wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Rudd Govt Study Guide

Total questions: 73

Worksheet time: 37mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which TWO of the following are characteristics of a state?

a)

Sovereign

b)

Army

c)

Territory

d)

Policy

2.

What is the force theory of gov't

a)

Gov't evolved from the family unit

b)

The state was created by force

c)

Gov't gets its powers from God

d)

People were forced into the military

3.

What is the divine right theory?

a)

Threat of force creates gov't

b)

Gov't evolved from the family unit.

c)

People agree to make a social contract to come together.

d)

God rules the state through royalty

4.

What is the evolutionary theory of gov't

a)

Gov't evolved from the basic family unit.

b)

Threat of force created gov't

c)

Gov't gets powers from God

d)

A theory developed by Charles Darwin

5.

What is the social contract theory

a)

Gov't evolved from family unit

b)

Threat of force created govt

c)

People agreed to give up unlimited freedom to create gov't

d)

God gave gov't power to govern

6.

What is public policy?

a)

Everything a gov't decides to do

b)

A theory of how gov't began

c)

the institution that makes and enforces public policy

d)

A country, nation, or state

7.

What is a democracy?

a)

a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.

b)

government by the whole population through elected representatives.

c)

a form of government with a king or queen from a royal line at the head

d)

A government controlled by a single powerful leader, such as a tyrant

8.

What is a monarchy?

a)

a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.

b)

A form of government ruled by a king or queen from a royal family

c)

a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

d)

A form of government with a single, powerful leader, typically a tyrant.

9.

What is an oligarchy?

a)

A gov't controlled by a religious leader

b)

A gov't ruled by a dictator

c)

A gov't controlled by a small group of wealthy elites

d)

A gov't controlled by a king or queen

10.

What is a theocracy

a)

A gov't controlled by a king or queen

b)

A gov't controlled by a religious leader

c)

A gov't controlled by a single powerful leader, usually a tyrant

d)

A gov't controlled through direct voting.

11.

What is indirect democracy?

a)

A form of gov't where leaders are appointed by comissions.

b)

A form of gov't where voters elect representatives to create laws

c)

A form of gov't with three branches

d)

A form of gov't with a bicameral legislature

12.

What is direct democracy?

a)

A form of gov't in which voters elect representatives to make laws

b)

A form of gov't where voters can contact leaders directly.

c)

A form of gov't where leaders decide on issues directly

d)

A form of gov't where citizens vote directly on issues

13.

What is the state of nature?

a)

a country lacking a population

b)

the life people lived before society and government

c)

the evolutionary theory of government

d)

the life people lived after government was created

14.

What is the social contract?

a)

an agreement to take anything a person desires

b)

an agreement to buy something

c)

an agreement to overcome the state of nature and create a government

d)

the life people lived before government and society existed

15.

What major work did Thomas Hobbes publish?

a)

Leviathan

b)

On Democracy

c)

Two Treatises of Government

d)

On Liberty

16.

Select all of the following that applies to Hobbes' state of nature.

a)

Everyone has a right to everything

b)

No art or inventions

c)

Constant War

d)

Peace and harmony

17.

What did Hobbes say about the sovereign (Leviathan)?

a)

The sovereign should have limited power.

b)

The sovereign should have checks and balances.

c)

The sovereign should be elected

d)

The sovereign should have all authority to ensure peace.

18.

Locke says that man is born as ________

a)

selfish, brutish, and mean

b)

naturally good

c)

a blank slate

d)

an animal

19.

According to Locke, what is the nature of the social contract?

a)

people give up some freedom, and in return the gov't protects individual's rights

b)

people give up all freedom to an all-powerful ruler

c)

people give up all freedom and their rights for safety

d)

people exist in constant war after the social war

20.

Locke says that citizens may revolt if government violates natural rights.

a)

True

b)

False

21.

Hobbes says that citizens can revolt if the sovereign violates an individual's natural rights.

a)

True

b)

Flase

22.

Select the THREE natural rights Locke identified.

a)

Life

b)

Services

c)

Liberty

d)

Property

23.

According to Rousseau, government must follow the general will. What is the general will?

a)

things that are in the best interest of society as a whole

b)

things that are done in the name of God

c)

things that are done by a single ruler

d)

the will of top military officials

24.

Rousseau believed the government should follow majority rule. What is majority rule?

a)

Government follows what a minority of people want.

b)

Government follows what one ruler says.

c)

Government agrees to give people protection

d)

Government follows what more than half of the population wants.

25.

