WorksheetsReview Final Exam American Government
Total questions: 204
Worksheet time: 3hrs 7mins
Direct democracy is
a govt. with elections
representatives who are directly elected
rule by the many (as many people as possible)
citizenship is widely extended
Representative democracy is
rule by the many
rule by elected representatives
rule by only one individual
Concept of limited government was first introduced in the
Magna Carta
English Petition of Right
English Bill of Rights
U.S. Bill of Rights
John Locke
state of nature
govt. by the consent of the governed
wrote Leviathan
A federal system
has power at the central level only
has power at the state/local level only
has power shared between central and local govts.
Which country has had the most influence on the U.S. political system?
Russia
Great Britain
France
Mexico
English Petition of Right introduced the idea of
natural rights
due process of law
monarchy
Which constitutional amendment protects free speech?
1st
4th
2nd
Type of govt. in which a small group holds power
autocracy
democracy
oligarchy
Which idea is in the Declaration of Independence?
people can change an abusive govt.
only property owners have natural rights
only God can chose our political leaders
A Presidential system has
an executive chosen by the legislature
and executive chosen by the people
and executive chosen by the courts
A Parliamentary system has
an executive chosen by the legislature
an executive chosen by the people
an executive chosen by the courts
The most common style of government in the world is a (an)
federal system
confederate system
unitary system
A government ruled by a single individual is a (an)
democracy
republic
autocracy
A synonym for self-govt is
autocracy
sovereignty
oligarchy
Another word for representative govt is a
democracy
republic
monarchy
Montesquieu's main contribution was the concept of
natural rights
separation of powers
state of nature
When people give up some of their freedoms to allow other to govern them, a __________________ is formed.
oligarchy
constitution
social contract
When the states or local govt. levels have all key powers, the style of govt is called a
confederate system
federal system
unitary system
The author of the Declaration of Independence is
Thomas Paine
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
A confederate govt is rare because
all power is in the hands of one person
the central govt is weak and states have all key powers
border disputes cause frequent problems
different countries want to invade a confederacy
Limited govt is
an agreement between a govt and its citizens
govt can limit what its citizens can and cannot do
rules must be obeyed by the citizens
govt must operate within the limits set forth by citizens
Which philosopher had the most influence on the Framers of the U.S. Constitution?
Hobbes
Rousseau
Montesquieu
Locke
Authoritarianism
democracy
Republic
oligarchy
autocracy
Rousseau
separation of powers
social contract
natural rights
state of nature
Key components of democracy
free and fair elections
universal suffrage
govt power is limited
all of these are correct
Montesquieu
social contract
separation of powers
natural rights
state of nature
Federal system has
all power at the national level
all power at the state level
powers shared/divided among national and local units
power divided between legislative, judicial, executive
Articles of Confederation
was too weak to deal with economic & political problems
allowed national govt to make all key decisions
imposed harsh taxes on its citizens
is still our national Constitution
Under the Articles of Confederation, govt had
no legislative or judicial branch
only a legislative and judicial branch
only a legislative branch, where each state received 1 vote
only an executive branch
The first 10 Amendments
Bill of Rights
Article 1
Preamble
Article 2
What is the best definition for Limited Government?
The government's power is restricted
Powers are separated into 3 branches
Power is shared between the states and federal government
The people have power
Which of the following is the best definition for Consent of the Governed?
People have the power
People must approve of government's actions
Powers are separated between 3 branches of government
Each branch has power over the other
Which of the following is the best definition of Popular Sovereignty
The people hold the power in the government
Powers are divided and shared between the national government and the states
Powers are divided between 3 branches of government
The people must approve of the governments actions
What is the best definition for Rule of Law
People must approve of government's actions
The people have the power
The powers of government are limited
Everyone must follow the law
Which of the following is the best description of Separation of powers?
People have the power
Powers are divided between the national and state governments
Powers are divided among 3 branches of government
Branches have power over each other to keep each other from becoming too powerful
Which of the following is the best definition for Federalism?
Powers separated between 3 branches of government
Powers given only to the Federal Governments
Powers shared between the Federal government and the states
People have the power.
Which of the following is the best definition of Checks and Balances?
