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Government Test #3 Study Guide

Total questions: 68

Worksheet time: 2hrs 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the main job of the legislative branch?

a)

Enforce law

b)

Interpret law

c)

Make law

d)

Apply the law

2.

Which article in the US Constitution describes the legislative branch?

a)

Article I

b)

Article II

c)

Article III

d)

Article IV

3.

How many people are in the US Senate?

a)

50

b)

100

c)

270

d)

435

4.

Which agreement devised at the Constitutional Convention created our bicameral legislature?

a)

Commerce Compromise

b)

Three-Fifths Compromise

c)

Electoral College Compromise

d)

Great Compromise

5.

Who does an individual member of the House of Representatives represent?

a)

only members of their political party

b)

their entire state

c)

their district

d)

the federal judiciary

6.

Who does an individual US Senator represent?

a)

their political party

b)

their entire state

c)

their judiciary

d)

the federal judiciary

7.

Which of the following is the most powerful position in the House of Representatives?

a)

Whips

b)

Speaker

c)

President pro tempore

d)

Vice President

8.

Who is the official leader of the Senate?

a)

Vice President

b)

Speaker

c)

President pro tempore

d)

Whip

9.

What is the only job of the official leader of the Senate?

a)

leads the debate

b)

decides when bills are voted on

c)

votes when there is a tie

d)

deals with treaties between the US and other nations

10.

Who is the leader of the Senate in the absence of the official leader?

a)

Speaker

b)

Whip

c)

Vice President

d)

President pro tempore

11.

What is a constituent?

a)

people that live in a representative's district

b)

the US Constitution

c)

only people that vote in elections

d)

a leader in the House of Representatives

12.

What is the census?

a)

the official process for removing a representative from office

b)

a person that lives in a representative's district

c)

the population count which takes place every 10 years

d)

a leader in the Senate

13.

Which term describes an oddly shaped voting district designed to benefit one political party over another?

a)

oligarchy

b)

filibuster

c)

redistricting

d)

gerrymander

14.

Which committees in Congress are permanent?

a)

Select Committees

b)

Joint Committees

c)

Standing Committees

d)

Conference Committees

15.

Which term describes leaders in each house of Congress that attempt to ensure members of their political parties vote the same way?

a)

Speaker

b)

President pro tempore

c)

Whip

d)

Minority leader

16.

What is seniority?

a)

the rule that you have to be 25 years old to become a representative

b)

the rule that you have to be 30 years old to become a Senator

c)

the idea that people who have been in Congress the longest get the best committee jobs

d)

the process of the Vice President voting in the event of a tie in the Senate

17.

Which type of powers are established by the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution?

a)

Expressed

b)

Concurrent

c)

Delegated

d)

Reserved

18.

Which is a freedom protected by the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution?

a)

freedom of speech

b)

freedom to bear arms

c)

freedom from unreasonable searches

d)

freedom from cruel and unusual punishment

19.

How many people are in the US House of Representatives?

a)

50

b)

100

c)

270

d)

435

20.

Which describes the right of the government to take a person's property under the condition that they pay that person?

a)

due process

b)

eminent domain

c)

domestic tranquility

d)

double jeopardy

21.

Which of the following is protected by the 6th Amendment?

a)

freedom of speech

b)

right to a trial by an impartial jury

c)

right to remain silent

d)

right to an indictment by a grand jury

22.

Which Amendment guarantees the right to a lawyer?

a)

4th Amendment

b)

5th Amendment

c)

6th Amendment

d)

7th Amendment

23.

Which Supreme Court decision stated that the accused are entitled to a lawyer, even if they can't afford one?

a)

Mapp v. Ohio

b)

Gideon v. Wainwright

c)

Miranda v. Arizona

d)

Marbury v. Madison

24.

What happens to a bill if the President SIGNS it?

a)

it becomes a Law

b)

It is rejected

25.

The House of Representatives has _______ members than the Senate.

a)

more

b)

less

26.

