WorksheetsGovernment 1st Semester Final
Total questions: 68
Worksheet time: 34mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
How is the number of House representatives for each state determined?
a)
by geographic size
b)
by redistricting
c)
by population
d)
by the Constitution
2.
What does Congress's bicameral legislature consist of?
a)
the federal and state legislatures
b)
the legislature and Supreme Court
c)
the Democratic and Republican caucuses
d)
the Senate and House of Representative
3.
What is the purpose of gerrymandering?
a)
to change the number of House seats for each state
b)
to give electoral advantage to candidates of the majority party
c)
to change the number of Senate seats for each state
d)
to balance each district fairly between Republican and Democratic voters
4.
Which of the following is a qualification for membership in the Senate?
a)
U.S. citizen for 9 years
b)
U.S. citizen for 7 years
c)
at least 25 years old
d)
at least 27 years old
5.
At what point does a bill become a law?
a)
when it passes the Senate
b)
when it passes the House
c)
when it passes both houses of Congress
d)
when the president signs it
6.
How can one senator prevent a bill from coming to a final vote?
a)
with unanimous consent
b)
with a cloture resolution
c)
with a censure
d)
with a filibuster
7.
What must the Senate pass to end a filibuster?
a)
a hold
b)
a cloture resolution
c)
a censure
d)
a quorum
8.
If a vote in the Senate results in a tie, who can vote to break the tie?
a)
vice president pro tempore
b)
president pro tempore
c)
president
d)
vice president
9.
A candidate who runs for the U.S. House of Representatives must meet which of the following qualifications?
a)
at least 30 years old
b)
hold law degree
c)
legal resident of state
d)
U.S. citizen from birth
10.
A power given to Congress in the Constitution is the power to
a)
declare war
b)
draft people into the armed services
c)
prohibit racial discrimination
d)
support welfare programs
11.
In McCulloch v. Maryland, Chief Justice John Marshall greatly expanded the powers of Congress by
a)
giving Congress more control over emergency powers.
b)
providing a very broad interpretation of the “necessary and proper” clause.
c)
stating that the line-item veto was unconstitutional.
d)
stating that the president had the authority to impound funds
12.
What powers arise from the Constitution's necessary and proper clause?
a)
expressed powers
b)
enumerated powers
c)
implied powers
d)
regulatory powers
13.
Where does the Constitution state that revenue bills must originate?
a)
in the House of Representatives
b)
in the Senate
c)
in the Office of the President
d)
in the Congressional Budget Office
14.
Why did Congress pass the War Powers Act in 1973?
a)
to give the president the sole power to send troops into action abroad
b)
to require the president to seek a formal declaration of war before sending troops into overseas conflicts
c)
to limit the president's power to commit troops abroad without congressional approval
d)
to reserve to Congress the sole power to commit troops to overseas conflicts
15.
How can Congress propose an amendment to the Constitution?
a)
by a two-thirds vote of both houses
b)
by a majority vote of both houses
c)
by a majority vote of either house
d)
by a two-thirds vote of either house
16.
Patents on inventions such as technological innovations help the economy by
a)
allowing the government to make money from new inventions.
b)
placing tariffs on any imports that might compete with U.S. products.
c)
protecting intellectual property and fostering entrepreneurship.
d)
providing government money for the development of new products.
17.
Which of the following is a right of witnesses called to testify before a Congressional hearing?
a)
not to be forced to testify against themselves
b)
to commit perjury
c)
to refuse to testify
d)
to require the committee to grant immunity
18.
What is a major way that the executive branch can act as a check on the legislative branch?
a)
declaring legislation unconstitutional
b)
refusing to ratify treaties
c)
proposing constitutional amendments
d)
vetoing bills
19.
What are PACs?
a)
party campaign organizations
b)
political fund-raising organizations
c)
legislative support agencies
d)
policy research organizations
20.
After a bill is voted and approved by the House of Representatives, it is
a)
sent to the president to sign
b)
sent to the Supreme Court to review
c)
voted on by contituents
d)
voted on by the Senate
21.
