Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Federal Government Review for test 3

Total questions: 100

Worksheet time: 50mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In which month do general presidential election campaigns typically begin?

a)
  1. September

b)

August

c)

October

d)

June

2.

How many electors must a presidential candidate secure in the Electoral College to be elected president?

a)

228

b)

435

c)

328

d)

270

3.

A written message that the President issues upon signing a bill into law is called:

a)

a signing statement

b)
  1. a declaration

c)
  1. a veto

d)
  1. a filibuster

4.

Which President issued more vetoes during his term?

a)
  1. Grover Cleveland

b)
  1. Herbert Hoover

c)
  1. Donald Trump

d)
  1. Franklin D. Roosevelt

5.

Many vice presidents have served a largely____

role.

a)

Political

b)

Ceremonial

c)

Ideological

d)

Informant

6.

How many vice presidents have succeeded a president who died in office?

a)

2

b)

3

c)

8

d)

5

7.

Most would-be presidents choose their vice-presidential running mate based on their desire for a "_____" approach that provides diversity and maximizes electoral appeal.

a)
  1. balanced ticket

b)
  1. complementary duo

c)
  1. party first

d)
  1. equal partnership

8.

The head of the Department of Justice is called the

a)
  1. secretary of justice

b)
  1. solicitor general.

c)
  1. attorney general.

d)

head lawyer.

9.

Colin Powell was the first black secretary of state. He was appointed by

a)
  1. Bill Clinton

b)
  1. George W. Bush

c)
  1. Jimmy Carter

d)
  1. Ronald Reagan

10.

Janet Reno, the first woman to be appointed to a "big four" cabinet position, was appointed by which president?

a)

Bill Clinton

b)
  1. George W. Bush

c)
  1. Jimmy Carter

d)
  1. Ronald Reagan

11.

Which office within the Executive Office of the President is responsible for the creation of the president's annual budget?

a)
  1. Department of the Treasury

b)
  1. Bureau of the Budget

c)
  1. Federal Reserve

d)

Office of Management and Budget

12.

Which of these offices acts as the launch pad for the implementation of presidential policy?

a)
  1. White House counsel

b)
  1. National Security Council

c)
  1. Executive Office of the President

d)

Council of Economic Advisors

13.

Which constitutional amendment, passed in 1967, determines the course of action in the case of a president being incapacitated?

a)
  1. Twenty-Third

b)
  1. Twenty-Seventh

c)
  1. Twenty-Sixth

d)
  1. Twenty-Fifth

14.

The expressed powers for the president are found in Article of the U.S. Constitution.

a)

I

b)

II

c)

III

d)
  1. IV

15.

Which of the following is NOT a power vested in the president by the Constitution?

a)
  1. serve as commander in chief

b)
  1. give the State of the Union address

c)

Declare War

d)

Pardon crimes

16.

Which clause has been cited by presidents as the basis for the assertion of inherent powers?

a)
  1. the establishment clause

b)
  1. the commerce clause

c)
  1. the necessary and proper clause

d)

the take care clause

17.

Which of the following best describes presidential use of the line-item veto?

a)
  1. It has not been as effective as hoped, because it cannot be used on appropriations bills

b)
  1. It is virtually unused by modern presidents, because they fear encroaching on congressional power

c)
  1. It is no longer in use because the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional

d)
  1. It has become a common tool among modern presidents

18.

The president can exert all the following powers through the use of executive order EXCEPT

a)
  1. creating or changing regulatory guidelines or practices of executive departments and agencies.

b)
  1. enforcing specific provisions of the Constitution.

c)

creating new taxes.

d)

directing enforcement of congressional statutes or Supreme Court rulings.

19.

Abraham Lincoln used _____ to draft militia into national service.

a)
  1. the take care clause

b)
  1. executive privilege

c)
  1. executive order

d)
  1. emergency powers

20.

Which of these President's had the highest approval rating?

a)

George W. Bush

b)
  1. Ronald Reagan

c)
  1. Donald Trump

d)
  1. Joe Biden

21.

The___badly wounded the trust that many Americans had for their president and their government

a)
  1. Monica Lewinski affair

b)
  1. twitter escapade

c)
  1. Louisiana Purchase

d)
  1. Watergate Scandal

22.

Three Presidents have been impeached by the House. They were Andrew Johnson, and:

a)
  1. Donald Trump and Bill Clinton

b)
  1. Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon

c)
  1. Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton

d)
  1. Jeff Bezos and Donald Trump

23.

Of the following first ladies, who exercised the LEAST amount of political power?

a)

Hillary Clinton

b)

Edith Wilson

c)

Michelle Obama

d)

Eleanor Roosevelt

24.

The non-elected government employees hired to impierent public policy are known as:

a)
  1. lobbyists

b)
  1. theorists

c)
  1. worker bees

d)
  1. bureaucrats

25.

