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AMERICAN GOVERNMENT MID TERM GUIDE

Total questions: 101

Worksheet time: 1hrs 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which king was "forced" to sign the Magna Carta?

a)

King John

b)

King James

c)

King Louis

d)

King Henry

2.
In England, which branch of government would the Great Council eventually become after the signing of the Magna Carta?
a)
Senate
b)
Parliament
c)
House of Representatives
d)
Supreme Court
3.
What important charter was signed in 1215 in English by King John resulting in England becoming a limited monarchy?
a)
Magna Carta
b)
Code of Hammurabi
c)
Twelve Tables
d)
Declaration of Independence
4.
What did the Magna Carta do?
a)
Gave more power to the King
b)
Limited the power of the King
c)
Got rid of the Feudal System in England
d)
Gave more power to the Common People
5.

The Magna Carta was signed in what year?

a)

1315

b)

1492

c)

1607

d)

1215

6.

Before the Magna Carta was signed, King John had ______

a)

limited power

b)

a democracy

c)

justice power

d)

absolute power

7.

Rule by the People

a)

Democracy

b)

Constitution

c)

Constitutional Monarchy

d)

Parliament

8.

The Magna Carta accomplished which of the following?

a)

Limited powers of the king, allowed for trial by jury

b)

No false imprisonment (can't be arrested/jailed for no reason) and a right to a trial by jury

c)

Taxes can't be raised without approval of nobles, all free men protected equally by law

d)

All of these are true

9.

Magna Carta means

a)

The Great Charter

b)

Great Rights

c)

The Great King

d)

Power of the people

10.

If the Magna Carta gave some protection to the English, it would also _________. (Choose All That Apply):

a)

Give power to elected officials to protect the rights of the English

b)

Limit the power of the King

c)

Create a legislative body for elected officials to serve

d)

Allow elected noblemen & church officials to make decisions for the English people

11.

American colonies modeled their governments after ________.

a)

English Parliament

b)

King James II

c)

Germans

d)

The British

12.

Locke argued that we had 3 main natural rights. What are they? (Select 3)

a)

Life

b)

Liberty

c)

Pursuit of Happiness

d)

Property

13.

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

14.

Which American Founding Father did John Locke influence the most?

a)

Ben Franklin

b)

George Washington

c)

John Adams

d)

Thomas Jefferson

15.
Magna Carta was written in 1215, nearly 800 years ago. Which is NOT a reason why Magna Carta is still considered important today?
a)
stated that leaders must also obey the law
b)
established the right for women to vote
c)
inspired America's independence movement
d)
guaranteed a fair trial by a jury of the accused's peers
16.
Choose the correct definition for inalienable.
a)
unable to be taken away from or given away
b)
the state of being equal
c)
the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants
d)
the state of being isolated from a group
17.

Definition of civics?

a)

A. Course of government action to achieve community goals

b)

B. Ruling authority for a community

c)

C. Study of the rights and duties of citizens

d)

D. The governments power over the people

18.

What is the definition of Government?

a)

The ruling authority of a community

b)

People that have power in a country

c)

Any person that has more power than others

d)

Police protection

19.

What do many people consider the most important responsibility citizens have?

a)

Pay taxes

b)

Volunteer

c)

Jury duty

d)

Vote

20.

Which of the following is a duty of all citizens

a)

Volunteer

b)

Pay Taxes

c)

Be informed

d)

Respect diversity

21.

Which of the following is the definition of a citizen?

a)

Anyone in a country

b)

A legally recognized subject, who willingly gives up certain rights for certain protections

c)

People on Earth

d)

People that run the government

22.

Form of government where the citizens hold the power is commonly called?

a)

Dictatorship

b)

Oligarchy

c)

Democracy

d)

Autocracy

23.

Form of government where the citizens choose a person to vote for them instead of direct voting?

a)

Representative Democracy

b)

Direct Democracy

c)

Presidential

d)

Parliamentary

24.

Form of government where power is shared on different levels (National, State, Local)

a)

Federalism

b)

Communism

c)

Unitary

d)

Parliamentary

25.

