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us government review

Total questions: 49

Worksheet time: 41mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Thomas Hobbs who wrote the Leviathan developed this idea that people must give up some of their freedom to the government in exchange for protection of their natural rights. This is called:

a)

Laws of Nature

b)

Unalienable Rights

c)

Social Contract Theory

d)

Divine Rights of Kings

2.

The Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal”. One of the unalienable rights mentioned in this document is the right to:

a)

Free Speech

b)

Liberty

c)

Vote

d)

Freedom of Religion

3.

Which of the following phrases most closely aligns with the idea of “Unalienable Rights?”

a)

“shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union.”

b)

“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

c)

“He has refused his assent to laws.”

d)

“At every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the humblest terms.”

4.

Which of these rights and freedoms is not representative of the aspect of “consent of the governed,” as understood in social contract theory?

a)

The right to vote

b)

Freedom from quartering of troops

c)

Freedom of petition

d)

The right to Habeas Corpus

5.

Each of the following helped lay a foundation for the form of government that was adopted by the United States EXCEPT:

a)

The Enlightenment

b)

Republicanism

c)

Totalitarianism

d)

English Common Law

6.

The philosopher that is associated with the idea of separation of powers along with checks and balances so that government does not become too powerful is:

a)

John Locke

b)

William Blackstone

c)

Charles de Montesquieu

d)

Thomas Hobbs

7.

Which of these documents is credited to Thomas Jefferson for writing?

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

U.S. Constitution

c)

Articles of Confederation

d)

Virginia Ordinance of Secession

8.

Which of the following was the founding father who was an Anti-Federalist and was in support of a strong Bill of Rights to be added to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

James Madison

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

Roger Sherman

d)

Alexander Hamilton

9.

What aspect of the Constitution timeline did John Jay have the most influence on?

a)

The writing

b)

The debate

c)

The compromises

d)

The ratification

10.

Using your knowledge of the figure in the image, what historical role might the scroll represent in the portrait?

a)

Commander in Chief during the War of 1812

b)

Revolutionary War Commander

c)

Father of the Constitution

d)

Chief Ambassador to Spain

11.

Which of the following was not a constitutional debate?

a)

The structure of the legislation

b)

The election of the president

c)

The representation of non-citizens

d)

The location of the national capitol

12.

Which of these founders did not write the Federalist Papers?

a)

George Washington

b)

James Madison

c)

Alexander Hamilton

d)

John Jay

13.

Roger Sherman introduced this compromise to settle the controversy between the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan was called:

a)

Missouri Compromise

b)

Articles of Confederation

c)

Connecticut Compromise

d)

Commerce Compromise

14.

Which of the following best summarizes the goal of the Anti-Federalists:

a)

Separation of Power

b)

Strong Federal Government

c)

Federalism

d)

State’s Rights and Individual Rights

15.

The Federalists Papers explained all of the following principles EXCEPT:

a)

Checks and Balances

b)

Limited Government

c)

Separation of Powers

d)

Bill of Rights

16.

How does the Amendment process demonstrate the aspect of federalism?

a)

The individual states have a direct say in the writing of amendments

b)

Amendments may not be implemented without a super majority of states’ approval

c)

The federal government does not need state input to amend the constitution

d)

The Bill of Rights guarantees individual citizen input into the amendment process

17.

Which of the following principle do not limit the power of government:

a)

Checks and Balances

b)

Popular Sovereignty

c)

Federal Supremacy

d)

Republicanism

18.

How are individual rights expressed in the constitution?

a)

The Supremacy Clause

b)

The Bill of Rights

c)

The Necessary and Proper Clause

d)

The 3/5ths Compromise

19.

Which of the following is an example of Checks and Balances to maintain a balance of power between the three branches of government?

a)

The Supreme Court's ability to overturn a lower court decision

b)

The election of the president by the Electoral College instead of direct election

c)

Senate approval of the presidential appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court

d)

The age and residency requirements for members of Congress

20.

According to Article V of the U.S. Constitution, an amendment must be approved by 2/3 of both houses of congress and then:

a)

Approved by Congress

b)

Approved by 3/4 of the states

c)

Approved by the President

d)

Approved by 1/2 of the states

21.

This is the idea that "the people" give the government power to protect their natural rights and must live by the rules?

