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WorksheetsMCAS Review (Practice)
Total questions: 43
Worksheet time: 23mins
Based on the political cartoon, which of the following best explains why freedom of the press is necessary in the United States?
It helps develop effective courts.
It helps support democratic ideals.
It helps establish local newspapers.
It helps construct government buildings.
Which of the following steps best completes the diagram?
A The Senate votes to confirm the candidate’s appointment.
B The attorney general votes on the candidate’s appointment.
C The candidate files a petition in the House of Representatives.
D The name of the candidate appears on a public election ballot.
Part A - Which of the following is best supported by the information in the graphs?
In 1994, each opposing political party had more members than in 2017.
In 1994, each political party raised less money for its election campaign than
in 2017.
In 2017, it was more difficult for political parties to find candidates to run for
elected office than it was in 1994.
In 2017, it was harder for members of opposing political parties to work together to pass legislation than it was in 1994.
Part B - Which of the following questions could the graphs best help answer?
How similar are the goals of political parties over time?
Why do political parties campaign in states with small populations?
Why does it cost so much money to operate political parties over time?
How do political parties select which cities will host the national conventions?
The text describes an event known as Shays’ Rebellion.
In 1786, more than one thousand Massachusetts citizens, many of them farmers, protested against unfair economic policies. The farmers could not pay the high taxes imposed on them by the state. Citizens marched to courthouses and demanded that the government stop taking farms away from farmers. Since there was no national military, the uprising was eventually stopped by a state militia that was privately funded.
A student made the following claim: The Articles of Confederation created a weak government, and a new U.S. Constitution was needed. Which of the following statements from the text best supports the claim?
“In 1786, more than one thousand Massachusetts citizens, many of them farmers, protested against unfair economic policies.”
“The farmers could not pay the high taxes imposed on them by the state.
“Citizens marched to courthouses and demanded that the government stop taking farms away from farmers.”
“Since there was no national military, the uprising was eventually stopped by a state militia that was privately funded.”
Use the picture to answer the question:
Part A - Select three additional services the town (local) government should also provide.
educating students
passing federal laws
hiring military officers
providing fire protection
maintaining public safety
Part B - How do local governments primarily fund the various services that they provide?
by taxing residents
by receiving donations
by printing new currency
by selling private property
The three branches of government have many federal employees. Many of these employees hold important positions, including the chief justice of the Supreme Court, the Speaker of the House, and the secretary of education.
Which branch of government includes the chief justice of the Supreme Court?
A judicial
B executive
C legislative
Which branch of government includes the Speaker of the House?
judicial
executive
legislative
Which branch of government includes the secretary of education?
Judicial
Executive
Legislative
A quotation from Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution is shown:
The Congress shall have power . . . to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested* by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.
*vested = given
This quotation from the U.S. Constitution is best known as which of the following?
the elastic clause
the impeachment clause
the interstate commerce clause
A quotation from Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution is shown:
The Congress shall have power . . . to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested* by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.
Based on the quotation, which of the following powers is granted to the federal government by Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution?
the power to stretch its authority
the power to ship goods across states
the power to remove officials from office
In 1754, representatives from the colonies created the Albany Plan of Union. This plan proposed to unite the colonies but allowed each colony to have its own government.
A political cartoon encouraging colonies to join the Albany Plan of Union is shown. In the cartoon, each part of the snake represents a colony.
Which of the following ideas about government is promoted in the political cartoon?
federalism
judicial review
electoral college
checks and balances
The president, the Cabinet, and federal agencies are part of the executive branch. As chief officer of the executive branch, the president chooses Cabinet members and the heads of federal agencies. A picture of President Barack Obama holding a Cabinet meeting in 2009 is shown.
Part A - Select two responsibilities of the Cabinet and federal agencies in the executive branch.
ensuring federal laws are carried out
advising the president on important issues
confirming federal judges to the Supreme Court
creating the daily agenda for debating legislation in the Senate
determining whether bills signed by the president are constitutional
The president, the Cabinet, and federal agencies are part of the executive branch. As chief officer of the executive branch, the president chooses Cabinet members and the heads of federal agencies.
Part B - The legislative branch checks the powers of the executive branch. What is one check on the powers of the executive branch that affects the Cabinet?
The Senate vetoes legislation proposed by the Cabinet.
