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Civics Category 1

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of these societies is subject to the rule of law?

a)

People are free to do whatever they want without limits.

b)

What people are able to do is based on a set of written rules that apply equally to all.

c)

A group of leaders decides what everyone else is permitted to do, which can change at any moment.

d)

The president is allowed to make all the decisions - without any transparency.

2.

Which Supreme Court case dealt with the rule of law?

a)

Tinker v. Des Moines

b)

Miranda v. Arizona

c)

U.S. v. Nixon

d)

Bush v. Gore

3.

The diagram below lists a number of characteristics. Which phrase completes this diagram?

a)

The goals of government identified in the Preamble to the Constitution.

b)

The impact of the rule of law on government officials and institutions.

c)

The separation of powers among the three branches of government.

d)

The rights and responsibilities of American citizens

4.

What does the blindfold covering the figure’s eyes represent?

a)

equality under the law

b)

separation of powers

c)

checks and balances

d)

natural law

5.

Which phrase completes the diagram?

a)

Representative Government

b)

Separation of Powers

c)

Social Contract

d)

Trial by Jury

6.

What do Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights have in common?

a)

Self-government

b)

Individual rights/liberties

c)

Urged colonists to declare independence

d)

Established trial by jury

7.

19. What impact did the writings of Baron Montesquieu have on the Founding Fathers?

a)

They created a representative system of government.

b)

They kept a monarchical system of government.

c)

They separated the powers of government into three branches.

d)

They guaranteed each citizen the right to a trial by jury.

8.

Which phrase completes the diagram?

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Monarchical Government

c)

Government by Consent of the Governed

d)

Trial by Jury

9.

Why did we take Montesquieu’s advice and create a government that used separation of powers?

a)

To establish the rule of law

b)

To fight off tyranny

c)

To stop a nation from becoming a state of nature

d)

To control the power of the new king/queen

10.

Which of the following is true about the Mayflower Compact?

a)

The colonists declared their independence from English rule.

b)

The colonists declared their alliance with Parliament against the king.

c)

The king agreed not to collect new taxes without the approval of Parliament.

d)

A group of early colonists agreed to form their own government and to obey their own laws.

11.

What influence did Thomas Paine's Common Sense (1776) have on the colonists?

a)

It reconciled them with King George III of England.

b)

It established the framework for their later system of government.

c)

It persuaded them to declare their independence from Great Britain.

d)

It divided Northern and Southern colonists by calling for an end to slavery.

12.

What was the effect of Shays’ Rebellion?

a)

It convinced the Founding Fathers to change the Articles of Confederation and the writing of the Constitution

b)

It led to the writing of the Articles of Confederation

c)

It led to the American Revolution

d)

It was the reason why we declared independence from the British

13.

What was the relationship between the French and Indian War and the English Colonial Policies that eventually led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

The writing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 was an immediate result of the Tea Act of 1773.

b)

English policies encouraged westward expansion of colonies, which resulted in a war with both France and Native Americans.

c)

King George III believed the colonists were financially responsible for the French and Indian War; therefore, enacted several acts.

d)

Colonists were forced to declare their independence in order to become a financially independent nation.

14.

34. The statement below is from the Declaration of Independence.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Based on this excerpt, what are natural rights?

a)

God-given rights that all people should enjoy

b)

Rights that exist in America but not in Europe

c)

Rights granted by English kings to their subjects

d)

Rights that can only be earned through bloodshed

15.
SS.7.C.1.2
Which document limited the power of the King?
a)
Constitution
b)
Magna Carta
c)
Articles of Confederation
d)
Declaration of Independence
16.
SS.7.C.1.4 – Mid Complexity According to the Declaration of Independence, what is the relationship between government and the rights of the people?
a)
The people’s rights are granted by the government.
b)
The people’s rights are unlimited. 
c)
The government exists to protect people's rights.
d)
The government may limit people's rights.
17.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..." Which document contains this passage?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

English Bill of Rights

c)

Articles of Confederation

d)

U.S. Constitution

18.

The List of Grievances is the part of the Declaration that

a)

detailed the colonists' complaints with King George.

b)

introduced the Declaration

c)

listed a man's natural rights.

d)

concluded the Declaration, declaring America a free country.

19.

The Legislative Branch can "check the Executive Branch by overriding the President's veto with a 2/3 majority.

a)

True

b)

False

20.

The President can "check" the Judicial Branch by appointing justices to the Supreme Court

a)

True

b)

False

21.

The ability of one branch of government to limit the power of the other branches of government is known as?

a)

separation of powers

b)

checks and balances

c)

rule of law

d)

limited government

22.

Our U.S. Bill of Rights was greatly influenced by the ...

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Mayflower Compact

c)

English Bill of Rights

d)

Common Sense

23.

What branch is having its power checked when...

the Supreme Court declares a law unconstitutional?

a)

Legislative Branch

b)

Executive Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

24.

What did the Anti-Federalists insist upon before they would sign the Constitution?

a)

Adding a Bill of Rights to protect individual rights

b)

Adding an Executive Branch so we could have a President

c)

Adding a Preamble to clarify the goals of the document

d)

Adding a national Judicial Branch

25.
Which of the following is NOT one of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
a)
No power to tax
b)
Could not force the states to obey laws.
c)
Each state could issue its own paper money.
d)
Could meet with foreign countries and sign treaties.