Which representative body could cast a simple majority ruling with 218 votes?
a)
cabinet
b)
Senate
c)
House of Representative
d)
Supreme Court Justices
22.
The best defense of pork-barrel legislation is that it
a)
can bring jobs and money to a state or district.
b)
helps improve the federal deficit.
c)
keeps the federal treasury from wasting funds.
d)
provides money and aid to the largest populations.
23.
Which presidential privilege can keep a bill from passing through inaction?
a)
closed rule
b)
open rule
c)
simple majority vote
d)
pocket veto
24.
In a social contract, people give up certain freedoms in exchange for
a)
wealth and security.
b)
education and health.
c)
order and security.
d)
jobs and health.
25.
How do the goals of socialism differ from the goals of capitalism?
a)
Only capitalism stresses private ownership of business.
b)
Only capitalism strives to award workers a fair wage.
c)
Only socialism has the goal of serving society.
d)
Only socialism works to prevent government interference.
26.
Which of the following most directly addressed the issue of slavery?
a)
the Preamble
b)
the Three-Fifths Compromise
c)
the Virginia Plan
d)
the Connecticut Compromise
27.
Shay’s Rebellion caused the new nation’s leaders to realize that
a)
a stronger national government was needed.
b)
the Articles did an inadequate job of protecting individual rights.
c)
the Articles did an inadequate job of protecting states’ rights.
d)
the nation needed to outlaw slavery.
28.
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could
a)
declare war, but it could not make treaties.
b)
establish post offices, but it could not levy taxes.
c)
force everyone to abide by the law, but it could not establish a court system.
d)
levy taxes, but it could not establish an executive branch.
29.
By agreeing to amend the Constitution by adding the Bill of Rights,
a)
the Anti-Federalists were incorporating the ideas of Charles de Montesquieu.
b)
the Founders were incorporating the ideas of William Blackstone.
c)
the Founders were responding to Anti-Federalists’ fears of an overly powerful national government.
d)
the Founders were responding to Anti-Federalists’ fears of overly powerful state governments.
30.
The Founders created a federal system of government because they
a)
believed that representation on Congress should be based entirely on population.
b)
did not want the president to become as powerful as a monarch.
c)
wanted individuals to have the right to a fair and speedy trial.
d)
wanted power to be split between the national and the state governments.
31.
A major problem with the legislature set up under the Articles was that
a)
it could not make treaties with other nations.
b)
it had no power to regulate affairs with Native Americans.
c)
it was bicameral rather than unicameral.
d)
regardless of its population, each state had one vote
32.
Which of the following was a positive achievement under the Articles of Confederation?
a)
establishing an executive branch
b)
levying and collecting taxes
c)
signing a peace treaty with Britain
d)
stopping states from coining their own money
33.
The Bill of Rights was created because the Anti-Federalists were concerned that
a)
the Constitution would not implement separation of powers.
b)
the new national government could trample on individual rights.
c)
representation in the Senate would be based on population.
d)
small states would have as much power as large states.
34.
Which article outlines the powers and structure of the legislative branch?
a)
Article I
b)
Article II
c)
Article III
d)
Article IV
35.
Under which concept would the power of the Senate to confirm federal judicial appointments be categorized?
a)
individual rights
b)
federalism
c)
separation of powers
d)
checks and balances
36.
Which branch of government has the civilian commander for the military?
a)
legislative branch
b)
the military is an independent branch of government
c)
judicial branch
d)
executive branch
37.
Which branch of government has the responsibility to carry out laws passed by the federal government?
a)
legislative branch
b)
executive branch
c)
judicial branch
d)
state branch
38.
What is an enumerated power of the legislative branch?
a)
the power to command the military
b)
the power to pardon people convicted of federal crimes
c)
the power to carry out education policy
d)
the power to collect taxes
39.
What is the power to overturn laws that violate the Constitution?
a)
veto power
b)
impeachment
c)
judicial review
d)
enumerated power
40.