Form of government where all the power is held by one branch?

a)

Federalism

b)

Unitary

c)

Autocracy

d)

Presidential

26.
A military leader seizes control of a government during a revolution.  He has complete control and kills anyone who opposes him.  What kind of government does this nation have?
a)
a monarchy
b)
a theocracy
c)
a dictatorship
d)
an oligarchy
27.
Three military leaders take over a nation.  They make all the rules and do not allow any discussion.  What kind of government does this nation have?
a)
an oligarchy
b)
anarchy
c)
a theocracy
d)
a dictatorship
28.
Some nations in the Middle East have Islam as the state religion.  Their citizens must practice this religion.  What kind of government do these nations have?
a)
a monarchy
b)
a theocracy
c)
a dictatorship
d)
an oligarchy
29.
People overthrow their government, but no ruler takes charge.  Without leadership, the nation is in chaos.  What is this situation called?
a)
autocracy
b)
oppression
c)
anarchy
d)
revolution
30.
Anna lives in a direct democracy.  What does that mean?
a)
She will be brought up on charges if she does not vote.
b)
As a citizen, she is a member of the government and sits in Congress.
c)
She votes for representatives who decide on the issues and laws.
d)
She personally votes on every issue and law.
31.
Brady lives in a representative democracy.  What does that mean?
a)
He will be brought up on charges if he does not vote.
b)
As a citizen, he is a member of the government and sits in Congress.
c)
He votes for representatives who decide on the issues and laws.
d)
He personally votes on every issue and law.
32.
Which branch of the U.S. government is held accountable to apply or interpret [judge] the laws?
a)
The Legislative
b)
The Judicial
c)
The Executive 
d)
The Police
33.
Which branch of the U.S. government has the role of making laws?
a)
Executive Branch
b)
Judicial Branch 
c)
Legislative Branch 
d)
The Police
34.
The Executive Branch of the U.S. government is responsible for doing this:
a)
carry out/enforce [execute] the laws
b)
make the laws
c)
apply or interpret [judge] the laws
d)
run the country
35.

Citizens elect representatives

a)

Republic

b)

Dictatorship

c)

Totalitarian

d)

Absolute Monarchy

36.

Rule by a single political party

a)

Totalitarian

b)

Theocracy

c)

Absolute Monarchy

d)

Dictatorship

37.

What is the name of the document that creates our Government ?

a)

The Constitution

b)

The Declaration of Independence

c)

The Magna Carta

d)

The Treaty of Paris

38.

How many Branches of Government are there?

a)

3

b)

4

c)

5

d)

6

39.
Which president was also called the Father of the Constitution?
a)
George Washington
b)
Thomas Jefferson
c)
Alexander Hamilton
d)
James Madison
40.

 Like rebellious teens, they vowed that when they won their independence, their government would be _______ like that of the mother country.

a)

exactly

b)

nothing

c)

a monarchy

d)

a democracy

41.

What was the main focus of the founders when trying to form America's first government?

a)

To make taxes as low as possible

b)

To keep the nation secure

c)

To avoid an overly powerful government

d)

To make state governments very powerful

42.

What is a confederation?

a)

A group of states bound by a powerful central government

b)

A military alliance of independent countries

c)

A group of countries all ruled by the same monarch

d)

A group of mostly independent states bound by a weak central government

43.

What was America's first constitution called?

a)

The Articles of Confederation

b)

The Constitution of the United States

c)

The Founding Principles of the United States

d)

The Articles of American Constitution

44.

What was the major problem with the Articles of Confederation?

a)

The central government was too powerful and controlling

b)

The state governments were too weak to solve problems

c)

The central government was too weak to solve issues facing the country

d)

The president was given too much power.

45.

Why did Americans struggle to see themselves as a unified nation?

a)

Some people still supported the British.

b)

The colonies were all very different with unique people

c)

Most Americans didn't want to live under any government.

d)

Northerners and southerners already disliked each other.

46.

Which of the following was NOT a power given to the national government under the Articles of Confederation?

a)

settle disputes between states

b)

coin money

c)

direct the post office

d)

negotiate with foreign powers

47.

How many branches did the national government have under the Articles of Confederation?

a)

4

b)

3

c)

2

d)

1

48.

