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PVHS Civics Benchmark Semester 2223

Total questions: 115

Worksheet time: 58mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the supreme law of the land?

a)

The Constitution

b)

The Bill of Rights

c)

The Ten Commandments

d)

The Rule of Law

2.

State or National. Who is responsible for the powers expressed directly in the Constitution? 

a)

State

b)

National

3.

State or National. Which is responsible for defense, foreign affairs, and natural disasters?

a)

State

b)

National

4.

Treaties need to be approved by which congressional representation: senate or house of representatives?  

a)

Senate

b)

House of Representatives

5.

True or False. Executive agreements do not need to be approved by the Senate. 

a)

True

b)

False

6.

Which document was proposed by a national convention and ratified by 9 of the original 13 states? 

a)

Constitution

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

7.

Which amendment was proposed by Congress and then ratified by state conventions?

a)

15

b)

18

c)

21

d)

25

8.

Who provides funding for the military?

a)

Congress

b)

Executive Offices

c)

Tax Payers

d)

Judicial Office

9.

Who is the commander in chief?

a)

President

b)

Vice President

c)

Secretary of State

d)

Speaker of the House

10.

How was the vice-president elected during the early years of the constitution? 

a)

Ran for Vice-President

b)

He was the second runner up from the President

c)

He was appointed by the President

d)

He was appointed by Congress

11.

In what articles will you find the powers of the three branches? (Click all that apply)

a)

Article I

b)

Article II

c)

Article III

d)

Article IV

12.

What branch has the power to veto laws?

a)

Executive

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

13.

The anti-federalists were opposed to ratification of the Constitution because it originally lacked ______________________.

a)

The Bill of Rights

b)

Executive Term Limits

c)

A Set Number of Seats for Congress

d)

The Definition of Citizen

14.

True or False. Alexander Hamilton wrote the majority of the Federalist essays. 

a)

True

b)

False

15.

What does the Constitution do?

a)

Sets up and defines the government

b)

Gives citizens their rights

c)

Allows for the President to define laws

d)

Allows judges to change laws

16.

________ is the power to make law and frame public policies.

a)

constitution

b)

legislative power

c)

unitary government

d)

parliamentary government

17.

Which theory did monarchs use to justify their position of power?

a)

Force Theory

b)

Evolutionary Theory

c)

Divine Right Theory

d)

Social Contact Theory

18.

What are the first three words of the Constitution?

a)

We the People

b)

In the beginning

c)

Fourscore and seven years ago

d)

When in the course of human events

19.

Population, territory, government, and sovereignty are the defining characteristics of a(n)

a)

Autocracy

b)

State

c)

Nation

d)

Country

20.

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people” describes a system of government in which the _____________ are (is) sovereign.

a)

people

b)

monarch

c)

prime minister

d)

president

21.

In a __________ supreme authority rests solely with the people.

a)

Democracy

b)

Dictatorship

c)

Government

d)

Autocracy

22.

The dominant political unit in the world today is the...

a)

government

b)

territory

c)

nation

d)

state

23.

Under a system of _________, the government must resign if defeated by the legislature on an important issue.

a)

constitution

b)

executive power

c)

unitary government

d)

parliamentary government

24.

Modern dictatorships often exercise power over nearly every aspect of human affairs

a)

totalitarianism

b)

oligarchy

c)

unitary

d)

confederate

25.

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

a)

totalitarianism

b)

oligarchy

c)

unitary

d)

confederate

26.

Parliament and each one of our states is an example this kind of government

a)

totalitarianism

b)

oligarchy

c)

unitary

d)

confederate

27.

the European Union is an example of a this government

a)

totalitarianism

b)

oligarchy

c)

unitary

d)

confederate

28.

absolute freedom leads to this

a)

anarchy

b)

unitary

c)

sovereignty

d)

compromise

29.

a centralized government, is one in which all powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency

a)

anarchy

b)

unitary

c)

sovereignty

d)

compromise

30.

individual 50 states lack this basic characteristics of a state

a)

anarchy

b)

unitary

c)

sovereignty

d)

compromise

31.

this is how a democracy serves the varied needs of its citizens when forming public opinion

a)

anarchy

b)

unitary

c)

sovereignty

d)

compromise

32.

