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5. To revise the Electoral College process for selecting the President, changes
must be made by the amendment process, in the:
A. Cabinet system
B. Qualifications for voters
C. System of primary elections
D. United States Constitution
9. All of the following were concerns about the Articles of Confederation that
led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 EXCEPT
A. dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and liberties
B. fear for the stability of the central government
C. the need to give the central government the power to levy taxes
D. dissatisfaction with the central government�s ability to provide for
national defense
10. What happens to a bill after it is proposed in either the House or the
Senate?
A. Goes to a conference committee
B. Sent to the standing committee most qualified to hear the bill
C. Heard by the full House or Senate
D. Assigned to a standing committee
11. �In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the
great difficulty lies in this, you must first enable the government to control the
governed (give it power); and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.�
The underlined portion of this passage from The Federalist refers to the need for:
A. a strong executive c. an independent military
B. a system of checks and balances d. a national education system
12. In the 1780�s, many Americans distrusted a strong central government. This
distrust is best shown by the
A. lack of debate over the ratification of the United States Constitution
B. plan of government set up by the Articles of Confederation
C. development of a Federal court system
D. constitutional provision for a strong President
13. "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that
they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among
these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; . . ."
This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of
Independence were
A. limitations of the principles underlying most European governments of the
1700�s.
B. adaptations of the laws of Spanish colonial governments in North America.
C. adoptions of rules used by the Holy Roman Empire.
D. reflections of the philosophy of John Locke�s natural rights
14. The authors of the United States Constitution believed that the voice of the
people should be heard frequently. Which part of the Government was instituted to
respond most directly to the will of the people, due to their short term in office
before reelection?
A. Senate
B. House of Representatives
C. Supreme Court
D. Presidency
15. In the United States, the use of implied powers, the amending process, and
Supreme Court interpretations have resulted in
A. a general loss of individual rights
B. a strengthening of the principle of separation of powers
C. the Constitution changing to fit different times
D. the limiting of Presidential power in domestic affairs
16. The system of checks and balances is best illustrated by the power of
A. the President to veto a bill passed by Congress
B. Congress to censure one of its members
C. a governor to send the National Guard to stop a riot
D. state and Federal governments to levy and collect taxes
17. Which factor has made the strongest contribution to the development of
religious freedom in the United States?
A. Most citizens have shared the same religious beliefs.
B. Religious groups have remained politically unified.
C. School prayer has been ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court.
D. Guarantees in the Constitution have encouraged religious expression and
toleration.
18. Which phrase from the Declaration of Independence most clearly reflects the
idea that the people are the source of government?
A. �. . . that all men are created equal,...�
B. �. .. all men are . . . endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
rights
C. �. . . deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . .�
D. �. . . governments long established should not be changed for light and
transient causes . . .
19. One way in which the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of
Confederation was that the Constitution
A. created a national government having three branches
B. Constitution was a framework for government
C. Only the Constitution established a legislative branch
D. The states could tax
20. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from the small states most
strongly supported the idea of
A. establishing a strong national executive
B. levying taxes on exports
C. popular election of Senators
D. equal representation for the states in the national legislature
21. The United States Constitution grants certain powers only to the Federal
Government. For example, only Congress can declare war. These powers are called
A. police powers
B. reserved powers
C. enumerated powers
D. concurrent powers
23. Which amendment in the Bill of Rights protects due process of law and the
right to not self-incriminate?
A. 6th Amendment
B. 1st Amendment
C. 5th Amendment
D. 10th Amendment
27. How did the British government support their policy of mercantilism?
A. passing the Navigation Acts and writs of assistance
B. salutary neglect policies
C. allowing colonial representation in Parliament
D. passing the Intolerable Acts
29. The United States Constitution requires that a census be taken every ten years
to reapportion
A. membership in the House of Representatives
B. the number of delegates to national nominating conventions
C. Federal aid to localities
D. agricultural subsidies
30. In the United States Congress, differences between Senate and House of
Representatives versions of a bill are usually resolved by accepting the version
that is
A. preferred by a majority of the State legislatures
B. supported by the Supreme Court
C. preferred by the House in which the bill originated
D. agreed to by a joint conference committee of both houses
31. Which idea had a major influence on the authors of the Articles of
Confederation?
