WorksheetsCivics Unit 1 MC Test Bank
Total questions: 70
Worksheet time: 35mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
A nation is defined by its territorial boundaries.
a)
True
b)
False
2.
A government maintains order by enforcing laws and punishing lawbreakers.
a)
True
b)
False
3.
Anarchy is a type of government in which one leader rules by force.
a)
True
b)
False
4.
According to divine right theory, to oppose a monarch was a sin against God.
a)
True
b)
False
5.
Which of these statements is based on John Locke’s definition of the social contract?
a)
A government operates with the goal of promoting human rights.
b)
A police state is necessary to protect people’s belongings.
c)
Individuals should be free to do whatever they wish.
d)
Once a government has been formed, its laws cannot be changed.
6.
An army takes over a government and establishes its general as the supreme ruler. Which theory explains the origins of this new government?
a)
Divine Right Theory
b)
Evolutionary Theory
c)
Force Theory
d)
Social Contract Theory
7.
A nation can become a state when it has which of these?
a)
Common language
b)
Organized government
c)
Standing army
d)
Unique customs
8.
Which of the following activities would be considered a part of the government’s role in providing national security?
a)
Maintaining an army
b)
Creating public schools
c)
regulating mortages
d)
Funding fire department
9.
A state has sovereignty when it is able to do which of the following?
a)
Freely create and enforce laws
b)
Invade and take over any other state
c)
Occupy a particular area of land
d)
Punish its citizens for any action
10.
The rules that governments make for their citizens to follow are called...?
a)
Bills
b)
laws
c)
contracts
d)
injunctions
11.
The Preamble of the Constitution describes the 27 amendments to the original document.
a)
True
b)
False
12.
The principles of the Constitution include unlimited government and individual rights over common good.
a)
True
b)
False
13.
By specifying the powers of the federal government, the Constitution fulfills the principle of limited government.
a)
True
b)
False
14.
The Articles of the Constitution describe the two-house structure of Congress.
a)
True
b)
False
15.
The Bill of Rights arose in part because of Americans’ experiences with Britain.
a)
True
b)
False
16.
Which of the following best defines constitutional amendment?
a)
changes to the original Constitution
b)
descriptions of the structure of government
c)
outline of the limits of government
d)
statement of individual rights and freedoms
17.
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances in the United States?
a)
Congress passes laws by unanimous vote.
b)
Congress vetoes a law passed by the president.
c)
The Supreme Court can rule that a law is unconstitutional.
d)
The president passes a law in Congress.
18.
Which branch of government interprets the law and includes the Supreme Court?
a)
The Executive Branch
b)
The judicial branch
c)
The Legislative Branch
d)
The Supreme Branch
19.
What is the effect of federalism on state governments?
a)
State governments are allowed to act on federal matters.
b)
State governments can rule on local issues.
c)
The federal government can appoint state governors.
d)
The federal government has absolute control of state governments.
20.
A written constitution is important because it...?
a)
allows government to control its citizens.
b)
cannot be changed, or amended.
c)
prevents citizens from breaking laws.
d)
provides a rule book for government.
21.
The _________________ clause is a principle that lets Congress stretch its power to meet certain situations.
a)
elastic
b)
supremacy
c)
santa
d)
commerce
22.
The term ______________ refers to a court’s authority to hear certain kinds of cases.
a)
juridiction
b)
judicial review
c)
writ of certiorari
d)
appeal
23.
A court’s ability to interpret the Constitution and overturn laws that violate the Constitution is known as...?
a)
judicial review
b)
executive order
c)
veto
d)
constitutional convention
24.
The ____________ powers are powers that are listed by number in the Constitution.
a)
expressed
b)
implied
c)
reserved
d)
concurreent
25.
When an amendment is _________ that means it is approved.
a)
ratified
b)
vetoed
c)
unlimited
d)
philibustered
26.