in this type of government supreme political authority rests with the people

a)

democracy

b)

autocracy

c)

federal

d)

presidential

33.

a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power

a)

democracy

b)

autocracy

c)

federal

d)

presidential

34.

a government in which powers are divided between a central government and several local government and stated by a supreme authority

a)

democracy

b)

autocracy

c)

federal

d)

presidential

35.

type of government in which legislative and executive branches are separate, independent of one another, and coequal

a)

democracy

b)

autocracy

c)

federal

d)

presidential

36.

type of government in which the executive is a prime minister and that official's cabinet; the executive are members from the legislative branch

a)

parliamentary

b)

Citizen Rule

c)

Individual Rights

d)

Free and Fair Elections

37.

the right to elect representatives

a)

parliamentary

b)

Citizen Rule

c)

Individual Rights

d)

Free and Fair Elections

38.

the Bill of Rights serves as a summary

a)

parliamentary

b)

Citizen Rule

c)

Individual Rights

d)

Free and Fair Elections

39.

all adult citizens are given the right to cast votes which ensures that the will of the people will be expressed

a)

parliamentary

b)

Citizen Rule

c)

Individual Rights

d)

Free and Fair Elections

40.

Engaged and informed citizenship is essential in a healthy democracy

a)

Citizen Participation

b)

unitary

c)

parliamentary

d)

totalitarianism

41.

Which of the following forms of government is NOT used today?

a)

Democracy

b)

Oligarchy

c)

Monarchy

d)

Autocracy

e)

Feudalism

42.

True or False. All people are born with the same mental or physical abilities.

a)

True

b)

False

43.

True or False. A democracy is considered an experiment because people can make mistakes.

a)

True

b)

False

44.

Profit, competition, individual initiative, private ownership are characteristics of US ___________________.

a)

economic system

b)

political system

c)

geographic system

d)

social system

45.

What is NOT a name for a free-market system?

a)

Capitalism

b)

Private Enterprise

c)

Mixed Economy

d)

Market-Based System

46.

True or False. The US has a free market economy. 

a)

True

b)

False

47.

What ideas were brought over by English settlers? (Click All that Apply)

a)

Ordered government

b)

Limited Government

c)

Representative Government

d)

Capitalism

48.

What English landmark documents demonstrate the importance of rule of law? (Click All that Apply!)

a)

Magna Carta

b)

English Bill of Rights

c)

Right of Petition

d)

Articles of Confederation

49.

What are the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Magna Carta? (Click All that Apply!)

a)

trial by jury

b)

due process of the law

c)

freedom of speech

d)

freedom of religion

50.

What are the fundamental rights guaranteed by the English Bill of Rights? (click all that apply!)

a)

right to a fair trial

b)

freedom from excessive bail

c)

freedom from 

cruel and unusual punishment

d)

freedom from taxes

51.

a written grant of authority from the king

a)

charter

b)

Proprietary

c)

Royal contract

d)

bicameral

52.

What is the economic system in the United States?

a)

Mixed

b)

Market

c)

Command

d)

Traditional

53.

What is the rule of law?

a)

a need for orderly regulation of relationships with one 

another

b)

government is not all powerful

c)

government should serve the will of the people

d)

no one is above the law and must be subjected to the law

54.

In a _________ colony, the king appointed the governor, judges, and the council. 

a)

Royal

b)

Charter

c)

Proprietor

55.

In a ___________ colony, landowning colonists elected the governor and did not need the approval of the king.

a)

Royal

b)

Charter

c)

Proprietor

56.

True or False. Parliament had control of the colonies. 

a)

True

b)

False

57.

Currently, how many states are needed to ratify a constitutional amendment?

a)

22

b)

34

c)

38

d)

40

58.

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

a)

Announced our independence from Great Britain

b)

Declared war on Great Britain

c)

Made an alliance with France

d)

Colonies declared independence from each other.

59.

Which is NOT one of the three rights in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Freedom from taxes

b)

Life

c)

Liberty

d)

The Pursuit of Happiness

60.

Which is NOT a reason colonists came to America?

a)

to find a new cultural identity

b)

religious freedom

c)

economic opportunity

d)

escape persecution

61.