Number of justices on the Supreme Court

a)

5

b)

9

c)

12

d)

3

27.
Court with only original jurisdiction
a)
Supreme
b)
Appeal
c)
District
28.
Unconstitutional means _____________
a)
to charge a public official with wrong doing
b)
the Constitution does NOT allow it
c)
rejecting a law and refusing to sign it
d)
to determine the meaning of the Constitution
29.
Term of office for a Supreme Court justice
a)
elected for a period of 5 years
b)
nominated for a period of 10 years
c)
elected for a period of 8 years
d)
nominated for life (until retirement or death)
30.
The person in charge on the Supreme Court is called a __________ ___________
a)
First Justice
b)
Chief Justice
c)
Speaker of the Supreme Court
d)
Premier Justice
31.
Supreme Court justices are nominated by the _______.
a)
President
b)
Speaker of the House
c)
House of Representatives
d)
Senate
32.

The main job of the judicial branch is to?

a)

interpret the law

b)

make the law

c)

enforce the law

d)

research the law

33.

What is highest court in the land?

a)

U.S. Court of Appeals

b)

U.S. Supreme Court

c)

U.S. District Court

d)

State Superior Court

34.

Court with both types of jurisdiction

a)

Supreme

b)

Appeal

c)

District

35.
A case in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by the law 
a)
civil case
b)
certificate 
c)
criminal case 
d)
original jurisdiction
36.

A case involving a noncriminal matter such as a contract dispute or a claim of patent infringement

a)

criminal case

b)

certificate

c)

civilian tribunal

d)

civil case

37.
Power shared by federal and state courts to hear certain cases
a)
exclusive jurisdiction
b)
concurrent jurisdiction
c)
concurring opinion
d)
court-martial
38.
Who approves appointments of Supreme Court justices?
a)
House of Representatives
b)
Senate
c)
Speaker of The House
d)
President Pro Tempore
39.
This case established the policy of judicial review
a)
Brown vs. Board of Education
b)
Tinker vs. Des Moines
c)
Marbury vs. Madison
d)
Morse v. Frederick
40.

In order for a case to be heard by the Supreme Court, how many justices need to agree to hear the case?

a)

All 9

b)

4

c)

6

d)

5

41.

Opinion written by the "losing" side

a)

Majority

b)

Concurring

c)

Dissenting

d)

Losing

42.
What is the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction?
a)
Original jurisdiction refers to a case being heard in a federal court; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case being heard in a State court.
b)
Original jurisdiction refers to criminal or civil cases; appellate jurisdiction refers to only to civil cases.
c)
Original jurisdiction refers to a case that could be heard in a federal or a State court; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case that must be heard in a federal court.
d)
Original jurisdiction refers to a court where a case is first heard; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case being heard after it was tried in a lower court.
43.

Judicial review is _____________________.

a)

the ability of Congress to veto Supreme Court rulings.

b)

the courts ability to determine if laws are constitutional.

c)

established by Article I of the Constitution.

d)

the court's power to tax.

44.

The Person being sued in civil court is called:

a)

the Defendant

b)

the Plaintiff

c)

the Magistrate

d)

the Prosecutor

45.

What is a writ of certiorari?

a)

An order from a higher court to review the records of a case from a lower court

b)

An order to discard the case

c)

An order to appeal the case

d)

An order from a lower court to have the case considered a mistrial

46.

Opinion written by the "winning" side

a)

Majority

b)

Concurring

c)

Dissenting

d)

Losing

47.

How many have to agree with your side of the argument for you to win the case at the highest court?______________

a)

3

b)

4

c)

5

d)

6

e)

7

48.

Which is the highest court in the land

a)

Supreme Court

b)

Federal Court

c)

General District Court

49.

What is the primary function of the Supreme Court in the United States?

a)

To create laws

b)

To interpret the Constitution

c)

To enforce laws

d)

To manage state courts

50.

What is Judicial Review?

a)

The ability of the courts to pass judgement.

b)

The ability of someone to appeal a decision of a court.

c)

The ability of the Supreme Court to declare something unconstitutional.

d)

A step in the impeachment process.

51-60.
51.

What article and section of the U.S. Constitution establishes the executive branch?

a)

Article IV, Section 1

b)

Article III, Section 2

c)

Article I, Section 8

d)

Article II, Section 1

52.

