Civics Exam Review

Question 0

Which type of governmental system did the United States have in its earliest days?

Answer 0

Confederal

Question 1

Which system of government is an indirect form of democracy, placing political decision making at least one step away from the people?

Answer 1

Republic

Question 2

The people are the ultimate source of authority in which governmental system?

Answer 2

Republic

Question 3

The form of government in which one person controls most of the governing decisions is a(n)

Answer 3

Autocracy

Question 4

The vast majority of the world’s nations have which system of government?

Answer 4

Unitary

Question 5

The supreme power of a state to act within its territory and have absolute authority over its internal and external affairs is called

Answer 5

Sovereignty

Question 6

Rulers who are seen as right and proper by key segments of their nation’s population have

Answer 6

Legitimacy

Question 7

Who said that life without government was like a war pitting each individual against the other?

Answer 7

Thomas Hobbes

Question 8

The Chinese concept of “Mandate of Heaven” is an example of rule by

Answer 8

Divine right

Question 9

Which philosopher believed that the formation of societies and government corrupted the human condition and introduced inequality?

Answer 9

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Question 10

What two ideals of democracy did Alexis de Tocqueville think must be kept in balance in order to prevent democratic despotism?

Answer 10

Liberty and equality

Question 11

Americans believe strongly that a balance should be struck between majority rule and

Answer 11

Protecting minority rights

Question 12

The Framers relied on the writings of which Enlightenment philosopher as they decided how best to protect economic freedom and rights to property?

Answer 12

Adam Smith

Question 13

Parliament imposed a series of taxes on the colonies beginning in 1764 in order to

Answer 13

Help pay Britain’s debts resulting from the French and Indian War

Question 14

Civic virtue is the idea that people should do which of the following?

Answer 14

Place the common good over private interests

Question 15

What document is Patrick Henry talking about?

Answer 15

Constitution

Question 16

How did the Northwest Ordinance differ from the Constitution on the issue of slavery?

Answer 16

The Northwest Ordinance banned slavery in the territory, while the Constitution temporarily protected the slave trade

Question 17

The New Jersey Plan was designed to stay closer to which document?

Answer 17

Articles of Confederation

Question 18

Why was the Great Compromise acceptable to the smaller states?

Answer 18

States would be represented equally in the Senate

Question 19

According to the Constitution, a State’s electors would be equal to what?

Answer 19

Number of its representatives in both houses of Congress

Question 20

In which state was the Federalist cause strongest?

Answer 20

New Jersey

Question 21

How did the Framers bypass Congress and state legislatures in the process of ratifying the new Constitution?

Answer 21

They called for voters in each state to elect representatives to a state ratifying convention

Question 22

Which phrase in the 1st Amendment specifically relates to an individual’s right to ask the government to correct an injustice?

Answer 22

Redress of grievances

Question 23

Why did the Civil War amendments have little effect in South until 1965?

Answer 23

Southern states passed Jim Crow laws

Question 24

Which of the following is an example of legislative action?

Answer 24

Congress passes a law to create a new government agency

Question 25

The phrase "We the People" relates to which of the following principles of the Constitution?

Answer 25

Popular sovereignty

Question 26

Which of the following is one characteristic of a republican form of government?

Answer 26

People elect others to represent them

Question 27

When the president vetoes a law passed by Congress, the president is applying the principle of

Answer 27

Checks and balances

Question 28

What power does the judicial branch of government hold?

Answer 28

Interpreting laws

Question 29

Which of the following is one criticism of the Constitution?

Answer 29

Winners of the popular vote may not win the presidency

Question 30

Which of the following is a legislative power that is part of the system of checks and balances?

Answer 30

Declaring war

Question 31

What did the Framers want to achieve by establishing the principle of federalism in the Constitution?

Answer 31

Distribution of state and national powers

Question 32

The duties of governing are divided among 3 branches under the principle of

Answer 32

Separation of powers

Question 33

Which of the following is the best description of federalism?

Answer 33

Different levels of government share authority over the same land and people

Question 34

The federal government is denied the power to do which of the following?

Answer 34

Take away freedom of speech

Question 35

The main responsibility for resolving conflicts between the states and the federal government lies with which of the following?

Answer 35

U.S. Supreme Court

Question 36

How was the relationship between the federal and state governments generally understood during the period of dual federalism?

