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US Government Final Exam

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The Declaration of Independence elaborates on the Enlightenment idea of

a)

natural rights.

b)

collective ownership.

c)

religious freedom.

d)

political equality.

2.

Which action is an example of the right to petition?

a)

Writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper about litter in the park

b)

Asking a local civic group to pay for playground equipment

c)

Meeting with the student council about rules for the playground

d)

Getting signatures on a request to the mayor for a new city park

3.

Which document explained how the government of the United States was to be set up, and what the government could and could not do?

a)

the Declaration of Independence

b)

the Constitution of the United States

c)

the Gettysburg Address

d)

the Emancipation Proclamation

4.

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention faced the following two conflicting challenges:

- the need to strengthen the federal government

- the need to represent state interests in Congress

Which statement explains how the Great Compromise addressed these challenges?

a)

It called for a one-house legislative branch in which each state would be represented equally with one vote.

b)

It called for a two-house legislative branch in which states would be represented equally in one house and by the state’s population in the other house.

c)

It called for a one-house legislative branch in which each state would be represented according to its population.

d)

It called for a two-house legislative branch in which seats in both houses would be determined by the state’s population.

5.

American democracy has its roots in political ideas borrowed from

a)

the Incas.

b)

the Vikings.

c)

the ancient Greeks.

d)

the ancient Egyptians.

6.

Which of these is a characteristic of the United States system of government?

a)

State governments may choose to ignore national laws.

b)

The executive and legislative powers of government are combined into one branch.

c)

The executive branch of government can choose to dissolve the judicial branch.

d)

The powers of government are divided between the national and state governments.

7.

According to the U.S. Constitution, which of these actions is a power of the states?

a)

coining money

b)

establishing post offices

c)

providing public education

d)

raising an army

8.

How does the U.S. Constitution conform to John Locke’s social contract theory?

a)

The government operates on a system of law that is based on contracts and statutes.

b)

Citizens transfer some rights to government in exchange for social order.

c)

States retain sovereign powers and are joined by confederation.

d)

People agree to a social system guided by conscience.

9.

Which of these parts of the United States Constitution contains fundamental liberties of American citizens?

a)

Preamble

b)

Article I, Section 8 — Enumerated Powers

c)

Article III — Judicial Branch

d)

Amendments 1–10 — Bill of Rights

10.

Which guarantee is not included in the First Amendment?

a)

right to bear arms

b)

freedom of religion

c)

freedom of assembly

d)

right to free speech

11.

Which First Amendment right protects a citizen’s freedom to participate in a political rally to support a presidential candidate?

a)

freedom of religion

b)

freedom to petition

c)

freedom of the press

d)

freedom of assembly

12.

Which is not listed in the Preamble as a purpose of the United States Constitution?

a)

promise jobs for all

b)

promote the general welfare

c)

establish justice

d)

form a more perfect union

13.

Which of the following is a legal requirement of all United States citizens?

a)

to provide aid to the poor

b)

to vote in federal elections

c)

to serve on a jury if called

d)

to work for the community

14.

The United States Constitution is called a “living document” because it

a)

can be changed when needed

b)

outlines the government’s structure

c)

refers to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

d)

supports every citizen’s right to make a good living

15.

What provision of the Bill of Rights protects the rights of people accused of a crime?

a)

federalism

b)

due process

c)

separation of powers

d)

checks and balances

16.

Which of the following is not guaranteed under the Bill of Rights?

a)

the right to a fair trial if accused of a crime

b)

freedom from cruel and unusual punishment

c)

the right to freedom of speech

d)

freedom from required military service

17.

The legislative branch of the federal government includes the

a)

Supreme Court.

b)

advisers to the president.

c)

House of Representatives and Senate.

d)

governors of states.

18.

Which of these is the main function of the legislative branch?

a)

to make laws

b)

to enforce laws

c)

to define laws

d)

to interpret laws

19.

Who is your elected representative in the United States House of Representatives?

a)

Bill Lee

b)

David Kustoff

c)

Nancy Pelosi

d)

Jimmy Haslam

20.

Who are your two United States Senators?

a)

Joe Biden & Kamala Harris

b)

Sonny Bono & Cherilyn Sarkisian

c)

John Rich and Kenneth Alphin

d)

Marsha Blackburn & Bill Hagerty

21.

It is said that the citizens of the United States elect the president. In reality, what body casts the official vote?

a)

the Supreme Court

b)

the Congress

c)

the Electoral College

d)

the Republican and Democratic Parties

22.

Which of the following duties is the primary responsibility of the federal executive branch?

a)

carrying out the law

b)

interpreting laws

c)

establishing courts

d)

issuing warrants

23.

Which of the following powers does the United States Constitution grant to the President of the United States?

a)

amending the Constitution

b)

appointing Supreme Court justices

c)

declaring war on another nation

d)

interpreting federal laws

24.

Who is the current President of the United States?

a)

Joe Biden

b)

Donald Trump

c)

Kamala Harris

d)

Bill Lee

25.

The Judicial branch of the government is responsible for

a)

making laws.

b)

suggesting laws.

c)

interpreting laws.

d)

carrying out laws.

26.

The ability of the Supreme Court to declare an act of Congress, or of the president, unconstitutional is an example of

a)

capitalism.

b)

states’ rights.

c)

federalism.

d)

judicial review.

27.

Which of these is part of the judicial branch of the United States federal government?

a)

the Senate

b)

the Supreme Court

c)

the President

d)

the House of Representatives

28.