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

a)

Native Americans

b)

Africans

c)

aborigines

d)

barely anyone lived there

62.

Which was NOT a reason colonists fought the British?

a)

hatred of all things British

b)

high taxes

c)

taxation without representation

d)

quartering troops in their homes

63.

Which of the following is among the purposes of government outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution?

a)

defending the nation against foreign enemies

b)

insuring order and domestic tranquility

c)

promoting the general welfare

d)

all of the above

64.

How many Constitutional amendments have there been?

a)

10

b)

15

c)

21

d)

27

65.

The basic constitutional rights of the people were first set out in the

a)

13th, 14th, 15th amendments

b)

10th amendment

c)

Bill of Rights

d)

Equal Rights Amendment

66.

What is the supreme law of the land?

a)

The Constitution

b)

The Bill of Rights

c)

The Ten Commandments

d)

The Rule of Law

67.

Which is NOT one of the three rights in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Freedom from taxes

b)

Life

c)

Liberty

d)

The Pursuit of Happiness

68.

Which is NOT one of the three branches of  government.

a)

Chiefs of Staff

b)

Legislative

c)

Executive

d)

Judicial

69.

Who is in charge of the executive branch?

a)

The President

b)

The Speaker of the House

c)

The Supreme Court Justices

d)

No one

70.

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

a)

The Senate and House of Representatives

b)

The State Department and the Senate

c)

The House and the Courts

d)

The Courts and the Cabinet

71.

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

a)

It is based on population

b)

It is based on religion

c)

It is based on economics

d)

It is abased on all these things

72.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

George Washington

c)

Benjamin Franklin

d)

John Adams

73.

Why was the Constitutional Convention held?

a)

To create the constitution and rewrite the Articles of Confederation

b)

To create a plan to attack Canada

c)

To create new taxes on foreign goods

d)

To create the Declaration of Independence

74.

Which state constitution is the oldest and still in force today?

a)

Virginia

b)

Rhode Island

c)

Massachusetts

d)

Delaware

75.

What are the three branches of Government?

a)

Apples, Oranges, and Bananas

b)

Law, Order, Voting

c)

Executive, Legislative, and Judicial

76.

What was the New Jersey plan?

a)

A plan that called for each state to have one singular vote

b)

A plan that called for each state to have a certain number of votes based on population

c)

A plan to expand New Jersey's coastline

d)

A plan to release all the prisoners in New Jersey

77.

Who did the New Jersey Plan favor?

a)

Larger States

b)

Every state except for Pennsylvania

c)

Only Pennsylvania

d)

Smaller States

78.

What is the Virginia Plan?

a)

A plan to help people in Virginia create more boats

b)

A plan that called for each state to have one singular vote

c)

A plan that called for states to have a certain number of votes based on population

d)

A plan to help people in Virginia sell more wheat

79.

Which branch of government is separated into two parts?

a)

Legislative

b)

Executive

c)

Judicial

80.

Who is the first President of the United States?

a)

George Washington

b)

Abraham Lincoln

c)

William Patterson

d)

Edmund Randolph

81.
Where did the Constitutional Convention take place?
a)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
b)
Washington, DC
c)
Richmond, Virginia
d)
Paris, France
82.

State that refused to attend the Constitutional Convention

a)

Rhode Island

b)

Virginia

c)

Connecticut

d)

New York

83.
What was the name of the compromise made between the large and small states
a)
The Missouri Compromise
b)
The Representation Agreement
c)
The Iowa Caucus
d)
The Great Compromise
84.
A major weakness under the Articles of Confederation was-
a)
Congress could not negotiate treaties
b)
Congress could print money
c)
Congress did not have the power to raise money or enforce laws
d)
Congress established the Northwest Ordinance
85.

How were enslaved people counted as part of the population when deciding the number of representatives for a state?

a)

All enslaved people were counted.

b)

Three-fifths of the number of enslaved people was added to the population.

c)

Enslaved people were not counted at all.

d)

Enslaved were allowed to vote and be elected to represent each state.

86.
The _______________ was the solution to the disagreement about how many representatives each state would have. 
a)
Great Compromise
b)
Three-fifths Compromise
c)
Great Dispute
d)
Big Agreement
87.

