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WorksheetsGovernment Final
Total questions: 105
Worksheet time: 53mins
Which of the following is a government type in which all powers are held by one, single, central agency?
Federal
Democracy
Confederate
Unitary
In this type of government, powers are shared by a central (national) government and several lower levels of government. Which type of government is this?
Federal
Authoritarian
Confederal
Unitary
Which of the following describes a confederate system of government?
A government system in which powers are shared between a central government and several lower levels of government
An alliance of independent states with a central government that only handles matters assigned to it by the states
A system of government in which all powers are held by one, central agency
A government system in which a few elite members of society hold all of the power
Executive and legislative powers are combined into one in this system of government. Which type of government is this?
Parliamentary
Presidential
Democracy
Oligarchy
In a presidential system of government, which of the following are true?
The legislative powers are the only real powers
Executive and legislative powers are combined as one
There are no legislative and executive powers
Executive and legislative powers are separate and independent from one another, but are coequal
Which of the following describes direct democracy?
The will of the people is accounted for by representatives, but there is also a constitution that protects the rights of the minority from the will of the majority
The will of the people is translated into public policy indirectly through representatives that are chosen through elections
The will of the people is translated into public policy directly through mass meetings where citizens meet and vote on policies
The will of the people is not accounted for because an all-powerful dictator makes all decisions regarding public policy
A system of government in which citizens choose representatives through elections and these representatives translate the will of the people into public policy is called?
Direct Democracy
Representative Democracy
Oligarchy
Autocracy
Which of the following describes a republic?
The will of the people is translated into public policy indirectly through representatives that are chosen through elections
The will of the people is accounted for by representatives, but there is also a constitution that protects the rights of the minority from the will of the majority
The will of the people is not accounted for because an all-powerful dictator makes all decisions regarding public policy
The will of the people is translated into public policy directly through mass meetings where citizens meet and vote on policies
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
A compromise between large and small states that resulted in equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House
A compromise between southern and northern delegates that concluded that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person in the population count for representation
A compromise between large and small states that concluded that smaller states would be counted as three-fifths of a state for the purpose of representation
A compromise between southern and northern states that concluded that Congress could not tax exports of goods from any state and could not interfere with the slave trade for at least 20 years
Which of the following was a compromise between large states and small states that resulted in a bicameral Congress in which the Senate would have equal representation and representation in the House of Representatives would be based on population?
Three-Fifths Compromise
Supreme Compromise
Commerce Compromise
Great Compromise
What are the Articles of Confederation?
The document the U.S. used to declare its independence from Great Britain
A list of the first 10 amendments
The U.S.' first attempt at a Constitution that was very weak
The Constitution our government is based on today
Which of the following were introduced by the U.S. Constitution?
Bicameral legislature, 3 branches of government, Congress could tax the states
Bicameral legislature, 3 branches of government, Congress could no longer tax the states
Unicameral legislature, 3 branches of government, Congress could tax the states
Bicameral legislature, 2 branches of government, Congress could tax the states
Which of the following is the name for the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?
Articles of Confederation
Declaration of Independence
Magna Carta
Bill of Rights
Which of the following describes the concept of limited government?
A method of distributing power where power is divided among a national and several lower levels of government
The idea that a government and its officers are subject to the law and not above the law
Concept that declares that each of the 3 branches of government have separate responsibilities
The idea that no government is all-powerful and can rule only with the consent of the governed
Which of the following describes separation of powers?
A method of distributing power where power is divided among a national and several lower levels of government
The idea that a government and its officers are subject to the law and not above the law
Concept that declares that each of the 3 branches of government have separate responsibilities
The idea that no government is all-powerful and can rule only with the consent of the governed
The idea that the people are the sovereign and have all political power describes which of the following concepts?
Limited Government
Popular Sovereignty
Checks and Balances
Rule of Law
This is the idea that each branch of government has certain "checks" on the other branches to ensure that power is not abused. What is this concept?
