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Civics Benchmark Review

Total questions: 70

Worksheet time: 2hrs 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The Bill of Right are the first _________ amendments to the US Constitution.

a)

5

b)

10

c)

15

d)

100

2.

Which statement BEST represents the agreements reached in the Great Compromise?

a)

A two-house legislature where each state would be represented by population

b)

A one-house legislature where each state has equal representation.

c)

A two-house legislature where states are represented by population AND by equal representation

d)

A one-house legislature where each state is represented by population

3.

TRUE OR FALSE: The Articles of Confederation created a strong national government

a)

True

b)

False

4.

Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?

a)

Executive

b)

Judicial

c)

Legislative

5.

TRUE OR FALSE: The Articles of Confederation allowed the Congress to collect taxes?

a)

True

b)

False

6.

Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are part of what document?

a)

Emancipation Proclamation

b)

Articles of Confederation

c)

Bill of Rights

d)

Declaration of Independence

7.

The Bill of Rights was MOST influenced by which of the following documents?

a)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

b)

Charters for the Virginia Company of London

c)

U.S. Constitution

d)

Declaration of Independence

8.

Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting laws?

a)

Judicial

b)

Executive

c)

Legislative

9.

Which branch of government is responsible for enforcing (carrying out) the laws.

a)

Executive

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

10.

Which two plans were included in The Great Compromise?

a)

Virginia

b)

New Jersey

c)

New York

d)

Maryland

e)

Massachusetts

11.

According to The Great Compromise, representation to the Senate is determined by _____________.

a)

Equal representation (each states gets the same number of votes regardless of population)

b)

Population (bigger states get more votes, smaller states get less votes)

12.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government consisted of _______________ branch of government.
a)
3
b)
2
c)
1
d)
4
13.
In order to change (amend) the Articles of Confederation,  __________ out of 13 states had to agree. 
a)
9
b)
10
c)
13
d)
15
14.
Under the Articles of Confederation, each state got __________ vote. 
a)
3 
b)
2
c)
1
d)
5
15.
The Articles of Confederation created a _________________ type of government.
a)
strong
b)
average
c)
weak
d)
federal
16.
In the Articles of Confederation, where was most of the government power placed?
a)
The States
b)
The National Government
c)
The Continental Congress
d)
The Legislative Branch
17.

TRUE OR FALSE: Representation to the House of Representatives is determined by a state's population.

a)

True

b)

False

18.

Definition: The people are the source of any and all governmental power.

a)

Limited Government

b)

Rule of Law

c)

Consent of the Governed

d)

Representative Government

19.

Definition: Government is not all-powerful and may do only those things the people have given it the power to do.

a)

Rule of Law

b)

Limited Government

c)

Democracy

d)

Consent of the Governed

20.

Definition: The government and those who govern are bound by the law, as are those who are governed.

a)

Rule of Law

b)

Republic

c)

Democracy

d)

Representative Government

21.

Definition: System of government in which power rests with the people.

a)

Consent of the Governed

b)

Federalism

c)

Representative Government

d)

Democracy

22.

Definition: In a representative system of government, the people elect public officeholders to make laws and conduct government on the people’s behalf.

a)

Consent of the Governed

b)

Representative Government

c)

Federalism

d)

Democracy

23.

This document affirms the equality of all citizens (all men are created equal).

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Charters of the VA Company of London

24.

This document limited the powers of the U.S.central government and protected states rights.

a)

Articles of Confederation

b)

Magna Carta

c)

Bill of Rights

25.

This document creates the government of the United States and includes all political principles learned this unit.

a)

U.S. Constitution

b)

Magna Carta

c)

Articles of Confederation

26.
What is the introduction to the Constitution called? 
a)
Articles of Confederation
b)
Declaration of Independence
c)
Bill of Rights
d)
Preamble
27.
According to the Preamble, where does the authority of the federal government come from? 
a)
Electoral College
b)
the states
c)
the people
d)
the President
28.
The main purpose of the Bill of Rights was to..
a)
Protect the rights of states
b)
Protect the new nation from foreign influence
c)
Protect rights of individuals
d)
Establish a system of checks and balances
29.
Why is it important for citizens to meet the obligation requested in this document?
a)
to guarantee our right to confront witnesses
b)
to preserve constitutional limits on governmental power
c)
to guarantee our right to be judged by a jury of our peers
d)
to protect our right to petition for a writ of habeas corpus
30.
What do these activities illustrate:
~Attending a school board meeting
~Voting in a primary election
~Helping on a phone bank for a mayoral candidate
~Putting a candidate's sign in your yard
~Registering voters at a community college
a)
Ways that citizens can run for political office
b)
Opportunities for citizens to participate in national elections
c)
opportunities for citizens to influence political action committees
d)
Ways in which citizens actively participate in the political process
31.
Freedom to express yourself.
a)
Right
b)
Responsibility
c)
Neither
32.
Support and defend the Constitution.
a)
Right
b)
Responsibility
c)
Neither
33.
Serve on a jury when called upon.
a)
Right
b)
Responsibility
c)
Neither
34.
To run for elected office.
a)
Right
b)
Responsibility
c)
Neither
35.
Freedom to worship as you wish.
a)
Right
b)
Responsibility
c)
Neither
36.
To vote in elections for public officials.
a)
Right
b)
Responsibility
c)
Neither
37.
This amendment guarantees the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and the right to petition government.
a)
1st
b)
4th
c)
9th
d)
10th
38.