Power divided between 3 branches of government
Each branch has power over the other to keep them from becoming too powerful
It has to do with money and scales
Everyone must follow the law
Which Principle of Government is best described in this passage?
Federalism
Consent of the Governed
Limited Government
Popular Sovereignty
Which Constitutional Principle is best described in this passage ?
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Consent of the Governed
Rule of Law
Which principle of government is best described here?
Rule of Law
Limited Government
Checks and Balances
Popular Sovereignty
Which principle of government is best described here?
Rule of Law
Limited Government
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Which principle of government is best described here?
Consent of the Governed
Limited Government
Checks and Balances
Federalism
Representative democracy
rule by the people
rule by a king
rule by elected officials
rule by a small group
Shays' rebellion
showed the weakness of the central govt under the Articles
showed the strength of the central govt under the Articles
showed the need for separation of powers
showed the need for public education
7th amendment
no illegal search or seizure
civil trial guaranteed for cases over $20
right to trial by jury in criminal cases
self-incrimination protection
What concept goes with Marbury v. Madison?
popular sovereignty
rule of law
checks & balances
judicial review
Supremacy clause means that
Congress is supreme
Constitution is supreme
President is supreme
States are supreme
Who can propose a Constitutional amendment?
Congress or the states
the Courts or the Congress
the President
only the Congress
Who can ratify a Constitutional Amendment?
Congress or the states
President
the Courts
only the states
Federalists & Antifederalists debated over
ratification of the Articles of Confederation
ratification of the Declaration of Independence
ratification of the U.S. Constitution
ratification of the Preamble
Great Compromise resulted in
3/5 of slave population counted
bicameral legislature
a Constitutional Convention
a judicial branch
Example of an enumerated power
coin money
issue drivers licenses
establish local governments
Commerce clause
allows the President to regulate trade
allows the Courts to regulate trade
allows the Congress to regulate trade
allows the states to regulate trade
Three-fifths Compromise
set up a bicameral legislature
guaranteed citizenship rights
counted slaves for representation purposes
created an executive branch
Antifederalists opposed ratification because the Constitution did not have a
legislative branch
a federal system
a bill of rights
a taxation system
Tenth Amendment
powers reserved to the states
rights reserved to the people
right to bear arms
freedom of speech
6th amendment
right to bear arms
right to counsel
no illegal search or seizure
protection from self-incrimination
2nd Amendment
free speech
no double jeopardy
right to bear arms
no quartering of troops
5th amendment
no double jeopardy
due process of law protection
self-incrimination protection
all of these
Purpose of the Bill of Rights
limit power of Federal government
expand the power of Federal government
limit power of States
expand power of States
According to the Supremacy Clause, what are the correct rankings?
1) Constitution 2) State Laws 3) Federal Laws
1) State Laws 2) Federal Laws 3) Constitution
1) Federal Laws 2) Constitution 3) State Laws
1) Constitution 2) Federal Laws 3) State Laws
Concurrent Powers are
powers that belong to the states.
powers that belong to the legislative branch
powers that belong to the legislative and the executive branches.
powers that belong to the national govt and the states.
Which of the following is an enumerated power of Congress?
tax
regulate commerce
declare war
all of these
Constitutional clause that allows Congress to expand its specified powers
supremacy clause
commerce clause
necessary and proper clause
santa clause
Which is an advantage of federalism?
greater opportunities for political participation
less confusion about overlapping powers
state & national laws sometimes conflict
change & progress are often slow
Which is NOT a qualification to serve in the House of Representatives?
must be at least 25
must be a U.S. citizen for 7 years
must live in the state you represent
must be a natural born citizen
How many Senators does each state have?
it's based on a state's population
it is set at 2 in the Constitution
it is the same number as the seats in the House
it is set by the Supreme Court
Length of Senator's term
2 years
4 years
6 years
8 years
Length of a term for a member of the House of Representatives
2 years
4 years
6 years
8 years
Which is NOT a qualification to be in the Senate?
be at least 30 years old
must have a college degree
must live in the state you represent
be a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years
17th Amendment
Senators chosen directly by voters
Senators chosen by state legislators
Senators chosen by the President
Senators chosen by the political parties
How were Senators chosen BEFORE the 17th amendment?
directly by the voters
by the state legislatures
by the House of Representatives
by special state conventions
Who has the power to impeach?