What did Montesquieu suggest about checks and balances?

a)

countries should have an elected leader

b)

countries should have two executives to check each other

c)

branches of gov't should be balanced so that no branch was too powerful

d)

gov't should give a person peace of mind

26.

What did Montesquieu call the separation of powers?

a)

the gov't is divided into parts, each with its own purpose

b)

a ruler should be separate from the people they rule

c)

gov't should give a person peace of mind

d)

powerful countries should be separate from each other

27.

Majority rule is....

a)

equality before the law

b)

when the government follows what more than half the people want

c)

worth of the individual

d)

an example of the need for compromise

28.

"My right to swing my fist ends at your nose" is an example of what principle?

a)

Freedom, but with limits

b)

Individual freedom

c)

Majority rule

d)

Equality

29.

What is compromise?

a)

recognizing everyone is equal

b)

recognizing majority rule

c)

blending and adjusting different views and interests

d)

always following the majority

30.

What belief BEST supports the principle of majority rights?

a)

A minority should never be heard

b)

Every person is equal before the law

c)

The majority should be more often right than wrong

d)

Every individual is fundamentally important

31.

Equality of all persons means that

a)

people enjoy equal opportunity and equality under the law

b)

Everyone is the same

c)

People are entitled to the same things

d)

People are born with the same abilities

32.

Representative government means that....

a)

government is by the people and for the people

b)

the government provides rule of law and order

c)

government powers are limited

33.

Ordered government means that....

a)

Government powers are limited

b)

Government is representative

c)

Government provides rule of law and order

34.

Why was the Mayflower Compact written?

a)

To declare independence from the king

b)

To demand certain rights from the King

c)

To settle disputes, prevent a rebellion, and create self-government

d)

To limit the power of the king

35.

How is the Mayflower Compact an example of representative government?

a)

It limited the power of the king

b)

It created a government by the people for the people

c)

It guaranteed the right to a fair trial

d)

It gave more power to elected Parliament

36.

How does the Magna Carta contain the concept of limited government?

a)

It guarantees the right to a fair trial

b)

It allowed members of Parliament to be elected

c)

It limited protected rights to barons

d)

It limited the power of the king

37.

In what way did the Magna Carta inspire the Declaration of Independence?

a)

The Magna Carta also started a war.

b)

The Magna Carta was also a complaint against a king

c)

The Magna Carta was only for wealthy barons

d)

The Magna Carta guaranteed certain rights

38.

What major idea did the English Bill of Rights inspire in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Prohibited a standing army.

b)

Guaranteed right to a fair trial

c)

No taxation without representation

d)

Overthrow the king

39.

Who mostly wrote the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Ben Franklin

c)

Thomas Paine

d)

James Madison

40.

What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

To compromise with Great Britain

b)

To seek peace with Great Britain

c)

To give in to the power of King George III

d)

To declare independence from Great Britain

41.

How did John Locke's idea of consent of the governed influence the American Revolution?

a)

government without consent is illegitimate

b)

people must live in a state of nature

c)

people have to consent to a king

d)

government with consent is illegitimate

42.

John Locke identified these natural rights, which Thomas Jefferson also used....

a)

Fighting, Liberty, Property

b)

Life, Liberty, Property

c)

Life, Taxes, Property

d)

Life, Healthcare, Property

43.

What radical new idea did the Declaration of Independence contain?

a)

Democracy is the best form of gov't

b)

A King's power should be limited

c)

Consent of the governed should be recognized.

d)

All people are created equal

44.

Why di King George III impose heavy taxes on American colonists?

a)

To show off his power

b)

To pay war debt

c)

To punish the colonists

d)

To afford a new castle

45.

How did colonists protest Great Britain?

a)

Refusing to obey laws

b)

Destroying government property

c)

Forcing officials to quit

d)

All of the above (all options).

46.

What is a confederation?

a)

a list of complaints against a gov't

b)

a group of individuals united together for a purpose

c)

people who seek to end a gov't

d)

a group of people in revolt against a gov't

47.

What was the Articles of Confederation?

a)

a list of grievances against King George III

b)

a document proclaiming American independence

c)

document explaining how the 13 states would be governed as one nation

d)

a document that limited the power of the king

48.

How many branches of government did the AoC create?

a)

one

b)

two

c)

three

d)

four

49.

In terms of representation, small states liked the AoC because...

a)

small states got more tax revenue

b)

leaders of Congress were only selected from small states

c)

small states got taxed less

d)

 each state got one vote no matter how many people it had

50.

