamentary

5.

The supreme political authority rest with the people and the citizens themselves

a)

Democracy

b)

Autocracy

c)

Oligarchy

d)

Confederation

6.
Which of the following would someone who supports a democratic government most likely favor?
a)
Rule by a king or queen.
b)
Special privileges for the wealthy. 
c)
Control over the government by a single person.
d)
A society in which citizens freely elect their leaders.
7.
What can someone expect to find in a society ruled by a dictator?
a)
Government controls most aspects of life.
b)
Religious beliefs are supported by the government.
c)
The government is considered a servant of ordinary citizens.
d)
Citizens can publicly speak out against their ruler's policy
8.
Which statement was most likely made by an absolute monarch?
a)
"The government that rules is elected by the people."
b)
"Government must be based on a sound written constitution."
c)
"An elected legislature must pass all laws for our nation."
d)
"In this nation, I decide what the laws are."
9.
Which branch of the U.S. government is held accountable to apply or interpret [judge] the laws?
a)
The Legislative
b)
The Judicial
c)
The Executive 
d)
The Police
10.
Which branch of the U.S. government has the role of making laws?
a)
Executive Branch
b)
Judicial Branch 
c)
Legislative Branch 
d)
The Police
11.
The Executive Branch of the U.S. government is responsible for doing this:
a)
carry out/enforce [execute] the laws
b)
make the laws
c)
apply or interpret [judge] the laws
d)
run the country
12.
In this form of government, each citizen gets to vote directly on issues.
a)
Representative Democracy
b)
Direct Democracy
c)
Theocracy 
d)
Dictatorship
13.
Which list shows governments in order of least rights to most rights for citizens?
a)
democracy, dictatorship, constitutional monarchy
b)
dictatorship, democracy, constitutional monarchy
c)
dictatorship, constitutional monarchy, democracy
d)

constitutional monarchy, democracy, dictatorship
14.
The United States uses which form of government?
a)
Direct democracy
b)
Absolute monarchy
c)
Representative democracy
d)
Oligarchy
15.
Representative democracy is also known as:
a)
Confederal
b)
Republic
c)
Socialist
d)
Dictatorship
16.

What is the definition of 'commander in chief'?

a)

An ancient symbol of peace.

b)

A wall made of earth or stone.

c)

A person who is in control of all the armed forces of a nation.

d)

A soldier who serves for pay in the military of a foreign nation.

17.
Why is July 4, 1776 an important date in U.S. history?
a)
Common Sense was published.
b)
The Olive Branch Petition sent to King George III.
c)
The American Revolution ends.
d)
The Declaration of Independence is signed.
18.
According to the Declaration of Independence, what truth was "self-evident"?
a)
All men are created equal
b)
Rights are given by good kings
c)
Government exists to protect us from ourselves
d)
Only a democracy can protect our rights
19.
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
20.
What are our natural rights according to Jefferson?  (He got the idea from John Locke, but he changed the last right.)
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
21.
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
a)
Benjamin Franklin
b)
Samuel Adams
c)
Thomas Jefferson
d)
Paul Revere
22.
To Great Britain, the signing of the Declaration of Independence was
a)
an act of loyalty.
b)
an act of treason.
c)
an act of bravery.
d)
an act of insanity.
23.
When Thomas Jefferson copied John Locke's ideas about the social contract, what did he say the people had the right to do to a government who was not protecting the people's rights?
a)
Write a letter
b)
Suggest how it could be better
c)
Wait until they started to respect the people's rights
d)
Abolish it
24.
The Declaration of Independence states, “That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it.” Which Enlightened idea do these words describe?
a)
need to ensure a representative government.
b)
social contract between government and the people.
c)
revolutionary intent to overthrow the current government.
d)
return to a society that has no central authority.
25.
According to the Declaration of Independence who gives us our rights? 
a)
given by God at birth 
b)
given by our government 
c)
given by our president 
d)
given by our parents 
26.
What is the name of the first written plan of government in America?
a)
Constitution
b)
Treaty of Paris
c)
Declaration of Independence
d)
Articles of Confederation
27.
The Articles of Confederation created a ________ central government
a)
weak
b)
strong
28.
The Northwest Ordinance provided a pathway for territories to apply for
a)
statehood
b)
federal funding
c)
infrastructure grants
29.
The Great Compromise accomplished which of the following? 
a)
Created a one house legislature
b)
Postponed the conversation about slavery
c)
Added the Bill of Rights 
d)
Created a two house legislature
30.
In what house of our national legislature, called Congress, does each state have equal representation? 
a)
Senate 
b)
House of Representatives 
c)
General Assembly 
d)
House of Commons 
31.
What document replaced the Articles of Confederation and established a new national government? 
a)
The Declaration of Independence 
b)
The Constitution 
c)
The Magna Carta 
d)
The English Bill of Rights 
32.
Which part of the legislative branch has representation based on population?
a)
Senate
b)
Judicial
c)
House of 
Representatives
d)
House of Congress
33.
Why is the Constitution considered a "living document"?
a)
It has changed with time
b)
It is rewritten by each president
c)
It has remained the same over the years
d)
It is signed each year by members of Congress
34.
The exective branch is led or headed by the ___.
a)
Justices
b)
Senators
c)
President
d)
Represenatives 
35.
The judicial branch is made up ___.
a)
departments and agencies 
b)
lobbyists
c)
electors
d)
federal courts
36.
The highest court in the land is the ___.
a)
U.S. District Court
b)
U.S. Ciricuit Court
c)
U.S. Supreme Court
d)
U.S. Appeallate Court
37.
The U.S. government can have no powers or responsibilities beyond those assigned in the U.S. Constitution.
This best describes which of the following ideas?
a)
Checks and Balances
b)
Separation of Powers
c)
Limited Government
d)
Freedom of Religion
38.
The U.S. Constitution established Checks and Balances to -
a)
make a break from the British Parliamentary system
b)
keep any branch from becoming more powerful than the others.
c)
strengthen the influence of the Federal government.
d)
facilitate public elections in the United States.
39.
"True Republicanism is sovereignty of the people.  There are natural and [unalienable] rights which an entire nation has no right to violate."     - Marquis de Lafeyette
According to this quote, which of the following principles of the Constitution BEST supports Lafayette's point of view?
a)
Separation of Powers
b)
Individual Rights
c)
Checks and Balances
d)
Limited Government
40.
The people rule would be what
a)
Federalism
b)
Separation of powers
c)
Popular Sovereignty
41.
The state and government share power with certain things is what
a)
Separation of Powers
b)
Federalism
c)
Limited Government
42.
When people vote in an election it shows what principle
a)
Federalism
b)
Limited Government
c)
Popular Sovereignty
43.
The Senate can refuse to approve the president's choice for a Supreme Court Justice ... is what
a)
Limited Government
b)
Separation of Powers
c)
Checks and balances
44.
What describes the basic structure, jobs and powers of the government
a)
Amendments
b)
Bill of Rights
c)
Constitution
45.
If the justice system finds something to be unconstitutional and vetoes a laws ... it would be part of
a)
Checks and Balances
b)
Federalism
c)
Popular Sovereignty
46.
Separation of powers and federalism are constitutional principles that
a)
increase the power of the federal government at the expense of state powers
b)
settle disputes between state and national officials
c)
ensure legislative and executive equality
d)
establish limits on the powers of the US government
47.