What does the Constitution do?

a)

Sets up and defines the government

b)

Gives citizens their rights

c)

Allows for the President to define laws

d)

Allows judges to change laws

88.

What are the first three words of the Constitution?

a)

We the People

b)

In the beginning

c)

Fourscore and seven years ago

d)

When in the course of human events

89.

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

a)

Announced our independence from Great Britain

b)

Declared war on Great Britain

c)

Made an alliance with France

d)

Colonies declared independence from each other.

90.

Which is NOT one of the three rights in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Freedom from taxes

b)

Life

c)

Liberty

d)

The Pursuit of Happiness

91.

Which is NOT a reason colonists came to America?

a)

to find a new cultural identity

b)

religious freedom

c)

economic opportunity

d)

escape persecution

92.

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

a)

Native Americans

b)

Africans

c)

aborigines

d)

barely anyone lived there

93.

Which was NOT a reason colonists fought the British?

a)

hatred of all things British

b)

high taxes

c)

taxation without representation

d)

quartering troops in their homes

94.

People decide how to govern themselves

a)

Self-Government

b)

Limited Government

c)

Due Process

d)

Democratic Government

95.

The belief that government should be restrained by a written document or agreement.

a)

Tyranny

b)

Limited Government

c)

Rights

d)

Self-Government

96.

How old do you have to be to become president? (minimum age)

a)

35

b)

50

c)

45

d)

40

97.

To refuse to buy one or more goods from a certain source.

a)

Boycott

b)

Repeal

c)

Petition

d)

Revolt

98.

What are the two major political parties in the US?

a)

Republican Party

b)

Democratic Party

c)

Green Party

d)

Libertarian Party

99.

What is the name of the opening statement of the Constitution that states its purpose?

a)

Bill of Rights

b)

Preamble

c)

Introduction

100.

This was a revolt that took place in 1786 in Massachusetts that revealed a need for a national army -

a)

Boston Tea Party

b)

Boston Massacre

c)

Shay's Rebellion

d)

The Great Rebellion

101.

Which amendment states what powers will be given to the state?

a)

3

b)

7

c)

10

d)

13

102.

What kind of government was set up by the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Confederate

b)

Parliamentary

c)

Federalist

d)

Unitary

103.

Which of the following represent a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Representation in Congress based on size of state

b)

National court system with too much power to change laws

c)

Absence of an executive branch to enforce laws passed by Congress

104.

What was the achievement of the Second Continental Congress?

a)

Develop the Constitution that is still used today

b)

Amend the Articles of Confederation

c)

Write the Declaration of Independence

d)

Write the Bill of Rights and amend the Constitution

105.

Congress has the power to...

a)

Borrow money

b)

collect taxes

c)

regulate trade

d)

declare war

106.

True or False. According to the principles of democracy, absolute freedom leads to anarchy.

a)

True

b)

False

107.

Which group favored ratification of the Constitution?

a)

Republicans

b)

Federalists

c)

Democrats

d)

Anti-Federalists

108.

True or false. The anti-federalists wanted to ratify the Constitution. 

a)

True

b)

False

109.

What feature did the State constitutions and the Articles of Confederation have in common?

a)

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Powers to regulate commerce

c)

Power to coin money

d)

Power to tax

110.

What article explains the relationship between states?

a)

Article I

b)

Article II

c)

Article III

d)

Article IV

111.
Which court case establishes Judicial Review?
a)
Mculloh V Maryland
b)
Marbury V Madison
c)
Plessy V Ferguson
d)
Hamilton V Jefferson
112.

State or national. Which is responsible for the public education system? 

a)

State

b)

National

113.

Political party is defined as ...(CHOOSE 1)

a)

an organized group of elite politicians sharing common policy preferences & ideological position.

b)

an organized group of people sharing preferences to similar policies with different major ideological position.

c)

an organized party of people who share similar policy and ideological preferences.

d)

an organized group of politicians who share the same goals and ideological position.

114.

In _______________ system, a party gets the same proportion of seats as it gets its proportion of votes.

a)

A. Monarchy

b)

B. First Past the Post System (FPTP)

c)

C. Proportional Representation (PR)

d)

D. Election Commission

115.

True or False. The US has more than two political parties. 

a)

True

b)

False

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