Under the Articles of Confederation, how many states had to approve of a measure before it passed?

a)

A simple majoriy

b)

7 out of 13

c)

9 out of 13

d)

13 out of 13

49.
The Great Compromise proposed the legislative branch of government be composed of    
a)
One House – With equal representation
b)
Three houses based on the three regions of the United States
c)
Two houses (1 House with representation based on population & 1 house with equal  representation)
50.
In the Virginia Plan, who would benefit the most?    
a)
the larger states 
b)
the smaller states
c)
 slave owners
51.
 Many Anti-Federalists were concerned that the original draft of the Constitution did not 
a)
Create a bicameral national legislature
b)
Provide specific language about judicial review
c)
 Include a Bill of Rights
52.
Under the Northwest Ordinance, this controversial issue would be omitted from the Northwest Territory. 
a)
Slavery
b)
State governors
c)
 Railroads 
53.
  Federalism is a system of government where there is  
a)
Several national governments working together
b)
Only a national government
c)
State governments and a national governmen
54.
 In the Three-Fifths compromise the two main issues were 
a)
Slavery and voting
b)
Voting and taxation
c)
Slavery and population 
55.
These papers were published to give support for the Constitution of the United States of America. 
a)
The Anti-Federalist Papers
b)
The Constitutional Update
c)
 The Federalist Papers
56.
What was the purpose of Shays’ Rebellion? 
a)
To increase the amount of taxes on farmers to pay the war debt
b)
To stop the government from raising taxes on farmers to pay the war debt
c)
To increase the amount of taxes on the wealthy to pay the war debt
57.
 One of the major problems with the Articles of Confederation is that it 
a)
Did not have the power to declare war to defend the country 
b)
Placed high federal taxes on peopl
c)
 Did not have an executive or president
58.
The process of altering or adding to the Constitution is
a)
The discussion process
b)
The representative proces
c)
The amendment process
59.
What is the purpose of checks and balances? 
a)
To ensure all citizens had their natural rights protected
b)
Great Britain could no longer control the colonies 
c)
To ensure that one branch does not have more power than the other branches 
60.

Which of the following was NOT an area of weakness in the Articles of Confederation?

a)

economics

b)

society

c)

trade

61.

Shays Rebellion convinced a majority of American citizens there was a need to

a)

Revise the Articles of Confederation

b)

Create a national bank

c)

Dedicate national finances towards building up the military

62.

Why would the founders have created a weak central government?

a)

historically, all strong central governments had failed

b)

Great Britain did not have a strong central government and the founders were basing their government off of England’s

c)

they had fought for their freedom and did not want to risk an abusive ruler

63.
One weakness of the Articles of the Confederation was ____________. 
a)
The ability of Congress to tax.
b)
The inability of Congress to tax.
c)
The ability of Congress to declare war.
d)
The ability of Congress to create courts.
64.

Which strong feature of the Articles of Confederation created a method for western territories to become states?

a)

The ability to sign peace treaties

b)

Shays' Rebellion

c)

Northwest Ordinance

d)

60,000 Ordinance

65.
Under the Articles of Confederation, most of the power was where?
a)
Legislative branch
b)
the president
c)
the states
d)
national government
66.
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
67.

Where in the Constitution do you find the Legislative Branch?

a)

Article 1

b)

Article 2

c)

Article 3

d)

Article 4

68.

How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives? 

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

8

69.

How does Congress determine the number of representatives each state gets in the House? 

a)

representation is equal for each state

b)

population

c)

States can have as many delegates as they wish, but each state receives just one vote.

70.

How many members are there in the House?

a)

50

b)

100

c)

275

d)

435

71.

Who is the leader of the House and how is that person chosen?

a)

Speaker of the House; by a vote of the members

b)

Vice President; by the President

c)

President of the House; by the majority leader

72.

How long is a term for a member of the Senate?

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

8

73.

What power does the House have in the impeachment process?

a)

formally charge the person by passing the articles of impeachment

b)

remove the official from office and deny them the right of ever serving in U.S. public office

c)

try the official in a trial

74.

What Impeachment Power does the Senate have?

a)

bring the charges

b)

investigate the official

c)

hold the impeachment trial

75.

How many members are in the Senate and how do they determine that number?

a)

200; equal representation (4 senators per state)

b)

100; equal representation for each state (2 senators per state)

c)

150; population

76.

What can Congress do when a President decides to veto a bill?

a)

override with a simple majority in both houses (also known as chambers)

b)

override with a 2/3rds vote in both houses (or chambers)

c)

They can do nothing. The bill is dead.

77.

What is a pocket veto?

=

a)

If Congress adjourns during the 10 day period and the President does not sign the bill, the bill does not become law.

b)

It is when Congress cancels all future bills on the same topic.

c)

It is when Congress fails to override a veto.

78.

What do we call Article I Section 8 Clause 18?

a)

The supremacy clause

b)

The elastic clause

c)

the commerce clause

d)

The full faith and credit clause

79.

