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Worksheetstci gov post test
Total questions: 137
Worksheet time: 1hrs 9mins
Which of these officials serves as one country's highest-ranking, long-term representative to another country?
ambassador
chief of staff
consul
secretary of state
All of the following are basic goals of U.S. foreign policy except
promoting prosperity
preserving world peace
preventing globalization
protecting national security
Diplomacy is the art and practice of which of the following?
competing for advantages in international trade
imposing a powerful country's will upon weaker countries
managing communication and relationships between nations
negotiating agreements between the executive and legislative branches
Which of these foreign policy powers belongs primarily to Congress?
negotiating trade agreements
controlling military spending
gathering foreign intelligence
appointing foreign ambassadors
Sending food to disaster victims in another country is an example of which of the following?
military assistance
security assistance
development assistance
humanitarian assistance
Where is a most-favored-nation clause most likely to appear?
in a multilateral peace treaty
in a bilateral trade agreement
in a cultural exchange contract
in a diplomatic recognition statement
Issuing passports and visas is the responsibility of which of the following?
Department of State
Department of Defense
National Security Council
Central Intelligence Agency
Which of these is considered a "hard power" tool of foreign policy?
foreign aid
covert action
trade agreements
cultural exchanges
What is the main purpose of sanctions?
to reward allies for policies of cooperation
to expose other countries to foreign cultures
to encourage the growth of international trade
to pressure another country to change its policies
Which of these best describes the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?
a powerful economic trading bloc
the world's largest military alliance
a coalition of countries fighting terrorism
the international agency for patent enforcement
Which of these human activities do scientists consider the main cause of recent global warming?
burning fossil fuels
cutting down forests
building nuclear plants
mining precious metals
In which of these UN organs or agencies does the United States hold veto power?
World Bank
Security Council
General Assembly
International Monetary Fund
Sustainable development is economic development that meets human needs without doing which of the following?
using up resources needed in the future
limiting the sovereignty of nation-states
favoring wealthy nations over poor ones
increasing extreme poverty in poor countries
In the phrase Geneva Conventions, the word convention refers to which of these?
a traditional practice widely accepted around the world
an amendment or addition to an international treaty
a gathering of heads of state to discuss common issues
an international agreement on matters of broad interest
The International Court of Justice handles which type of legal cases?
disputes between one nation and another
human rights violations such as child labor
requests for military intervention in troubled areas
charges against individuals for crimes against humanity
The Millennium Declaration was signed by leaders of 150 countries at a summit in 2000. What did this document do?
defined the right to freedom of expression
set specific goals to combat global poverty
affirmed human equality regardless of race or religion
agreed on sanctions against countries that threatened others
What did the nations that signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 agree to do?
ensure the safety of ships at sea
ban the use of chemical weapons
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
provide troops for peacekeeping missions
Which organ of the United Nations has power to impose its decisions by force?
Secretariat
Security Council
General Assembly
Economic and Social Council
Which of these international organizations was formed on the basis of shared economic interests?
International Criminal Court (ICC)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
What is the purpose of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?
to stop the spread of nuclear weapons
to solve the problem of storing nuclear waste
to increase the safety of nuclear power plants
to discourage the development of nuclear energy
Which of these does a prosecuting attorney represent?
the injured party in a lawsuit
the officials in the courtroom
the person accused of a crime
the government and the people
What is an order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send it the records of a case called?
a writ of certiorari
a writ of habeas corpus
a writ of mandamus
a writ of stare decisis
What is the job of an appellate court when it takes a case on appeal?
to look for errors of law
to conduct a new jury trial
to weigh all the trial evidence
to determine the proper verdict
How does someone become a judge in the federal court system?
by a popular election
by a retention election
by presidential appointment
by passing a civil service test
Which of these established the present system of federal district and circuit courts?