The President hires or appoints about_____individuals for the hierarchy of the executive branch.

a)

4,000

b)

8,000

c)

1,000

d)

2,500

26.

What is the name given to the book, published every four years, that lists the federal positions available by appointment by the President through the patronage system.

a)
  1. the book of civil service

b)
  1. the peach book

c)
  1. the jobs book

d)
  1. the plum book

27.

GS-14 civil servants can make:

a)

$34,649 - $45,044

b)

$47,097 - $61,227

c)

$112,890 - $146,757

d)

$95,973 - $124,764

28.

All of the national executive branch employs approximately_____public servants.

a)

1 million

b)

2 million

c)

4 million

d)

5 million

29.

What title is given to the top political appointee who heads each of the national government's 15 departments, except the Department of Justice?

a)
  1. general secretary

b)
  1. director

c)
  1. secretary

d)
  1. main secretary

30.

The first three cabinet departments were

a)
  1. State, Treasury, and War.

b)
  1. Homeland, Interior, and Treasury.

c)
  1. Interior, Treasury, and Defense.

d)
  1. Treasury, Interior, and Defense.

31.

Which of the following was the first independent regulatory commission established by the federal government to oversee the prices and services of the railroad industry?

a)

Railroad Commission

b)

Consumer Product Safety Commission

c)

General Services Administration

d)

Interstate Commerce Commission

32.

There are ___ stages in the public policy cycle.

a)

6

b)

5

c)

4

d)

3

33.

Which laws open up government functions and documents to the public?

a)
  1. Government in the Sunshine Laws

b)
  1. Freedom of Information Provisions

c)
  1. E-Government Act

d)
  1. Administrative Procedure Act

34.

Congress can force itself to evaluate a bureaucracy's performance by including a . authorization law which establishes an agency or a program.

a)
  1. sunrise clause

b)
  1. shadow clause

c)
  1. sunset clause

d)

desk clause

35.

____are people who disclose government misconduct, waste, or mismanagement.

a)

Whistleblowers

b)
  1. Snitches

c)
  1. Public Servants

d)
  1. Lobbyists

36.

The dual court system in the U.S. includes:

a)
  1. the national judiciary and Puerto Rico

b)
  1. the national and 50 state judicial systems

c)
  1. military and national courts

d)
  1. all 50 state judiciaries

37.

Which of the following statements about constitutional law is accurate?

a)
  1. Constitutional law arises from federal statutes.

b)
  1. Constitutional law is binding only on the actions of the federal government.

c)

All laws in the United States must comply with the U.S. Constitution.

d)

All of these answers are correct.

38.

The principle of stare decisis, a Latin phrase that means "let the decision stand," is the basis of the modern legal concept of

a)
  1. code law.

b)
  1. precedent.

c)
  1. jury trials.

d)

the primacy of common law.

39.

U.S. statutes and acts are authored by___ and contained in the US code.

a)
  1. the Supreme Court.

b)
  1. the president.

c)
  1. Congress and other legislatures.

d)
  1. Congress.

40.

Texas is in the___Federal Circuit Court district.

a)

8th

b)

1st

c)

5th

d)

3rd

41.

The compilation of a state's criminal law is known as its____ code

a)

Constitutional

b)

Criminal

c)

Penal

d)

State

42.

The vast majority of crimes in the United States are dealt with by____legislation.

a)

Federal

b)

Local

c)

State

d)

None of these answers are correct

43.

Who files suit in a case dealing with a violation of criminal law?

a)
  1. the government

b)
  1. the respondent

c)
  1. the victim

d)
  1. the plaintiff

44.

In a federal criminal trial, the burden of proof is:

a)
  1. preponderance of the evidence.

b)
  1. somewhat guilty

c)
  1. beyond a reasonable doubt

d)
  1. beyond a shadow of a doubt

45.

Which of the following is a key difference between criminal trials and civil trials?

a)
  1. Criminal trials include an automatic appeal to a federal appellate court.

b)
  1. Criminal trials require a higher degree of certainty of guilt or responsibility.

c)
  1. Criminal trials always have judges.

d)
  1. Criminal trial decisions can be appealed, whereas civil trial decisions cannot.

46.

In a civil suit, the ___ alleges that some action or inaction by the other party has caused harm to their body, property, psychological well-being, reputation, or civil rights or liberties.

a)
  1. the government

b)
  1. the plaintiff

c)
  1. the defendant

d)
  1. the respondent

47.

The authority of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of governmental action is known as

a)
  1. jurisdiction.

b)
  1. precedent.

c)

judicial review.

d)

stare decisis.

48.

___Courts do the bulk of the work of the federal judiciary.

a)

District and Appeal

b)

District

c)
  1. Appeal Courts and the Supreme Court.

d)
  1. Supreme Court.

