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American Government Final Exam Review

Total questions: 43

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which form of government is an alliance of independent states who give power to a central government for purposes of trade or protection?

a)

Confederal

b)

Federal

c)

Unitary

d)

Theocracy

2.

Which type of governmental system did the United States have in its earliest days?

a)

Federal

b)

Confederal

c)

Parliamentary

d)

Unitary

3.

The Constitution specifically provided that there would be a Supreme Court

a)

but left it up to the individual states to establish lower federal courts.

b)

but left it to Congress to establish lower federal courts.

c)

. but left it up to the president to establish any lower federal courts

d)

and established a system of lower federal courts throughout the nation.

4.

Integral to the ideal of self-government is the notion that ultimate government authority comes from

a)

Laws

b)

Rulers

c)

Institutions

d)

People

5.

Supporters of judicial activism

a)

believe the role of the Court should be to interpret the law only.

b)

believe that the Court should correct injustices, especially when the other branches of government don’t work to do that.

c)

. believe that the Supreme Court should have more justices.

d)

believe that judges should have term limits.

6.

Which judicial philosophy is expressed by Speaker 2?

Speaker 1: "Judges have the ability to use their authority to address major issues."

Speaker 2: "Judges should leave policymaking to the Congress and avoid overturning laws."

a)

Judicial restraint

b)

Judicial activism

c)

Judicial review

d)

Judicial immunity

7.

What is the term for a court's authority to hear and decide cases?

a)

justice

b)

judgement

c)

jurisdiction

d)

jeopardy

8.

Federal Bureaucracy

a)

The complex organization of the Executive Branch designed to make the work of the Executive Branch more efficient.

b)

The complex organization of the Legislative Branch designed to make the work of the Executive Branch more efficient.

c)

The complex organization of the Executive Branch designed to make the work of the Executive Branch less efficient.

9.

The Constitution gives the president the power to influence the legislative process through his responsibility to

a)

direct the business of Congress and initiate impeachment.

b)

makes laws by decree without the consent of Congress in some situations.

c)

report on the state of the union and veto acts of Congress.

d)

manage the economy, lead the party, and deal with national crises.

10.

The presidential cabinet

a)

can veto actions by the president.

b)

includes, by law, a minimum of two sitting members of Congress at all times.

c)

is given tremendous power under the Constitution.

d)

consists of the head of each executive department, plus any additional government officials the president designates.

11.

The principle party ally of the Speaker of the House or the party's manager in the Senate is the

a)

Speaker of the Senate

b)

minority leader

c)

majority leader

d)

vice president

12.

Which of the following statements about the filibuster is FALSE?

a)

The filibuster can be used in both houses.

b)

The filibuster can tie up the legislative agenda.

c)

The filibuster is used to talk a bill to death.

d)

Rules adopted over the years make it easier to close off debate and end a filibuster.

13.

According to the Constitution, once impeached, federal officials are then tried in the

a)

Supreme Court

b)

House of Representatives

c)

Senate

d)

District Court for Washington D.C.

14.

Nominees to the United States Supreme Court must be confirmed by

a)

the Senate

b)

the House of Representatives

c)

either the House or Senate

d)

both the House and Senate

15.

According to the Constitution, revenue bills must originate in the

a)

Internal Revenue Service

b)

Treasury Department

c)

House of Representatives

d)

Senate

16.

After each federal census,

a)

the office of the Speaker of the House changes hands.

b)

the size of Congress increases.

c)

the membership of the House is reapportioned.

d)

the Senate reapportions its membership.

17.

The enumerated powers of Congress and the national government are those

a)

specifically spelled out in the Constitution.

b)

set out in the first ten amendments.

c)

not specifically spelled out in the Constitution, but nonetheless acknowledged.

d)

requiring ratification by the states.

18.

One of the main ideas to come from the Magna Carta was......

a)

The rulers were given their power by God

b)

That the king had to obey the same laws as the people

c)

That the English people had freedom of religion

d)

That the king was the only one to hold power

19.

Which of the following statements accurately describe the impeachment process of an elected official?

a)

An official can only be impeached for committing treason or other “high crimes”

b)

The House of Representatives officially accuses, or impeaches, the official

c)

Only two presidents have been impeached so far in history – Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton

d)

Both of the two presidents that were impeached were also removed from office by the Senate

20.

The police come to your house looking for a fugitive, present a false warrant, and begin looking through your dresser drawers. One of the officers discovers drugs in the dresser draw and you are arrested. Which amendment was violated and which Supreme Court case protects you?

a)

4th; Mapp v Ohio

b)

5th; Miranda v Arizona

c)

6th; Gideon v Wainwright

d)

8th; Gregg v Georgia

21.

