Question 1
The framers of the Constitution preferred to build a republic instead of a direct democracy because
they did not want the people to have power.
they wanted a type of government where the citizens elected representatives to decide policies on their behalf.
Because they wanted a government by the few.
Because they didn't want indirect authority.
Question 2
The concept of the separation of church and state comes out of what?
The Declaration of Independence
Roe v. Wade
Judicial Review
The establishment clause.
Question 3
When citizens have the power of self-determination, they are likely living in a
monarchy.
totalitarian state.
oligarchy.
democracy.
Question 4
Which document advocates self-determination?
Articles of Confederation
The Constitution
The Treaty of Versailles
The Declaration of Independence
Question 5
Which type of equality has the greatest consensus among Americans?
opportunity
or among groups
starting conditions
result
Question 6
Due process protections, as mentioned in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution prevent
the government from arbitrarily depriving citizens of life.
the government from arbitrarily depriving citizens of liberty.
the government from arbitrarily depriving citizens of property.
All of the above.
Question 7
The ideology of liberalism advocates for:
the role of government as one that promotes greater opportunity and equality for all.
supporting corporate tax benefits.
not supporting a woman's right to have an abortion.
holding an intolerant view of homosexual rights.
Question 8
The ideology of conservatism would want:
for government to be hands-on and provide services like universal healthcare.
a socialist government.
for government to be laissez-faire and NOT become over-involved in services like healthcare.
an increase in entitlements.
Question 9
The Bill of Rights is:
the first part of the Articles of Confederation.
found in the Declaration of Independence.
part of the Federalist papers.
the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution.
Question 10
Initially, the original Constitution did not have a Bill of Rights. This was upsetting to
the Federalists.
the Anti-Federalists.
the Libertarians.
those citizens who were still loyal to the crown of England.
Question 11
Although not written into the text of the Constitution, Judicial Review is the most significant power the Judiciary has because:
it allows the courts to determine the constitutionality of law and acts of Congress.
it allows citizens to vote on laws and revisions to the Constitution.
it allows the courts to systematically review every law that is passed.
it allows the courts to determine which parts of the Constitution must be updated.
Question 12
The Electoral College is the final step by which the President is elected. How does it work?
The popular vote of the nation is tabulated and Congress certifies the results.
The popular vote of the nation is tabulated and members of the Electoral College vote for or against the results.
The popular vote of each state is tabulated and state legislators in each state certify the results, with the exception of Maine and Nebraska.
The popular vote of each state is tabulated with the winner receiving all of that state's electoral college votes, with the exception of Maine and Nebraska.
Question 13
Separation of powers is a constitutional principle that means
each branch checks the power of another branch.
power is divided and allocated to the three branches of the national government.
voters have the final say in who stays in office and who doesn't.
states get more powers than the national government does.
Question 14
If the legislative branch is equal to the executive branch which is equal to the judicial branch, and each branch checks to power of the other, what is this called?
Direct Democracy
Judicial Activism
the Supremacy Clause
Checks and Balances
Question 15
Which of the following is a way U.S. citizenship is acquired by those who immigrate?
By living here.
By place of birth.
By naturalization.
By starting as an illegal immigrant.
Question 16
Civic engagement in a democracy, such as volunteering and voting, is important because
it is a status symbol.
it is a divine right.
it is a requirement to vote.
citizens should consider citizenship as an office that is held with powers and responsibilities.
Question 17
Who gets to ratify treaties and confirm presidential appointees?
the State Department
the Senate
the House of Representatives
the Supreme Court
Question 18
Ideally, the President seeks advice and counsel from different people with a variety of views within the executive branch in order to make the best decisions about national security policy. Within the executive branch, who is responsible for assisting the President in formulating this policy?
the Senate majority leader
the Supreme Court
the National Security Council and key cabinet members
the Speaker of the House
Question 19
Judicial review was established as a precedent in which court case?
Marbury v. Madison
Plessy v. Ferguson
Giddeon v. Wainright
Mapp v. Ohio
Question 20
The reason for having a merit-based civil service system is
to provide competent government workers rather than those hired because they support the president's policies.
to provide competition in the selection of government workers.
to prevent a patronage system that would allow for political cronies to achieve most positions in the government.
All of the above.
Question 21
What was the first document to list the rights and protections granted to individuals in England?
The Constitution of the United Kingdom.
The Magna Carta.
The Spirit of the Laws by Montesquieu.
