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Governement Systems

Total questions: 44

Worksheet time: 27mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Students were concerned about the number of traffic accidents on the street in front of their school. They created a document asking the county to put a traffic light in front of their school and got community members to sign it. Which right, guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, were students using?

a)

The right to a speedy trial.

b)

The right to freedom of religion.

c)

The right to petition.

d)

The right to bear arms.

2.

Under the Virginia Plan the structure of the national government would have been changed by the creation of a/an

a)

unicameral legislature with an equal number of delegates from each state.

b)

bicameral legislature in which the number of delegates per state would be based on a states’ population.

c)

strong judiciary with sovereignty over the other two branches of government.

d)

executive office the leader of which would have sole control of the nation.

3.

What determines how many members represent each state in the House of Representatives?

a)

the U.S. Census, a nationwide population count taken every ten years

b)

the U.S. Constitution, which assigned a fixed number of seats to each state

c)

apportionment, a system designed to keep the number of representatives at 435

d)

state tax revenues, which indicate how valuable a state’s voice is to the nation

4.

The framers of the Constitution created a system of checks and balances to

a)

outline the powers held by each branch of government.

b)

keep any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

c)

give the people an opportunity to control the branches of government.

d)

strengthen the powers held by each branch of government.

5.

In general, (during this time period) Congress created departments in the executive branch to address what type of policy?

a)

foreign policy

b)

tax policy

c)

national policy

d)

economic policy

6.

The original purpose of the Constitutional Convention held in May 1787 in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall was to

a)

grant citizenship to free African Americans.

b)

draft a Constitution of the United States.

c)

distribute power equally among the states.

d)

revise the Articles of Confederation.

7.

Study the map below and answer the question that follows.  According to the map, which of the following statements is true?

a)

The Northwest Territory was bounded on the south by the Ohio River.

b)

Michigan was the last northwestern territory to become a state.

c)

Indiana was the first northwestern territory to be surveyed.

d)

The Northwest Territory was divided in two by the Mississippi River.

8.

During the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King used peaceful demonstrations to let the government know that America needed legislation or laws to protect everybody. Which scenario represents this idea?

a)

Dr. King is using his first amendment right of freedom of assembly.

b)

He is attending a meeting with the US Congress to discuss civil rights.

c)

He is in a rally to announce that he will be running for president.

d)

None of the above

9.

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government” --In this quote Thomas Jefferson refers to the right to bear arms as a last resort. What can you conclude?

a)

Thomas Jefferson believes that freedom of speech is essential.

b)

People can use the second amendment in any circumstance.

c)

He believed that this amendment might be used to defend ourselves against bad governments.

d)

Thomas Jefferson was against the 2nd Amendment.

10.

The framers of the Constitution created a system of checks and balances to

a)

strengthen the powers held by each branch of government.

b)

give the people an opportunity to control the branches of government.

c)

keep any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

d)

outline the powers held by each branch of government.

11.

How did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 affect the practice of slavery in the Northwest Territory?

a)

It banned the use of slaves.

b)

It determined a fixed wage for slaves.

c)

It determined a fixed wage for slaves.

d)

It granted slaves access to public education.

12.

What is a federal system of government designed to do?

a)

limit the role of the central government to providing postal service

b)

stretch the reserved authority of the states when necessary

c)

place sovereign authority in the hands of the executive branch

d)

divide powers between the states and the national government

13.

Which powers are concurrent or shared by the states and the federal government?

a)

taxing, borrowing money, and enforcing laws

b)

coining money and regulating trade

c)

creating local governments and holding elections

d)

establishing an army and conducting foreign policy

14.

To show government their dissatisfaction with a law or suggest new laws, the American people have a right to

a)

disobey.

b)

bear arms.

c)

violently protest.

d)

petition or assemble.

15.

Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

a)

To make sure that New York would sign the document.

b)

To take away rights from illegal immigrants.

c)

To clearly define the rights and freedoms of individual citizens.

d)

To allow blacks the right to vote.

16.

The Land Ordinance of 1785 passed by Congress allowed for the sale of land in the Northwest Territory and set up standards for land sale. According to this plan, land areas would be set that were called  _____.

a)

cities

b)

townships

c)

squares

d)

states

17.

According to the Land Ordinance of 1785 , what was lot 16 of each town allotted for?

a)

public education

b)

special education

c)

all choices are correct

d)

private education

18.

Which amendment guarantees that prisoners won't be tortured while in jail?

a)

first

b)

second

c)

eighth

d)

sixth

19.

Which amendment would be violated if you had to wait two years for a criminal trial?

a)

two

b)

four

c)

eight

d)

six

20.