Which of the following belongs in the box with the question mark?

a)

Supreme Court

b)

House of Representatives

c)

Cabinet

d)

Senate

29.

In a __________ system of government all the political powers are concentrated at the national level.

a)

Unitary

b)

Confederate

c)

Federal

d)

Multinational

30.

In a ___________ system of government the bulk of political power is concentrated in regional governments, leaving the central government weak.

a)

Unitary

b)

Confederate

c)

Federal

d)

Multinational

31.

The idea that the state was created voluntarily by a free people is part of which theory on the origins of government?

a)

evolutionary theory

b)

Divine Right Theory

c)

Force Theory

d)

Social Contract Theory

32.

Who is the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

a)

Clarence Thomas

b)

Mike Pence

c)

John Roberts

d)

Chuck Schumer

33.

How many Justices serve on the Supreme Court?

a)

12

b)

7

c)

10

d)

9

34.

Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

John Adams

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

George Washington

d)

Bill Clinton

35.

Which of the following was NOT one of the four characteristics of a state?

a)

Territory

b)

Population

c)

President

d)

Sovereignty

e)

Government

36.

Which document was the Constitution intended to replace?

a)

The Articles of Confederation

b)

The Magna Carta

c)

The Mayflower Compact

d)

The Declaration of Independence

37.

The _______ party is represented by color red and their symbol is an elephant.

a)

Democrats

b)

Republicans

c)

Communist Party

d)

Libertarian Party

38.

The color blue represents the _________ party and their symbol is the donkey.

a)

Democrats

b)

Republicans

c)

Communist Party

d)

Libertarian Party

39.

Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

They did not provide for a way to collect taxes

b)

They gave the states too much power

c)

They did not create a federal court system

d)

All of the Above

40.

The process by which citizens of one country become citizens of another is known as_________.

a)

Residency

b)

Immigration

c)

Citizenship

d)

Naturalization

41.

Which of the following is a requirement to be a Senator?

a)

Must be at least 30 years of age

b)

Must have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years

c)

Must be an inhabitant of the State from which he/she is elected

d)

All of the above

42.

Which of the following is NOT a requirement to be a member of the House?

a)

Must be at least 25 years of age

b)

Must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years

c)

Must have been an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected.

d)

All of the above

43.

The exact size of the House of Representatives is __________ members.

a)

100

b)

535

c)

435

d)

270

44.

Members of the House serve a ______ year term.

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

8

45.

Members of the Senate serve a ______ year term.

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

8

46.

The exact size of the Senate is __________ members.

a)

535

b)

435

c)

270

d)

100

47.

Which of the following is a qualification to become president?

a)

Be a natural born citizen.

b)

Have lived in the United States for at least 14 years

c)

Be at least 35 years of age

d)

All of the above

48.

If the President disapproves of a bill, he can veto it. That veto can only be overturned by______.

a)

Three-fourths vote in both Houses of Congress

b)

Two-thirds vote in both Houses of Congress

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

The First Lady

49.

An oligarchy can best be described as a government that is ruled by

a)

a king.

b)

the people.

c)

a small elite.

d)

religious leaders.

50.

Which of these forms of government allows citizens to choose their government leaders most freely?

a)

representative democracy

b)

dictatorship

c)

oligarchy

d)

absolute monarchy

51.

Which of these is a characteristic of a dictatorship?

a)

A system of checks and balances distributes government power.

b)

Individual freedoms and rights are protected by the constitution.

c)

Courts may override decisions made by government leaders.

d)

Government leaders rule with absolute authority.

52.

What is a role of political parties in the U.S.?

a)

Recruiting candidates to run for office

b)

Determining eligibility of citizens to vote

c)

Breaking ties in primary caucuses

d)

Influencing decisions of the Electoral College

53.

This diagram shows how a bill becomes a federal law. Which of these best completes the diagram?

a)

The public votes on the bill in a national election.

b)

The president’s cabinet debates and votes on the bill.

c)

The Senate and the House debate and vote on the bill.

d)

The Supreme Court decides whether the bill is constitutional.

54.

Which of these describes the main purpose of an interest group?

a)

to select cases for hearing in appeals courts

b)

to regulate the economy by setting federal lending rates

c)

to form legislative committees that study public policy

d)

to influence government officials on specific issues

55.

In order for a bill to become law, what happens after both houses of Congress pass it?

a)

The Supreme Court reviews it.

b)

The president signs it.

c)

The president vetoes it.

d)

The Supreme Court interprets it.

56.

The United States has which type of political party system?

a)

multi-party

b)

three-party

c)

two-party

d)

one-party

57.

Which step in the presidential election process follows the national nominating convention and completes the flowchart?

a)

presentation

b)

general election

c)

plank statement

d)

inaugural address

58.

Why do many citizens choose to join political parties?

a)

to elect a Supreme Court justice

b)

to exercise their right to vote in general elections

c)

to organize their efforts to achieve common goals

d)

to maintain the balance of power among the branches of government

59.

According to the United States Constitution, which of the following is a first step that may be taken to amend the United States Constitution?

a)

The Supreme Court proposes the amendment.

b)

The president proposes the amendment.

c)

A political party proposes the amendment.

d)

Congress proposes the amendment.

60.

The information listed above is about the

a)

process of becoming a naturalized citizen.

b)

process of obtaining a passport.

c)

requirements for voting in national elections.

d)

requirements for running for a public office.