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WorksheetsGOVT Midterm Benchmark Review
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 20mins
What tax does the United States Constitution prohibit the national government from levying on its citizens?
sales tax
income tax
export tax
luxury tax
The Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise both dealt with
the representation of states in Congress.
the territorial expansion of slavery.
the regulation of interstate commerce.
the admission of new western states.
Nearly all of Latin American governments use a presidential system of government. This means...
the executive branch is more powerful than the other branches of government.
an executive branch exists and has power separate from the legislature.
the president's power cannot be stopped by the judicial branch.
a president must work closely with the parliament who chooses him or her.
France, the United Kingdom, and Spain are three examples of unitary states. This means that each country is...
governed by a President and a Legislative branch.
governed by a small committee of elite planners.
governed as an autocracy, with a single leader creating all of the laws of the country.
forbidden from making changes to its government with out the consent of the voting public.
governed constitutionally as one single entity, with one constitutionally created legislature.
Because Canada is a parliamentary democracy, its political leader
is chosen by the party with the majority of members in the legislature.
is elected by an electoral college chosen by the unicameral legislature.
is elected by the majority of the popular votes of its citizens.
is whoever is the eldest child of the current reigning monarch.
Which form of government would have the LEAST amount of citizen participation?
an autocracy
a confederation
a democracy
an oligarchy
Which of these accurately reflects a WEAKNESS in the Articles of Confederation?
Congress taxed citizens too much.
The central government held too much power over the states.
The document was too easily amended by the states.
There was no separation of powers.
Which part of the government has the greatest authority in setting foreign policy?
House of Representatives
Judicial branch
municipal government
Executive branch
Which BEST illustrates the principle of checks and balances?
congressional hearings to consider a proposed law
the military powers of the president
Senate confirmation of presidential appointments
the taxing power of states
The people who came to the American colonies in the 17th century had already been exposed to the idea of limited
government thanks mainly to
the Council of Trent.
the Constitution.
the Magna Carta.
the Articles of Confederation.
Which of these was a major philosophy expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
support for states' rights and slavery
a belief in the natural rights of citizens
the need for a federal system of government
a belief in the benefits of a laissez-faire economy
In Federalism, the power to govern is
shared between the national and state governments.
given mainly to the state governments.
given to the people.
limited to the national government.
The power to tax is called a "concurrent power" because it is a power
jointly held by the national and state governments.
only held by state governments.
that only is held by the national government.
that affects both individuals and corporations.
The BEST example of an expressed power would be the power to
establish the Naval Academy.
declare war.
establish grants for medical research.
build and maintain roads.
Which reason best explains why many Anti-Federalists finally agreed to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution?
the addition of the Bill of Rights
a desire to create a better relationship with the Federalists
a fear that civil war would break out if the dispute were not settled
arguments by George Washington
Which statement BEST describes the limits on re-election for the members of the U.S. House of Representatives
and the U.S. Senate?
There are no term limits for re-election in either branch of Congress.
House members can be re-elected three times, but there are no such limits for Senators.
Members of Congress can only be re-elected twice.
Senators can only be re-elected once, but there are no such limits for House members.
The chief purpose of Congressional committees is to
draft legislation for consideration by the full Congress.
provide a place for lobbyists and special interest groups to get support.
act as a group to which the President can direct his lobbying effort.
hold hearings so that bills can be evaluated and studied prior to voting.
A power that is held only by the United States Senate is the power to
bring impeachment charges against a federal official.
introduce revenue bills.
approve Presidential appointments and treaties.
propose constitutional amendments.
The person holding the position of ______ in the House or Representatives is primarily responsible for persuading
members of his or her party to vote according to the official party line.
Caucus
Speaker
Whip
Leader
A special power delegated only to the Senate is
introducing all revenue and tax bills.
ratification of all treaties and Presidential appointments.
bringing impeachment charges against the President or federal judges.
passing Constitutional amendments.
Funds raised by political parties for “party activities” like recruiting candidates and community outreach.
Hard Money
Soft Money
Party Money
PAC Money
Funds raised and spent to elect a congressperson or president.
Hard Money
Soft Money
Party Money
PAC Money
These help people with similar political ideas express their views.
PACs
Special Interest Groups
Political Parties
Attack Ads
One major difference between a PAC (political action committee) and a Super PAC is that...
funds collected from a super PAC must be donated to either the Republican or Democratic parties.
super PACs are not required to be report their donors to the Federal Election Commission.
a super PAC is not allowed to donate funds directly to a political candidate.
a super PAC has a cap on the amount of money that can be raised.
Raise funds through donations from corporations or individuals to support or oppose specific political candidates, without donating to those candidates.
Super PAC
Special Interest Groups
PACs
Political Parties
Which of these is NOT a function of the media in US elections?
Influencing the political opinions of voters
Helping voters decide who seems more fun to hang out with
Regulating and commencing on the behaviors of candidates
Setting public agenda
True or False: The president is chosen by popular vote.
True
False
How do states determine how many electoral votes they get?
Number of representatives in congress + 3
every state send three representatives from their state legislature
Number of representatives in the House + Number in the Senate
every state gets the same number, which is currently 5
Which of these most accurately matches the parties to their respective side of the political spectrum?
Left: Republican
Right: Democrat
Left: Democrat Right: Republican
Center: Republican
Right: Democrat
Left: Republican
Center: Democrat
This event is held to announce the parties' official presidential candidate.
Party's Party
National Party
National Convention
Party Convention
Choose the list that most accurately describes the requirements to run for president
must be 50 years or older and born in the United States
must be 35 years or older, natural born citizen, or naturalized for 14 years
Must be male, citizen of the United States, and never convicted of a felony
Anyone may run, as long as they pay the 50$ ballot fee
the right to vote
freedom to marry
the right to travel freely
freedom to have privacy
the right to remain silent
What would be the BEST title for the list seen here?
"Enumerated Powers"
"First Amendment Rights"
"Civil Liberties"
"Civil Rights"
Samuel has been criticizing the policies of the state government, which has led law enforcement officials to conduct
a raid on his home. He could be protected, though, by which of these amendments to the Constitution?
Third
Second
Eighth
Fifth
This famous law prohibits discrimination by employers on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, and is part of the legacy of President Lyndon Johnson's presidency.
Twenty-fourth Amendment
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Title IX
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Being an informed citizen falls under which category?
a voting requirement
a constitutional amendment
a civic duty
a civic responsibility
When it was created, the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution ensured rights for
African Americans.
Native Americans.
women.
children.
The cartoon seen here made reference to what Supreme Court decision?
Plessy v. Ferguson
Gideon v. Wainwright
Regents of the Univ. of California v. Bakke
Brown v. Board of Education
Which issue is addressed in the Bill of Rights?
slavery
the right to bear arms
the direct election of Senators
voting age
Which of these is a limitation on freedom of speech?
A person cannot forfeit their right to an attorney.
A person cannot commit slander or libel.
A person cannot commit larceny or assault.
A person cannot omit information to the police.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to
expand the power of the President and the Executive Branch.
restrict the application of judicial review.
make rights contained in the Bill of Rights applicable to the states.
declare the Line Item Veto unconstitutional.