Senate
House
both House & Senate
Supreme Court
Which is NOT a power of Congress?
tax
declare war
regulate commerce
act a commander in chief
Candidate who is currently serving in that office and is seeking reelection
party leader
speaker of the house
incumbent
delegate
Purpose of the "necessary and proper clause"
empower Congress to pass laws
limit Congressional powers
limit state authority
empower the President to make laws
House of Representatives power
ratify treaties
conduct trial for impeached officials
impeach officials
confirm nominees to the Supreme Court
How many TOTAL Senators do we have?
2
100
435
535
Which section of the Constitution talks about the Legislative Branch?
Article I
Article II
Article III
Article IV
How many total Representatives are there?
50
100
435
535
A tax bill must start in which house?
Senate
House of Representatives
Who is the President of the Senate?
Majority Leader
Minority Leader
Vice President
President
Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?
Vice President
President
Speaker of the House
Majority Leader
Congress can pass bills over a presidential veto with ______ vote.
1/2
2/3
3/4
5/6
Bicameral means
1 house.
2 houses.
3 houses.
4 houses.
Who approves presidential appointments, like ambassadors, judges, and cabinet members?
Senate
House of Representatives
A Conference Committee
holds hearings on new legislation
decides to end a Senate filibuster
resolves differences in bills passed by the House & Senate
oversees actions of the executive branch
Who conducts an impeachment trial?
House
Senate
Supreme Court
state legislators
For a bill to become law, it must
pass the Senate
pass the House
pass both the House and the Senate
pass the Supreme Court
After the census, changes in population may cause a
presidential districting
reapportionment
lobbying
conference committee
Lobbying is most closely associate with
interest groups
mass media
state courts
conference committees
One example of a legislative check over the executive branch is
veto
overriding President's veto with 2/3 vote of both houses
declare war
appointment of federal judges
After a bill is introduced in either the House or the Senate, it is then
debated on the house or senate floor.
debated in a joint committee.
sent to the Supreme Court.
submitted to a committee, then subcommittee for debate and changes.
Because of the seniority system in Congress,
members graduate on time.
members with the longest service are usually selected for leadership positions and committee chairmanships
members with the longest service are most likely to become presidential candidates.
members with the longest service are subject to term limits.
One positive effect of lobbyists is that
they may provide valuable information on a topic to educate a member of Congress.
they may unfairly influence the Supreme Court.
they may use bribery to get their candidates to vote for their programs.
they many have more influence over legislators than the average citizen.
One negative effect that lobbyists may have is that
they may provide valuable information on a topic to educate a member of Congress.
They may call attention to an issue that otherwise might be overlooked.
They may influence the Supreme Court.
they may have more influence on legislators that the average citizen.
Which of the following is not a formal qualification for the Presidency?
be at least 35
own property
natural born citizen
14 year U.S. resident
Who is the leader of the executive branch of the national government?
President
Governor
Mayor
The governor of Virginia endorses a candidate from the 25th district in the state senate. Which role is the governor fulfilling?
Chief Legislator
Chief of State
Party of Chief
Which branch of government is responsible for making sure laws are carried out?
Judicial
Executive
State
Legislative
Who becomes President if the President dies?
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore
Secretary of State
According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which of these officers follows the Vice President in line of presidential succession?
Speaker of the House
President pro tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of Treasury
The __________ appoints Cabinet members, ______________.