The Second Treatise of Government by John Locke.
Question 22
When the government gives "hand outs", this is referred to as in-kind assistance. The following program or groups are recipients, except
state and local governments.
college students who receive Pell grants.
the oil industry, banks, and other corporations receiving subsidies or bail outs.
the US Postal Service.
Question 23
In order to counteract rising income inequality in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century, the government did the following:
began to create a regulated capitalist system to stem the abuses of the corporate and banking sector.
put in place workplace regulations to curb child labor and establish minimum wage laws.
put in place business regulations that protected worker and food safety.
All of the above.
Question 24
The Speaker of the House is:
the head of the Senate.
second in line of succession to the presidency after the Vice President.
the minority leader in the US House.
a non-voting member of the Congress.
Question 25
Writng editing andd often killing legislation before it is ever voted on is the work of the
House or Senate special committee.
House or Senate select committee.
full body of the House and Senate.
the House or Senate standing committee.
Question 26
Executive privilege is:
the president's authority to suppress from public view information that he/she deems to be of national security importance.
the president's authority to send troops into active battle for a limited period of time without congressional consent.
the president's right to plead the 5th amendment.
the president's right to inhibit some civil liberties during a time of war.
Question 27
Fiscal policy attempts to
manage the economy by controlling the money supply.
manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.
manage the economy by controlling interest rates.
manage the economy by using supply-side economics.
Question 28
Economist John Meynard Keynes advocated that
the government provide tax credits to businesses that relocated in the inner cities.
the government provide cuts to the wealthy and to corporations in order to stimulate trickle-down economics.
the government cut spending during an economic recession.
the government increase spending during a recession and raise taxes during an economic boom.
Question 29
Talking endlessly on the Senate floor with the hope of killing a bill not favored by a Senator describes
Gerrymandering
Collective bargaining
Rules Committee
Filibuster
Question 30
While the Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to set air quality standards, state governments are given the power to
enforce adherence by individuals and companies to those standards.
delegate some of that power to local governments to help enforce the standards.
enforce air quality standards unless they are not complying, in which case the EPA can take over.
All of the above.
Question 31
When the courts interpret laws and acts of congress to see if they are in adherence to the Constitution, this is called:
Courts of Appeal
Item Veto
Concurrent power
Judicial Review
Question 32
The type of jurisdiction that the Supreme Court has is:
Primarily appellate jurisdiction.
Primarily original jurisdiction.
Equally appellate and original jurisdiction
Neither
Question 33
Bureaucrats have expertise that members of Congress rely on when drafting legislation to create policy. However, they are not authorized to approve policy. Why?
Because a policy approval requires either legislation or an executive order to implement, neither of which is a power of the bureaucracy.
Because interest groups have the power to approve policies since they contribute greatly to politicians; reelection campaigns.
Because bureaucrats are merely appointed to agree with the president and slow down the system of government.
All of the above.
Question 34
The policy of pre-emption and unilateral action in foreign policy is only successful if:
all countries agree to it.
the president can convince the Congress of the need for pre-emptive military action.
covert intelligence about the country to be invaded is 100% accurate, determining that the country is planning an imminent attack on the US, and that the US has the military strength and global will to go alone.
the president can convince the American public that pre-emptive military action is required in order to prevent another country from attacking the United States.
Question 35
When the president vetoes a bill, Congress' options are then to
revise the legislation in committee, vote on it again in the House and Senate chambers, merge it into one bill in the Conference committee, vote on the final version in chambers, and then present it to the president again.
override the veto with a two-thirds majority in the House and the Senate.
allow the President to use a line-item veto.
Both A and B.
Question 36
The OPEC oil embargo of 1973 forced the United States to adopt national energy policies to limit the impact of future embargos, rising oil prices, and oil shortages. These policies included
the creation of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
the creation of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to establish greater fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks.
the creation of the Department of Energy in 1976 to oversee national energy policies.
All of the above.
Question 37
The President serves as all of the following, except:
Diplomatic Chief
Commander in Chief
Chief Legislator
Political Party director
Question 38
Which sources create US law?
Constitutions
Judicial decisions
Executive orders
All of the above.
Question 39
Which President developed the Policy of preemption and unilateral action with regard to foreign policy?
Dwight Eisenhower
George W. Bush
Bill Clinton
Jimmy Carter
Question 40
The National Security Council consists of whom?
The Director of National Intelligence
The National Security Adviser
The Secretary of State
All of the above