The Articles of the Constitution include the Supremacy Clause, which states that
a)
the Constitution is the supreme law of the United States.
b)
laws passed by the states shall be considered supreme law.
c)
people shall be free from unlawful searches and seizures.
d)
Supreme Court justices can pass amendments to the Constitution.
41.
State governments are like the federal government in that they
a)
all have a unicameral state legislature.
b)
appoint a governor to head the judicial branch.
c)
have a judiciary with courts to uphold laws.
d)
settle civil disputes through state agencies
42.
To protect freedom of religion, the Founders established separation of ______ and state
a)
citizens
b)
courts
c)
church
d)
governors
43.
Which of the following statements is true of the elastic clause?
a)
It allows Congress to veto laws proposed by the president.
b)
It gives Congress the power to make laws deemed necessary and proper.
c)
It mandates that the president accept all laws deemed necessary and proper.
d)
It requires the Senate to enact laws passed by the House of Representatives.
44.
In the system of checks and balances, veto power is balanced by
a)
the power of Congress to override a veto.
b)
the power of the people to vote for legislation.
c)
the power of the president to override a veto.
d)
the power of the president to write legislation.
45.
Which of the following is an example of judicial review?
a)
The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution and overturns a state law.
b)
The Supreme Court passes a law regarding the right to bear arms.
c)
The U.S. Congress removes a Supreme Court justice from the bench.
d)
The U.S. Congress requests a review of a proposed law
46.
Which of the following pairs best represents the division of federal and state powers?
a)
Federal, admitting new states; State, governing territories
b)
Federal, coining money; State, conducting elections
c)
Federal, conducting elections; State, coining money
d)
Federal, providing an army; State, establishing post offices
47.
State laws
a)
are enforced by federal marshals.
b)
can be enacted only every other year.
c)
cannot be prohibited by the Constitution or national law.
d)
involve both intrastate and interstate commerce.
48.
A concurrent power is
a)
reserved for the federal government only.
b)
reserved for the state governments only.
c)
shared by both federal and state governments.
d)
voted on by the Congress before enactment
49.
His concept of 3 branches of government influenced the founding fathers
a)
Thomas Hobbes
b)
Thomas Paine
c)
Charles-Louis de Montesquieu
d)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
50.
No quartering of soldiers in homes without the approval of the owner
a)
2
b)
3
c)
4
d)
5
51.
The right not to testify against oneself
a)
4
b)
5
c)
6
d)
7
52.
You have “implied” rights, not specifically listed in the Constitution
a)
7
b)
8
c)
9
d)
10
53.
The right to be paid for private property taken for public use
a)
4
b)
5
c)
6
d)
7
54.
The right not to be put on trial twice for the same crime
a)
4
b)
5
c)
6
d)
7
55.
No excessive bail or fines
a)
7
b)
8
c)
9
d)
10
56.
Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
a)
3
b)
4
c)
5
d)
6
57.
The right to know the charges on which one is being held
a)
4
b)
5
c)
6
d)
7
58.
Freedom to petition the government to correct grievances
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
59.
Freedom of the press
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
60.
The right to be tried soon after being accused of a crime
a)
4
b)
5
c)
6
d)
7
61.
The right not to lose life, liberty, or property without due process of law
a)
3
b)
4
c)
5
d)
6
62.
The right to a jury in a civil case
a)
6
b)
7
c)
8
d)
9
63.
Powers not delegated to the federal government are retained by the states
a)
7
b)
8
c)
9
d)
10
64.
Alexander Hamilton was an Antifederalist who believed in a weak, central government
a)
True
b)
False
65.
The States have the power to conduct elections and regulate businesses.
a)
True
b)
False
66.
Federalism refers to the division of power between Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court
a)
True
b)
False
67.
Anti-Federalists did not want a strong, central government
a)
True
b)
False
68.
Indirect Democracy is a government in which the citizens vote
a)
True
b)
False
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