WorksheetsGovernment Final Review
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 2hrs 40mins
“It is not the cause of one poor printer, nor of New York alone, which you are now trying. No! It may in its consequence affect every free man that lives under a British government on the main [continent] of America. It is the best cause. It is the cause of liberty. . . . Nature and the laws of our country have given us a right to liberty of both exposing and opposing arbitrary power (in these parts of the world at least) by speaking and writing the truth.”
— Andrew Hamilton, 1735
This courtroom summation helped establish which democratic principle in colonial America?
trial by jury
equal voting rights
protection of private property
freedom of the press
The system of checks and balances is best illustrated by the power of
the President to veto a bill passed by Congress
Congress to censure one of its members
a governor to send the National Guard to stop a riot
state and Federal governments to levy and collect taxes
At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from the small states
most strongly supported the idea of
establishing a strong national executive
levying taxes on exports
equal representation for the states in the national legislature
popular election of Senators
One way in which the authors of the Constitution tried to create “limited
government” was by providing for
a loyal opposition through a two-party system
a division of power between the national and state governments
the establishment of naturalization laws
the popular election of Federal judges
The authors of the Articles of Confederation established a weaker political
system mainly to
cancel state debts incurred during the Revolutionary War
prevent the abuses of power that had existed under British rule
assist the southern states in their efforts to gain a manufacturing base
promote the common goal of national sovereignty
The Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are similar in that
both
support a federal system of government
maintain the importance of a strong chief executive
provide for a system of checks and balances
support limitations on government power
The principle of federalism contained in the Constitution of the United
States is most consistent with which of the following quotes
A leader is not ultimately responsible to the people but to God
Each citizen is entitled to a voice in government.
power should be divided among national, state, and local governments
Life is a struggle.
The first amendment of the Constitution deals primarily with
states’ rights
rights of individual
property rights
rights of the accused
What are two rights expressed within the Declaration of Independence?
Life and right to own a home
Liberty and justice
Life and pursuit of happiness
Life and death
What is a constitutional amendment?
The opening words of the Constitution
The beginning of the Declaration of Independence
An introduction to a proposed bill
A formal change to the Constitution
Name two official Federal holidays.
Labor Day and Thanksgiving
April Fool’s Day and Labor Day
Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day
Christmas Day and Halloween
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
12
10
11
9
Domestic policy includes all of the following EXCEPT___________.
regulating commerce with foreign nations
funding health care to seniors and the poor
control interstate transportation of goods
regulating business and industry
Seats in the House of Representatives are __________ among the states by
population as determined by a ____________ conducted every ten years. The seats in the Senate are for ___________ terms and hold greater _____________.
apportioned ... census ... longer ... stature
granted ... elected ... longer ... power
elected ... census ... shorter ... flexibility
decided ... caucus ... longer ... stature
I. Party nomination in Primary Convention
II. General Election
III. Electoral College
Which of the following is the correct sequence of events for electing the
president?
I, III, II
II , I, III
III, I, II
I, II, III
How long is the term of office for a Supreme Court Justice?
two years
for life
four years
six years
Key decisions of the Supreme Court under the leadership of John Marshall (Marbury v Madison (1803), etc.) solidified the power of the Supreme Court to
try cases between states.
accept appeals from lower federal courts.
try cases involving foreign diplomats.
review the constitutionality of state and federal laws.
"This member of the Government was at first considered as the most harmless and helpless of all its organs. But it has proved that the power of declaring what the law is, ad libitum [at one's pleasure], by sapping and mining, slyly and without alarm, the foundations of the Constitution, can do what open force would not dare to attempt." ---- Thomas Jefferson, 1825
Which Supreme Court power did Thomas Jefferson think was so dangerous?
sentencing criminals
judicial review
selecting juries
hearing appeals
How did the decision of Miranda v. Arizona (1963) impact accused persons?
Accused people now must be made aware of their rights.
Accused people now do not have to worry about a trial.
Accused people now must be held in jail until trial.
Accused people now may post a bond to be released from pretrial detention.
Which of the following is NOT a function of the judicial branch?
interpret laws
determine punishments
protect citizens
impeach the president
A young shopper at a store is accused by a clerk of shoplifting. Which of the following will help the shopper in this situation?
freedom from juvenile prosecution
freedom of speech
due process of law
right to privacy
What action could be taken to reverse any of Supreme Court?