In a state of nature:

a)

there is no government and always war

b)

government protects people's rights

c)

people and government reach a social contract

48.

An agreement in which people give the government some power in return for the government's protection is called:

a)

natural rights

b)

constitution

c)

social contract

49.

After a change to the constitution has been proposed by 2/3 of both Houses of Congress, what fraction of the state legislatures must ratify (approve) the amendment before it is added to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

2/3

b)

1/2

c)

3/4

d)

1/3

50.

What fraction of the House of Representatives and Senate must pass a proposed amendment before it goes to the state legislatures for ratification?

a)

2/3

b)

3/4

c)

1/2

d)

1/4

51.

Which amendment is represented in the picture?

a)

15th

b)

19th

c)

23rd

d)

26th

52.

Gave citizens the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude.

a)

23rd Amendment

b)

24th Amendment

c)

15th Amendment

d)

19th Amendment

53.

Gave women the right to vote

a)

19th Amendment

b)

15th Amendment

c)

23rd Amendment

d)

26th Amendment

54.

Allows citizens to have the right to

speak

a)

Freedom of Assembly

b)

Freedom of Press

c)

Freedom of Religion

d)

Freedom of Speech

e)

Right to Petition

55.

What is the name of the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

a)

Rights of Oath

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

Bill of Amendments

56.

Which amendment gives you the freedom of religion and speech?

a)

23rd

b)

5th

c)

1st

57.

What is a candidate?

a)

Someone who is seeking the presidency

b)

Someone who is seeking public office

c)

Someone who is nominated for office

58.

How do candidates and political parties inform voters about their ideals and goals?

a)

A platform

b)

A plank

c)

A commercial

59.

When a candidate is running for an office they are already serving in, what are they called?

a)

The back horse candidate

b)

The recurring candidate

c)

The incumbent candidate

60.
What are the names of the two major political parties in the United States today?
a)
Democratic and Republican
b)
Democratic and Libertarian
c)
Socialist and Republican
d)
Socialist and Libertarian 
61.
The statement below is from a political party platform.
We, the workers and our allies, need to take power from the hands of the wealthy few, their corporations, and their political operatives.
Which political party’s position is represented in the statement? 
a)
Communist
b)
Democratic
c)
Republican 
d)
Socialist 
62.
Which spending increase would the Democratic Party likely support?
a)
Homeland Security
b)
 Space Exploration
c)
Education
d)
Military
63.
In the modern political system, which issue represents a basic disagreement between Republicans and Democrats?
a)
The responsibilities of government 
b)
The frequency of national elections
c)
he legality of the U.S. Constitution 
d)
The support for the U.S. military soldier
64.

A group that can collect limited amounts of money from individual donors for a political campaign

a)

political party

b)

Political Action Committee (PAC)

c)

Super PAC

d)

The Avengers - Spoiler Alert - This option is wrong

e)

The Justice League or whatever

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