President; with Senate approval
President; with House approval
Senate; with President's approval
President; with Vice President's approval
Amendment that changed the date that the President was to take office from March 4 to January 20
12th amendment
20th amendment
22nd amendment
25th amendment
Requires President & VP to run on the same party ticket
12th amendment
23rd amendment
22nd amendment
20th amendment
Granted 3 electoral votes to residents in Washington DC in presidential elections
12th amendment
20th amendment
23rd amendment
22nd amendment
All of the following are powers of the President EXCEPT
to grant pardons for federal crimes
to declare a law unconstitutional
to commission officers in the armed forces
to appoint cabinet secretaries
Example of an informal qualification for President
be at least 35
natural born citizen
U.S. resident for 14 years
background in politics/law
To remove a President from office,
House votes for impeachment, Senate conducts the trial & reaches a guilty verdict
House and Senate vote for impeachment, Supreme Court reaches a guilty verdict
House & Senate vote for impeachment, and 3/4 of the states vote for a guilty verdict
Joint session of Congress vote to impeach, and then reach a guilty verdict
If the President orders Navy Seal Team 6 to capture a terrorist in a secret mission, he is acting as
Commander in Chief
Head of State
Chief Diplomat
Chief Agenda Setter
If the President sends a Tweet criticizing NFL players for refusing to stand for the National Anthem, he is acting as
Commander in Chief
Head of State
Party Leader
Chief Agenda Setter
If the President is negotiating a treaty with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, his is acting as
Commander in Chief
Head of State
Chief Diplomat
Chief Agenda Setter
If the President attends the funeral of a former U.S. Senator, he is acting as
Head of State
Commander in Chief
Chief Diplomat
Chief Agenda Setter
Which is part of the Executive Office of the President?
Department of State
Office of Management and Budget
U.S. Post Office
Federal Reserve
Which is an example of a Government Corporation?
Department of Homeland Security
Wells Fargo
Office of Management and Budget
U.S. Post Office
Which is an example of an Independent Regulatory Agency?
Department of Defense
Federal Reserve
White House Office (West Wing)
Federal Bureau of Investigation
If the President is incapacitated, which amendment may be invoked?
25th
12th
22nd
20th
Agency that advises the President in foreign policy
Dept. of Energy
Dept. of Homeland Security
Department of Defense
Department of State
Which foreign policy tool is the President using in the development of a nuclear non-proliferation treaty?
diplomacy & treaty
foreign aid
military intervention
humanitarian aid
Which foreign policy tool is the President using in the distribution of $13 billion to post-WW2 Europe?
treaty
economic aid
sanction
military aid
How do independent regulatory agencies differ from other executive agencies?
An independent regulatory agency charges fees for public services, while other executive agencies are prohibited from charging fees.
An independent regulatory agency controls the actions of Congress, while other executive agencies only control the actions of the president.
An independent regulatory agency monitors and controls the actions of the general public, while other executive agencies have no authority to influence the public.
An independent regulatory agency controls certain aspects of the economy and operates independently of the 3 branches of government, while other executive agencies are under direct control of the president.
What is the difference between an independent regulatory agency such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a government corporation such as the U.S. Postal Service?
The USPS regulates the amount of packages sent across the United States, while the EPA charges businesses fees for operating.
The EPA controls environmental conditions to protect the public's best interest, while the USPS charges a fee to provide a public service.
The EPA charges cities and states fees for collecting their litter, while the USPS charges fees for transporting elected officials across the globe.
The USPS regulates business activity to protect the consumers' interests, while the EPA regulates the amount of forest land that is cut each year.
Which of the following federal government organizations are known as "watchdogs" because of their ability to regulate segments of the economy and protect consumers?
the Cabinet
government corporations
congressional commissions
independent regulatory agencies
Which interest group would support a Republican candidate?
National Rifle Association
NAACP
Greenpeace
National Abortion Rights
Which would a liberal support?
death penalty
more environmental protections
fewer restrictions on guns
stricter immigration laws
Which would a conservative support?
gun ownership
more spending on poverty prevention
higher taxes
abortion rights
Independent expenditure
a person who does not favor any political party
an organization that supports candidates but is not associated with the actual candidate
a committee that gives candidates an identifiable party label on the election ballot
a spending bill that is prepared by Congress independently of the President
Which is not allowed under the 1st amendment?
refusing to stand for the Pledge
burning an American flag
participating in a peaceful protest
throwing firebombs into store windows to protest police brutality
Naturalization
process of registering to vote
having U.S. citizenship by birth
rejecting U.S. citizenship and moving to a foreign country
the process of becoming a U.S. citizen for foreign-born individuals
Requirements to become a U.S. citizen EXCEPT
be at least 18
own property in the U.S.
pass a basic civics test
speak, write, read basic English
Which interest group would vote for Democrats?
