WorksheetsAmerican Government Unit 2 Review
Total questions: 23
Worksheet time: 12mins
Why did the framers of the Constitution create three separate branches of government?
To help people with different opinions cooperate
To keep any one group from gaining too much power
To provide enough official to handle the volume of work
The first words of the Constitution indicate that power and authority in our system of government come from the
People
Voters
Lawmakers
Which of these is the defining characteristic of a federal system of government?
Elected representatives make decisions for the nation
Power is divided between central and regional bodies
Legislative actions are limited by a set of written guidelines
The process of amending the Constitution involves both
The Congress and the States
The president and the Congress
The states and the Supreme Court
Which form of city government, combining democratic rule with professional expertise, is most common in the United States today?
Council-manager
Elected commission
Weak mayor-council
Which of the following is an example of one power that belongs to state or local government?
Establishing schools
Establishing post offices
Declaring war
According to the U.S. Constitution, the national government must guarantee that every state government
Has a republican structure
Has a bicameral legislature
Limits governors to two terms
Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan both advocated a policy known as devolution. What was this policy aimed at?
Limiting taxes levied by states
Transferring power back to the states
Improving cooperation among the states
Which of these descriptions best defines gerrymandering?
Interpreting laws in a way that benefits the party in power
Enlarging a court by the addition of politically appointed judges
Drawing legislative district boundaries to give one group an advantage
Which of these refers to legislation the national government requires state or local governments to implement largely at their own expense?
Grants-in-aid
Federal regulations
Unfunded mandates
Who settles disputes between states
The Supreme Court
The Senate
The president
Which of these terms refers to the principle that people accused of a crime must be granted certain legal rights?
Due process
Habeas Corpus
Judicial Review
Which of these plays the largest role in interpreting the Bill of Rights?
State legislatures
The Supreme Court
The executive branch
Which of these unpopular forms of expression is protected by the First Amendment?
Libel
Slander
Flag burning
Which of these acts is protected under the First Amendment?
Criticizing elected leaders
Telling military secrets to the enemy
Spreading untrue rumors to harm someone
Your city government has decided to close a park. Some people stand at the park holding signs to protest the closing. Which two rights from the First Amendment are they using?
Freedom of speech and freedom to assemble peaceably
Freedom of speech and freedom of the press
Freedom of speech and freedom of religion
Freedom of speech does not protect a person who
criticizes the mayor in a public meeting.
slanders another person publicly.
demonstrates against tax increases.
The "clear and present danger" doctrine stated by the Supreme Court in the case of Schenck v. United States (1919) had an important impact on the Bill of Rights because
placed limits on freedom of speech.
clarified standards for a fair trial.
expanded the rights of persons accused of crimes.
The Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth amendments protect
Voting rights
Privacy rights
Rights in the legal system
The phrase, “You have the right to remain silent” reflects the provision in the Bill of Rights regarding
Double jeopardy
Judicial review
Self-incrimination
What does the Fifth Amendment concept of "double jeopardy" mean?
A person cannot be tried twice for the same crime.
A person will not be punished for committing the same type of crime more than once.
A person cannot be put on trial for similar crimes committed in two states.
In the Gideon decision, the Supreme Court was protecting which constitutional right?
religious and political freedom (Amendment 1)
freedom from unreasonable search and seizure (Amendment 4)
rights of the accused (Amendment 6)
As a result of the Supreme Court ruling in Miranda v. Arizona (1966), a person accused of a crime is entitled to
reasonable bail.
a reading of his or her rights at the time of arrest.
protection against cruel or unusual punishment.