Jack is considering a run for the House of Representatives. He is a US Citizen by birth. How old must he be?

a)

25

b)

35

c)

30

d)

21

80.

How is the number of Senators in the Senate determined?

a)

Population of the state

b)

Equality

c)

President picks

d)

A prescient set by congresses in the past

81.

What is the term length of a Senator?

a)

6 years

b)

5 years

c)

2 years

d)

4 years

82.

Gwen is considering running for Senate. She is a US citizen by naturalization. How long would she have to have been a citizen of the US and how old would she have to be?

a)

7 years a citizen and 25 years old

b)

9 years a citizen and 30 years old

c)

14 years a citizen and 35 years old

d)

5 years a citizen and 21 years old

83.

Which statement below best describes the word Congress?

a)

The first legislative assembly of elected representatives in North America.

b)

Ancient civilization that established a form of government known as a republic.

c)

The bicameral (two part) legislature of the federal government of the United States.

d)

A system of government in which power is shared between a central government (ex. United States government) and individual states (ex. Alabama).

84.
In case the President is disabled, the way the Vice President becomes President is determined by the...
a)
25th Amendment
b)
Original Constitution
c)
Congress
d)
Supreme Court
85.
The Electoral College
a)
functions largely independently of the major political parties
b)
provide for a winner-take-all system of election in all 50 states
c)
requires that the candidate who receives a plurality of the votes (the most) will be elected to the office of president
d)
requires that a candidate receive a majority (270 electoral votes) to be elected president.
86.
This presidential role shows the president as the main architect of a nation's public policies.
a)
Chief executive
b)
chief legislator
c)
chief of party
d)
commander in chief
87.
This role shows the president as the representative of the people.
a)
Chief legislator 
b)
Chief diplomat
c)
Chief administrator
d)
Chief citizen
88.
This role shows the president as the ceremonial head of the government.
a)
Chief of state
b)
Chief of party
c)
Chief executive
d)
Chief legislator 
89.
The one formal duty assigned to the Vice President by the Constitution is to...
a)
call cabinet meetings.
b)
choose the Secretary of State.
c)
preside over the Senate.
d)
preside over the House
90.
According to the Constitution the president must...
a)
be a man who owns property
b)
be at least 35 years of age
c)
have held one major public office
d)
have lived in the U.S. for at least 20 years
91.

What role gives the President the ability to rule as head of all the branches of the military?

a)

Chief of State

b)

Chief Diplomat

c)

Chief Citizen

d)

Commander in Chief

92.

Which is the last step in the lawmaking process?

a)

Bill is introduced into Congress

b)

Bill is voted on by the House of Representatives

c)

Bill is sent to the Senate Majority Leader to be called up

d)

Bill is signed or vetoed by the President

93.
Which word means an order given by the president?
a)
executive order 
b)
department 
c)
Executive Branch 
d)
filibuster 
94.

In what month do we vote for the President?

a)

October

b)

November

c)

December

d)

January

95.

Diplomacy Economic tools

a)

Discussion and deal making to keep peace between countries

b)

Economical deal discussions

c)

I'm not sure

d)

Between countries

96.

Military Intervention

a)

Foreign countries doing anything other than fighting in war

b)

Fighting in war in a foreign country

c)

Doing anything other than fighting in war in a foreign country

d)

Tool of last resort

97.

Treaties

a)

Agreements to peacefully resolve problems

b)

To spread problems

c)

Agreements to resolve peace

d)

Problems resolve peacefully to arguments

98.

Humanitarian Aid

a)

Unfortunate help to equipment/tools, food, $ in countries other to assistance.

b)

I'm not sure

c)

Assistance to other countries in $, food, tools/equipment to help unfortunate

d)

What is Humanitarian Aid?

99.

Discussion and deal making to keep peace between countries

a)

Treaties

b)

Diplomacy

c)

Bilateral Sanctions

d)

Multilateral Sanctions

100.

The creation of the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was a reaction to which of these?

a)

John Adams winning only one term in office

b)

Theodore Roosevelt running for a third term.

c)

Franklin Roosevelt successfully winning a third term

d)

George Washington deciding not to run for a third term

101.

Which of these is an example of a presidential power?

a)

pardoning a person accused of a crime

b)

confirming a Supreme Court appointee

c)

declare war on a foreign power

d)

override the veto of a bill

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