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Intro to American Government

Total questions: 76

Worksheet time: 38mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Proposed plan of government favored by the larger states, with 3 branches and representation based on population.

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

2.

Proposed plan of government favored by the smaller states, with 3 branches and all states receiving 1 vote in congress.

a)

New Jersey Plan

b)

Virginia Plan

3.

The process of determining if a law or action is constitutional.

a)

Judicial Review

b)

Disenfranchisement

c)

Due Process of Law

d)

Confederation

4.
What were the Articles of Confederation?
a)
The first system of government after the Revolution
b)
written by Madison about the Constitutional Convention
c)
Used to declare Independence from England
5.
The Articles of Confederation were structured the way they were because the former colonies feared...
a)
a strong government
b)
poverty
c)
free press
6.
Under the Articles of Confederation, most of the power was where?
a)
Legislative branch
b)
President
c)
The States
d)
National Government
7.

Which is a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Congress couldn't collect taxes

b)

Weak central government

c)

Provided for no common currency

d)

All of these

8.
The _______________ Plan proposed a strong federal government with two branches.
a)
Virginia
b)
New Jersey
c)
Connecticut
d)
Three-fifths
9.

In the Virginia Plan representation in Congress was based on population. Which states favored this plan?

a)

Small States

b)

Large States

c)

Southern States

d)

Northern States

10.
The Great Compromise was a compromise between--
a)
Mass. Plan and New Jersey Plan
b)
Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
c)
Virginia Plan and New York Plan
d)
Virginia Plan and Delaware Plan
11.

Under the Great Compromise, Congress was comprised of two Houses (the House of Representatives and Senate). In which of these does each state vote in two representatives?

a)

House of Representatives

b)

Senate

12.

Under the Great Compromise, in which part of Congress does the number of elected representatives depend on the state's population?

a)

Senate

b)

House of Representatives

13.
Under the Three-Fifths compromise, which individuals counted as 3/5 of a free person when a census was taken?
a)
women
b)
Native Americans
c)
slaves
d)
children
14.

The Constitution gives the federal government enough power to overpower the states

a)

Federalist

b)

Anti-Federalist

15.

It will not be possible for the federal government to overpower the states because the states are a necessary part of the federal government.

a)

Federalist

b)

Anti-Federalist

16.

Which philosophers influenced the creation of the Constitution?

a)

Calvin and Hobbes

b)

Simon and Garfunkle

c)

Rousseau and Locke

d)

Locke and Montesquieu

17.

All of the following are types of delegated powers except

a)

implied

b)

inherent

c)

expressed

d)

not allowed

18.

Example of the national governments obligation to the state

a)

republican form of government

b)

allowing states to choose type of government

c)

allow states to sign trade deals

d)

allow states to print their own money

19.

Example of the powers reserved to the states

a)

printing money

b)

foreign policy

c)

declaring war

d)

professional and marriage license

20.

Flag should be lit if displayed at night

a)

True

b)

False

21.

During national distress, the flag should be flown regularly

a)

True

b)

False

22.

Soldiers not in uniform are allowed to salute the flag

a)

True

b)

False

23.

During the national anthem, men should take off their hats

a)

True

b)

False

24.

Soldiers can be buried with the flag

a)

True

b)

False

25.

US flag and state flags should be flown at the same level

a)

True

b)

False

26.

Governors and the President make the decision to have the flag lowered to half-mast

a)

True

b)

False

27.

Necessary and Proper clause is one that is written into the constitution

a)

true

b)

false

28.

Concurrent powers are those shared between federal and state

a)

true

b)

false

29.

"Nobody is above the law." Which term best describes this definition?

a)

rule of law

b)

minority rights

c)

separation of powers

d)

constitution

30.

"No branch of government has too much power." Which term best matches this statement?

a)

rule of law

b)

constitution

c)

separation of powers

d)

consent of the governed

31.

This happens when citizens use their votes to choose their representatives in government.

a)

rule of law

b)

separation of powers

c)

consent of the governed

d)

minority rights

32.

