Civics Proficiency Exam Flashcards
Our civil liberties are found in:
the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and other constitutional amendments
Jim Crow laws mandated
segregation of the races in most social relations
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that Christians are commanded to
honor and respect political leaders, obey government because it is the right thing to do, and pray for political leaders
The phrase “city on a hill” is often used in politics to express the
belief that the United States should serve as an example to other nations
The United States Electoral College:
is a constitutionally mandated assembly that elects the president
The best one word definition of America’s government would be “___”.
republic
Voter turnout in America is best described as:
somewhat low but cyclical, with more voters in presidential elections, but fewer otherwise
The principle of popular sovereignty refers to
the idea that all political power is derived from the people
How many branches are in the federal government?
3
Thinking of political parties in America, it seems we generally have
two main parties that compete for influence
The judicial branch of the federal government is described in Article _____ of the US Constitution
III
The legislative branch of the federal government is described in Article ____ of the US Constitution.
I
How does direct democracy differ from representative democracy?
Representative democracy is carried out by elected officials who make laws on behalf of the citizens, but direct democracy includes all citizens.
The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court is:
John Roberts
Scripture clearly teaches that…
government has the authority to use force to punish evil-doers
In American government, the majority has the power to do whatever it wishes
False
What part of the government has the power to declare war?
Congress
The number of US Senators per state is:
equal, with each state having two members of the Senate
Assuming good behavior, federal judges serve a term of…
life
The Great (or Connecticut) Compromise at the constitutional convention provided for:
a bicameral legislature
The executive branch of the federal government is primarily responsible for ___ the law.
enforcing and implementing
The phrase “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” is found in _____.
The Declaration of Independence
The phrase that in America there should be a “wall of separation” between church and state appears in
Thomas Jefferson’s letters
What are two possible reasons there has never been a major socialist movement in the United States?
support for economic competition and a distrust of central government authority
According to the Bible, government derives its power and authority from ____.
God
They believe that traditional values should be upheld even at a considerable cost to those citizens who disagree with those values. This does NOT describe what political party…
Liberals
Which Supreme Court case ruled that racially segregated education was unconstitutional?
Brown v. Board of Education
The number of US Representatives per state is:
determined by the state’s population
If no candidate wins a majority of the Electoral College vote, the Constitution stipulates that:
the US House of Representatives selects the President from the top three candidates
Members of the House of Representatives are
elected directly by the people.
Christians, according to the Bible, are able to disobey government…
when it commands believers to engage in sinful behavior
Libertarians are opposed to governmental intervention…
in both the economic and social spheres
The legislative branch of the federal government is primarily responsible for _____ the law.
writing
The executive branch of the federal government is described in Article ____ of the US Constitution.
II
Free enterprise or capitalism exists insofar as:
individual citizens create, exchange, and control goods and resources
Who is the commander in chief of the US military?
President
What are the two phases of most American elections
primary election and general election
Which of the following accurately describes the President’s veto power?
A President can threaten to veto the bill to influence decision making, because congress is usually unable to override a President’s veto.
The ____ prohibits Congress from creating a national religion.
establishment clause
Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects all the freedoms EXCEPT
against self-incrimination
According to the original Constitution, Senate terms are served for…
six years
The judiciary’s status as an independent branch of national government depends on judicial review, which grants the judiciary the authority to…
invalidate the actions of other branches of government.
The theory of constitutional interpretation which holds that judges should look to how the Constitution was understood by those who wrote and ratified it is called
originalism
A major distinction of the United States from other countries is a wide-spread belief in…
individual responsibility
A conservative is opposed to government intervention…
in the economic but not in the social sphere
Under Our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
Make treaties
The judicial branch of the federal government is primarily responsible for_____ the law.
interpreting
Which of the following are the inalienable rights referred to in the Declaration of Independence?
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Which of the following is a formal constitutional requirement for becoming president?
One must be a natural-born citizen.