Judiciary Act of 1789
Senate Judiciary Committee
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Article III of the Constitution
What is meant by the term burden of proof?
the need to examine the reliability of witnesses
the challenge of finding a fair and impartial jury
the duty to prove alleged facts in a case with solid evidence
the obligation to consider a person innocent until proven guilty
Which of the following is most likely to write an amicus curiae brief?
an appellate judge
a defense attorney
an interest group
a special prosecutor
Which term refers to the person who files a lawsuit in a civil case?
bailiff
plaintiff
defendant
friend of the court
The below quotation supports which of the following approaches to making judicial decisions? Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules, they apply them.
loose construction
judicial activism
judicial restraint
interpretivism
What determines which appeals the Supreme Court will hear?
The attorney general assigns cases.
The justices choose their own cases.
The circuit courts recommend cases.
The special federal courts refer cases.
In our judicial system, for which of these is the jury responsible?
the burden of proof
the arrest warrant
the arraignment
the verdict
What is the purpose of setting bail?
to guarantee that the accused will return for trial
to punish a minor offense without going to court
to cover the costs of time a criminal spends in jail
to enable the judge to dispose of a case more quickly
A crime is defined as a wrongful act that
damages property.
is done with intent.
violates federal law.
does harm to others.
Which of these is typically a felony?
armed assault
disturbing the peace
petty theft
traffic violation
What is the role of the jury foreman during a trial?
to break a tie vote by the jury
to chair the jury's deliberations
to take notes for the jury's use later
to protect the jury from outside pressure
Law enforcement officials must present evidence to a judge in order to do which of the following?
obtain a search warrant
question a suspect in a case
book someone after an arrest
chase a suspect fleeing a crime
What does a grand jury decide?
whether a plea bargain is fair to the accused
whether the rights of the accused were violated
whether an accused person should be brought to trial
whether evidence against the accused was legally obtained
How does restitution differ from other forms of punishment?
It allows prisoners to seek early parole.
It rehabilitates criminals through job training.
It requires defendants to do community service.
It compensates the victims of crimes for their losses.
What is the principal advantage to the criminal justice system of allowing plea bargains?
It protects innocent suspects from pressure.
It ensures that the punishment will fit the crime.
It reduces the number of trials courts must hold.
It gets criminals off the streets for a longer time.
The exclusionary rule excludes which of these from use in trials?
confessions made after an arrest
evidence gained by illegal means
circumstantial or indirect evidence
testimony from unreliable witnesses
Which of these is not a qualification for seeking the presidency?
college graduate
natural-born citizen
at least 35 years old
lived in United States at least 14 years
The position of a lieutenant governor in a state is comparable to that of which position in the federal government?
attorney general
chief of staff
secretary of defense
vice president
Which of these processes allows voters in many states to remove an elected official from office?
impeachment
initiative
recall
referendum
Who initiated the tradition of addressing the president as “Mr. President”?
Andrew Jackson
Abraham Lincoln
Theodore Roosevelt
George Washington
What did Andrew Jackson do that led his critics to call him “King Andrew”?
He called Congress into special session.
He suspended the right of habeas corpus.
He used the presidency as a "bully pulpit."
He expanded the use of the presidential veto.
Which factor most influences whether a president might choose to use a pocket veto?
who in Congress voted for the bill
how close Congress is to adjournment
whether the bill has broad public support
the impact that signing will have on the budget
The president's speechwriters, administrative assistants, and press secretary all work as part of which group?
White House staff
White House press corps
Executive Office of the President
Office of Management and Budget
What does the list below show?
the line of presidential succession
the makeup of the president’s cabinet
the organization of the executive branch
the leadership of the federal bureaucracy
All of the following are examples of independent agencies except the
Peace Corps.
Department of Justice.
National Endowment for the Arts.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Deficit spending occurs when the federal government wants to
lower the national debt.
increase surpluses in the budget.
fund programs without raising taxes.
strengthen local and state governments.
Richard Nixon angered Congress by abusing the presidential power of impoundment. This power allows a president to refuse to
sign spending bills.
spend appropriated funds.
prepare a budget proposal.
honor negotiated agreements.
Which of these events happens first in the budget cycle?
