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WorksheetsCivics SMT Practice
Total questions: 30
Worksheet time: 15mins
Which action distinguishes the legislative branch from the judiciary?
The legislative branch gives orders to the armed forces.
The legislative branch writes bills that may be passed into law.
The legislative branch reviews laws to determine constitutionality.
The legislative branch pardons people convicted of federal crimes.
How are a direct democracy and a representative democracy different?
A direct democracy relies on a classless society, while a representative democracy enforces class divisions.
A direct democracy allows for unlimited terms for leaders, while a representative democracy enforces term limits.
A direct democracy allows citizens to vote for leaders, while a representative democracy allows the wealthy to speak for all citizens.
A direct democracy relies on a popular vote to make decisions, while a representative democracy uses elected officials to make decisions for the people.
Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
Congress has just passed a bill, and the president
has approved it.
Which statement best explains how the law can still be prevented from being enacted?
The Speaker of the House can veto the law.
The people in each state can vote against the law.
The governors in each state can refuse to approve the law.
The Supreme Court can determine the unconstitutionality of the law.
Which power describes an executive check on the legislative branch?
the power to approve presidential nominations
the power to veto congressional legislation
the power to override presidential vetoes
the power to impeach officials
Read the scenario and answer the question below.
Jason and Miranda have many relatives that are in the U.S. military. When they graduate from high school, they wish to enlist in the U.S. Army in order to help protect their country.
Which phrase from the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution supports the creation of the U.S. Army?
"establish justice"
"insure domestic Tranquility"
"provide for the common defense"
"promote the general Welfare"
Which statement is an example of the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches?
Congress passes laws, but the president enforces them.
Congress passes laws, but the federal courts interpret them.
The president can enforce laws, but the federal courts can interpret them.
The president can interpret laws, but the legislative branch can enforce them.
According to the Declaration of Independence, what is the relationship between a government and natural rights?
The goal of a government is to create these rights.
The government derives its power from these rights.
The government is responsible for granting these rights.
The purpose of a government is to protect these rights.
Which action was a result of Shays’ Rebellion?
Political leaders organized the Continental Congress to debate independence.
Rebellious Massachusetts farmers received military help from neighboring states.
Rebellious Massachusetts farmers organized militias to support the central government.
Political leaders supported the Convention in Philadelphia to debate a new government.
Which statement is the best example of rule of law?
The federal government must follow state laws when passing federal laws.
Federal guidelines determine how state governments interpret federal laws.
All levels of government are subject to laws that are fairly applied and enforced.
The legislative branch and executive branch must obey the laws and rules created by the judicial branch.
Which agreement was made to ensure ratification of the U.S. Constitution?
The Anti-Federalists agreed to ratify the Constitution if a bill of rights was included.
The Anti-Federalists agreed to ratify the Constitution if a court system was created.
The Federalists agreed that all states would have the same power under the Constitution.
The Federalists agreed to minimize the power given to the president under the Constitution.
Which statement best describes the role of the vice president in Congress?
The vice president assigns bills to committees in the House of Representatives.
The vice president casts tie-breaking votes in the House of Representatives.
The vice president assigns bills to committees in the Senate.
The vice president casts tie-breaking votes in the Senate.
Why was the separation of powers included in the Constitution?
to ensure that all citizens would become active participants in government
to provide a more efficient manner in which to organize the government
to make the federal government move more slowly compared with state governments
to prevent one branch of government from gaining too much control over the federal government
Read the following excerpt and answer the question below.
. . . shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes. . .
. throughout the United States. . . .
- Article I, U.S. Constitution
Which person or group has this role in the the United States government?
the Congress
the President
the Supreme Court
the Federal Reserve Board
How did the publication of the pamphlet Common Sense impact the American colonists?
It convinced colonists to establish fair trade with Britain.
It convinced colonists to restrict access to printing presses.
It encouraged colonists to establish more modern schools in each colony.
It encouraged colonists to go to war and declare independence from Britain.
Which action by the Founding Fathers is an example of providing for the common defense?
establishing a standing army
electing government representatives
writing the Declaration of Independence
nominating U.S. Supreme Court justices
Which statement accurately compares the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution?
The Articles of Confederation did not allow for a president, while the U.S. Constitution created the office of the president.
The Articles of Confederation were intended to be a temporary document, while the U.S. Constitution was intended to be permanent.
The Articles of Confederation allowed the states more freedom, while the U.S. Constitution gave the federal government power over the states.
The Articles of Confederation did not allow for states to levy taxes, while the U.S. Constitution gave states the power to tax their own citizens.
Which statement explains one way in which autocracy and direct democracy are different?
An autocracy allows citizens to vote.
A direct democracy allows citizens to vote for representatives.
An autocracy keeps power in the hands of one person.
A direct democracy encourages people to share everything.
Which Constitutional principle reflects the influence of the Mayflower Compact?
inalienable rights
self-government
checks and balances
limited government
Read the following excerpt and answer the question below.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
-Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
Source: National Archives
Which statement reflects an idea expressed in the Preamble?
The power of the three branches of government should be limited.
The leaders of the federal government should be directly elected.
The government should provide a college education to all citizens.
The government should protect the freedom of future generations.
Which colonial reaction to the Stamp Act was addressed in the Declaration of Independence?
Some colonists believed a government cannot deprive its citizens of the right to a trial by jury.
Some colonists believed a government cannot require its citizens to provide housing for its soldiers.
Some colonists believed a government cannot tax its citizens without their representation in government.
Some colonists believed a government cannot maintain a standing army in times of peace without the consent of its legislature.
Which activity is an obligation for U.S. citizens?
report for jury duty
enlist in the military
vote in national elections
volunteer in the community
Which part of the federal government can impeach the president?
the Cabinet
the Supreme Court
the House of Representatives
the National Security Council
Which writer created the political concept of limiting government power by separating its functions among different branches?
Baron de Montesquieu
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Paine
John Locke
Read the following excerpt and answer the question below.
He has sent swarms of British officers to harass our
people and eat our food.
-Declaration of Independence, 1776
Source: National Archives/Public Domain
Which British legislation led to the listing of this grievance in the Declaration of Independence?
Navigation Acts
Quartering Acts
Stamp Act
Tea Act
Read the following excerpt and answer the question below.
. . . to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.
-Declaration of Independence
Which Enlightenment principle most influenced the ideas in this excerpt?
John Locke's idea of the social contract
John Locke's idea of natural law
Montesquieu’s idea of separation of powers
Montesquieu’s idea of checks and balances
Which argument is in support of a confederal system of government?
Smaller state governments are better at meeting the daily needs of the people than a distant central government.
Large central governments are better able to deal with crises than local governments.
Law enforcement agencies need to be able to freely operate across state borders.
State environmental agencies need to be regulated by a higher unified authority.
Which statement describes an Enlightenment idea found in one of America's founding documents?
Governments are not responsible for protecting people.
People are born equal and with certain rights.
People are not free to criticize their leaders.
Governments are above the rule of law.
Read the information in the text box and answer the question below.
Magna Carta
English Bill of Rights
What idea from these documents influenced the development of government in the American colonies?
Governments should not have kings.
Governments should not have legislative bodies.
Governments should grant citizens specific rights.
Governments should allow leaders to have unlimited power.
Which idea is contained in both the Magna Carta and the U.S. Constitution?
People have the right to elect their leaders.
People have the right to choose their religion.
The power of the government should be limited.
The power of government should be divided among independent branches.
Who is granted U.S. citizenship by the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?
all people who live in the United States
only people born in the United States
people born or naturalized in the United States
people who have parents or families in the United States
