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8th grade civics test

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 13hrs 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the capital of the United States?

a)

Los Angeles, California

b)

New York City, New York

c)

Washington, DC

d)

Liberty Island, NY

2.

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

a)

December 7, 1941

b)

September 17, 1789

c)

July1, 1886

d)

July 4, 1776

3.

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the US Constitution. Name one of the writers.

a)

James Madison

b)

George Washington

c)

Benjamin Franklin

d)

Thomas Jefferson

4.

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

a)

Right to bear arms, Freedom of religion

b)

Right to health care, Right to free speech

c)

Right to vote, Right to a job

d)

Right to a free college education, Right to pursue happiness

5.

Which of these is Thomas Jefferson famous for?

a)

First President

b)

Doubled the size of the United States (Louisiana Purchase

c)

Ended the French and Indian War

d)

Started trade with The East

6.

What is the form of government of the United States?

a)

Republic

b)

Monarchy

c)

Theocracy

d)

Military Dictatorship

7.

Why are there three branches of government?

a)

Checks and Balances

b)

Process take too long if there are more than 3

c)

To give more citizens a voice

d)

None of the above

8.

Which 2 are senators from Utah?

a)

Mitt Romney

b)

Spencer Cox

c)

Mike Lee

d)

Trent Staggs

9.

Why is the Electoral College important?

a)

It decides the college tuition cost

b)

It decides who is elected to the Senate

c)

It decides which laws are passed

d)

It is used to decide who is elected President of United States

10.

Choose all that are documents that have influenced the U.S. Constitution.(4)

a)

Right to a speedy trial

b)

Federalist Papers

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

Mayflower Compact

e)

Right to vote

11.

What does the Constitution do?

a)

Forms the government

b)

Defines powers and parts of government

c)

Protects the rights of the people

d)

All of the above

12.

Which 2 are important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution?

a)

Equality

b)

Split Government

c)

Limited Government

d)

The right to vote at age 18

13.

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

a)

The president from impeachment

b)

illegal Immigrants

c)

The Right for women to vote

d)

The basic rights of Americans

14.

What is one part of the judicial branch

a)

Congress

b)

Speaker of the House

c)

Supreme Court

d)

Vice President

15.

 

What land did the United States buy from France in 1803?

a)

Texas and Arizona

b)

West of the Mississippi

c)

Louisiana Purchase

d)

California

16.

 

What is one promise you make when you become a citizen of the United States?

a)

Give up loyalty to other countries

b)

Defend the U.S. Constitution

c)

Obey the laws of the United States

d)

All of the above are correct

17.

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

a)

Third President of the United States

b)

Discovered Gravity.

c)

Invented the Cotton Gin

d)

First Postmaster General of the United States

18.

What is one reason colonists came to America?

a)

Health Care

b)

Education

c)

Religious Freedom

d)

More Diversity

19.

What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

a)

Run for office, Support or oppose an issue or policy

b)

Throw bricks at public office, Riot in the streets

c)

Publicly defame a political opponent, Not vote

d)

Commit voter fraud, Threaten others to vote a certain way

20.

When did the Great Depression start?

a)

Stock market crash of 1929

b)

Right after the Vietnam War

c)

When the Declaration of Independence was denied

d)

After the 22nd President died

21.

 

How many senators does each state have?

a)

4

b)

1

c)

2

d)

 

It depends on the state's population

22.

How many amendments does the U.S, Constitution have?

a)

27

b)

33

c)

9

d)

48

23.

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one of the state's powers?

a)

To declare war on other states

b)

To provide schooling and education

c)

To establish and print currency

d)

To make treaties

24.

What power does the President of the United States have?

a)

Signs bills into law

b)

Vetoes bills

c)

Commander in Chief (of the military)

d)

enforces laws

e)

All of the above

25.

 

The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?

a)

The people are not required to follow laws they don't agree with

b)

The people should govern themselves

c)

The people can force others to follow laws

26.

 

What is an amendment?

a)

A vote in Congress

b)

Part of the electoral college

c)

The process by which the Supreme Court Justices are chosen

d)

A change/addition to the Constitution

27.

What founding document was written in 1787?

a)

Federalist Papers

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

US Constitution

d)

All of the above

28.

 

Which of the following is one of the branches of government?

a)

Federal

b)

Military

c)

Executive

d)

Leaders

29.

The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in which founding document?

a)

Constitution of the United States

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

All of the above

30.

 

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

a)

Led the United States during the American Revolution

b)

Recovering the economy after the stock market crash

c)

Led the United States during the War of 1812

d)

Led the United States during the Civil War

31.

Why is the Declaration of Independence important?

a)

It says America is free from British control

b)

It says all people are created equal

c)

It identifies individual freedoms

d)

All of the above

32.

Who is the "Father of Our Country"

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Benjamin Franklin

c)

George Washington

d)

Abraham Lincoln

33.

 

What is the economic system of the United States

a)

Capitalism

b)

Socialism

c)

Federalism

d)

Communism

34.

 

What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

a)

The United States and the Flag

b)

The President of the United States

c)

The US military

d)

The Constitution

35.

What is the capital of Utah?

a)

West Valley

b)

Bountiful

c)

Salt Lake City

d)

Sandy

36.

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

a)

The Bill of Lading

b)

The Ten Commandments

c)

The Bill of Rights

d)

Constitution Top Ten

37.

How many seats are on the Supreme Court?

a)

7

b)

9

c)

12

d)

It depends on the state

38.

Which are powers for only the federal government?

a)

Print paper money

b)

Declare war

c)

Make treaties

d)

All of the above

39.

Name the US war between the North and the South.

a)

World War I

b)

The Civil War

c)

The French and Indian War

d)

The American Revolution

40.

 

Who elects U.S. senators?

a)

Citizens of the United States

b)

Citizens of their state

c)

Citizens of their county

d)

Members of Congress

41.

The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?

a)

Legislative

b)

Executive

c)

Judicial

d)

All three

42.

Who does a U.S. senator represent?

a)

Citizens of the United States

b)

Citizens of their state

c)

Citizens of their county

d)

Citizens who voted for them

43.

Which branch writes laws?

a)

Legislative

b)

Executive

c)

Judicial

d)

All three

44.

What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?

a)

Terrorists attacked London

b)

Terrorists crashed two planes into the World Trade Center in New York City

c)

The Titanic sank

d)

The stock market crashed

45.

What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

a)

Bill of Rights

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Constitutional Congress

d)

Legislative Archives

46.

 

How long is a term for a U.S. senator?

a)

6 years

b)

4 years

c)

2 years

d)

1 years

47.

What is the name of the national anthem?

a)

Star Spangled Banner

b)

Home of the Brave

c)

Forever She Waves

d)

Land of the Free

48.

How many U.S. senators are there?

a)

13

b)

50

c)

100

d)

It's different each year

49.

 

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Benjamin Franklin

b)

George Washington

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

John Adams

50.

 

What is the supreme law of the land?

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

The Constitution

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

Uniform Code of Military Justice