Alexander Hamilton published The Federalist Papers in an effort to...?
a)
revise the Constitution to reduce executive power.
b)
create a powerful central government and executive branch.
c)
communicate the importance of the Constitution to the public.
d)
prevent states from becoming more powerful than central government.
27.
After achieving independence from Britain, U.S. leaders created an executive branch that...?
a)
could function without limited power.
b)
had limited power but could enforce laws.
c)
was weaker than the other branches of government.
d)
was able to rule in Supreme Court cases.
28.
How does representation in the U.S. Senate differ from representation in the House?
a)
The House of Representatives includes two representatives from each state.
b)
The House of Representatives is made up of appointed officials.
c)
The number of representatives in the House is based on state population.
d)
The representatives in the House are elected by Congress.
29.
How did the Founders solve the problem of a too-powerful military?
a)
They chose not to divide control of the military among the branches of government.
b)
They made it mandatory for citizens to serve in the military.
c)
They put the military under the control of the executive branch.
d)
They required all presidents to serve in the military.
30.
Which of the following is an enumerated power of Congress?
a)
the power to distribute counterfeit money
b)
the power to eliminate the militia
c)
the power to levy taxes on citizens
d)
the power to remove a judge from the bench
31.
What constitutional principle is being portrayed in the political cartoon below?
a)
Checks and Balances
b)
Limited government
c)
Rule of law
d)
Popular sovereignty
32.
What are the three branches of the national government?
a)
Legislative, executive, Judicial
b)
Federal, state, local
c)
NSA, FBI, CIA
d)
Supreme Court, federal court, state court
33.
Which branch of government has the civilian commander for the military?
a)
Legislative Branch
b)
The military is independent
c)
Executive Branch
d)
Judicial Branch
34.
What is the power to overturn laws that violate the Constitution?
a)
veto power
b)
impeachment
c)
judicial review
d)
enumerated powers
35.
Which of the following best describes how government has changed over time?
a)
All branches are more busy today than early U.S. government.
b)
The legislature is no longer involved in matters of foreign policy.
c)
The president no longer oversees most federal bureaucracies.
d)
The Supreme Court reviews fewer cases today than when the Constitution was first adopted
36.
Which branch of government has the power to appoint federal judges?
a)
Legislative branch
b)
Judicial branch
c)
Executive branch
d)
Vice President
37.
What is the statement “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” that applies to the legislative branch sometimes called?
a)
judicial review
b)
unlimited government
c)
elastic clause
d)
federalism
38.
Which branch of government has the responsibility to carry out laws passed by the federal government?
a)
The legislative branch
b)
the executive branch
c)
the judicial branch
d)
the states
39.
What is an enumerated (expressed) power of the legislative branch?
a)
command the military
b)
carry out education policies
c)
collect and appropriate funds
d)
pardon individuals convicted on crimes
40.
The first ten amendments, which identify freedoms of citizens, are known as the Preamble.
a)
True
b)
False
41.
The First Amendment protects freedom of religion and prevents the government from establishing a national religion.
a)
True
b)
False
42.
In the case Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal facilities violated the Constitution.
a)
True
b)
False
43.
One method of proposing an amendment is by a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate.
a)
True
b)
False
44.
The right to due process of law is guaranteed by the...?
a)
2nd amendment
b)
5th amendment
c)
7th amendment
d)
10th amendment
45.
In Texas v. Johnson, the Supreme Court ruled that flag-burning is protected by the...?
a)
1st amendment
b)
3rd amendment
c)
6th amendment
d)
9th amendment
46.
Which of the following best describes the formal process of amending the Constitution?
a)
Propose an amendment, then have citizens vote on it.
b)
Propose an amendment in Congress, then have state legislatures ratify it.
c)
Ratify an amendment, then propose it be voted on by Congress.
d)
Vote on an amendment, then have Congress ratify it.
47.
Which amendment was created to protect the rights of freed enslaved people and their descendants?
a)
1st amendment
b)
14th amendment
c)
21st amendment
d)
7th amendment
48.
