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Government Test Review

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which political idea is based on the belief that citizens must be willing to give up some freedoms in exchange for the protection of rights?

a)

Divine Right

b)

Natural Rights

c)

Social Contract

d)

Rule by the Majority

2.

Which of the following Founding Fathers is remembered as both a strong supporter of central government as well as the principal author of the U.S. Constitution?

a)

John Adams

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

James Madison

d)

George Mason

3.

National, state, and local governments provide for the security of the people. This function is performed on the national level by —

a)

funding state jails

b)

maintaining a military

c)

establishing a U.S. Supreme Court

d)

overseeing a national police force

4.

A chief way third-party candidates exert influence on elections is by —

a)

attracting more voters to the polls

b)

creating more lively candidate debates

c)

shifting national attention to particular issues

d)

increasing the amount of campaign contributions

5.

The Founding Fathers chose to ensure religious freedom in the First Amendment in order to - 

a)

protect against the power of a government-sponsored religion

b)

allow state governments to make laws restricting religious activities

c)

ensure that future presidents of the United States would be Christian

d)

guard against the spread of Catholicism as immigrants arrived in America

6.

U.S. foreign policy decisions are most affected by the federal government’s responsibility for —

a)

health care

b)

national security

c)

treaty negotiations

d)

commerce regulation

7.

In his service at the Constitutional Convention, Alexander Hamilton argued that the Founders should establish a government characterized by —

a)

a powerful aristocracy

b)

a growing merchant class

c)

a strong central authority

d)

a loose confederation of states

8.

Elections for state and national offices are conducted on a partisan basis meaning candidates must be —

a)

naturalized citizens

b)

over twenty-five years of age

c)

confirmed by a legislative body

d)

nominated at a party convention

9.

In which instance would the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

a)

The state of Mississippi disputes a land claim with the state of Louisiana.

b)

A U.S. citizen in Michigan is accused of committing acts of terrorism in Virginia.

c)

A large computer firm is alleged to hold a market monopoly on widely used software.

d)

The captain of an oil tanker causing a spill along protected U.S. waters is suspected of negligence.

10.

What is a requirement to vote in the state of Texas?

a)

Valid driver’s license

b)

Proof of identification

c)

Evidence of having paid taxes

d)

Registration to a political party

11.

Critics of the electoral college argue that the system can result in the selection of —

a)

a third-party candidate as President

b)

only wealthy individuals as President

c)

Presidential candidates from populous states

d)

a President who did not win the popular vote

12.

By adopting the Bill of Rights, the Founding Fathers demonstrated a belief in the importance of —

a)

federalism

b)

republicanism

c)

individual rights

d)

separation of powers

13.

When a judge defers actions to the legislative and executive branches, except for cases that are clearly unconstitutional, that judge is practicing —

a)

judicial review

b)

judicial restraint

c)

judicial activism

d)

judicial constructivism

14.

A free press is a necessity in the United States because it — 

a)

reports the news daily

b)

guarantees separation of powers

c)

equalizes the political party powers

d)

checks the power of the government

15.

The executive branch operates a large number of executive departments because it —

a)

acts to implement most legislative requirements

b)

receives the largest portion of the federal budget

c)

manages all civil service staff for the three branches

d)

maintains a large personal security force for protection

16.

Which duty of the vice president is described in the U.S. Constitution?

a)

President of the Senate

b)

Liaison to the Supreme Court

c)

Domestic policy adviser to the President

d)

U.S. special ambassador to the United Nations

17.

How did President Jefferson encourage the westward expansion of the United States?

a)

By signing a treaty with Spain to acquire Florida

b)

By purchasing the Louisiana Territory from France

c)

By refusing to enter into entangling foreign alliances

d)

By signing legislation that created a national park system

18.

Allowing the Virginia Plan as well as the New Jersey Plan to determine the structure of Congress resulted in a  —

a)

bicameral legislature

b)

unicameral legislature

c)

parliamentary system

d)

national and state legislatures

19.

George Washington set the precedent of having a group of close advisers, called the Cabinet, help him make decisions. Since that time, Cabinet members have become very important as both advisors and administrators. How are they placed in office?

a)

They are elected every two years.

b)

They are nominated at the party's national convention.

c)

They are nominated at the party's national convention.

d)

They are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

20.

Federal and state legislators are most often chosen by —

a)

petition

b)

election

c)

succession

d)

appointment

21.

How do sessions of the U.S. Congress differ from sessions of the Texas Legislature?

a)

The U.S. Congress meets once a year; the Texas Legislature meets continually.

b)

The U.S. Congress meets most of the year; the Texas Legislature meets every two years

c)

The U.S. Congress meets in a sixty-day session twice a year; the Texas Legislature meets in thirty-day sessions when called.

d)

The U.S. Congress has unlimited session lengths; the Texas Legislature is limited to thirty days per year.

22.

One similarity for both the U.S. President and many state executive leaders is the power to —

a)

set term limits

b)

veto legislation

c)

remove Senators

d)

appoint ambassadors

23.

Which of the following best completes the diagram?

a)

Hold Trials for Treason

b)

Decide Copyright Cases

c)

Hear Misdemeanor Trials

d)

Conduct Bankruptcy Cases

24.

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution describes the rights possessed by —

a)

women

b)

minority groups

c)

newly naturalized citizens

d)

people accused of a crime

25.

Which of the following actions is a function of state governments, but not the federal government?

a)

Collecting income taxes

b)

Providing a postal system

c)

Selecting public school textbooks

d)

Constructing and maintaining roads