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Introduction to US Government Quiz

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

God created the state and that God had given those of royal birth the right to rule.

a)

force theory

b)

divine right theory

c)

evolutionary theory

d)

social contract theory

2.

If a country is sovereign, it

a)

has supreme and absolute power within its territory.

b)

may be controlled by a stronger central government.

c)

has a government like the 50 states.

d)

non of the above

3.

Which of the following is a duty of all citizens

a)

volunteer

b)

pay taxes

c)

be informed

d)

respect diversity

4.

 An alliance of independent states

a)

presidential

b)

unitary

c)

parliamentary

d)

confederation

5.

The supreme political authority rest with the people and the citizens themselves

a)

democracy

b)

autocracy

c)

oligarchy

d)

dictatorship

6.

A government in which a single person holds unlimited political power

a)

democracy

b)

autocracy

c)

oligarchy

d)

parliamentary

7.

A government in which the president is directly elected by the people

a)

parliamentary

b)

presidential

c)

unitary

d)

confederation

8.

A government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite group

a)

democracy

b)

autocracy

c)

oligarchy

d)

anarchy

9.

A government in which all the powers are held by a central agency which then gives out the remainder of the powers to local government for its own convenience

a)

Parliamentary

b)

Unitary

c)

Presidential

d)

Confederation

10.

Government...

a)

Provides order

b)

Prevents chaos

c)

Is an institution through which a society makes and enforces public policies

d)

all of the above

11.

One person or a small group claimed control over an area and forced all within to submit to that person’s or group’s rule

a)

force theory

b)

evolutionary theory

c)

divine right theory

d)

social contract theory

12.

Claims the state developed naturally out of the earliest group unit, the family

a)

Force Theory

b)

Evolutionary Theory

c)

Divine Right Theory

d)

Social Contract Theory

13.

When the people directly vote on issues confronting their society, their form of government is a

a)

Direct Democracy

b)

Direct Monarchy

c)

Representative Democracy

d)

Anarchy

14.

When the people elect representatives to vote on the issues confronting their society, their form of government is a _________________________

a)

Direct Democracy

b)

Oligarchy

c)

Representative Democracy

d)

Dictatorship

15.

When there is a division of powers between national and state governments, this is a _________________________ form of government.

a)

Federal

b)

Unitary

c)

Confederation

d)

Constitutional Monarchy

16.

The Ancient Greeks contributed the idea of a ___________________ to the world.

a)

Representative Democracy

b)

Social Contract

c)

Direct Democracy

d)

Anarchy

17.

The Ancient Romans contributed the idea of a __________________ to the world.

a)

Direct Democracy

b)

Social Contract

c)

Divine Right Theory

d)

Representative Democracy

18.

Use the Preamble to the Constitution to answer the question."We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."—U.S. Constitution, Preamble

Which of the following actions is one example of how the American government establishes justice?

a)

keeping the peace within the borders of the United States

b)

creating a set of laws and a court system

c)

protecting the United States from foreign threats

d)

establishing safety regulations to protect the public

19.

In what way was the government of ancient Athens different from that of the United States?

a)

Athens was a direct democracy in which citizens voted on laws themselves.

b)

Athens was an oligarchy ruled by the wealthy members of the Council of Five Hundred.

c)

Athens was a republic in which the people voted for their representatives.

d)

Athens was an autocracy ruled by a dictator who had absolute power.

20.

Duties are actions a citizen is required to take. Responsibilities are actions a citizen should take. Which of the following actions is a responsibility of citizenship?

a)

serving on a jury if called

b)

voting in elections

c)

paying taxes

d)

registering for the draft

21.

The democratic concept of equality means that every individual

a)

must sacrifice his or her interests so the needs of the many can be met.

b)

is born with as much talent and ability as everyone else.

c)

is entitled to receive the same treatment under the law.

d)

should receive the same share of worldly goods as everyone else.

22.

Which of these characteristics represents the system a state uses to make and enforce public policy?

a)

population

b)

sovereignty

c)

government

d)

territory

23.

The ways in which governments can be categorized?

a)

state

b)

nation

c)

country

d)

all of the above

24.

All are characteristics of a state EXCEPT....

a)

territory

b)

people

c)

sovereignty

d)

government

e)

economic system

25.

A democratic government in which the president is directly elected by the people

a)

Parliamentary democracy

b)

Presidential democracy

c)

Unitary democracy

d)

Confederation

26.

A democratic government where the executive branch is part of and selected by the legislative branch

a)

Direct democracy

b)

Presidential democracy

c)

Parliamentary democracy

d)

Republic

27.

Which branch of government is in charge of creating laws

a)

Executive

b)

Judicial

c)

Legislative

d)

Military

28.

Interpreting the law is the responsibility of the _______

a)

Judicial Branch

b)

Executive Branch

c)

Legislative Branch

d)

House of Representatives

29.

Enforcing the law is the responsibility of the ________

a)

Legislative Branch

b)

Executive Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

d)

Supreme Court

30.

Which of the following is NOT a basic concept of democracy?

a)

Equality of all persons before the law

b)

Necessity of Compromise

c)

Individual Freedom 

d)

Rights of the minority are not respected 

31.

The total absence of gov't

a)

anarchy

b)

monarchy

c)

tyranny

d)

direct democracy

32.

Who makes most of the important governmental decisions in an autocracy?

a)

the ruler

b)

the people

c)

the court system

d)

the elected legislature

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33.

Who makes most of the important governmental decisions in an oligarchy?

a)

the king

b)

the people

c)

the legislature

d)

small group of powerful rulers

34.

Which government's source of power rests in a religious text or ruler?

a)

Theocracy 

b)

Democracy

c)

Dictatorship

d)

Anarchy

35.

The word democracy means:

a)

rule of one

b)

rule by few

c)

rule by the people

d)

rule by the wealthy