NAACP
National Right to Life
National Rifle Association
Citizens for Trump
How does the media use election polls?
to educate the public about the issues
to decide which candidates are most likely to win
to educate the public about government
to investigate candidates' finances
Gerrymandering
a state changes from an open primary to a closed primary system
state voting districts drawn by an independent commission
state legislature drawn districts that provide for fair representation of all interests
state legislature drawn districts that favor 1 political party over another
Who draws Congressional districts
state legislatures
U.S. district courts
the U.S. Senate
the U.S. House of Representatives
To win the Presidency, a candidate must receive
majority of the popular vote
majority of the electoral vote
majority of the popular vote and the majority of the electoral vote
majority votes cast by people in large states
Citizens United v. FEC
individual contributions to PACs may be restricted
PAC money contributed to presidential candidates may be restricted
Any contribution of PAC money to candidates is unconstitutional
PACs who operate independently of candidates have no spending limits
Function of a PAC
contribute money to candidates for election
regulate and enforce campaign finance laws
oversee activities of the electoral college
organize local get out the vote campaigns
If a candidate receives 51% of a state's popular vote,
They receive 51% of the state's electoral vote
They win the national election
They receive all of the state's electoral vote, except in Maine and Nebraska
The election will be determined in the House of Representatives
Private organization that works to affect public policy in order to benefit its members
mandate
interest group
mass media
cats
Primaries and caucuses are different from a general election in that
Primary / caucus voters select the candidate to represent the party
General election voters select the candidate to represent the party
Primary/caucus voters and general election voters are the same; some states name their elections differently
Primary/caucus voters use absentee ballots, while general election voters vote in person
Examples of voluntary political participation
military draft
paying taxes
voting
jury duty
Examples of involuntary political participation
discussing politics
registering to vote
donating money to a political cause
registration for selective service
Pledge of Allegiance
a daily prayer
a legal contract
the national anthem
expression of loyalty and respect to the nation
Which major political party believes that the government should provide a "safety net" of government programs, so that its citizens' basic needs are met?
Constitution Party
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Libertarian Party
Which political party wants the LEAST amount of government involvement in public life?
Green Party
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Libertarian Party
What is the purpose of a political party's platform?
to tell Americans what to believe
to outline and make clear their views on important issues
to help candidates who don't understand the issues
to make it easy for opposing parties to adopt their views
How do Political Action Committees (PACs) influence government?
advising the President
staffing Congressional offices
financially supporting causes and campaigns
sending written summaries of cases to the Supreme Court
What would be the most accurate source to find information about candidates' views during an election?
a private interest group's website
a record of the candidates' voting history on issues-related legislation
a TV commercial sponsored by a political party
a newspaper editorial
In 2020, your mom wants to run for President. She is 42 years old and has a high school diploma. She was born in Canada, but became a naturalized U.S. citizen ten years ago. Your Civics teacher says your mom isn't qualified to run for President. Why isn't your mom qualified to run for President?
She isn't a natural-born citizen of the U.S.
She's too old.
She doesn't have a college degree.
She has no government experience.
BEST description for the key role of a political party
organize voters around common interests so political candidates can be elected to represent those voters
manage the election process in each state and make sure the process is fair for all voters
communicate to voters about when elections will be held
represent a single issue on the ballot that concerns a group of voters
Why did the 2 party system develop in the U.S.?
The Constitution established it.
Conflicts in the Constitution created opposing viewpoints
Leaders and voters agreed on allowing the 2 parties to exist.
Both houses of Congress voted on and approved these 2 parties.
What is the purpose of a primary or a caucus?
for like-minded individuals to select their state's choice for party candidates
for political candidates to raise as much money as possible in 1 year's time
for state officials to decide what issues will appear on the ballots in state & local elections.
for each state to decide the number of delegates that will officially serve as electors in the electoral college
Why did the Founders establish the Electoral College?
to establish a government for the wealthy
they believed the common people should have no part of the election process
they believed the common people would not know enough to make an informed decision
they felt the Electoral College should automatically approve the decisions of the people
One difference between a criminal case and a civil case is that
only a judge decides the outcome of a criminal case.
the jury must be unanimous in a civil case,
the defendant is not provided a court appointed lawyer in a civil case.
only a judge decides the outcome of a civil case.