Which group can influence the meaning of the Constitution through judicial review?
a)
Congress
b)
The President
c)
state lawmakers
d)
The Supreme Court
49.
What method has been used to propose all the amendments to the U.S. Constitution?
a)
a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate
b)
special elections that received two-thirds approval from voters throughout the nation
c)
the Supreme Court ruled that part of the Constitution was out of date
d)
two-thirds of states called for a convention
50.
How many states need to ratify a proposed amendment before it becomes part of the U.S. Constitution?
a)
three-fourths of the states
b)
two-thirds of the states
c)
25 states
d)
half of the states
51.
Which amendment protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press?
a)
2nd amendment
b)
4th amendment
c)
1st amendment
d)
3rd amendment
52.
Which amendment was later repealed?
a)
Eighteenth Amendment - establishing prohibition
b)
Fourteenth Amendment - establishing requirements for citizenship
c)
Thirteenth Amendment - abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude
d)
Twenty-sixth Amendment - giving citizens 18 years old or older the right to vote
53.
In our federal system, the central and state governments share some powers
a)
True
b)
False
54.
If it has Senate approval, a state law can conflict with a national law
a)
True
b)
False
55.
Unlike expressed powers, implied powers are directly expressed in the Constitution.
a)
True
b)
False
56.
Both the national and state governments can take private property for public use.
a)
True
b)
False
57.
States regulate interstate commerce; the national government, intrastate commerce.
a)
True
b)
False
58.
Which of the following statements best defines federalism?
a)
A state government can make laws that conflict with those of the central government.
b)
A state government has little power compared to that of the central government.
c)
State and national governments have certain powers but share no powers.
d)
Two or more governments have power over the same people in the same territory.
59.
Which of the following examples best depicts the supremacy clause of the Constitution?
a)
California enters into a trade agreement with Mexico.
b)
Kentucky passes a law requiring voters to be 21 years old.
c)
Michigan makes a treaty with Canada for control of waterways.
d)
The United States establishes the voting age to be 18.
60.
Which of the following is an implied power of the national government?
a)
coin money
b)
develop nuclear weapons
c)
levy and collect taxes
d)
make war
61.
Which of the following is the best example of a concurrent power of the state and national governments?
a)
conduct foreign relations
b)
declare war
c)
levy taxes
d)
provide an army and a navy
62.
Which of the following powers would you categorize under state government?
a)
administer elections
b)
appoint foreign ambassadors
c)
govern U.S. territories
d)
regulate interstate commerce
63.
A(n) ______________ act allows the people of the territory interested in becoming a state to prepare a constitution.
a)
Enabling
b)
War Powers
c)
Succession
d)
Entry
64.
__________________ are funds given to states by the national government to influence state policies.
a)
Federal grants
b)
Eminent domain
c)
stimulus grants
d)
Super PACS
65.
A ____________ requires states to provide a service that meets minimum national standards
a)
Mandate
b)
Preemption
c)
Tax
d)
Treaty
66.
the power of Congress to pass laws that allow the national government to assume responsibility for a state government function is called...?
a)
Preemption
b)
Philibuster
c)
Concurring opinion
d)
Dissenting Opinion
67.
Under a republican form of government...?
a)
states have little power.
b)
the government appoints representatives.
c)
the government holds sovereign power.
d)
voters hold sovereign power.
68.
Which president sent troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce integration of public schools?
a)
President Dwight Eisenhower
b)
Grover Cleveland
c)
John F Kennedy
d)
Lyndon B Johnson
69.
If fewer than three-fourths of the states approve it...?
a)
an amendment cannot be added to the Constitution.
b)
Congress cannot appoint a foreign ambassador.
c)
Congress cannot raise taxes.
d)
the president cannot declare war.
70.
The passage of the 1990 Nutritional Labeling and Education Act is an example of a(n)
a)
Federal grant
b)
Preemption
c)
Allocation
d)
Restraint
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