Answer 36

Federal and state government were each sovereign in their own sphere

Question 37

The term cooperative federalism refers to

Answer 37

Joint federal and state efforts to resolve problems during and after the New Deal

Question 38

Which of the following is the main source of income for the federal government today?

Answer 38

Income tax

Question 39

Supporters of devolution would argue that environmental protection is

Answer 39

Best handled at the state and local level

Question 40

Which of the following best expresses the federal government's chief reason for providing grants-in-aid?

Answer 40

Aiding and influencing states

Question 41

How many senators are there from each state?

Answer 41

2

Question 42

The states and congress share power over which militia?

Answer 42

National Guard

Question 43

Which amendment was ratified in 1913 to make direct popular elections of senators part of the constitution?

Answer 43

17th

Question 44

What vote count is required in the Senate for a treaty to become law?

Answer 44

Two-thirds

Question 45

What are the 3 main types of rules assigned by the Rules of Committee?

Answer 45

Open, closed, and modified

Question 46

What does the conference committee issue when it reaches an agreement on a bill?

Answer 46

Conference report

Question 47

What can congress try to do if its members disagree with the president's veto of a bill?

Answer 47

Override it

Question 48

When a president dies in office, the vice president

Answer 48

Becomes president and serves out the term

Question 49

Which of the following is sometimes considered to be an informal qualification for president?

Answer 49

Service in the military

Question 50

What happens if a president becomes disabled?

Answer 50

The vice president takes over presidential duties temporarily

Question 51

Which of the following best describes a natural-born American citizen?

Answer 51

Was an American at birth

Question 52

In pardoning former President Nixon, President Ford exercised which type of presidential power?

Answer 52

Clemency

Question 53

Which did early vice presidents often complained about?

Answer 53

Too little to do

Question 54

Which of the following would most likely to have responsibility for responding to a major terrorist incident?

Answer 54

National Security Council

Question 55

Under the spoils system, which of the following would be most likely to get a post office job?

Answer 55

A major contributor to the president's campaign

Question 56

What proportion of federal jobs are currently protected by civil service regulations?

Answer 56

90%

Question 57

Which of the following choices provides the best justification for using written examinations as part of the process for choosing federal employees?

Answer 57

Help ensure that people meet job qualifications

Question 58

Which of the following is a purpose of the Freedom of Information Act of 1966?

Answer 58

Restraining the powers of executive agencies

Question 59

The regulations set by an independent regulatory commission

Answer 59

Have the force of law

Question 60

Unlike the Budget Committees, the Appropriations Committees

Answer 60

Draw up detailed laws for revenue and spending

Question 61

Which term refers to the sole right of a court to hear a case?

Answer 61

Exclusive jurisdiction

Question 62

Who provides security at federal courthouses?

Answer 62

U.S. marshals

Question 63

The written arguments of each side to an appeal are called

Answer 63

Briefs

Question 64

If members of the military violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice, they are subject to prosecution in a

Answer 64

Court-martial

Question 65

What significant power did Hamilton foresee for the federal courts?

Answer 65

Judicial review

Question 66

In which case did the Supreme Court declare that congress lacked the power to outlaw slavery in the territories?

Answer 66

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Question 67

Who served as chief justice when the Supreme Court reached the height of its liberal era?

Answer 67

Earl Warren

Question 68

Which Supreme Court ruling held that schools could not prevent students from protesting the Vietnam War?

Answer 68

Tinker v. Ohio

Question 69

Which of the following is most likely to be a result of political socialization?

Answer 69

Joan becomes a Democrat like her father

Question 70

Which of the following is a type of group that promotes the interests of a group businesses?

Answer 70

Trade association

Question 71

Which of the following was a goal of Congress's 2007 legislation aimed at checking the influence of powerful interest groups?

Answer 71

Limiting some activities of lobbyists

Question 72

What is the origin of the today's 2 major U.S. political parties?

Answer 72

A party split

Question 73

What party system is the most common party system?

Answer 73

Multiparty

Question 74

In the 2000 presidential election, Ralph Nader ran as the candidate of the Green Party. Which of the following best describes the role he took?

Answer 74

3rd party candidate

Question 75

In the 2000 presidential election, which party was hurt more by Ralph Nader's candidacy?