49.

How many federal district courts are there in the U.S. court system?

a)

76

b)

13

c)

56

d)

94

50.

How many federal courts of appeal are there?

a)

27

b)

94

c)

13

d)

6

51.

The U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals

a)
  1. decide all cases after an oral hearing on the matter.

b)
  1. are constitutional courts of last resort.

c)
  1. review the interpretation or application of law in a case appealed from the district court.

d)
  1. hold trials to determine the evidence.

52.

The leading justice on the Supreme Court, who provides both organizational and intellectual leadership, is known as the

a)
  1. associate justice.

b)
  1. chief justice.

c)
  1. official justice.

d)
  1. head justice.

53.

The current Supreme Court is known as the____Court

a)

Roberts

b)

Burger

c)

Kennedy

d)

Rehnquist

54.

Most of the U.S. Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction is____

a)

discretionary

b)
  1. mandatory

c)
  1. automatic

d)
  1. de jure

55.

How many justices are there on the Supreme Court?

a)

9

b)

5

c)

13

d)

7

56.

Which current Justice was not a sitting judge when appointed?

a)
  1. Elena Kagan

b)
  1. Ruth Ginsburg

c)
  1. Antonin Scalia

d)
  1. John Roberts

57.

A custom whereby the Senate will not confirm a Presidential nominee if the nominee is opposed by one or both senators from the nominee's home state is called:

a)
  1. the polite rule

b)
  1. senatorial courtesy

c)
  1. specialization

d)
  1. race judicated

58.

Which of the following share power in the selection of federal court judges?

a)
  1. the House of Representatives and the Senate

b)
  1. the House of Representatives and the president

c)
  1. the Senate and the President

d)
  1. the Supreme Court and the House of Representatives

59.

A Supreme Court justice who agrees with the majority in a case but disagrees in whole or in part with the majority opinion, has the option to write a ___ opinion.

a)

concurring

b)
  1. dissenting

c)
  1. supporting

d)
  1. minority

60.

A Supreme Court justice who disagrees with the majority in a case has the option to write a ___ opinion.

a)

Supporting

b)

Congruent

c)

Concurring

d)

Dissenting

61.

Who is the most recently appointed justice to the U.S. Supreme Court?

a)
  1. Ruth Bader Ginsburg

b)
  1. John Roberts

c)
  1. Ketanji Brown Jackson

d)
  1. Amy Coney Barrett

62.

How many cases does the U.S. Supreme Court agree to review each year?

a)

80

b)

8,000

c)

1500

d)

12

63.

Which branch(es) has check(s) on the judicial branch?

a)

voters

b)

legislative

c)

executive

d)

legislative and executive

64.

Which of the following conducts impeachment trials for federal judges?

a)

the Supreme Court

b)

the attorney general of the United States

c)

The Senate

d)

the House

65.

Government-supported safety nets

a)
  1. are rarely supported by those that are liberal in inclination, like Democrats.

b)
  1. are programs that ensure that the physiological needs of citizens are met.

c)
  1. are generally supported by those with a conservative ideology.

d)
  1. deal exclusively with the economic well-being of citizens.

66.

People with NIMBY ("not-in-my-backyard") syndrome take which of the following stances on civic engagement?

a)
  1. They often participate in an attempt to limit government authority.

b)
  1. They often participate in an attempt to expand government authority.

c)
  1. They rarely participate, viewing government as corrupt and ineffective.

d)
  1. They are not inspired to participate in politics until a government action or inaction threatens them directly.

67.

The most costly cash transfer program in the federal government is:

a)

SNAP

b)

SBA

c)

a tax break

d)

Social Security

68.

Medicaid is a joint federal-state entitlement program providing health care to people meeting a means test. There are nearly____different Medicaid programs.

a)

25

b)

3

c)

17

d)

50

69.

The minimum hourly wage in California is:

a)

$7.25

b)

$14

c)

$12.80

d)

$11.50

70.

TANF is not an entitlement program and is limited to two consecutive years and a lifetime maximum of___years.

a)

3

b)

4

c)

5

d)

6

71.

Medicare, established in 1965, provides health insurance to persons over the age of

a)

55

b)

65

c)

60

d)

70

72.

Which president declared an "energy crisis" and promoted conservation and energy efficiency measures

a)
  1. Jimmy Carter

b)
  1. Gerald Ford

c)
  1. Ronald Reagan

d)
  1. George H. W. Bush

73.

OPEC refused to sell___ to the U.S. and Western European Nations in 1973.

a)

corn

b)

electricity

c)

oil

d)

Chinese products

74.

Citizens are typically within the jurisdiction of how many governments?

a)

5

b)

3

c)

2

d)

4

75.