A state court could reverse the Supreme Court’s decision.
A state legislature could re-pass the same law.
The people could directly vote on the law.
The Constitution could be amended.
If Congress is not currently in session, but an issue such as the nation's budget needs to be resolved, the president can call a ____________ ________________, where Congress will convene (outside regular legislative session) to work to resolve the issue.
Special session
veto
executive session
none of the above
Which of the following is true of an executive order?
must go through congress
has the force of law
must go through the supreme court
all of the above
As _____________________________, the president serves as the leader of their political party. They do things like help raise money for campaigns, and provide support for other members.
Democratic leader
Chief Legislator
Party leader
Chief Executive
If the president were to welcome a foreign leader/official to the White House, this would be an example of what role?
Commander in Chief
Chief Executive
Head of State
None of the above
Which of the following is a power of the executive branch?
Appoint federal judges
Declares acts of Congress as unconstitutional
Impeaches and removes judges
Ratifies treaties
Which statement describes the Electoral College?
System to elect the Senate
System to elect the President
System to elect to the Supreme Court
System to elect the House of Representatives
Who are the leaders of the executive departments who advise the president?
President
Legislative Branch
Parliament
Cabinet
The Executive Branch of the United States requires a variety of duties. Which of the following duties would be the primary duty?
A convene both Houses, in case of disagreement
carry out laws passed by Congress
receive ambassadors and other public ministers
give Congress information on the State of the Union
The authors of the Articles of Confederation established a decentralized political system mainly to
cancel state debts incurred during the Revolutionary War
prevent the abuses of power that had existed under British rule
assist the southern states in their efforts to gain a manufacturing base
promote the common goal of national sovereignty
Senate ratification of treaties negotiated by the President is required by the United States Constitution as a way of
maintaining United States prestige in international affairs
preventing Federal abuse of State power
implementing the principle of checks and balances
expanding the authority of the executive branch
In the United States Congress, differences between Senate and House of Representatives versions of a bill are usually resolved by accepting the version that is
preferred by a majority of the State legislatures
supported by the Supreme Court
preferred by the House in which the bill originated
agreed to by a joint conference committee of both Houses
Census data is important because it is used to
decide how many people should be drafted into the military
decide how much federal income tax citizens in different states must pay
determine how many seats states get in the Senate
determine how many seats states get in the House of Representatives
Which of the following is NOT true about the United States system of checks and balances?
The U.S. Supreme Court can void legislation passed by the U.S. Congress.
The President can veto a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The U.S. Congress can override a Presidential veto.
The President can veto legislation passed by the U.S. Congress.
Which fundamental political idea is expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
The government should guarantee every citizen economic security.
The central government and state governments should have equal power.
Rulers derive their right to govern from God and are therefore bound to govern in the nation’s best interest.
If the government denies its people certain basic rights, that government can be overthrown.
Which of the following functions of the court system is handled in federal courts?
issuing marriage certificates
holding trials for automobile moving violations
hearing misdemeanor cases
deciding questions on copyright
A judge, deferring actions to the legislative and executive branches, except for cases that are clearly unconstitutional, is practicing
judicial majority
judicial restraint
unconstitutional
judicial activism
WASHINGTON, March 20 —The Supreme Court today upheld the validity of the 1990 census, ruling unanimously that the federal government had no constitutional obligation to adjust the results to correct an acknowledged undercount in big cities and among minorities . . . . At the core of the legal challenge to the 1990 census was the racially disparate undercount, the existence of which no one disputed. The census missed about 2 percent of the population as a whole, some four million people. But it missed 4.8 percent of the Black population and 5.2 percent of the Hispanic population.
-From The New York Times, 3/21/1996 Issue 1996
The situation described is important because census data are used to
determine how many seats states get in the House of Representatives
determine how many seats states get in the Senate
decide how many people should be drafted into the military
decide how much federal income tax citizens in different states must pay
Defense
Education
Entitlements
What is the BEST category for the list above?
federal revenues
treaty obligations
foreign policy decisions
federal expenditures
When the United States goes to war, ____________ go up. Even though____________ may remain the same, the ______________ increases creating a budget _____________.
expenditures ... revenues ... national debt... deficit
the national debt ... deficits ... expenditures ... revenue
deficits ... the national debt ... deficit ... expenditure
revenues ... expenditures ... deficit ...national debt
The federal judicial system encompasses all of the following courts EXCEPT
circuit courts
the Supreme Court
precinct courts
district courts
exclusive
concurrent
original
appellate
Which of the following is the BEST category for the list above?