A. A strong central government threatens the rights of the people and the
states.
B. All of the people must be granted the right to vote.
C. Three branches of government are needed to protect liberty.
D. The central government must have the power to levy taxes and to control
trade.
33. Speaker A:� States must be represented in the national government solely on
the basis of population. It is indeed the only fair situation."
Speaker B:"The national legislature must be based on equal representation of the
states to protect the interests of the small states."
Speaker C:"States must accept the supremacy of the national government on all
issues; otherwise, the system will fail."
Speaker D:"The national Congress should consist of two houses: one in which
representation is based on population, and one in which states are equally
represented."
Which speaker�s idea about representation was actually included in the U.S.
Constitution?
A. Speaker A
B. Speaker B
C. Speaker C
D. Speaker D
34. The major reason the Bill of Rights was added to the United States
Constitution was
A. to limit the power of state governments
B. to protect individual liberties against abuse by the federal government
35. Which of the following scenarios is how an amendment to the United States
Constitution is added?
A. 3/4 of Congressional propose and 2/3 of state legislatures ratify
B. 3/4 of state legislatures propose and 3/4 of state legislatures ratify
C. 2/3 of Congress propose and 3/4 of state legislatures ratify
D. 2/3 of Senate propose and 3/4 of state legislatures ratify
38. In the Colonial Era, the Stamp Act Congress, the First and Second Continental
Congresses provided the foundation to what institution in the United States
government?
A. President
B. Voting
C. Electoral College
D. United States Congress
39. �The only representatives of the people of these colonies are persons chosen
therein by themselves; and that no taxes ever have been, or can be
constitutionally imposed on them but by their respective legislatures.�
-Statement by the Stamp Act Congress, 1765
What is a valid conclusion that can be drawn from this quotation?
A. The colonial legislatures should be appointed by the English King with the
consent of Parliament.
B. Only the colonists� elected representatives should have the power to levy
taxes.
C. The English King should have the right to tax the colonists.
D. The colonists should be opposed to all taxation.
40. The Great Compromise, which was proposed by Roger Sherman and accepted by the
other delegates to the Constitutional Convention, solved a disagreement between
which two groups?
A. costal states and inland states B. Federalists and Anti-federalists C.
large states and small states D. farmers and manufacturers
41. The main crop produced in the colony of Virginia was ______________.
A. grain B. lumber C. rice D.
tobacco
42. According to the Virginia Plan, which of the following determined the number
of legislative representatives to which a state would be entitled?
A. Population C. Influence
B. Geographic area D. Location
43. According to Article I of the U.S. Constitution, Congress does NOT have the
power to do which of the following?
A. coin money C. declare war
B. regulate trade D. tax exports
47.What event led to the shift in enforcement policy towards the American colonies
by the British government?
A. American Revolution C. Spanish Wars
B. French and Indian War D. Stamp Act Congress
54. After a Conference Committee combines the House and Senate versions of a bill:
A. bill goes back to the House and the Senate for a vote, where changes can
be made
B. the bill goes to the President of the United States
C. bill goes back to the House and the Senate for a vote, where no changes
can be made
D. the bill is killed
58. Which of the following statements does NOT accurately describe the effects of
geography on the economy of New England?
A. A commercial economy based on trade due to deep sea ports
B. Short growing seasons due to extreme weather only allowed for subsistence
farming
C. Small farms developed in New England due to its gravelly and stony soil
D. Slave labor was necessary in order to sustain subsistence farming
59. All of the following are rights in the Bill of Rights except:
A. freedom of speech C. freedom of religion
B. women�s right to vote D. right to own a gun
62. According the theory of __________, a country should export goods more than it
imports.
A. independence C. bicameralism
B. mercantilism D. confederation
63. The ______________ levied taxes on basic goods imported to the colonies from
Great Britain.