The opportunity granted by state government for citizens to write, adopt, and amend local government charters at the municipal and county level is known as:

a)

Dillion's Rule.

b)

home rule.

c)
  1. popular referendum.

d)
  1. a charter.

76.

In general, how long is the term of office for state senators?

a)

2 years

b)

3 years

c)

4 years

d)

5 years

77.

All states except___have a bicameral legislature.

a)

Georgia

b)

Wyoming

c)

Tennessee

d)

Nebraska

78.

In general, how long is the term of office for state representatives?

a)

2 years

b)

3 years

c)

4 years

d)

5 years

79.

States have a plural executive system In Texas, we elected____ state wide officials.

a)

10

b)

9

c)

11

d)

8

80.

Who is responsible for the implementation of public policy?

a)
  1. the judicial branch

b)
  1. the legislative branch

c)
  1. the executive branch

d)

the city council

81.

Which of the following statements about state legislators is accurate?

a)
  1. there is less diversity of gender, ethnicity, and race among state legislators than among federal legislators

b)
  1. there is no correlation between the racial and ethnic diversity of state and the composition of its legislature

c)
  1. all state legislatures have the same primary functions: to formulate public policy

d)
  1. the majority of states impose term limits for legislators

82.

Unlike the president, most state governors have which of the following tools to help them balance the state budget?

a)

all of these answers are correct

b)
  1. authority to implement programs funded by the state budget

c)
  1. ability to draft an executive budget

d)
  1. the line-item veto to eliminate funding lines in appropriation bills

83.

State trial courts have___jurisdiction and appellate courts have___jurisdiction.

a)
  1. appellate; multi

b)
  1. original; trial

c)
  1. original; appellate

d)

beginning; end

84.

What type of election is faced by judges who are selected through the merit selection process?

a)
  1. retention

b)
  1. nonpartisan

c)
  1. primary

d)
  1. partisan

85.

The form of general-purpose government found in a majority of cities is comprised of an elected body with legislative and executive powers and a(n):

a)
  1. council-manager.

b)
  1. strong mayor.

c)
  1. weak mayor.

d)
  1. independent commission.

86.

Through which of the following procedures can citizens bypass their elected officials to create and approve laws?

a)
  1. popular referendum

b)
  1. recall

c)
  1. legislative referral

d)

initiative

87.

The most visible special purpose governments are:

a)
  1. transit authorities

b)
  1. school districts

c)
  1. appellate

d)
  1. hospital

88.

Which of the following is an instrument used in direct democracy that allows citizens to remove an elected official before the end of the individual's term?

a)

referendum

b)
  1. mandate

c)
  1. policy control

d)

recall

89.

The day-to-day costs of government operations are covered by its:

a)

capital budget.

b)

operating budget

c)
  1. essential services.

d)
  1. local expenditures.

90.

How many states constitutionally require balanced yearly budgets?

a)

all 50

b)

44

c)

39

d)

49

91.

Which of the following makes up the largest proportion of local budgets?

a)

education

b)
  1. government administration

c)
  1. health and hospitals

d)
  1. public safety

92.

As of 2019, which of the following makes up the largest amount of state expenditures?

a)
  1. intergovernmental expenditures

b)
  1. education

c)
  1. insurance

d)

public welfare, hospitals and health

93.

Which of the following tends to be the most criticized tax, in part, because it increases on an almost annual basis?

a)

income tax

b)

sales tax

c)

property tax

d)

business tax

94.

How many states, including Texas, do not collect a personal income tax?

a)

fifteen

b)

ten

c)

three

d)

seven

95.

Which of the following is true of state and local responses to the coronavirus pandemic?

a)
  1. State and local governments hit earlier in the spread of the virus showed the least willingness to enact strong measures to deal with its effects.

b)
  1. Early national leadership on the pandemic reduced the need for states to experiment in their response actions.

c)
  1. Many collaborations to deal with the pandemic crossed municipal, county, and state lines.

d)
  1. Governors showed an early willingness to close down buildings and public spaces, but changed their positions later on.

96.

There are about___ million people employed by state and local governments.

a)

5

b)

15

c)

20

d)

90,000

97.

Essential service providers include: schoolteachers, police officer, fire fighters and:

a)
  1. road and bridge maintenance crews.

b)
  1. grocery workers.

c)

Wal-Mart Employees

d)

people who mow lawns

98.

Generally speaking, ___ governments are trusted more than ___ government(s).

a)
  1. local; national

b)
  1. state; national

c)
  1. national; local and state

d)
  1. local and state; supreme

99.

Local governments get most of their revenue from which of these?

a)
  1. property taxes

b)
  1. rental properties

c)
  1. individual income taxes

d)
  1. sales taxes

100.

A tax on the extraction of a natural resource is known as a___tax.

a)

business

b)

consumptive

c)

severance

d)

capital gains