Rule of law
Checks and balances
Limited government
Popular sovereignty
Which group favored the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and advocated for a strong central government?
Anti-Federalists
Federalists
Liberals
Republicans
Which group opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and wanted the majority of power to be in the hands of the states?
Federalists
Democrats
Liberals
Anti-Federalists
Which branch of the U.S. government is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate?
Executive
Parliament
Legislative
Judicial
The power of the executive branch is primarily in the hands of which of the following?
President, Vice President, and executive agencies
House of Representatives and Senate
Federal Judiciary
Prime Minister and Parliament
Which branch of the U.S. government is made up by the federal judiciary?
Legislative
Federal
Judicial
Executive
Which of the following is a check the legislative branch has on the executive branch?
Veto power
Impeachment
Appointment of federal judges
Judicial review
Which of the following is a check the legislative branch has on the judicial branch?
Judicial review
Veto Power
Approval/
disapproval of federal judges
Appointment of federal judges
Which of the following is a check the executive branch has on the legislative branch?
Veto power
Judicial review
Impeachment
Appointment of federal judges
Which of the following is a check the executive branch has on the judicial branch?
Veto power
Appointment of federal judges
Impeachment
Judicial review
Which of the following is a check the judicial branch has on both the legislative branch and the executive branch?
Impeachment
Pardon power
Judicial review
Veto power
Which of the following describes enumerated powers?
Powers that are delegated to the national government and are explicitly expressed in the Constitution
Powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are reasonably "suggested" or "implied"
Powers that both national and state governments possess and exercise
Powers that are not granted to the national government but are instead reserved for states
Which of the following describes concurrent powers?
Powers that are delegated to the national government and are explicitly expressed in the Constitution
Powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are reasonably "suggested" or "implied"
Powers that both national and state governments possess and exercise
Powers that are not granted to the national government but are instead reserved for states
Which of the following are powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are "reasonably suggested" or "implied"?
Concurrent powers
Implied powers
Reserved powers
Denied powers
Which of the following are powers that are not granted to the national government but are instead reserved for states?
Concurrent powers
Implied powers
Reserved powers
Denied powers
Which of the following are powers that are explicitly denied to the national government?
Concurrent powers
Implied powers
Reserved powers
Denied powers
What are binding orders issued by the President that have the same effects of law but do not require congressional approval?
Executive orders
Bills
Ammendments
Acts
Which of the following are protections against the government?
Civil liberties
Supreme Court documents
Civil rights
Laws
What are the positive acts of government that seek to make constitutional guarantees a reality for all people?
Executive orders
Civil rights
laws
Civil liberties
What was the result of the decision reached by Brown v. Board of Education?
Supreme Court held that runaway slaves in free states were still the property of their "owner"
Supreme Court held that the policy of separate but equal was constitutional
Supreme Court held that the policy of separate but equal was unconstitutional
Supreme court held that schools could still have separate facilities for white and black students
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 do?
Granted voting rights provisions for ALL Americans and outlawed discrimination in a number of other areas
Ruled that separate but equal policies were constitutional
Ruled that runaway slaves in free states were no longer the "property" of their formal slave owners
Abolished slavery in the South leading to the U.S. Civil War
The right to a grand jury in criminal cases, protections against self-incrimination, protections against double jeopardy, and the guarantee of due process of law are all parts of which of the following amendments?
5th Amendment
13th Amendment
15th Amendment
19th Amendment
What did the 15th Amendment do in regard to voting?
Banned poll taxes as a condition of voter qualification
Gave women the right to vote
Provided the right to vote to people of color
Lowered the voting age to 18
Which of the following amendments gave women the right to vote?
5th Amendment
15th Amendment
19th Amendment
26th Amendment
Congressional elections that are held in non-presidential election years are referred to as what?
Non-presidential-year elections
Off-year elections
Between-year elections
Odd elections
How long are the terms of House members?