The Senate confirms individuals nominated to serve on the Cabinet.
The House of Representatives declares decisions made by the Cabinet
unconstitutional.
The House of Representatives approves the priorities of the Cabinet set by
the president.
The diagram in the picture shows the structure of government of the ancient Roman Republic.
Which characteristic of the U.S. government was most influenced by the ancient Roman Republic as it is shown in the diagram?
federalism
judicial review
habeas corpus
separation of powers
An advertisement to encourage public service is shown in the picture.
Which of the following positions is best categorized as public service?
city councilor
business manager
professional athlete
An advertisement to encourage public service is shown in the picture.
Which of the following best describes the funding source for public service positions?
stocks and bonds
corporate donations
state and local taxes
Use the image to answer the question.
Which of the following was most influenced by the ideas described in the student’s notes?
the appointment of British governors in the American colonies
the rebellion of the American colonies against the rule of Great Britain
the creation of new taxes on paper and sugar sold in the American colonies
the signing of political treaties between American colonies and European
countries
Use the image to answer the question.
Which of the following was also influenced by the ideas described in the student’s notes?
the establishment of religious practices in New England
the growth of wheat and fishing industries in the colonies
the development of representative government in the colonies
the signing of treaties between the Iroquois Confederacy and Great Britain
Use the image to answer the question.
Which of the following claims is supported by the ideas of Montesquieu and Locke described in the student’s notes?
Voting in elections gives citizens a voice in how they are governed.
Donating to political campaigns allows people to control elected officials.
Participating in elections should give citizens the right to avoid jury service.
Serving in the military should be a requirement for running for political office.
An order from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to appear for jury duty is shown.
Who is eligible to receive a summons like the one shown?
all adults living in Massachusetts
U.S. citizens living outside of Massachusetts
all residents of Massachusetts age 16 and older
U.S. citizens age 18 and older living in Massachusetts
A list of responsibilities in a job description is shown:
• encourage candidates to run for government offices
• distribute information about candidates
• create a set of views about government policies
• fundraise for state and national elections
For which of the following positions was this job description most likely written?
newspaper editor
Political Party Leader
Supreme Court Justice
Electoral College Member
This question has two parts. Use the image to help you answer.
Several weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the results of those weaknesses are shown in the table. One result is not shown.
Part A - Which of the following results would best complete this table?
The government could not create new legislation.
The government could not rule on local legal cases.
The government could not appoint legislators to Congress.
The government could not enforce laws passed by Congress.
This question has two parts. Use the image to help you answer.
Several weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the results of those weaknesses are shown in the table. One result is not shown.
Part B - Which of the following was a result of the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation?
A civil war was started.
A peace treaty was signed.
A federal petition was created.
A constitutional convention was held.
State and local governments use taxes to provide services to people living in their communities.
Select the two actions that are government services mainly supported by state and local taxes.
(2 Correct Answers)
building a restaurant
repairing town roads
managing accounts at banks
paying public school teachers
buying supplies for the U.S. Marine Corps
Legislation goes through several steps in the legislative and executive branches.
Which of the following shows the correct order for how a bill may move through the branches of government?
A
B
C
D
Read and examine the two sources in the picture. Then answer the question.
Based on the sources, which of the following is protected under habeas corpus?
the right to due process
the right to serve as a juror
the right to practice religion
the right to peacefully assemble
Read and examine the two sources in the picture. Then answer the question.
Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the information in Source 2?
Democratic governments need to balance individual liberties with national
interests.
Citizens voluntarily give up individual liberties in exchange for government
protections.
Citizens demand compensation from the government when individual
liberties are denied.
Democratic governments have unlimited power to deny individual liberties
during times of war.
Read and examine the two sources in the picture. Then answer the question.
Select the two people who would most likely receive a writ of habeas corpus, based on the information in the sources.
a person who demanded a new trial a year after being sentenced
a person who was placed in jail without a trial for more than two years
a person who immediately pleaded guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment
a person who received a speeding ticket and had to immediately pay a large fine
a person who was arrested two weeks ago and still has not been charged with a crime
A quotation from a speech Benjamin Franklin gave at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 is shown:
"If a proportional representation takes place, the small states contend that their liberties will be in danger. If an equality of votes is to be put in its place, the large states say their money will be in danger."
contend = claim
How did the Founders address the problem described in the quotation when they wrote the U.S. Constitution?