Who has the burden of proof in a civil case?
the state
the defendant
the plaintiff
the judge
Who has the burden of proof in a criminal case?
the defendant
the judge
the state/prosecutor
the plaintiff
What is the standard of proof in a criminal case?
beyond a reasonable doubt
innocent until proven guilty
preponderance of evidence
rule of law
What is the standard of proof in a civil case?
innocent until proven guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt
preponderance of evidence
trial by jury of your peers
What is the correct sequence?
trial, arrest, plea bargain, indictment
arrest, arraignment, bail is set, plea bargain
plea bargain, indictment, arrest, arraignment
indictment, arraignment, arrest, plea bargain
A grand jury
determines if there is enough evidence to indict
only hears appeals
is a jury larger than 12 people
gives the verdict of guilt or innocence
Which is an example of a property crime?
stolen laptop
murder
assault & battery
domestic abuse
Which is an example of a personal crime?
stolen laptop
shoplifting
assault & battery
1st case of judicial review
Plessy v. Ferguson
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Brown v. Board of Education
Marbury v. Madison
Judicial review is
declaring a law unconstitutional
courts review of an impeachment proceeding
an appeal from a lower court
Senate hearings on a President's judicial nominee
Federal judges are selected by ____________________, and confirmed by ________________________________.
House of Representatives; Senate
Senate; House of Representatives
an election; Senate
President; Senate
The term of office for a federal judge or Supreme Court justice is set
as a life term in the U.S. Constitution
by the President who appoints them
at 4 years.
at 10 years.
What is the "Rule of Four"?
the number of Supreme Court justices needed to agree to hear a case
the number of Supreme Court justices needed to convict an impeached President.
the limit on the number of Constitutional amendments.
the number of years in a President's term.
How does a case reach the U.S. Supreme Court?
from local courts
from federal appeals courts or state supreme courts
only from federal appeals courts
only from state supreme courts
4th amendment
protection from self-incrimination
no illegal search or seizure
freedom of speech
right to an attorney in criminal cases
5th amendment
no illegal search or seizure
protection from self-incrimination
right to bear arms
right to an attorney in criminal cases
6th amendment
right to an attorney in criminal cases
freedom of speech
right to bear arms
no illegal search or seizure
What is the role of the judicial branch?
to make laws
to enforce laws
to interpret laws
to impeach a president
Judicial philosophy in which justices create and influence law from the bench
judicial review
judicial activism
judicial restraint
constitutional interpretation
Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.
judicial activism
precedent
judicial restraint
original juridiction
A serious crime
Misdemeanor
Felony
Violation
Running out of food at Thanksgiving
Amendment that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
26th
22nd
15th
19th
Executive leader of a state government
mayor
president
governor
principal
Executive leader of a local government
governor
mayor
president
principal
How are the powers of local governments determined in Georgia?
by the governor
by the president
by the Georgia Constitution
by the U.S. Constitution
Examples of services provided by state & local govts.
defense & urbanization
education & public safety
defense & education
border security & foreign policy
Remove a local or state official before the end of their term
impeachment
recall
initiative
referendum
Place on the ballot by the state legislature for a "yes" or "no" vote
referendum
impeachment
initiative
lottery
Placed on the ballot by the people through a petition process for a "yes" or "no" vote
initiative
referendum
impeachment
lottery
Right to vote for women
15th amendment
19th amendment
26th amendment
25th amendment
Right to vote regardless of race
15th amendment
19th amendment
26th amendment
13th amendment
What part of the U.S. Constitution has been used by the Supreme Court to incorporate the Bill of Rights to the state and local level?
the supremacy clause of Article 6
the due process clause of the 14th amendment
the necessary and proper clause of Article 1
the reserved powers clause of the 10th amendment
Constitutional amendment that guarantees the rights of all Americans to have equal treatment under the law
13th
14th
15th
19th
Rights preserved by the Bill of Rights
civil rights
civil liberties
civil laws
civil disobedience
The equal application of the law to all Americans
civil liberties
civil defense
civil rights
civil behavior
Main source of income for local governments
sales tax
property tax
income tax
wealth tax
Property taxes provide funding for
schools, fire depts, local police
military protection & border security
national healthcare & welfare programs
