6-11. Name: Class: Date: Multiple Choice Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

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1 Class: Date: 6-11 Multiple Choice Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. 1. Congress is bicameral because the a. Framers modeled it after the English Parliament. b. Framers intended to make it the most powerful branch of the government. c. Framers sought a compromise on the issue of state representation in Congress. d. Framers believed that 535 members would be too many. 2. How often does Congress adjust the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives? a. every session c. every 2 years b. every term d. every 10 years 3. Permanent committees that continue their work from session to session are called a. standing committees. c. select committees. b. conference committees. d. joint committees. 4. The elastic clause allows Congress to a. regulate trade between states. b. tax U.S. citizens in times of economic crisis. c. stretch its powers to meet new needs. d. make temporary treaties with foreign countries. 5. In impeachment proceedings, the House may, but the Senate must. a. convict/impeach c. accuse/impeach b. impeach/convict d. impeach/accuse 6. Congress cannot a. impeach judges. c. control interstate commerce. b. monitor the executive branch. d. favor one state over another. 7. Committee staff members a. veto bills. c. deal with lobbyists. b. serve on committees. d. approve presidential nominees. 8. People seek help from members of Congress a. only rarely. b. because it is hard to deal with the federal bureaucracy. c. as a way to meet a government official. d. because they want a voice in government. 9. In which order are the following actions taken on congressional bills? a. floor action committee action conference action b. conference action floor action committee action c. committee action floor action conference action d. floor action conference action committee action 10. A congressional override of a presidential veto is a. rare. c. impossible. b. likely. d. easily accomplished. 1

2 11. In the years shown, the number of Republicans in the House was at its highest point in the a. 106th Congress. c. 108th Congress. b. 107th Congress. d. 109th Congress. 12. Which Congress had the highest number of independents in the years shown? a. the 106th c. the 108th b. the 107th d. the 109th 13. Which Congress had the greatest difference between the number of Democrats and the number of Republicans? a. the 106th c. the 108th b. the 107th d. the 109th [T]he value of the Representative or Senator increases in proportion to his length of service.... The best plan for a constituency to pursue is to select a man of good sense, good habits, and perfect integrity, young enough to learn, and re-elect him so long as he retains his faculties and is faithful to his trust. Such a man grows into power and high position as surely as the sparks fly upward. Champ Clark, My Quarter Century of American Politics, What is Representative Clark s opinion of the seniority system? a. He opposes it. b. He supports it. c. He finds that it encourages good habits. d. He believes the constituents should end it. 15. Which question does Clark advise voters to ask before reelecting a member of Congress? a. Can he or she still think clearly? b. Has he or she been in office for too long? c. Does he or she hold high positions? d. Is he or she young enough to learn? 16. Which of the following best describes the meaning of the phrase as surely as the sparks fly upward? a. with burning conviction c. without a doubt b. on eagle s wings d. with great self-confidence 2

3 17. Congress is considered a bicameral body because a. it has 535 members. b. it has two parts. c. the legislative branch is more powerful than the executive branch. d. the Great Compromise established equal representation in the House. 18. A term of Congress a. lasts for one year. c. lasts for two years. b. ends during times of crisis. d. rarely includes a joint session. 19. Why do political parties sometimes gerrymander their districts? a. to increase their voting strength b. to ensure that each district has the same number of constituents c. to focus lawmakers attention on the concerns of their districts d. to ensure that each voter belongs to one of the two major parties 20. Congress gets its lawmaking powers from the a. president. c. Senate. b. Constitution. d. states. 21. Congressional bills dealing with people s claims against the government are called a. small claims bills. c. public bills. b. general bills. d. private bills. 22. The nonlegislative powers of Congress include the power to a. check other government branches. c. control commerce. b. tax. d. spend money. 23. The seniority system is a. not related to committee chairpersons. b. based on the age of each senator. c. universally accepted by both political parties. d. used by party leaders to make committee assignments. 24. Which of the following is a part of the lawmaking process? a. checking the power of the president b. debating bills on the floor of Congress c. approving presidential appointments d. performing casework 25. After being introduced on the floor, a bill moves to a. floor debate. c. a roll-call vote. b. the appropriate standing committee. d. the president s desk. 26. A filibuster can be ended by a. a roll-call vote. b. floor debate. c. three-fifths of the senators voting for cloture. d. a two-thirds vote of the members. 3