Which of the following are powers that belong to the state governments in the U.S? (click all that apply)

a)

printing money

b)

issuing marriage licenses

c)

setting speed limits

d)

establishing post offices

33.

Which of the following are powers that belong only to the federal (national) government of the U.S.?

a)

declaring war

b)

printing and coining money

c)

issuing taxes

d)

establishing traffic laws

34.

Establishing public schools is a power that belongs to the:

a)

state governments

b)

federal government

c)

both state and federal governments can do this

d)

neither state nor federal governments have this power

35.

Which of the following are shared powers between the state and federal U.S. governments? (click all that apply)

a)

protecting the welfare of the people

b)

issuing taxes

c)

making treaties with foreign nations

d)

creating courts

36.

Who is allowed to create laws?

a)

state governments

b)

the federal government

c)

both state and federal government

d)

neither state nor federal government can create law

37.

The idea that the people hold the power in the government. They exercise this power by voting.

a)

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Republicanism

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Individual Rights

38.

The Federal and the state governments share power. Each has roles that only they can fulfill. Seen in the 10th Amendment.

a)

Republicanism

b)

Limited Government

c)

Popular Sovereignty

d)

Federalism

39.

Establishes that federal constitution take precedence of laws

a)

Supremacy Clause

b)

Expressed Powers

c)

Articles

40.

A power that is given and granted to the national governement

a)

Delegated power

b)

Implied power

c)

Amendments

41.

The part of government, consisting of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, that interprets the laws

a)

Executive Branch

b)

Legislative Branch

c)

Financial Branch

d)

Judicial Branch

42.

Political powers granted to the U.S. government not stated

a)

Implied powers

b)

Concurrent powers

c)

Enumerated powers

43.

Powers shared by both the federal and state governements

a)

Concurrent powers

b)

Expressed powers

c)

Articles

44.

the part of government that carries out, the laws

a)

legislative

b)

executive

c)

judicial

d)

presidential

45.

the lawmaking part of government

a)

legislative

b)

executive

c)

judicial

d)

presidential

46.
Americans were afraid that a __?__ would lead to tyranny, or oppressive rule.
a)
strong state government
b)
weak government
c)
strong central government
d)
legslature
47.
Which is a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
a)
Congress couldn't collect taxes
b)
Weak central government
c)
Provided for no common currency
d)
All of the these
48.
What does the Constitution do?
a)
sets up the government
b)
defines the government
c)
protects basic rights of Americans
d)
all of the above
49.
To be naturalized, you need to 1) be over 18 years old, 2) be a resident for 5 years, 3) be of good moral character, 4) speak English, and
a)
have a college degree
b)
have voted in the last election
c)
pass a civics test
d)
marry a U.S. citizen
50.
The last step in the process of becoming a citizen is to 
a)
have a crazy party
b)
take the oath of allegence
c)
buy a jacked up truck and slap an American flag sticker on it
d)
prove your loyalty by getting a 'merica tattoo
51.

John Locke

a)

believed a government can only be legitimate, or valid, if it is based on a social contract with citizens.

b)

believed a social contract was unnecessary

c)

believed a social contract was necessary between the government and its' citizens, though it had no relation with legitimacy

d)

none of the above

52.

Social contracts happen between a government and its

a)

citizens

b)

workers

c)

representatives

53.

Natural rights that Locke refers to are... (select all that apply)

a)

life

b)

liberty

c)

property

d)

pursuit of happiness

54.

Hobbes saw humans as

a)

wonderful people wanting to be led by him.

b)

naturally selfish and quick to fight.

c)

same as John Locke

55.

According to John Locke, if the government didn't protect the people's natural rights, what could the people do?

a)

Overthrow the government

b)

Petition the government for their rights

c)

Nothing, the people don't have rights

56.
According to Hobbes, people agreed to give up some __________________ in exchange for __________________ as part of the social contract.
a)
rights and power / protection
b)
food and shelter / weapons
c)
security and protection / freedom
d)
money / goods and services
57.