All of the following are requirements for Naturalization EXCEPT

a)

must be 18 or older

b)

must speak English

c)

must be of good moral character

d)

must have a job

39.
1. Demonstrate knowledge of American history and principles.
2. Demonstrate the ability to read, speak, and write words in English.
Which title would best fit these two statements? 
a)
Presidential Nomination Process
b)
Naturalization Process
c)
Congressional Nomination Process
d)
Voter Registration Process
40.
Rita buys a newspaper every day in order to read about an upcoming election. Which civic responsibility is she demonstrating?
a)
Communicating with government officials
b)
Staying informed of current issues
c)
Influencing government actions
41.
1.  dividing government power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches as stated in Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Constitution
a)
federal bureaucracy
b)
separation of powers
42.
The President is the head of which branch of government? 
a)
Legislative
b)
Executive
c)
Judicial
d)
All 3 Branches
43.
Congress is part of which branch of government?
a)
Legislative
b)
Executive
c)
Judicial
d)
All 3 Branches
44.
The Supreme Court is in which branch of government?
a)
Legislative
b)
Executive
c)
Judicial
d)
All 3 Branches
45.
What is the system in place the guarantees that no one branch will become too powerful?
a)
Separation of Powers
b)
Limited Government
c)
Checks and Balances
d)
Majority Rule
46.

How many members are in the House of Representatives?

a)

100

b)

435

c)

50

d)

9

47.
What is the Supreme Law of the Land?
a)
The Great Compromise
b)
The Articles of Confederation
c)
The Constitution
d)
The Declaration of Independence
48.
When a president disagrees with a law, he may do this ____________.
a)
veto
b)
debate
c)
referral
d)
public discussion
49.
Which branch of the national government has the expressed power to appoint judges, prepare the budget, and carry out laws?
a)
Executive
b)
Judicial
c)
Legislative
50.

How are members elected to the Senate?

a)

100 elected based on population of each state

b)

100 members, 2 from each state

c)

435 members based on population of each state

d)

The President appoints members to the Senate, 100.

51.

Political Parties recruit and nominate

a)

PACS

b)

Candidates

c)

Platforms

d)

Agendas

52.

A role of political parties is to monitor office holders. To monitor means to...

a)

Support and assist

b)

watch, observe and listen to

c)

recruit and nominate

d)

consult and request

53.

Groups of people who share common ideas on how the government should do its work are called..

a)

Political Parties

b)

nominees

c)

voters

d)

citizens

54.

Political parties try to mobilize voters. Mobilizing voters means to...

a)

raise money

b)

get large groups of people to take interest in candidates, issues, and elections.

c)

find candidates

d)

watching and listening to voters

55.

One way political parties educate the voters about the similarities and and differences in candidates is..

a)

being watchdogs

b)

holding debates

c)

raising money

d)

having conversions

56.

The two major political parties in the United states are called the...

a)

Tea Party and Coffee Party

b)

Libertarians and Greens

c)

Elephants and Donkeys

d)

Democrats and Republicans

57.

Rising campaign costs have led to effort reform campaign finance laws. To reform means to

a)

keep the same

b)

change

c)

make more money

d)

help third parties

58.

Which of the following is not a form of media?

a)

newspapers

b)

internet

c)

mail

d)

television

59.
Where should you look in order to find the major differences between the political parties?
a)
Party Platform
b)
Party Constitution
c)
US Constitution
d)
Congress
60.
What role is the President fulfilling when he tours the country with other members of his party?
a)
Chief of Party
b)
Chief of State
c)
Commander in Chief
d)
Chief Executive
61.
Political organizations established by corporations, labor unions, and other special-interest groups and that are designed to support political candidates by contributing large sums of money are called ___. 
a)
Propaganda units
b)
Bankrolls
c)
Money beds
d)
Political action committees (PAC's)
62.
__ parties rarely win major elections and have never won a presidential election. Many __ parties revolve around a single-issue, others focus on changing society in a major way and others revolve around a personality (e.g., Teddy Roosevelt for the Bull Moose party).
a)
Ideological
b)
Third
c)
Single-issue
d)
Radical
63.
Which elected office is chosen using the Electoral College?
a)
Governor and Lt. Governor
b)
President and Vice President
c)
United States Representatives
d)
United States Senators
64.
How many electoral votes do you need to win the presidency?
a)
100
b)
250
c)
270
d)
538
65.

One way for your voice to be heard as a citizen is to _____.

a)

Follow famous people on social media

b)

Vote

c)

Watch television

d)

Listen to the radio

66.

When evaluating sources citizens must seperate _____ from _____.

a)

Special Interests - PAC

b)

Democrats - Republicans

c)

First - Last

d)

Fact - Opinion

67.

Which of the following is the role of the mass media?

a)

Developing PAC

b)

Telling voters how to vote

c)

Identifying candidates

d)

Detecting bias

68.

Television, radio, newspapers, and the internet are called _____.

a)

Mass media

b)

White noise

c)

Print material

d)

Electronics

69.

In order to vote a person must be a citizen, 18 years old, and _____.

a)

Registered

b)

Can read and write

c)

Have a driver's license

d)

Graduated from high school

70.

What is the total amount of Electors in the Electoral College?

a)

538

b)

270

c)

13

d)

435

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