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12th grade Government - S1 Final Review

Total questions: 37

Worksheet time: 29mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

According to John Locke, which agreement did individuals enter into when forming their own society?

a)

Constitution

b)

Social contract

c)

Mayflower Compact

d)

English Bill of Rights

2.

According to John Locke, which rights were guaranteed by natural law?

a)

Freedom of worship and the right to petition

b)

Trial by jury and no cruel punishments

c)

Freedom of speech and of the press

d)

Life, liberty, and property

3.

The statement below is an excerpt from Magna Carta (1215). No freeman shall be taken or imprisoned or disseised or outlawed or exiled or any way destroyed...except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land. Which right was guaranteed in this excerpt from Magna Carta?

a)

Freedom of the press

b)

Freedom of religion

c)

Trial by jury

4.

Which example illustrates Montesquieu’s idea of the separation of powers?

a)

Citizens of the United States choose many of their public officials in elections

b)

The state government of Florida has a governor, state legislature and state court system

c)

Individual rights to life, liberty and property are guaranteed by natural law

d)

People have the right to overthrow an unjust government

5.

How was Locke’s social contract theory related to his belief in natural law (NL)?

a)

He argued subjects had the right to rebel against a ruler who was against NL

b)

He argued that whatever the king did was good according to NL

c)

He argued that NL required the colonists to be given their independence

d)

He argued that God had especially chosen kings to rule over their subjects as part of NL

6.

Which describes an impact of Magna Carta on the American colonists in the 1770’s?

a)

They believed they could not be taxed without their consent

b)

They believed they could not be governed by a far-away island

c)

They thought they had the right to overthrow a king who did not protect their rights

d)

They favored a separation of the powers of government into different branches

7.

What most attracted the Founding Fathers to Montesquieu’s idea of the separation of powers?

a)

It could prevent the central government from becoming tyrannical and oppressive

b)

It could protect the rights of the nobility from the actions of the king

c)

It could preserve the privileges of the monarch and nobles from popular attack

d)

It could raise juidicial power to a level of equality with legislative and executive power

8.

Which right was established by Magna Carta in 1215?

a)

The right to vote in elections

b)

The right to choose the monarch

c)

The right to freedom of speech

d)

The right to a trial of jury

9.

Which document confirmed the rights of English subjects after the overthrow of James II in the Glorious Revolution?

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Mayflower Compact

c)

English Bill of Rights

d)

Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws

10.

Which of the following were most similar?

a)

The Mayflower Compact and John Locke’s social contract theory

b)

The English Bill of Rights and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

c)

Magna Carta and Montesquieu’s separation of powers

d)

The Mayflower Compact and Montesquieu’s separation of powers

11.

The Mayflower Compact is to Self-government as the English Bill of Rights is to:

a)

Natural Law

b)

Separation of Powers

c)

Divine Right of Kings

d)

Guarantees of individual rights

12.

Which statement describes the influence of natural-law beliefs on John Locke and other Enlightenment thinkers?

a)

They argued it was natural for subjects to obey established governments

b)

They questioned any practices that seemed to go against reason and natural law

c)

They believed that royal power was natural because it was based on divine right

13.

Which grievance contributed to the American colonists’ desire to independence?

a)

British policies had made frontier lands too expensive

b)

The King had denied the colonists freedom of religion

c)

The British government had been too generous to Indian tribes

d)

The British government had taxed the colonists without their consent

14.

In the 1760’s and 1770’s, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, Tea Act, and Intolerable Acts. What was the impact of these British policies?

a)

Indian tribes were able to keep their lands

b)

Colonists began to think of becoming independent

c)

The British government was able to pay off its debts

d)

The French were defeated in the French and Indian War

15.

Which complaint against King George III is stated in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

He had quartered his troops among the colonies

b)

He had forced the colonists to accept the practice of slavery

c)

He had required the colonists to trade with French merchants

d)

He had failed to defend the colonists in the French and Indian War

16.

Which document publicized the concept of “natural rights”, later found in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Magna Carta

b)

The English Bill of Rights

c)

John Locke’s explanation of the Social Contract

17.