A. Stamp Act C. Tea Act
B. Declaratory Act D. Townshend Acts
64. Who led an armed uprising of farmers on a federal arsenal, which displayed an
urgent need for a stronger government?
A. John Locke C. Thomas Jefferson
B. Thomas Paine D. Daniel Shays
65. The Boston Tea Party caused Parliament to pass the Intolerable Acts, which
included the Quartering Act and:
A. closing Boston harbor C. closing Charleston harbor
B. taxed tea products D. raised colonial taxes
67. The _____________ stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make
decisions for the American colonies �in all cases.�
A. Tea Act C. Mayflower Compact
B. Magna Carta D. Declaratory Act
68. Who did delegates unanimously agree should preside over the Constitutional
Convention?
A. Benjamin Franklin C. Thomas Jefferson
B. John Adams D. George Washington
69. What refers to powers given to state governments but not to the national
government?
A. expressed powers C. separation of powers
B. checks and balances D. reserved powers
70. What part of the Constitution deals with how the legislative branch will work?
A. Article I C. Preamble
B. Article II D. First Amendment
72. ___________ means that a person judged not guilty cannot be put on trial again
for the same crime.
A. Due process C. Double Jeopardy
B. Suffrage D. Censorship
76. Senators may talk on the Senate floor as long as they can, usually to block a
vote on a bill, often called a(n):
A. blockbuster C. dirt buster
B. filibuster D. talk-a-thon
77. If the president ignores a bill for 10 days and Congress is not in session, it
is a
A. pocket veto C. line item veto
B. filibuster D. veto
78. What are completely unrelated amendments tacked onto a Senate bill?
A. baggage C. joint resolutions
B. filibusters D. riders
79. A state has as many ___________ as the total of its U.S. senators and
representatives.
A. points C. ballots
B. electoral votes D. judges
81. How long is the term for a member of the House of Representatives?
A. 2 years C. 6 years
B. 4 years D. 8 years
83. What is the title of the person who takes over in the Senate if the vice
president can not be there?
A. Speaker of the House C. Minority Leader
B. Majority Leader D. President Pro Tempore
88. When the President appoints a new judge to the Supreme Court, who must give
their approval?
A. The House C. The Senate
B. Congress D. State Governors
89. After a bill is introduced in the House and given a name and a number what is
the next step?
A. it is sent to the president pro tempore C. the Speaker assigns it to
a standing committee
B. it is debated on the floor D. it is sent to the President
92. If the President vetoes a bill what must happen for it to become a law?
A. Congress may pass a concurrent resolution saying they want it to be a law
B. Congress may override with a 2/3 vote of both houses
C. the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate can override a
veto
D. a Senator may filibuster until the President changes his mind
94. The French Enlightenment philosopher Baron de Montesquieu praised the British
political system because it divided the power of government between the monarch
and the two houses of Parliament. Which principle included in the U.S.
Constitution shows that the framers agreed with Montesquieu?
A. separation of powers C. rule of law
B.popular sovereignty D. federalism
95. The geography of a region will have the most direct influence on the region�s:
A. economy C. system of education
B. form of worship D. system of government
97. The differences in the economic development of the New England, middle, and
southern colonies resulted chiefly from
A. geographic conditions
B. customs of the immigrants
C. differences in colonial governments
D. extent of education in the colonies
98. During the 18th century, the basic purpose of the British mercantile system
was to
A. increase the wealth and power of Great Britain
B. stimulate colonial initiative and self-sufficiency
C. guarantee the colonies a favorable balance of trade
D. encourage international economic cooperation
100. The French and Indian War increased tension between Britain and the American
colonies because the
A. colonists had not been allowed to participate in that war
B. colonists had hoped to win independence
C. British pressed the colonists to form the Committees of Correspondence
D. British insisted that the colonists share the expenses of the war
101. Which action of the British government directly affected the people on the
frontier?
A. Intolerable Acts C. Stamp Act
B. Proclamation of 1763 D. Townshend Acts
102. Which does NOT illustrate the principle of checks and balances?
A. Congress passes a bill, but the President can veto it.
B. The President appoints cabinet members, but the Senate must approve them.
C. The Supreme Court has the power to declare laws of Congress
unconstitutional.