Which amendment says a judge must be convinced a crime was committed in order to issue a warrant?

a)

six

b)

two

c)

eight

d)

four

21.

Which amendment guarantees your Miranda Rights (warning)?

a)

one

b)

three

c)

five

d)

seven

22.

Which amendment allows the states to determine rules for marriage, school requirements, driver's license, state taxes, Covid, etc?

a)

six

b)

ten

c)

eight

23.

A man is arrested.  (1) The police hold him for several days before telling him the charge against him. (2) He calls an attorney who makes plans for the trial. (3) At the trial, various witnesses are called to testify against the man. (4) However, his attorney is not allowed to ask questions of the witnesses. (5) A judge finds him guilty of the crime. Which stages in the above situation seem to be violations of the man's sixth amendment rights?

a)

1, 3, 5

b)

3, 4, 5

c)

1, 4, 5

d)

2, 3, 4

24.

Why was the 9th Amendment added to the Constitution?

a)

because the framers wanted to make clear that basic rights were guaranteed even if they were not stated specifically

b)

because the Bill of Rights had to have ten parts

c)

because the English Bill of Rights listed nine rights

d)

because the framers worried they might have forgotten an important right

25.

The 10th Amendment states that

a)

most powers belong to the national government.

b)

powers not given to the national government or prohibited from the states belong to the states or the people.

c)

the people are the source of all government powers.

d)

the states are the most important part of our government system.

26.

Why was the Toleration Act of 1649 significant to America's development?

a)

It allowed Protestant settlers to move to the colony of Maryland even though it was founded by Catholics.

b)

it symbolized the American value of protecting the freedom of individuals and minority groups.

c)

It provided an example of how representative democracy can pass laws in a fair and just manner.

d)

it proved that conflicts over beliefs about God can be solved once and for all by human beings.

27.

What event marked the start of the French and Indian War?

a)

George Washington's surrender to the French.

b)

The Seven Years' War broke out in Europe.

c)

Great Britain and France signed the Treaty of Paris.

d)

George Washington attacked the British in Quebec.

28.

Why was the Stamp Act of 1765 particularly upsetting to the colonists?

a)

To enforce it, Britain's standing army used violence to frighten tax payers.

b)

It was the first attempt by Parliament to tax exports not just imports.

c)

To enforce it, Britain placed its own judges on the benches of colonial courts.

d)

It was the first time Parliament had tried to tax colonists directly.

29.

According to the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, what was the required population for becoming a state AND what did they have to create? Multiple Response Question on test!!

a)

60,000

b)

judiciary system

c)

5,000

d)

state president

30.

Who is known as the "Father of the Constitution" and why did he earn this title?

Multiple Response Question on the test.

a)

George Washington

b)

James Madison

c)

Mrs. Fussner

d)

Mr. Bertram

31.

Who is known as the "Father of the Constitution" and why did he earn this title?

a)

He was the first delegate to show up at the convention.

b)

He left early from the convention.

c)

he led most of the committees

d)

his copious notetaking skills

32.

The Articles of Confederation established a national government with a _____legislature.

a)

unicameral

b)

bicameral

c)

tricameral

d)

combined

33.

The United States Constitution created a government with three branches.  The legislative branch is made up of two houses known as -----.

Multiple Response on the test!

a)

unicameral

b)

bicameral

c)

tricameral

d)

combined brach

34.

The United States Constitution created a government with three branches.  The legislative branch is made up of two houses known as -----.

Multiple Response Question on the test!

a)

Congress

b)

Diet

c)

Sugar Free

d)

Communal

35.

Which branch has the authority to declare acts of Congress and executive decisions unconstitutional?

(a)  

36.

 Which branch is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the heads of federal agencies including the Cabinet.  

(a)  

37.

Which branch has the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers?

(a)  

38.

What is the purpose of the separation of powers among the three branches of government?

(a)  

39.

"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...?"                               Look at this quotation from the Declaration of Independence.  What does it mean for rights to be "unalienable?"  According to the Declaration, where does a person get these rights?

(a)  

40.

There are _______ senators per state and __________ legislators per state.

(a)  

41.

The president can pardon federal offenders which is a check on the (a)   branch.

42.

The ______ nominates the Supreme Court justices and the Legislative Branch approves it. But, t check and balance this power, the  ______ creates the lower federal courts.

(a)  

43.

The ___________ branch determines whether or not laws are constitutional which is a check on the ______ branch.  

(a)  

44.

According to the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, what was the required population for becoming a state AND what did they have to create? Multiple Response Question on test!!

a)

state constitution

b)

5,000

c)

judiciary system

d)

Executive Branch