According to the Declaration of Independence, what was an “unalienable right” that all governments should protect?

a)

The right to social equality

b)

The right to personal liberty

c)

The right to religious equality

d)

The right to elect government officials

18.

Based on the Declaration of Independence, which is a natural right?

a)

The right to vote

b)

The right to bear arms

c)

The right to pursuit of happiness

d)

The right to equal protection of the laws

19.

How did Americans’ experience under British rule influence the form of government they established under the Articles of Confederation?

a)

The new legislature had two houses, just like the British Parliament

b)

The states were sovereign, just as the colonies had been under British rule

c)

The new central government was not given any power to direct the military

20.

By 1786, why did many merchants want the Articles of Confederation to be replaced?

a)

Several states were taxing the activities of the Confederation

b)

States were discouraging trade by taxing one another’s goods

c)

Congress was forcing the states to contribute to its general fund

d)

The national government had printed so much money that it lost its value

21.

How did the U.S. Constitution solve a problem created by the Articles of Confederation?

a)

It stopped the national government from imposing taxes

b)

It gave the national government the power to raise an army

c)

It required unanimous consent of the states to pass amendments

d)

It prevented acts of piracy against American ships off the coast of Africa

22.

Which weakness of the Articles of Confederation was addressed by the Constitution?

a)

The continuation of slavery

b)

The lack of a national court system

c)

The absence of a balanced budget

d)

The need to strengthen the power of the states

23.

Explain what caused Shay’s Rebellion and what changed as a result of this event. (7 pts)

4 lines
24.

What four (4) powers does the Legislative Branch have? (4 pts)

4 lines
25.

What four (4) powers does the Executive Branch have? (4 pts)

4 lines
26.

What two (2) powers does the Judicial Branch have? (2 pts)

4 lines
27.

What is the separation of powers?

a)

It refers to the powers of the legislative branches

b)

It refers to the powers of the Constitution

c)

It refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches

d)

It refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches

28.

What is federalism?

a)

It refers to the powers of the legislative branches

b)

It refers to the powers of the Constitution

c)

It refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches

d)

It refers the federal principle or system of government

29.

Which constitutional power provides the basis for the President’s day-to-day control of U.S. foreign relations?

a)

The power to appoint and receive ambassadors

b)

The power to appoint Justices of the Supreme Court

c)

The power to inform Congress of the “State of the Union”

d)

The power to summon Congress in times of national emergency

30.

Which power does the Constitution give to the President to check Congress?

a)

The power to appoint heads of departments

b)

The power to veto proposed federal legislation

c)

The power to pardon offenders for federal crimes

d)

The power to inform Congress of the “State of the Union”

31.

When the President of the U.S.A. hosts the President of France at a dinner at the White House, what role is the President performing?

a)

Chief Diplomat

b)

Chief Legislator

c)

Chief Executive

32.

Which role does the President perform when speaking at a political rally in support of a candidate running for Congress?

a)

Party Leader

b)

Head of State

c)

Chief Diplomat

d)

Chief Executive

33.

How does an executive order differ from a federal law?

a)

Executive orders are not subject to judicial review

b)

Executive orders are not limited by the Constitution

c)

Executive orders do not need to be approved by Congress

d)

Executive orders are limited to military and foreign affairs

34.

Article III of the Constitution established the U.S. Supreme Court. Why does this article refer to this court as “supreme”?

a)

It hears more cases than any other court

b)

It has authority over all other courts in the United States

c)

Its officers are appointed by the President of the U.S.A.

d)

It has authority over both the executive and legislative branches

35.

How does an appellate court differ from a trial court?

a)

An appellate court usually has a jury

b)

An appellate court decides issues of fact

c)

An appellate court examines more witnesses

d)

An appellate court reviews another court’s decision

36.

Which are the only federal courts to have juries?

a)

U.S. District Courts

b)

U.S. Supreme Court

c)

U.S. Courts of Appeals

d)

U.S. District Courts of Appeals

37.

What kind of order does the U.S. Supreme Court issue to indicate that it will review a case?

a)

Writ of certiorari

b)

Majority opinion

c)

Summary judgment

d)

Writ of habeas corpus