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Government Practice Exam

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 34mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following ancient civilizations established a republican form of government?

a)

Roman

b)

Egyptian

c)

Greek

d)

Persian

2.

During the 6th century B.C.E., the ancient Athenians divided the powers of their government between two assemblies and guaranteed certain political rights to all male citizens. How do these political reforms best illustrate how societies develop?

a)

by limiting government authority

b)

by choosing government leaders

c)

by improving government services

d)

by reducing government expenditures

3.

A certain country is characterized by the following traits: 1. power achieved through inheritance 2. same ruling family for over a century 3. finite freedoms and rights 4. hierarchical social status 5. single established state religion The establishment and maintenance of these traits is based on which of the following principles?

a)

popular sovereignty

b)

due process of law

c)

social contract theory

d)

divine right of kings

4.

Which modern democratic concept practiced in the United States is most like the democratic process of ancient Greece?

a)

the referendum

b)

the presidential election

c)

the primary election

d)

the nominating convention

5.

What is the principal function of a written constitution?

a)

resolving disagreements between competing parties

b)

confirming resistance to civil disobedience

c)

declaring the independence of a state

d)

outlining the structure and powers of a government

6.

Which of the following objectives best describes the purpose of the system of checks and balances, as defined in the U.S. Constitution?

a)

establishing accountability for the government when levying taxes

b)

maintaining a healthy economy and establishing trade with other governments

c)

keeping any one of the three branches of government from becoming too powerful

d)

assuring that the government spends only as much money as it takes in

7.

Which modern process would be supported by the ancient Greeks?

a)

electing governors

b)

hiring press secretaries

c)

nominating an ambassador

d)

appointing a majority leader

8.

Laws against defamation, including libel and slander, property damage and breach of contract represent which legal concern underlying most Western nations?

a)

criminal law

b)

military law

c)

civil law

d)

juvenile law

9.

Which constitutional principle does the statement from President Nixon contradict? "When the President does it, that means it is not illegal?"

a)

A. separation of powers

b)

B. republicanism

c)

C. rule of law

d)

D. equality

10.

Which form of government is based on popular sovereignty?

a)

communism

b)

dictatorship

c)

monarchy

d)

republic

11.

Which of the following statements best describes the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution?

a)

A. Governments are accountable to the citizens over whom they rule.

b)

B. States will ensure that all citizens are granted certain freedoms.

c)

C. People allow representatives to speak on behalf of all citizens.

d)

D. Courts will elect officials to represent the people and ensure liberty.

12.

The U.S. Congress fulfilled which of the following purposes of government when it declared war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor?

a)

ensuring domestic tranquillity

b)

promoting the general welfare

c)

providing for the common defense

d)

establishing a system of justice

13.

Which circumstance would require a search warrant?

a)

searching persons with reasonable suspicion

b)

examining evidence that is in plain view

c)

searching school lockers for contraband

d)

examining the contents of a hotel room

14.

In the United States, which of the following is permitted to citizens by the right of freedom of assembly?

a)

the right to demonstrate

b)

the right to riot

c)

the right to immigrate

d)

the right to work

15.

A man is walking down a public street window-shopping. A robbery is reported in that same area. Police officers stop and search the man who is shopping. On what Constitutional grounds could this man contest this search as a violation of his rights?

a)

Second Amendment

b)

Third Amendment

c)

Fourth Amendment

d)

Fifth Amendment

16.

In the United States, how are conflicts between state laws and federal laws generally resolved?

a)

The conflict must be resolved by the U.S. attorney general.

b)

The conflict must be resolved by a national referendum.

c)

The conflict must be resolved using the Supremacy Clause.

d)

The conflict must be resolved using the Tenth Amendment.

17.

Which article of the U.S. Constitution grants the power to coin money, make treaties, and levy import duties?

a)

Article I

b)

Article II

c)

Article III

d)

Article IV

18.

A suspect is accused of a crime in one state and flees to another state where they are apprehended. The state is very slow in returning the suspect to the state of origin and keeps them imprisoned. Which of the following represents a suitable petition for the suspect in this situation, in regard to their constitutional rights?

a)

petition for a writ of extradition

b)

petition for a writ of habeas corpus

c)

petition for release into their custody

d)

petition for overturning of the charges

19.

Which phrase best describes the power of impeachment?

a)

the ability of the U.S. House to charge federal officers with a crime or violation

b)

the ability of the U.S. Supreme Court to determine constitutionality of laws

c)

the power of the U.S. Senate to remove federal officers for a crime or violation

d)

the power of the U.S. President to enforce decisions of federal courts

20.