They created a national bank.
They established state legislatures and state courts.
They wrote the Bill of Rights, consisting of ten amendments.
They created Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Use the picture to help answer the question:
Two signs women used while protesting outside the White House in 1917 are shown.
Based on the information, what were the protesters most likely demanding?
a new law that would allow women to serve in the military
a constitutional amendment that would allow women to vote
a change in education policies that would allow women to attend college
a shift in employment practices that would allow women to work outside the home
Read and examine the two sources. Then answer the question.
Part A - At the Constitutional Convention, some states supported the Virginia Plan and others supported the New Jersey Plan.
Based on the sources, which of the following pairs of states most likely supported the Virginia Plan at the Constitutional Convention?
Delaware and Rhode Island
Delaware and Massachusetts
Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island
Read and examine the two sources. Then answer the question.
Based on the sources, which of the following pairs of states most likely supported the New Jersey Plan at the Constitutional Convention?
Delaware and Rhode Island
Delaware and Massachusetts
Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island
Read and examine the two sources. Then answer the question.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention compromised on how states should be represented in the national government. This compromise became known as the Great Compromise.
Select two ideas that were adopted at the Constitutional Convention and that resulted in the Great Compromise.
The Senate would consist of two senators from each state.
The Supreme Court would consist of one judge from each state.
The presidential Cabinet would consist of one advisor from each state.
In both houses of Congress, each state’s representation would be based on
its population.
In the House of Representatives, each state’s representation would be based
on its population.
In the 2000 U.S. presidential election, George W. Bush was the Republican Party candidate, Albert Gore Jr. was the Democratic Party candidate, and Ralph Nader was the Green Party candidate. The table shows a summary of the election results, and the map shows the number of electoral votes that each candidate received by state.
Based on the information, which of the following best describes the results of the 2000 presidential election? Use the picture to help you answer!
The candidate with the most popular votes won the election, even though he won fewer states.
The candidate with the most electoral votes won the election, even though he won fewer states.
The candidate with the most electoral votes won the election, even though he received fewer popular votes.
The candidate with the most popular votes won the election, even though he received fewer electoral votes.
The political cartoon shows how some people view the separation of powers in the U.S. government.
The cartoon shows an opinion about...
the process of judicial review.
the principle of checks and balances.
the development of state and local governments.
the establishment of international trade agreements.
The political cartoon shows how some people view the separation of powers in the U.S. government.
Which claim is best supported by the political cartoon?
Senators should have term limits.
The president has too much power.
Supreme Court justices should be elected by the people.
The House of Representatives should be allowed to veto presidential orders.
The circle graphs in the image show the spending by both the state government of Massachusetts and the federal government in 2018.
Which of the following conclusions about government responsibilities is best supported by the information in the graphs?
Neither government is responsible for providing Social Security to the people.
State governments are responsible for maintaining the Department of Defense.
Both governments are responsible for providing health services to communities.
The federal government is primarily responsible for providing education for communities.
The table in the picture compares aspects of the Iroquois Confederacy Constitution, known as the Great Law of Peace, with the U.S. Constitution.
Based on the information in the table, select the three principles the Iroquois Confederacy Constitution and the U.S. Constitution have in common.
judicial review
individual rights
limited government
separation of powers
representative democracy
The graph in the image shows the percentage of eligible voters, by age group, who voted in presidential elections over time.
Which of the following statements is supported by the graph?
From 1980 to 1984, there was a decrease in the percentage of people aged 30 to 44 who voted.
From 1992 to 2004, there was an increase in the percentage of people aged 65 and older who voted.
From 1996 to 2004, there was a decrease in the percentage of people aged 45 to 64 who voted.
From 2000 to 2016, there was an increase in the percentage of people aged 18 to 29 who voted.
How do the protections described in the information most benefit citizens?
by allowing citizens to run for office
by creating rules for citizens to vote
by defining the individual rights of citizens
by granting the government power over its citizens
Which of the following best describes how the legislative branches of the state and federal governments help to preserve the protections described in the information in the image?
The legislatures debate about the guarantees listed.
The legislatures pass laws to support the guarantees listed.
The legislatures use the military to enforce the guarantees listed.
The legislatures determine how to mandate the guarantees listed.
