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American Gov Midterm

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which “Major type of government” involves placing the power into the hands of the citizens?

a)

oligarchy

b)

autocracy

c)

dictatorship

d)

democracy

2.

In a ______ system of government, the central government has the most authority

a)

Unitary

b)

Confederal

c)

Federal

3.

In a ______ system of government, the regional government has the most authority

a)

Unitary

b)

Federal

c)

Confederal

4.

In a ______ system of government, the central government and regional government share authority.

a)

Unitary

b)

Federal

c)

Confederal

5.

The U.S. has a _______ system of government

a)

Unitary

b)

Federal

c)

Confederal

6.

Which “Major type of government” involves rule by one?

a)

Oligarchy

b)

Autocracy

c)

Democracy

d)

Republic

7.

Which “Major type of government” involves rule by few?

a)

Oligarchy

b)

Autocracy

c)

Democracy

d)

Dictatorship

8.

In a presidential democracy, who has a role in electing the chief executive?

a)

Parliament

b)

The People

c)

House of Lords

d)

Supreme Court

9.

Which is the primary characteristic of a direct democracy?

a)

All eligible citizens can assemble and vote on government issues.

b)

Citizens elect representatives and officials to government offices.

c)

Common citizens can petition the king or queen

d)

Citizens can vote for the dictator’s political party.

10.

Which document established the principle of limited government?

a)

Petition of Right

b)

Magna Carta

c)

English Bill of Rights

d)

None of the Above

11.

What principle is established in the excerpt below:

No constable or other royal official shall take corn or other movable goods from any man without payment…

No official shall place a man on trial upon his own unsupported statement…

No free man shall be seized or imprisoned…except by the lawful judgment of his equals…

-Magna Carta

a)

Rule of Law

b)

The Social Contract Theory

c)

Quartering of Troops

d)

Federalism

12.

What do these documents have in common: Magna Carta, Petition of Right, English Bill of Rights

a)

They increased the power of government

b)

They decreased the rights of citizens

c)

They helped to define the rights of citizens

d)

All of the above

13.

Which of the following established the principle of prohibiting the quartering of troops in England?

a)

Petition of Right

b)

English Bill of RIghts

c)

Magna Carta

d)

None of the Above

14.

The establishing of individual rights in the English Bill of Rights was most important in what regard?

a)

It was the founding basis for the Magna Carta to be written

b)

England established them and upheld these rights for all American Colonists, thus keeping peace in the new Colonies

c)

America used these rights as a foundation for the U.S. system of rights for citizens

d)

It was a foundation of a poor list of rights for citizens and exactly what “not to do” as a government

15.

The Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights were significant influences on the development of the United States constitutional because they both

a)

provided suffrage for all men and women

b)

placed limits on the powers of the government

c)

called for the abolition of slavery

d)

supported the development of federalism

16.

The political theory proposed by John Locke, calling for a nation to be developed as a voluntary agreement between citizens and government, is known as

a)

divine right theory

b)

social contract theory

c)

state theory

d)

elite theory

17.

Who of the following would be most likely to support a school uniform policy, since it would help to protect the well-being of all students?

a)

Baron de Montesquieu

b)

Jean Jaques Rousseau

c)

John Locke

d)

Thomas Hobbes

18.

Under the social contract system, according to Thomas Hobbes, can your natural rights be taken away?

a)

No, natural rights are inalienable

b)

Yes.  They must be given up to the absolute ruler

c)

Only by local government, not by federal government

d)

Only if you are a minor

19.

“… reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in life, health, liberty, or possessions … Men living together according to reason, without a common superior on earth … is properly the state of nature

Which of the following philosophers wrote the quote above?

a)

Montesquieu

b)

 Rousseau

c)

Locke

d)

Hobbes

20.

“… reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in life, health, liberty, or possessions … Men living together according to reason, without a common superior on earth … is properly the state of nature

The quote above best supports which of the following political philosophies?

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

 Social Contract

c)

Natural Rights

d)

Popular Sovereignty

21.

When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty … Again, there is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive.

Which of the following philosophers wrote the quote above?

a)

Montesquieu 

b)

Rousseau

c)

Locke

d)

Hobbes

22.

When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty … Again, there is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive.

The quote above best supports which of the following political philosophies?

a)

Separation of Powers 

b)

 Natural Rights

c)

Social Contract 

d)

Popular Sovereignty

23.

According to the Locke’s social contract system,

a)

The leader is chosen by god

b)

The government always results in tyranny

c)

The people can overthrow the government if it does not secure their rights

d)

The government forces the people to secure their own rights

24.

What concept of government from Montesquieu’s writings, is currently used in the United States?

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Popular Sovereignty

c)

Social Contract Theory

d)

Rule of Law

25.

Which of the following actually stated that America would sever its political bonds with England once and for all:

a)

The Social Contract

b)

Common Sense

c)

The Declaration of Independence

d)

Magna Carta

26.

The writing of which of the following documents is the best example of John Locke’s beliefs on the Social Contract being put into action:

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Petition of Right

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

U.S. Constitution

27.

Which of the following are you required to do by law?

a)

Respect other opinions

b)

Pay taxes

c)

Vote

d)

Watch the news

28.

Thoughtful and effective participation in civic life is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT:

a)

Pay taxes

b)

Participate in political process

c)

Serve on a jury if called

d)

Fight global warming

29.