Use the excerpt below, from the Declaration of Independence, to answer the question that follows. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. Source: National Archives and Records Administration Which constitutional provision was inspired by the above complaint?

a)

The president has the power to declare war under Article II.

b)

The Second Amendment ensures that citizens have the right to keep and bear arms.

c)

The Third Amendment limits the quartering of soldiers to specific circumstances.

d)

The president has the power to determine the deployment and use of soldiers under Article II.

21.

Use the passage below, from a historical document, to answer the question that follows. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Source: The U.S. Constitution, National Archives and Records Administration Which philosophical movement best reflects the ideals in the passage?

a)

Transcendentalism

b)

Reformation

c)

Progressivism

d)

Enlightenment

22.

Use the passage below, which was included in the Declaration of Sentiments adopted at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, to answer the question that follows. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Which of the following documents influenced the aims and strategies of the authors of the Declaration of Sentiments?

a)

Northwest Ordinance

b)

Articles of Confederation

c)

U.S. Constitution

d)

Declaration of Independence

23.

Use the passage below, which was included in the Declaration of Sentiments adopted at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, to answer the question that follows. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Which political philosopher's ideas are best represented in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Thomas Hobbes

b)

Ethan Allen

c)

John Locke

d)

James Madison

24.

Why did colonists living under British rule protest British tax policies?

a)

The colonists claimed that the tax policies violated their political rights.

b)

The colonists claimed that the monetary policies prohibited them from developing industries.

c)

The colonists claimed that the commercial policies hindered westward expansion of the colonies.

d)

The colonists claimed that the regulatory policies caused widespread criminal activity in the colonies.

25.

In the Mayflower Compact, Plymouth settlers pledged to unite into "a civil body politic" and agreed to make and abide by laws that "insured the general Good of the Colony." What founding document did this set a precedent for?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

U.S. Constitution

c)

Magna Carta

d)

Bill of Rights

26.

Which person is considered to be the principal author of the U.S. Constitution?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Richard Henry Lee

c)

Benjamin Franklin

d)

James Madison

27.

Government by the people and the separation of powers are the main principles of which founding document?

a)

Bill of Rights

b)

U.S. Constitution

c)

Mayflower Compact

d)

Northwest Ordinances

28.

Use the excerpt below, from the Thirteenth Amendment, to answer the question that follows. “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” Source: National Archives and Records Administration Which of the following contains a clause that may have served as an inspiration for the above language?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

Articles of Confederation

c)

Northwest Ordinances

d)

Federalist Papers

29.

The Mayflower Compact includes a pledge to ensure that all citizens look out for the general good of the colony. Based on this, what impact has the Mayflower Compact had on modern understanding of the purpose of government in the United States?

a)

The government should protect the property of influential citizens.

b)

The government should provide equal protection under the law.

c)

The government should advance the goals of the elite.

d)

The government should establish religious unity.

30.

At the Constitutional Convention, there was a major debate between large states and small states about representation in the new Congress. This debate was resolved by the Great Compromise. What was the result of this compromise?

a)

The number of citizens in a state would determine how many seats that state had in Congress, but slaves and other noncitizens would not be counted for this purpose.

b)

Congress would have two houses, one in which state representation was based on population and one in which all states had equal representation.

c)

The number of seats each state would have in both houses of Congress would be based on the state's population.

d)

Congress would be made up of two houses in which all states had an equal number of representatives in each house.

31.

Which of the following reflects the most important consequence of the Watergate break-in?

a)

legalization of capital punishment

b)

creation of levees around coastal cities

c)

resignation of the president of the United States

d)

integration of surveillance technology in society

32.

Which legislation reflects federal efforts to regulate transportation?

a)

Interstate Commerce Act

b)

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

c)

Bland-Allison Act

d)

Pendleton Act

33.

The U.S. Supreme Court enabled which government practices to continue in its ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson?

a)

prohibiting monopoly formation

b)

segregating public facilities

c)

establishing immigration quotas

d)

regulating financial markets

34.

Which of the following statements regarding the Monroe Doctrine is accurate?

a)

The Monroe Doctrine prohibited future European colonization in the Western Hemisphere.

b)

Debates over the Monroe Doctrine heightened sectional divisions in the United States.

c)

The United States used the Monroe Doctrine to justify the annexation of overseas territories.

d)

Great Britain's opposition to the Monroe Doctrine was a major cause of the War of 1812.

35.

By what process were eighteen-year-olds fully granted the right to vote?

a)

resolution of Congress

b)

voter initiative

c)

Supreme Court decision

d)

constitutional amendment

36.