French Enlightenment philosopher who strongly believed in freedom of speech and religion

a)

Voltaire

b)

Denis Diderot

c)

Mary Wollstonecraft

d)

John Locke

58.
Baron de Montesquieu established two ideas that helped mold today's government in the United States. Those two ideas were....
a)
reason and progress 
b)
Separation of Power and Checks and Balances 
c)
Laissee-faire and Supply & Demand
d)
General Will and Social Contract
59.
Which Enlightenment philosopher believed government works best when there is separation of powers?
a)
Hobbes
b)
Locke
c)
Montesquieu
d)
Rousseau
60.

Which Enlightenment thinker came up with the concept of separation of church and state?

a)

Rousseau

b)

Thomas Hobbes

c)

John Locke

d)

Voltaire

61.
The belief that government is derived from which of the following is central to the idea of democracy?
a)
The people
b)
Congress
c)
Checks and balances
d)
God
62.
Explain the difference between a unitary system of government and a federal system of government.
a)
The unitary system of government gives all the power to the central government and the federal government divides power between national and state governments.
b)
The unitary system of government is no longer practiced in world governments. Every country has a federal system of government.
c)
The unitary system of government divides the power between the national government and the state/provincial governments and the federal system gives all power to the central government.
d)
The federal government system is only practiced in the United States of America.
63.

Definition: The government and those who govern are bound by the law, as are those who are governed.

a)

Rule of Law

b)

Republic

c)

Democracy

d)

Representative Government

64.
What is the definition of Government? 
a)
the institution through which a society makes and enforces public policies?
b)
the population and territory given
c)
the idea that people agree of their own free will
d)
the supreme authority of a state
65.

Which of the following wanted strong state governments (and would likely support the Articles of Confederation)?

a)

Federalists

b)

Patriots

c)

Loyalists

d)

Anti-Federalists

66.

Which of the following wanted a strong national government (and would likely support the Constitution)?

a)

Federalists

b)

Patriots

c)

Loyalists

d)

Anti-Federalists

67.

Powers specifically granted to the federal government

a)

Expressed powers

b)

Implied powers

c)

Delegated powers

68.

Political powers granted to the U.S. government not stated

a)

Implied powers

b)

Concurrent powers

c)

Enumerated powers

69.

A power that is given and granted to the national governement

a)

Delegated power

b)

Implied power

c)

Amendments

70.

The national government has the ability to declare war, but individual states do not have that power. This is an example of _________________________.

a)

Republicanism

b)

Federalism

c)

Separation of powers

d)

Checks and balances

71.

When the U.S. Constitution established three branches of government, it was supporting which of the following principles?  

a)

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Federalism

c)

Separation of Powers

d)

Checks and Balances

72.

Which of the following BEST describes the constitutional principle of representative democracy?  

a)

Government's power is divided between national and state levels.

b)

The authority of government flows from the people.

c)

Voters elect representatives to exercise power for them.

d)

Unalienable rights are guaranteed to all citizens in the Preamble and the Bill of Rights.

73.

Which of the following is true about state constitutions?  

a)

State Constitutions must conform to the U.S. Constitution.

b)

State Constitutions do not have to conform to the U.S. Constitution.

c)

The U.S. Constitution is the highest law in the country but the state can nullify a federal law.

d)

The U.S. Constitution is the recommended law but states can make their own rules and laws.

74.

The power of the Supreme Court to decide what the Constitution means is.......

a)

Appellate Jurisdiction

b)

Summary Judgement

c)

Judicial Review

d)

Writ of Certiorari

75.
"We the People of the United States…"
a)
Popular Sovereignty
b)
Republicanism
c)
Federalism
d)
Separation of Powers
76.
"The powers not delegated to the United States… are reserved to the States respectively…"
a)
Republicanism
b)
Federalism
c)
Separation of Powers
d)
Checks and Balances

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