D.The national government regulates interstate commerce, but state governments
regulate commerce within the states.
103. According the to Tenth Amendment, the powers �not delegated to the United
States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states,� are reserved to
the
A. Congress C. Supreme Court
B. President D. states or the people
104. Which headline refers to an action that may be justified under the elastic
clause?
A. President Vetoes Act of Congress
B. Congress Passes Minimum-Wage Law
C. President Appoints Ambassador to the United Nations
D. Senate Ratifies Treaty
105. Which two functions are carried on by both the federal and state governments?
A. maintaining highways and operating a postal system
B. conserving natural resources and coining money
C. appointing ambassadors and financing schools
D. levying taxes and establishing courts
106. Where in the United States Constitution are reserved powers protected?
A. Article I
B. Article V
C. 10th Amendment
D. 1st Amendment
107. The system of checks and balances was made part of our federal government to
prevent:
A. the federal government from obtaining too much power over the states
B. the states from seceding
C. any one branch of the federal government from becoming too powerful
D. the Supreme Court from declaring laws void
108. What is the job of the Majority and Minority Leaders in Congress?
A. make sure the majority party�s agenda is supported by Congress
B. ensure their home state or district is benefiting by legislation
C. ensure their political party�s agenda and ideals are supported by
congressional legislation
D. ensure the President of the United States is pleased with congressional
legislation
109. What are the requirements to run for the House of Representatives?
A. 30 years old, 7 years as U.S. citizen C. 25 years old, 9 years as U.S.
citizen
B. 25 years old, 7 years as U.S. citizen D. 30 years old, 9 years as U.S.
citizen
112. The Framers of the Constitution allowed for the people of the U.S. to have
the most influence and power in choosing the:
A. Justices of the Supreme Court C. Speaker of the House of
Representatives
B. President and Vice President D. members of the House of
Representatives
113. According to the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the sole
power to:
A. approve appointments C. impeach federal officials and hear money
bills first
B. override Presidential vetoes D. filibuster
116. What is the smallest number of members of Congress that a state, regardless
of its population, may have?
A. five C. two
B. three D. four
117. According to the Constitution, which of the following must originate in the
House of Representatives?
A. money bills (bills having to do with federal funding)
B. a proposed amendment to require a referendum for a declaration of war
C. approval of appointment of a new attorney general
D. a court order against a witness who refused to answer questions before
Congress
Base your answers to questions 119 � 120 on the activities of the United States
Senators described below and on your knowledge of American government.
Senator A is talking with a representative of the American Federation of Labor
Union
concerning a labor bill about to be introduced.
Senator B has been speaking on the floor of the Senate for several hours in an
effort to
prevent a vote on a bill the Senator opposes.
Senator C is attending committee hearings on a treaty about to be submitted to the
Senate
for ratification.
Senator D is drafting a bill that will provide for a federal flood-control project
in her
home state.
121. A naturalized citizen can hold any of the following offices EXCEPT:
A. Senator C. Secretary of State
B. Member of the House of Representatives D. President
122. In Presidential succession, who comes after the Speaker of the House?
A. Secretary of State C. Vice President
B. President Pro Tempore D. Senate Majority Leader
125.What did many Anti-federalists want added to the Constitution before they
would agree to ratify it?
A. Preamble C. Bill of Rights
B. An executive branch D. Line item veto for the President
127. If a senator is the head of a committee, what is the most likely reason?
A. he or she is the most powerful member of the Senate
B. he or she was disloyal to the political party
C. he or she was the most qualified person for the job and the youngest
member
D. he or she is a loyal, senior member of the majority party
128. What battle was the turning point of the Revolutionary War because the
French came to the aid of the Americans?
A. Lexington C. Saratoga
B. Concord D. Yorktown
130. What is a written plan of government that sets out the purposes and
organization of government?
A. declaration of independence C. articles of confederation
B. bill of rights D. constitution
Honor Pledge
Please sign your name on your answer sheet indicating that you have given or
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classes about the exam and you will not talk to people in other classes about this
exam.