Who is the head of the executive branch of the United States federal government?

a)

The Vice President

b)

The Secretary of State

c)

The Chief Justice

d)

The President

53.

How many major government departments are there whose heads advise the President?

a)

20

b)

15

c)

12

d)

10

54.

Which department is responsible for ensuring the security of the nation's power supplies?

a)

Department of Commerce

b)

Department of Homeland Security

c)

Department of Defense

d)

Department of Energy

55.

Who presides over the U.S. Senate and can cast a deciding vote in the event of a tie?

a)

The President

b)

The Vice President

c)

The Senate Majority Leader

d)

The Speaker of the House

56.

Which department is charged with diplomacy and reflecting the United States as part of the world community?

a)

Department of Interior

b)

Department of State

c)

Department of Justice

d)

Department of Education

57.

What power allows the President to issue directives that direct executive branch agencies in interpreting and enforcing existing laws?

a)

Power to appoint ambassadors

b)

Power to issue executive orders

c)

Power to convene Congress

d)

Power to negotiate treaties

58.

Which department helps regulate trade, banking, and the economy?

a)

Department of Commerce

b)

Department of Treasury

c)

Department of Labor

d)

Department of Education

59.

How many people can the President appoint to high-level positions within the federal government without the approval of the Senate?

a)

Exactly 100

b)

Up to 50

c)

More than 300

d)

About 200

60.

Which amendment prohibits any person from being elected president more than twice?

a)

The Twentieth Amendment

b)

The Twenty-fifth Amendment

c)

The Twenty-second Amendment

d)

The Eighteenth Amendment

61.

Members serve a 2 year term

a)

House of Representatives

b)

Senate

62.

Members serve a 6 year term

a)

Senate

b)

House of Representatives

63.

Favors the large states

a)

House of Representatives

b)

Senate

64.

Favors the small states

a)

Senate

b)

House of Representatives

65.

In the end, which plan did the delegates choose at the Continental Congress to create the legislative branch?

a)

New Jersey Plan

b)

Virginia Plan

c)

Massachusetts Compromise

d)

Great Compromise

66.

The legislative branch of government...

a)

makes laws

b)

interprets laws

c)

carries out/enforces laws

67.

What is the term used to describe the United States Congress consisting of two separate chambers?

a)

Bilateral Legislature

b)

Unicameral Legislature

c)

Bi-Cameral Legislature

d)

Dual Legislature

68.

Which constitutional article gives congress its power?

a)

Article 5

b)

Article 2

c)

Article 3

d)

Article 1

69.

What are the FEDERAL powers are expressly stated in the Constitution?

a)

Enumerated

b)

Concurrent

c)

Reserved

d)

Denied

70.

Another name for the Necessary and Proper Clause is the

a)

Supremacy Clause

b)

Implied Powers Clause

c)

Equal Protection Clause

d)

Denied Powers Clause

71.

Implied powers means

a)

....that we assume the Federal government has the power to do this

b)

These powers are denied

c)

These powers are shared by both the National and State government

d)

These powers are imagined

72.

Which clause is also known as the Elastic Clause because it extends to powers of Congress beyond what is specifically listed?

a)

Full Faith and Credit Clause

b)

Necessary and Proper Clause

73.

What is the term for the tactic of long speeches to stop action on a bill?

a)

Filibuster

b)

Cloture

c)

Veto

d)

Pocket veto

e)

Impeachment

74.

Which of these BEST shows the type of power possessed by Congress?

a)

Veto Laws

b)

Appoint Ambassadors

c)

Declare War

d)

Declare Amendments unconstitutional

75.

Immediately after a bill is introduced to Congress it is

a)

debated by members.

b)

subjected to a vote.

c)

sent to a committee

d)

Signed into law by the President.

76.

What is required to invoke cloture in the Senate?

a)

Three-fifths of the Senate

b)

Unanimous consent

c)

Two-thirds majority

d)

A simple majority

77.

Match the following

a)

Executive Branch

1.

President, Vice President and Cabinet

b)

Legislative Branch

2.

Congress: The Senate and House of Representatives

c)

Judicial Branch

3.

Supreme Court and smaller court systems