Congress adopts a budget resolution.
Federal bureaucrats prepare budget requests.
Legislators insert earmarks into appropriation bills.
House and Senate budget committees hold hearings.
On which date does the federal fiscal year begin?
January 1
April 1
July 1
October 1
What is the purpose of a continuing resolution?
to combine 12 appropriation bills into one budget
to keep the government working without a budget
to set guidelines for congressional budget making
to close congressional debate on appropriation bills
Which of the following is the largest source of federal revenue?
corporate income taxes
excise taxes
individual income taxes
payroll taxes
What is the largest category of federal discretionary spending?
defense
education
health
welfare
Which of these is an entitlement?
a low-income family's food stamps
a federally funded highway program
a manufacturer's government contract
a federal grant to fund medical research
A government with revenues of 52millionandexpendituresof 49 million in the same year has which of the following?
a budget deficit
a budget surplus
a balanced budget
a proposed budget
Which of these taxes is most likely to be regressive?
a corporate income tax
an estate tax
an individual income tax
a sales tax
Property taxes are the main source of revenue for many local governments. What is the main disadvantage of this type of tax?
It is a difficult tax to collect.
It is a highly progressive tax.
It may discourage people from saving.
It may not reflect people's ability to pay.
Which of these is the best definition of constituents?
donors who contribute cash or services to an electoral campaign
residents of an electoral district represented by an elected official
citizens nationwide who benefit from an elected official's programs
voters in an elected official's home state who belong to the same party
Where do most members of Congress begin their political careers?
as lobbyists
in the military
in local politics
as staff assistants
Which of these events triggers reapportionment of seats in the House of Representatives?
a change in House leadership
a census conducted every 10 years
the election of representatives every 2 years
the decision of the House to authorize redistricting
What determines the number of seats in the Senate?
The Constitution specifies the exact number of seats.
The number of seats depends on the number of states.
Congress fixed the maximum number of seats in 1911.
The number of seats depends on each state's population.
In saying "The power of the speaker of the House is the power of scheduling," Tip O'Neill was referring chiefly to the speaker's power to do which of the following?
choose the hours of breaks and meals
control the meeting dates of committees
determine the timing of national elections
decide which bills will be debated and when
Which of these groups handles most of the detailed work of lawmaking in Congress?
joint committees
select committees
standing committees
conference committees
A conference committee is made up of members from both the
House and Senate.
majority and minority parties.
legislative and executive branches.
Republican and Democratic caucuses.
Which of these powers belongs only to the Senate?
the power to conduct hearings
the power to impeach officials
the power to initiate tax bills
the power to ratify treaties
What do the powers of oversight, confirmation, impeachment, ratification, override, and amendment have in common?
They keep Congress from becoming too powerful.
They enable Congress to dominate the other two branches.
They help Congress check the power of the other two branches.
They force the two chambers of Congress to cooperate with each other.
Which of the following might apply to state lawmakers but not to members of Congress?
advantage of incumbency
minimum age qualifications
residency requirements
term limits
What is meant by logrolling?
trading votes
delaying legislation
meeting with lobbyists
doing favors for constituents
A high school junior who works as a messenger in the House or Senate is called a congressional
cadet.
intern.
page.
plebe.
What is the process used in the Senate to end a filibuster called?
cloture
devolution
prior restraint
vote of no confidence
In their oath of office, lawmakers swear to support and defend
their party.
the Congress.
the Constitution.
their constituents.
Which of these is a key factor in choosing committee chairs?
age
seniority
education
experience
What is a Christmas tree bill?
a bill approved late in the session
a bill that raises the pay of lawmakers
a bill passed as a favor to the president
a bill that has attracted many unrelated riders
Before a bill can be sent to the president, both chambers of Congress must vote to
approve the same version.
restore the original language.
have a supermajority in favor.
authorize the president to change it.
How can Congress override a presidential veto?
Congress must wait until after the next election to reconsider the bill.
Congress must agree to amend the bill to meet the president's objections.