2 years
4 years
6 years
8 years
Which of the following have 6-year terms?
House members
Presidents
Supreme court justices
Senators
What does it mean when people call the Senate a continuous body?
Only 1/3 of Senators are up for election every 2 years meaning most members will continue on into the next session of Congress
At least 50% of Senators are in the Senate chamber at all times, so Senate sessions never stop
Legislation passed by the Senate will be continuously enforced by the executive branch
Members of the Senate serve life-long terms meaning they never have to run for reelection
How many members of the House of Representatives are there?
100
435
50
538
How many members of the Senate are there?
50
100
435
538
Which of the following is an unpopular provision that is not likely to pass on its own but is instead attached to a bill that is certain to pass?
Rider
Discharge Petition
Quorum
Cloture
What is a quorum?
The minimum number of members that must be present in either chamber to conduct business
A presidential action refusing to sign a bill into law
A Senate rule used to limit debate
Show answersExplanationPreviousNext
An unpopular provision that is not likely to pass on its own and is instead attached to a bill that is certain to pass
Which of the following is a stalling tactic used by a minority of senators to delay or prevent Senate action on a bill? It is an attempt to essentially essentially an attempt to “talk a bill to death”.
Pocket veto
Filibuster
Cloture
Discharge petition
Which of the following is a Senate rule used to limit debate?
Filibuster
Veto
Cloture
Quorum
Which of the following describes a veto?
A bill in its final form with all amendments and changes accounted for
The minimum number of members that must be present in either chamber to conduct business
Senate rule used to limit debate
A presidential action refusing to sign a bill into law
Which of the following is the elected presiding officer of the House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
President pro tempore
Majority Party Leader
President of the Senate
Which of the following is the Senate's presiding officer?
Speaker of the House
Majority Party Leader
President of the Senate
Majority Whip
What are standing committees?
Committees that are composed of members of both the House and the Senate
Permanent committees in both the House and the Senate
A committee that is organized to iron out differences in versions of a bill from the House and the Senate
Special committees that are set up for a specific purpose and usually for a limited period of time
Which type of committee is often referred to as a special committee, is set up for a specific purpose, and usually created only for a specific amount of time?
Joint committee
Conference committee
Standing committee
Select committee
What are joint committees?
Committees composed of members from both the House and the Senate
Permanent committees in both the House and the Senate
Special committees that are set up for a specific purpose and usually for a specific amount of time
A committee that is organized to iron out differences in versions of a bill from the House and the Senate
Which type of committee is organized to iron out differences in versions of a bill from the House and the Senate?
Standing committee
Conference committee
Joint committee
Select committee
How long are presidential terms?
A presidential term is 4 years and a president may serve a maximum of 2 terms not to exceed 10 years
A presidential term is 4 years and a president may serve a maximum of 2 terms not to exceed 8 years
A presidential term is 2 years and a president may serve a maximum of 2 terms not to exceed 4 years
A presidential term is 2 years and a president may serve a maximum of 2 terms not to exceed 6 years
What determines how many electors each state gets?
The number of electors each state gets is determined solely by the number of districts in that state
Each state has as many electors as the number of House members plus Senators representing their state
Each state has as many electors as the number of supreme court justices that state gets
The number of electors each state gets is proportional to the state's population
How many total electors are there in the electoral college?
50
100
435
538
What is diplomacy?
Consists of giving or loaning money to other countries
Includes sending American troops to other countries, providing military training to other countries, or supplying weapons or equipment
The act of dealing with other nations, usually through negotiation and discussion
Material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes
Which of the following describes sanctions?
Formal agreements ratified by countries entering into the agreement
A threatened or executed penalty for disobeying a law
Material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes
Giving or loaning money to other countries
What is another name for the judicial branch of government? This includes the court system as well as judges.
Supreme Court
Judiciary
Writ of certiorari
Appellate
How long are federal judgeship appointments?