In order to attract investment and business and reduce expenses, a state legislature proposes passing a law that removes the need for certain federal regulatory features relating to office and factory environments. Which legislative action would most likely cause the U.S. Supreme Court to decide that this violated the Supremacy Clause?

a)

Pendleton Act

b)

Fair Housing Act

c)

Social Security Act

d)

Occupational Safety and Health Act

37.

Which Supreme Court case established the precedent described in the opinion?

a)

Bush v. Gore

b)

Miranda v. Arizona

c)

Marbury v. Madison

d)

Dred Scott v. Sandford

38.

Which of the following cases resulted in a decision that undermined civil rights and liberties in prioritization of national security?

a)

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

b)

Brown v. Board of Education

c)

District of Columbia v. Heller

d)

Korematsu v. United States

39.

A person is charged with felony breaking and entering. During the court proceedings, the defendant requested an attorney and was denied the right to counsel. Which Supreme Court case overturned the trial court’s decision, due to lack of counsel?

a)

Miranda v. Arizona

b)

Plessy v. Ferguson

c)

McCulloch v. Maryland

d)

Gideon v. Wainwright

40.
What is a government where only a few, very wealthy people rule?
a)
Democracy
b)
Tyranny
c)
Oligarchy
d)
Assembly
41.
What does Republic mean?
a)
Common people in Rome.
b)
A form of government with elected leaders,
c)
Wars fought in Rome.
d)
A person trained to fight.
42.
What type of government is run by a single ruler?
a)
Democracy
b)
Monarchy
c)
Oligarchy
d)
Theocracy
43.

Ancient Greek men voted on their own rules and laws. This form of government is called -

a)

monarchy

b)

republic

c)

representative democracy

d)

direct democracy

44.

This ancient Greek leader held power through the use of force. He was known as a _________?

a)

Dictator

b)

Communist

c)

Tyrant

d)

Noble

45.

From 509 BC to 27 BC Rome had what type of government?

a)

Republic

b)

Monarchy

c)

Dictatorship

d)

Communist

46.

Which Principle of Government is best described in this passage?

a)

Federalism

b)

Consent of the Governed

c)

Limited Government

d)

Popular Sovereignty

47.

8.15(D) Which government principle is illustrated in the diagram?

a)

Federalism

b)

Popular Sovereignty

c)

Republicanism

d)

Separation of Powers

48.
Based on this passage, which constitutional principle does Madison describe? 
a)
Checks and Balances 
b)
 Popular Sovereignty
c)
Seperation of powers 
d)
 Judicial Review
49.

Which principle is best represented in this passage?

a)

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Federalism

c)

Limited Government

d)

Checks and Balances

50.

Which principle of government is best described here?

a)

Rule of Law

b)

Limited Government

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Federalism

51.

Which principle of government is best described here?

a)

Consent of the Governed

b)

Limited Government

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Federalism

52.

Why does the government have checks and balances?

a)

To stop one branch from getting too powerful.

b)

To prevent the president from acting like a king/queen.

c)

To prevent laws that are unfair/unconstitutional.

d)

All of the above.

53.

(2017)How does this resolution demonstrate the principle of checks and balances?

a)

It expands the power of judicial review to military courts.

b)

It allows the executive to determine the length of military conflicts.

c)

It allows Congress to limit the military authority of the executive branch.

d)

It gives Congress oversight of military strategy and operations.

54.

This excerpt supports the conclusion that Jefferson disagreed with —

a)

the congressional power of impeachment

b)

the presidential power to veto bills

c)

the states’ power to amend the Constitution

d)

the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review

55.

Checks and Balances: Who can declare laws AND executive actions unconstitutional?

a)

Vice President

b)

Congress

c)

Supreme Court

56.

What type of government is represented in this image?

a)

Monarchy

b)

Autocracy

c)

Theocracy

d)

Democracy

57.

Which constitutional principle is demonstrated when the President vetoes a bill passed by Congress?

a)

Judicial Review

b)

Federalism

c)

Popular Sovereignty

d)

Checks and Balances

58.

What was the main purpose of the Federalist Papers during the ratification of the U.S. Constitution?

a)

To establish the Bill of Rights

b)

To propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation

c)

To persuade states to support the new Constitution

d)

To outline the structure of the new government

59.

Which amendment guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury?

a)

Eighth Amendment

b)

Fourth Amendment

c)

Sixth Amendment

d)

First Amendment

60.

What is the main purpose of the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution?

a)

To establish the federal court system

b)

To protect individual liberties from government overreach

c)

To outline the powers of the president

d)

To define the process for amending the Constitution