Types of Jurisdiction
Types of Judges
Types of Rulings
Types of Courts
"We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of "separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment"
– Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, 1954
The impact of the court case cited above was
that the Supreme Court decision brought equality to African Americans.
a reinterpretation of the 14th amendment to make segregation in all areas unconstitutional.
the beginning of equal educational opportunities for African American children.
the beginning of the Civil Rights movement in the United States.
The Department of War, which included the armed forces, was part of the executive branch during the early years of the republic. Which article of the Constitution empowered the executive branch to create the department?
Insure domestic tranquility – Article I Section 8
Provide for the common defense – Article II Section 2
Establish Justice – Article III, Section 1
Promote the general welfare – Article I Section 8
This question is one of two about a Supreme Court case in which the Court was deciding whether or not it was legal for schools to test high school student athletes for drugs. Read the opinion below to answer the question.
"School years are the time when the physical, psychological, and addictive effects of drugs are most severe . . . . Deterring drug use by our nation's schoolchildren is at least as important as enhancing efficient enforcement of the nation's laws against the importation of drugs.
– Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the majority
Justice Scalia would most likely agree with the idea that drug testing in schools
should be a federal rather than a state function
violates students’ right to privacy
is necessary to protect school districts from lawsuits
is necessary to protect students
This question is one of two about a Supreme Court case in which the Court was deciding whether or not it was legal for schools to test high school student athletes for drugs. Read the opinion below to answer the question.
"By the reasoning of today's decision, the millions of these students who participate in interscholastic sports, an overwhelming majority of whom have given school officials no reason whatsoever to suspect they use drugs at school, are open to an intrusive bodily harm . . . . Many schools, like many parents, prefer to trust their children unless given reason to do otherwise."
– Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, writing in dissent
In Justice O’Connor’s view, the school district’s drug-testing policy violates students’ constitutional protection against
double jeopardy
unreasonable searches and seizures
seizure of private property
cruel and unusual punishment
This question is about the Supreme Court case of Schenck v. The United States (1919). In this case, Schenck was prosecuted for having violated the Espionage Act of 1917 by publishing and distributing leaflets that opposed the military draft and United States entry into the First World War. The court ruled in favor of the United States. Below is an excerpt from the majority opinion.
"We admit that in . . . ordinary times the defendants . . . would have been within their constitutional rights. But the character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done. The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic. . . . The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the evils that Congress has a right to prevent."
According to the Supreme Court decision in this case, free speech should NOT be protected when it
offends others
disagrees with government policy
attacks a government agency
endangers others
This question is about the Supreme Court case of Schenck v. The United States (1919). In this case, Schenck was prosecuted for having violated the Espionage Act of 1917 by publishing and distributing leaflets that opposed the military draft and United States entry into the First World War. The court ruled in favor of the United States. Below is an excerpt from the majority opinion.
"We admit that in . . . ordinary times the defendants . . . would have been within their constitutional rights. But the character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done. The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic. . . . The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the evils that Congress has a right to prevent."
What argument is the Supreme Court making in this decision?
Congress can limit free speech as it sees fit.
The judiciary is powerless to overturn laws like the Espionage Act of 1917.
The right to free speech is basic to democracy and government may never limit it.
Rights are not absolute and the government may limit them in times of crisis.
This question is based on the quotations below from the Supreme Court case Texas v. Johnson (1989).
"Uncritical extension of constitutional protection to the burning of the flag risks the frustration of the very purpose for which organized governments are instituted. . . . The flag is not simply another "idea" or "point of view" competing for recognition in the marketplace of ideas. . . . I cannot agree that the First Amendment invalidates the. . . laws which make criminal the public burning of the flag."
—Justice Rehnquist, dissenting opinion
Which of the following best paraphrases Justice Brennan’s argument?
Citizens may express themselves in any manner they feel is justified and be protected by the First Amendment.
It is constitutional to ban the uttering of insulting words, but not to ban flag burning.
In our constitutional democracy, we may not limit the expression of ideas with which the majority disagrees.
The Court should deal with First Amendment issues on a case-by-case basis.