10 years
5 years
4 years
Lifelong
Which of the following is a standing committee in the Senate that conducts hearings prior to Senate votes on the confirmation of federal judges?
Senate Judiciary Committee
Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
Senate Committee on Ways and Means
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Which of the following describes when a case can ONLY be heard by a federal court?
Appellate jurisdiction
Original jurisdiction
Concurrent jurisdiction
Exclusive jurisdiction
Which of the following describes when a court hears a case on appeal from a lower court?
Appellate jurisdiction
Original jurisdiction
Concurrent jurisdiction
Exclusive jurisdiction
What is original jurisdiction?
A case that can ONLY be heard by a federal court
When a case can be heard by EITHER a state court or a federal court
The court where a case is FIRST heard
When a curt hears a case on appeal from a lower court
What is concurrent jurisdiction?
A case that can ONLY be heard by a federal court
When a case can be heard by EITHER a state court or a federal court
The court where a case is FIRST heard
When a curt hears a case on appeal from a lower court
Who is the plaintiff in a court case?
A person who files a suit
A lawyer
A person in which a complaint is filed against
The judge
Who is the defendant in a court case?
A person who files a suit
A lawyer
A person in which a complaint is filed against
The judge
What is the highest federal court in the U.S.?
Municipal Court
State court
Supreme Court
Appellate court
Which term is defined by review by the Supreme Court for constitutional validity of a certain legislative or executive act?
Judicial Evaluation
Judicial Review
Judicial Activism
Judicial Restraint
Which of the following terms describes the official opinion of the Supreme Court?
Dissenting Opinion
Majority Opinion
Concurring Opinion
Unanimous Opinion
Which of the following are written when one or more Supreme Court justices agree with the court's decision but want to add or emphasize points not made in the majority opinion?
Dissenting Opinion
Majority Opinion
Concurring Opinion
Unanimous Opinion
Which of the following are written by Supreme Court justices who do not agree with the court's majority opinion?
Dissenting Opinion
Majority Opinion
Concurring Opinion
Unanimous Opinion
What are past examples to be followed in similar cases?
Precedents
Plea bargains
Indictments
Arraignments
What is judicial restraint?
Judicial rulings that appear to be based on person opinions or political considerations rather than laws or the Constitution
When judges purposefully do not reveal their opinion on an issue in hopes that the issue will be tabled
The idea that judges should limit the exercise of their own power
Rulings that restrict the power of the courts by clearing up ambiguous language in the Constitution
What is judicial activism?
Judicial rulings that appear to be based on person opinions or political considerations rather than laws or the Constitution
When judges purposefully do not reveal their opinion on an issue in hopes that the issue will be tabled
The idea that judges should limit the exercise of their own power
Rulings that restrict the power of the courts by clearing up ambiguous language in the Constitution
How is the government required to act under due process?
Checks and balances must taken into account through all government actions
The government must act fairly and in accordance with established rules in all that it does
The government must limit the number of trials taken on by the supreme court
The government must act to ensure that its own power remains limited
Which of the following is a more serious crime that carries a sentence of one year or greater in a federal or state prison?
Felony
Inchoate
Solicitation
Misdemeanor
Which of the following is a less serious crime that carries a fine and/or a sentence of one year or less in a jail?
Felony
Inchoate
Solicitation
Misdemeanor
What is an inchoate crime?
Crimes that result in physical or mental harm to another person
Crimes that were begun but not completed
When someone asks, hires, requires, or commands someone to do a crime
A category of crimes where several individuals come together to engage in criminal behavior
What is solicitation?
Crimes that result in physical or mental harm to another person
Crimes that were begun but not completed
When someone asks, hires, requires, or commands someone to do a crime
A category of crimes where several individuals come together to engage in criminal behavior
What is conspiracy?
Crimes that result in physical or mental harm to another person
Crimes that were begun but not completed
When someone asks, hires, requires, or commands someone to do a crime
A category of crimes where several individuals come together to engage in criminal behavior
What is an indictment?