Congress must approve the bill again by a majority vote in both chambers.
Congress must approve the bill again by a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
What does a committee or subcommittee do during markup?
call outside experts to testify
determine the final language of a bill
place a bill on the calendar for discussion
take an initial informal vote before debate
Which kind of vote in Congress tells constituents how their lawmakers voted?
voice vote
roll-call vote
standing vote
up-or-down vote
Which of these are considered the building blocks of civil society?
groups that people join voluntarily
media that influence public opinion
patterns of generally accepted behavior
agencies of local or county government
Which part of the U.S. Constitution defines U.S. citizenship?
Preamble
Article VI
Bill of Rights
Fourteenth Amendment
Which term is defined in the box below?
civic virtue
public good
rule of law
political culture
Which political ideology favors the least government regulation of any kind?
conservatism
liberalism
libertarianism
socialism
Which of the following committed the United States to protecting the rights of all Americans regardless of race, sex, religion, or national origin?
Plessy v. Ferguson
Fourteenth Amendment
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Brown v. Board of Education
What is the primary goal of political parties?
to create a national platform
to get their candidates elected
to collect campaign contributions
to attract members who agree on issues
The idea that political power should be distributed and shared among various groups in society is known as
centrism
pluralism
socialism
libertarianism
Which political party in the United States had the longest continuous existence?
Democrats
Federalists
Progressives
Republicans
Which of these is found in a party platform?
a description of the party's structure
a statement of the party's principles
a list of the party's campaign contributors
a plan for getting the party's candidates elected
Which of these is the first step in the policymaking process?
agenda setting
policy adoption
policy evaluation
issue identification
Which of the following is the best definition of public opinion?
the sum of many individual views
what journalists think about issues
the beliefs of one or more interest groups
how politicians express common attitudes
Which of the following is the most important reason why a scientific poll is more accurate than a straw poll?
the type of questions asked
the number of people surveyed
the method of sampling employed
the means of contacting people used
The founders of our country saw a free press as a safeguard against
negative campaigning.
the abuse of power.
the rise of parties.
political gridlock.
How can the company conducting an opinion poll reduce the margin of error?
ask fewer questions
survey a larger sample
use mail instead of phone
limit the survey to college graduates
How do political analysts determine the voting patterns of women and men?
conduct exit polls
examine the ballots
review election results
interview election judges
The emphasis on elections in the United States most reflects which constitutional principle?
individual rights
popular sovereignty
checks and balances
separation of powers
Which of the following groups benefited most from the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
women
18- to 20-year-olds
Indigenous people
African Americans
What is the main criticism leveled against the Electoral College system for electing presidents?
It takes too long.
It is undemocratic.
It discourages voting.
It costs too much money.
What is the main source of funding for election campaigns?
public financing
contributions from PACs
personal wealth of candidates
donations from individual citizens
Which of these is the most likely reason for a donor to contribute to two opposing campaigns?
to encourage others to donate as well
to reduce the risk of a third-party victory
to show support for the two-party system
to gain access to whichever candidate wins
Which of the following best defines the principle of popular sovereignty?
The powers of a government are limited by the people.
Government is based on laws that apply to all the people.
The ultimate source of governmental authority is the people.
Elected leaders work through government to serve the people.
Which complaint was the greatest barrier to ratifying the Constitution?
It did not include a bill of rights.
It had to be approved by all 13 states.
It allowed too many people to vote.
It created a weak central government.
Consider the quotations below. “Life, liberty, and property . . . ” —John Locke “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness . . . ” —Declaration of Independence Both quotations list what our nation's founders believed to be
civil virtues.
natural rights.
the general will.
the rights of Englishmen.
The Articles of Confederation reflected Americans' fear of
a permanent standing army.
a strong central government.
a threatened foreign invasion.
a breakdown in law and order.
Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, was influenced by Rousseau's argument that a government should be dissolved if it
was too weak to be effective.
acted contrary to the general will.
depended on inherited leadership.
could not keep the economy stable.