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Social Contract

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Rule of Law

22.
According to the Social Contract theory ... 
a)
government emerged when all the people of an area were brought under the control of one person or group
b)
Government emerged from family
c)
People give up some of their natural rights in order to receive protection
d)
A person gains the authority to govern because a god or group of gods gave them that power
23.
To whom were the signers writing this "break-up letter"?
a)
The world
b)
King George
c)
George Washington
d)
One Republic & Timabland
24.
What was the purpose of the Declaration?
a)
to declare independence from France.
b)
to declare independence from Germany.
c)
to declare independence from Cuba.
d)
to declare independence from England
25.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain _______, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
Which of the following best completes this excerpt?
a)
unalienable rights
b)
equalities of opportunity
c)
duties and responsibilities
d)
repeated injuries and abuses
26.

Why did Congress pass the War Powers Resolution?

a)

Congress wanted to expand its power to provide funding to the military.

b)

Congress wanted to limit the president's power to send US troops into armed conflicts.

c)

Congress wanted to regain control over its treaty-making powers.

d)

Congress wanted to give the president the power to make battlefield decisions.

27.

Which amendment in the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of speech?

a)

First Amendment

b)

Second Amendment

c)

Fourth Amendment

d)

Tenth Amendment

28.

How many branches of government are established by the U.S. Constitution?

a)

Two

b)

Three

c)

Four

d)

Five

29.

Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?

a)

Executive

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

d)

Bureaucratic

30.

What is the main function of the checks and balances system?

a)

To ensure that no branch of government becomes too powerful

b)

To check the accuracy of government financial accounts

c)

To balance the federal budget

d)

To provide checks to government employees

31.

Which principle means that government powers are divided between the national and state governments?

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Federalism

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Republicanism

32.

Who has the power to veto legislation?

a)

The President

b)

The Supreme Court

c)

The Speaker of the House

d)

The Senate Majority Leader

33.

Which amendment provides the right to bear arms?

a)

First Amendment

b)

Second Amendment

c)

Fourth Amendment

d)

Eighth Amendment

34.

How can a presidential veto be overridden?

a)

By a simple majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate

b)

By a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate

c)

By a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court

d)

By a national referendum

35.

What does federalism imply about the constitution?

a)

It suggests that the constitution is an agreement between states to form a single nation.

b)

It indicates that the constitution can only be amended by the federal government.

c)

It implies that the constitution prioritizes federal law over state law in cases of conflict.

d)

It means that the constitution is interpreted differently by each state.

36.

What is the significance of the Tenth Amendment in the context of federalism?

a)

It grants all powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

b)

It explicitly outlines the powers of the federal government.

c)

It provides the states with the power to veto federal legislation.

d)

It abolishes the federal system in favor of a unitary one.

37.

Which branch of government is primarily responsible for interpreting the law?

a)

Executive

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

d)

Administrative

38.
The US has a written constitution, this characteristic is one of a:
a)
Limited Government
b)
Unlimited Government
39.

The U.S. Constitution begins with the words "We the people" this established the idea that?

a)

The people have given over all rights to the government.

b)

The people are the source of the government's power.

c)

The people will not have any role in the government.

d)

The people will make all the decisions for the government.

40.

Which of the following principles is NOT a feature of the U.S. Constitution?

a)

Federalism

b)

Monarchy

c)

Separation of Powers

d)

Checks and Balances

41.

Who is considered the 'Father of the Constitution'?

a)

George Washington

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

James Madison

d)

Benjamin Franklin

42.

Which amendment in the Bill of Rights protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?

a)

First Amendment

b)

Second Amendment

c)

Fourth Amendment

d)

Sixth Amendment

43.

Which of the following documents established the first form of national government for the United States?

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

The Articles of Confederation

c)

The U.S. Constitution

d)

The Bill of Rights

44.

What is the primary purpose of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

To outline the structure of the government

b)

To list the rights of the citizens

c)

To state the goals and purposes of the government

d)

To establish the process for amending the Constitution

45.

Which of the following is a power reserved to the states by the U.S. Constitution?

a)

Coining money

b)

Declaring war

c)

Establishing local governments

d)

Regulating interstate commerce

46.

Which of the following amendments abolished slavery in the United States?

a)

First Amendment

b)

Thirteenth Amendment

c)

Fifth Amendment

d)

Nineteenth Amendment

47.

Which of the following is a primary function of the Department of Homeland Security?

a)

Managing the nation's monetary policy

b)

Overseeing the federal prison system

c)

Protecting the United States from terrorist attacks

d)

Regulating interstate commerce

48.

Which executive branch agency is responsible for the collection of federal taxes?

a)

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

b)

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

c)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

d)

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

49.

What is the primary role of the Department of State?

a)

Managing the nation's public lands

b)

Conducting foreign policy and international relations

c)

Overseeing the federal education system

d)

Regulating the stock market