When a judge formally reads the charges brought against the defendant and the defendant makes their plea
A formal charge brought by a grand jury or filed by a prosecutor
A decision made on whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty
Money or property a defendant puts forth as security to make sure they will show up to further criminal proceedings
What is an arraignment?
When a judge formally reads the charges brought against the defendant and the defendant makes their plea
A formal charge brought by a grand jury or filed by a prosecutor
A decision made on whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty
Money or property a defendant puts forth as security to make sure they will show up to further criminal proceedings
Which of the following is money or property a defendant puts forth as security to make sure they will show up for further criminal proceedings?
Indictment
Verdict
Arraignment
Bail
What is a decision made on whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty?
Verdict
Indictment
Arraignment
Sentence
Which of the following is a punishment for a convicted felon?
Verdict
Indictment
Arraignment
Sentence
If a defendant is found guilty of a charge or multiple charges, what can they do if they do not agree with this outcome?
Go to a lower court to have the decision reversed
Ask the jury to use veto power to overturn the conviction
Nothing... a defendant cannot change the outcome of a conviction
Appeal to a higher court in hopes for a new trial
What is the state of being confined in a jail or prison?
Incarceration
Precedent
Indictment
Partisanship
Which of the following describes one difference between jails and prisons?
A jail is a long-term lockup facility whereas a prison is a short-term facility
Most people in jail are convicted felons while those in prison are typically convicted of misdemeanors or awaiting trial
A jail is a short-term lockup facility whereas a prison is a long-term facility
Jails are typically operated by the state while prisons are operated by sheriff departments
What is partisanship?
A party that leans more conservative
Strong support or allegiance to a party
A party that does not have widespread public support
The belief that two-party systems are better than multi-party systems
Which of the following is a major party in the U.S.?
Democratic Party
Green Party
Libertarian Party
Constitution Party
Which of the following describes a major difference between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party?
The Republican Party is a major party in the U.S. while the Democratic Party is a minor party
The Democratic Party tends to take a more conservative stance on issues while the Republican Party tends to take a more liberal stance
The Republic Party tends to take a more conservative stance on issues while the Democratic Party tends to take a more liberal stance
The Democratic Party is a major party in the U.S. while the Republican Party is a minor party
Which of the following is NOT something that typically influences which political party someone aligns with?
Race
Geographic Location
Size of family
Religion
Which of the following correctly describes party support trends?
Those with a higher income and less education tend to support the Republican Party
Those with a lower income and more education tend to support the Republican Party
Those with a higher income and less education tend to support the Democratic Party
Those with a lower income and less education tend to support the Democratic Party
Which of the following best describes an election where voters express a preference for their Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates to represent their party in the general election?
Presidential Primary
General election
Off-year election
Midterm election
Which of the following best describes an election that is held at a regularly scheduled time where voters make their final selections for who they believe should be in office?
Presidential Primary
General election
Off-year election
Midterm election
Which term below is a voting district that is used for the purpose of elections?
Presidential Primary
Precinct
Ballot
National Convention
How are PACs and Super PACs different from one another?
There are restrictions on Super PAC funds but no restrictions on PAC funds
Super PACs make donations directly to candidates and political parties while PACs do not
PACs run campaign ads for or against candidates instead of donating directly to candidates themselves
There are restrictions on PAC funds but no restrictions on Super PAC funds
Which of the following terms refers to the money raised and spent to elect Congressional and Presidential candidates? (has federal limits)
Soft Funds
Hard Funds
Hard Money
Soft Money
Which of the following terms refers to the funds given by party organizations for "party building activities" such as candidate recruitment and voter registration drives? (has NO federal limits)
Soft Funds
Hard Funds
Hard Money
Soft Money
Which of the following describes an action in which someone is NOT completing their civic duty?
Paying taxes
Choosing not to vote
Registering for the selective service
Serving on a jury