The Preamble to the Constitution lists which of the following?
steps for amending the Constitution
purpose to be served by the Constitution
procedures for ratifying the Constitution
guidelines for interpreting the Constitution
Why did the framers of the Constitution create three separate branches of government?
to help people with different opinions cooperate
to increase the power of the central government
to keep any one group from gaining too much power
to provide enough officials to handle the volume of work
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.
Separate branches have different areas of responsibility.
Legislative actions are limited by a set of written guidelines.
Which of these is the best example of constitutional checks and balances?
Treaties require Senate approval.
The Constitution may be amended.
The president is paid for his services.
Courts decide conflicts between states.
The process of amending the Constitution involves both
the Congress and the states.
the president and the Congress.
the states and the Supreme Court.
the Supreme Court and the president.
Which of these plays the largest role in interpreting the Bill of Rights?
Congress
state legislatures
the Supreme Court
the executive branch
Which of these unpopular forms of expression is protected by the First Amendment?
libel
slander
obscenity
flag burning
The Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth amendments protect
voting rights.
privacy rights.
rights in the legal system.
rights reserved to the states.
The phrase “You have the right to remain silent” reflects the provision in the Bill of Rights regarding
double jeopardy.
eminent domain.
judicial review.
self-incrimination.
The term prior restraint refers to which government action?
deciding a law is unconstitutional
preventing publication of certain material
jailing individuals without bail before a trial
searching people suspected of planning a crime
According to the U.S. Constitution, the national government must guarantee that every state government
updates its laws regularly.
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
reducing federal grants to the 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
combining local governments into larger units to increase their influence
Which of these units of government is most likely to regulate water systems, cemeteries, hospitals, sewers, fire protection services, and schools?
a city council
a state legislature
a special-purpose district
a county board of supervisors
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
strong mayor-council
Which of these is an essential feature of political activity?
It is difficult.
It is idealistic.
It is individualistic.
It is purposeful.
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks went to jail rather than give up her bus seat to a white passenger. Her action was an example of which of the following?
horse trading
power struggle
collective action
civil disobedience
Which of the following are considered the basic building blocks of government?
political conflict and compromise
revenue collection and coercion
a legitimate ruler and happy subjects
a stable population and fixed territory
Which kind of country is most likely to have a federal system of government?
large, with a diverse population
urban, with an industrial economy
poor, with an unskilled population
small, with an abundance of resources
What is a coup?
removal of a dictator from power with a vote
establishment of colonial rule by a global superpower
a sudden overthrow of a government by a small military
peaceful protests
Which kind of economy is most common in the world today?
market
mixed
command
traditional
In a parliamentary democracy, who chooses the prime minister?
the country's single party
an assembly of eligible voters
electors appointed by the monarch
the party with a legislative majority
A ruler's legitimacy depends mainly on which of these factors?
the ruler's personal wealth
the ruler's political ambition
people's acceptance of the ruler's authority
people's fear of the ruler's power
Which of these factors most distinguishes dictators from monarchs?
how they acquire and retain power
how they make economic decisions
how they choose their close advisers
how they regard the rights of citizens
Which of these individuals is most likely to exercise power without authority?
a traffic officer
a school principal
an armed robber
a business owner
In a command economy, who decides how much to produce?
government planners
individual consumers
industrial labor unions
corporate shareholders
Which of these is most likely to involve horse trading?
a labor strike
a local election
a business deal
a protest march
Which of these is a common feature of market economies?
low living standards for most people
economic stability with no recessions
public ownership of farms and factories
production of high-quality goods and services
Socialism began as an attempt to correct which disadvantage of capitalism?
lack of motivation to work
failure to reward new ideas
uneven distribution of wealth
inflexibility in the face of change
Which of these is the best example of a public good?
a gas station
a movie theater
a clothing store
a town library
Nazism is a form of fascism built on the idea of
free enterprise.
market socialism.
racial superiority.
national sovereignty.
A New England town meeting is an example of
confederal democracy.
direct democracy.
parliamentary democracy.
federal democracy.