Answer 75

Democratic Party

Question 76

In our 2 party system, each major party tries to

Answer 76

Appeal to as broad a base as possible

Question 77

In local election that uses nomination by petition, a candidate would be required to

Answer 77

Collect the signatures of a certain number of qualified voters

Question 78

The main task of a national nominating convention is to

Answer 78

Choose a party's candidate for president

Question 79

What is a symbolic speech?

Answer 79

Communication of ideas through symbols and actions

Question 80

Which of the following was one reason that the 2nd Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights?

Answer 80

To protect the right of states to form militias

Question 81

What is a probable cause?

Answer 81

Reasonable grounds for a search

Question 82

A search warrant gives police

Answer 82

Legal authority to search private property

Question 83

What is the source of due process protection from the actions of state officials

Answer 83

14th Amendment

Question 84

What event would most likely lead to a criminal law court case?

Answer 84

Arrest

Question 85

In the mid-1800s the U.S. government began a policy of

Answer 85

Relocating Native Americans onto reservastions

Question 86

Which of the following might a court apply in deciding whether a law treating women differently from men was constitutional?

Answer 86

Intermediate scrutiny

Question 87

Which of the following is an example of a suspect classification?

Answer 87

Treating African Americans differently from Hispanic Americans

Question 88

Which of the following is an example of de facto segregation?

Answer 88

Whites and African Americans go to separate schools because they live in different parts of town

Question 89

Which of the following situations is a direct result of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990?

Answer 89

Ramps and elevators make public buildings accessible to people in wheelchairs

Question 90

In the years around 1900, where did most immigrants to the United States come from?

Answer 90

Southern and eastern Europe

Question 91

Which of the following is a violation of federal campaign laws?

Answer 91

Accepting campaign contributions from corporations

Question 92

What may be the most basic means of political participation in a republic?

Answer 92

Voting

Question 93

According to the graph, approximately what percent of eligible voters aged 18-24 voted in 2004?

Answer 93

45%

Question 94

Which of the following campaign jobs is most likely to be handled by a volunteer?

Answer 94

Putting up yard signs

Question 95

The Voting Act limits the power of states to

Answer 95

Reduce the voting strength of minorities

Question 96

In a presidential elections, a swing state is a state

Answer 96

Where either candidate has a chance to win

Question 97

What is one result of reapportionment?

Answer 97

Seats in the House are reassigned

Question 98

In a parliamentary system, a prime minister must resign immediately if he or she loses the support of the majority party in parliament

Answer 98

True

Question 99

Competition is a central feature of free enterprise

Answer 99

True

Question 100

The 1st Amendment protects specific individual freedoms and restricts the government's powers to interfere

Answer 100

True

Question 101

A federal grant to help a state build a specific dam would be a categorical grant

Answer 101

True

Question 102

Members of congress represent the people living in a particular geographic area

Answer 102

True

Question 103

The civil service is composed of the civilians who carry out the work of the federal government

Answer 103

True

Question 104

Originally, the constitution gave the federal government the power to collect only 1 kind of taxes-- excise taxes

Answer 104

True

Question 105

A federal district court judge's main job is to preside over trials

Answer 105

True

Question 106

The Supreme Court's liberal era reached its peak during the chief justiceship of Earl Warren

Answer 106

True

Question 107

Joining a march or demonstration is a responsible way for citizens to try to influence public policy

Answer 107

True

Question 108

A commodity group might represent tomato farmers but not farm laborers

Answer 108

True

Question 109

In a multiparty system, if one party leaves a coalition, new elections may be needed

Answer 109

True

Question 110

The same 2 political parties have dominated American politics for more than 150yrs

Answer 110

True

Question 111

Miranda warnings are a list of certain constitutional rights possessed by those accused of crimes

Answer 111

True

Question 112

Due process requires that government act fairly and reasonably in accordance with established laws

Answer 112

True

Question 113

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based not only race but also on sex

Answer 113

True

Question 114

Voting qualifications vary from state to state

Answer 114

True

Question 115

The federal government sets a yearly limit on the amount of money that an individual can contribute to a national political action committee, or PAC

Answer 115

True

Question 116

Which of the following best illustrates an act of civil disobedience?

Answer 116

Sitting at a segregated lunch counter and refusing to move until served

Question 117

The civil service is composer of the civilians who carry out the work of the federal government

Answer 117

True