Brown v Board of Education (1954) reversed which prior Supreme Court case that allowed for the idea of separate but equal?

a)

Mapp v Ohio

b)

Plessy v Ferguson

c)

Gideon v Wainwright

d)

Hernandez v Texas

22.

Which phrase from the Declaration of Independence provoked controversy, especially regarding civil rights, and was constantly being reinterpreted as attitudes, beliefs, and laws?

a)

"When in the course of human events..."

b)

"...dissolve the political bonds..."

c)

"...all men are created equal..."

d)

"Read my lips: 'No new taxes'"

23.

The rights of individuals to receive equal treatment and be free from discrimination refers to

a)

Civil rights

b)

Civil liberties

c)

Civil service

d)

Civil war

24.

The processes of conducting relations between nations to prevent war, negotiate conflicts, and resolve problems?

a)

Sanctions

b)

Humanitarian Aid

c)

Military Intervention

d)

Diplomacy

25.

The Executive Branch is located in the United States Constitution

a)

Article II

b)

Article I

c)

Article III

d)

Article VI

26.

In 1993, the US, Canada, and Mexico agreed to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) whose goal is to make trade easier between the 3 countries. This is an example of

a)

Military Aid

b)

Sanction

c)

Treaty

d)

Humanitarian Aid

27.

Why are presidential decisions concerning foreign policy so important on a global scale?

a)

His/her decision not only impacts the US but also impacts the US’s relationship with all other nations

b)

His/her decision only impacts the US so he/she needs not get feedback from anyone else

c)

His/her decision always involves the military which impacts many families

d)

His/her decisions concerning foreign policy have no importance outside of the US

28.

The ability to borrow money

a)

Implied Power

b)

Concurrent Power

c)

Denied Power

d)

Enumerated Power

29.

The ability to print money

a)

Enumerated Power

b)

Implied Power

c)

Concurrent Power

d)

Denied Power

30.

Under the Articles of Confederation, most governmental power was held by which of the following?

a)

States

b)

Local communities

c)

National government

d)

Parliament

31.

In the Preamble, what does the phrase "form a more perfect union" mean?

a)

Provide laws that are fair

b)

Maintain order within the country

c)

Protect the liberties won in the American Revolution

d)

Strengthen the relationship among the states

32.

Freedom of speech can be limited whenever

a)

a majority of Congress chooses to do so

b)

the president chooses to limit it

c)

it would threaten the security of the common people

d)

the states want to limit it

33.

The Legislative Branch has power to approve international treaties negotiated by the Executive Branch. This is an example of

a)

. Limited government

b)

Federalism

c)

Popular sovereignty

d)

Checks and balances

34.

The first election in which voters select candidates to be the party's nominee for president in the general election.

a)

General Election

b)

Tertiary Election

c)

Primary Election

d)

Secondary Election

35.

How does procedural due process limit the government's police power?

a)

It requires the government to follow certain procedures before punishing a person

b)

It prevents the government officials from searching employees for drugs or weapons

c)

It forbids the government from housing troops in private residences

d)

It requires officers to obtain writs of assistance

36.

Americans believe strongly that a balance should be struck between majority rule and

a)

Rule of law

b)

Compromise

c)

Protecting minority rights

d)

Civic participation

37.

Thomas Jefferson argued, in the Declaration of Independence that, if a government disregards the will of the people, the people are free to do which of the following?

a)

Stop paying taxes

b)

Change their government

c)

Move to another country

d)

Execute the king

38.

Which theory states that people joined together to form society and gave up some rights for protection?

a)

Divine right of kings

b)

Natural rights philosophy

c)

Social contract theory

d)

Limited government theory

39.

Magna Carta was originally intended to protect the rights of which group?

a)

Kings and queens

b)

Nobles

c)

Common people

d)

Religious leaders

40.

Which statement BEST explains the purpose of these excerpts from the Bill of Rights?


• The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. —4th Amendment


• Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. —8th Amendment

a)

They protect citizens who are suspected of crimes

b)

They outline the duties of citizens in a democracy

c)

They provide the basis for antitrust legislation

d)

They establish the basis for judicial review

41.

Where does the right to privacy come from?

a)

Second Amendment

b)

Federalist Papers

c)

implied in several amendments

d)

presidential order

42.

What is symbolic speech?

a)

speech that poses a threat to public order

b)

communication of ideas through symbols and actions

c)

speech that is not protected by the First Amendment

d)

speech that is expressed through the spoken or written word

43.

Which of the following was one reason that the Second Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights?

a)

to forbid the quartering of troops in people’s homes

b)

to ensure government control of all firearms

c)

to allow people to worship freely

d)

to protect the right of states to form militias