Thoughtful and effective participation in civic life is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT:

a)

Respecting differing opinions

b)

Recycling

c)

Being informed about current issues

d)

Registering for military duty

30.

Which of the following was trying to gain support for the new US Constitution ?

a)

Common Sense

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Magna Carta

d)

The Federalist Papers (The Federalist)

31.

The anti-Federalists feared which level of government may have too much power under the new US Constitution?

a)

National

b)

State

c)

Regional

d)

Local

32.

Which principle of the US Constitution describes the idea that the people are the source of authority?

a)

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Federalism

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Separation of Powers

33.

Which principle of the US Constitution describes the idea that our government should have 3 branches, each with a different area of authority?

a)

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Federalism

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Separation of Powers

34.

Which of the following best describes the Articles of Confederation?

a)

It separated the U.S. from England

b)

It has 7 articles and 27 amendments

c)

It established the Supreme Court as the supreme law of the land

d)

It established a weak national government

35.

Which of the following is TRUE of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

It created a powerful executive branch

b)

It did not allow Congress to draft an army

c)

It did not allow the states to have enough power

d)

It established a unitary system of government

36.

At the Constitutional Convention, the issue of how slaves would be counted in the population was settled with the

a)

3/5 Compromise

b)

Connecticut Compromise

c)

Great Compromise

d)

Commerce Compromise

37.

At the Constitutional Convention, the issue of how to decide how many representatives each state would get in Congress was settled with the

a)

3/5 Compromise

b)

Federalism Compromise

c)

Great Compromise

d)

Commerce Compromise

38.

At the Constitutional Convention, the issue dealing with runaway slaves was settled with the

a)

3/5 Compromise

b)

Connecticut Compromise

c)

Great Compromise

d)

Commerce Compromise

39.

At the Constitutional Convention, the Northern states most supported

a)

Returning runaway slaves

b)

Regulation of foreign and interstate commerce

c)

Counting slaves in the population when it came to representation in Congress

d)

Ending slavery and granting freed slaves the right to vote

40.

Which of the following is the result of the Great Compromise?

a)

The creation of the Supreme Court

b)

The creation of the House and Senate

c)

The creation of the role of President

d)

The creation of the Articles of Confederation

41.

What feature of the U.S. Constitution was included to address concerns expressed by James Madison?

a)

Popular sovereignty

b)

Judicial Review

c)

Check and Balances

d)

Federalism

42.

What addition to the U.S. Constitution, relieved the fears of the Anti-Federalists, gaining their support of the document?

a)

Checks and balances

b)

Judicial Review

c)

Great Compromise

d)

Bill of Rights

43.

Which of the following is not an example of checks and balances?

a)

Impeachment

b)

Presidential veto of a bill

c)

Judicial Review

d)

Voting on election day

44.

Which part of government includes the Senate?

a)

All Branches

b)

Judicial Branch

c)

Legislative Branch

d)

Executive Branch

45.

Which branch of government enforces laws?

a)

Executive Branch

b)

Legislative Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

d)

All of these

46.

Which branch of government makes laws?

a)

Executive

b)

Judicial

c)

Legislative

47.

Which branch of government interprets laws?

a)

Legislative

b)

Judicial

c)

Executive

48.

Which branch of the government has the power to veto?

a)

Executive

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

d)

All of the Above

49.

Which branch of the government has the power to impeach?

a)

Executive

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

d)

All of the Above

50.

Which amendment has the least to do with due process?

a)

5th

b)

3rd

c)

14th

d)

6th

51.

“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”

Which of the following issues would be most affected by this statement?

a)

Issues involving prayer in school

b)

Issues involving speeches given by Malcolm X

c)

Being accused of a crime

d)

The debate over the death penalty

52.

Which of the following represents a limitation on a 1st Amendment right?

a)

Slander

b)

Due Process

c)

Self Incrimination

d)

Petitions

53.

The rights to a free press, assembly, and petition all…

a)

Were allowed by the British for American colonists to exercise in the 1770s

b)

Are no longer needed today

c)

Help the government to keep the peace

d)

Help to limit the power of government

54.

The name of this document above is:

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

Federalist Number 1

c)

The Articles of Confederation

d)

The Bill of Rights

55.

The type of government the Articles of Confederation created for the United States was

a)

Unitary

b)

Confederal

c)

Federal

d)

Presidential

56.

If a person were to be accused of a crime…

a)

The 4th

b)

He/She would lose the right to bear arms

c)

He/She must be informed for what he/she is being accused

d)

He/She can be issued cruel and unusual punishment if he/she runs from the cops

57.

Why does each citizen have to be treated equally under the law?

a)

According to the rules of the Articles of Confederation

b)

It is the main idea of federalism

c)

It is a major concept of checks and balances

d)

The 5th & 14th Amendments require it

58.

Which of the following accurately describes due process?

a)

it is a constitutional principle in the 1st amendment that prevents anyone from being imprisoned against their will

b)

principle in the 5th stating that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures when taking action against persons accused of a crime

c)

principle in the 10th amendment that ensures the federal government must treat the laws of all states with equal respect

d)

principle in the 2nd amendment that restricts the government to only arresting persons who they can prove are guilty at the time of the arrest

59.

You must go on trial but cannot afford a lawyer, so one has been appointed to you.

a)

4th Amendment

b)

5th Amendment

c)

6th Amendment

d)

7th Amendment

60.

One could argue that body searches by the TSA at airports are a violation of which amendment?

a)

3rd

b)

4th

c)

5th

d)

10th