In terms of representation, big states disliked the AoC because...

a)

population didn't determine representation

b)

big states got taxed more than small states

c)

big states had to provide an army for the country

d)

people had to select leaders only from small states

51.

True or False: In order to amend (change) the AoC all 13 states had to agree.

a)

True

b)

False

52.

What did the AoC lack because of colonist's fears about monarchs?

a)

a decentralized gov't

b)

a congress

c)

elected representatives

d)

a strong central gov't

53.

Under the AoC, Congress could

a)

raise an army and declare war

b)

coin money and tax

c)

pass laws and declare war

d)

elect a president and pass laws

54.

Under the AoC, Congress could not...(choose TWO)

a)

tax

b)

raise an army

c)

declare war

d)

make laws

55.

Under the AoC how many states had to agree to pass a law?

a)

9/13

b)

10/15

c)

8/13

d)

7/13

56.

What was Shays' Rebellion

a)

A series of attacks by Canadians on American forts

b)

A series of violent attacks by farmers on gov't buildings

c)

A rebellion against British in American Territory

d)

A war fought against Native Americans

57.

What event helped convince American leaders to replace the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Revolutionary War

b)

Shays' Rebellion

c)

War of 1812

d)

Pontiac's War

58.

Why did delegates meet at the Constitutional Convention?

a)

To declare war on Great Britain

b)

To revise or replace the Articles of Confederation

c)

To declare independence from Great Britain

d)

To add onto the Articles of Confederation

59.

What best describes the people who met at the Constitutional Convention?

a)

Wealthy, Educated, White Men

b)

Poor, Uneducated, Racially Diverse Men

c)

Poor, Educated, White Men

d)

Wealthy, Educated, White Men and Women

60.

Why did big populated states favor the Virginia Plan?

a)

The plan created a unicameral congress

b)

Representation in Congress was based off of population

c)

The plan created a weak central gov't

d)

Representation in Congress was equal for everyone

61.

Why did small states favor the New Jersey Plan?

a)

The plan created a strong central gov't

b)

Representation was based on population

c)

Representation was equal for all states regardless of population

d)

The plan created a bicameral congress

62.

How did the Great Compromise combine the Virginia and New Jersey Plan?

a)

Bicameral Congress, Senate equal representation, House based on population

b)

Created a strong central government

c)

Created a weak central government

d)

No president at all for fear of making a king

63.

What were three major topics for debate at the Constitutional Convention? Select THREE

a)

Congress power to regulate commerce and slave trade

b)

Whether to Declare war on Great Britain

c)

State Representation in Congress

d)

Whether to count slaves as population towards representation

64.

What did the 3/5 Compromise do?

a)

It didn't allow slaves to be counted as population

b)

It ended slavery in the South

c)

It counted slaves as 3/5 of a person towards representation

d)

It allowed slaves to be counted as a full person towards representation

65.

What did anti-federalists believe? Choose TWO

a)

The central gov't should be small

b)

The Constitution should be ratified

c)

The Constitution shouldn't be ratified

d)

A strong central gov't is necessary

66.

What did Federalists believe? Choose TWO

a)

A strong central gov't

b)

The Constitution shouldn't be ratified

c)

The Constitution should be ratified

d)

A small central gov't

67.

What did James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton publish under the name Publius?

a)

Common Sense

b)

Arguments against the Constitution

c)

The Constitution

d)

The Federalist Papers

68.

What compromise did federalists and anti-federalists reach to ratify the Constitution?

a)

Striking out sections of the Constitution

b)

Severely limiting power of the central gov't

c)

Adding the Bill of Rights

d)

Allowing states to retain more power

69.

What major concern did anti-federalists have about citizens and the Constitution?

a)

The Constitution didn't guarantee specific rights

b)

Citizens didn't have enough say in gov't

c)

state gov't was too weak

d)

The president was too much like a king

70.

Why didn't federalists fear a strong national gov't?

a)

The states would check the power of the federal gov't

b)

checks and balances limited power of gov't

c)

the president would always be responsible

d)

federalists believed a gov't could never be too strong

71.

What does the term "federal" refer to?

a)

local gov't

b)

people who supported federalism

c)

The central (national) gov't

d)

Decentralized state gov't

72.

Which statement is a federalist likely to agree with?

a)

The central gov't needs to be strong, but have checks and balances.

b)

The Constitution must contain a Bill of Rights

c)

The central gov't should be weak to protect against tyrants.

73.

What is an anti-federalist most likely to say?

a)

The central gov't must be strong

b)

The Constitution must contain a Bill of Rights to protect individual rights

c)

The president created by the Constitution is in no way like a king.