4 27. Compared with the number of measures introduced in the 109th Congress, the number of laws passed is a. large. c. small. b. nearly equal. d. not shown. 28. How many bills concerning individual people or places were enacted into law? a. 1 c. 398 b. 81 d Why is the number of measures introduced larger than the total number of measures reported out of committee? a. Committee members change for each session. b. Committees report on a set number of bills each session. c. The numbers shown reflect only one session of Congress. d. Most measures introduced are killed in committee. The provision of the Constitution giving the war-making power to Congress, was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons. Kings had always been involving and impoverishing [making poor] their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This, our Convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions; and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us. Abraham Lincoln, Letter to William Herndon, February 15, According to the excerpt, which branch of government has the power to declare war? a. the legislative branch c. the judicial branch b. the executive branch d. all three branches 31. According to the excerpt, which of the following guided the Framers as they debated the war-making power? a. the Convention c. American history b. the Constitution d. European history 32. According to Lincoln, the Framers were trying to avoid a. war. c. poverty. b. oppression. d. chaos. 4

5 Senate Standing Committees House of Representatives Standing Committees Select and Special Committees Agriculture, Nutrition, Agriculture Intelligence Economics and Forestry Appropriations Appropriations Homeland Security Printing Armed Services Armed Services Aging Taxation Banking, Housing, and Budget Ethics Library Urban Affairs Budget Education and the Indian Affairs Workforce Commerce, Science, and Energy and Commerce Transportation Energy and Natural Financial Services Resources Environmental and Government Reform Public Works Finance House Administration Foreign Relations International Relations Governmental Affairs Judiciary Health, Education, Resources Labor, and Pensions Judiciary Rules Rules and Science Administration Small Businesses and Small Business Entrepreneurs Veterans Affairs Standards of Official Conduct Transportation and Infrastructure Veterans Affairs Ways and Means Joint Committees 33. Which two standing committees exist in both the Senate and the House of Representatives? a. Rules and Resources b. Armed Services and Judiciary c. Education and Finance d. Budget and Standards of Official Conduct 34. Of the four different categories of committees on the chart, which includes members of both houses of Congress? a. Senate Standing b. House of Representatives Standing c. Select and Special d. Joint 5

6 35. Which committee would be responsible for federal funding to city governments? a. Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs b. Governmental Affairs c. Small Business d. Aging 36. According to the graphic organizer, what does Congress have the power to do with regard to currency? a. to make laws c. to regulate commerce b. to establish post offices d. to coin money 37. Of all these powers, which is the most basic and important? a. the power to make laws c. the power to regulate commerce b. the power to collect taxes d. the power to borrow money 38. The expressed power that helps Congress manage the federal budget is the power to a. coin money. c. borrow money. b. organize the military. d. declare war. 6

7 Article I. - The Legislative Branch Section 2 - The House The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People... No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen... Section 3 - The Senate The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State,... for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote... No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. U.S. Constitution A twenty-eight-year-old citizen could be elected a. to the House or the Senate. b. only to the House of Representatives. c. only to the Senate. d. to neither house of Congress. 40. What qualification do both houses of Congress have in common? a. Members must be born in the United States. b. Members must be at least thirty years old. c. Members must graduate from college. d. Members must live in the state they represent. 41. How often are Senators up for reelection? a. every six years c. every two years b. every four years d. every year 7

8 42. After the 2000 census, most states a. lost seats in the House of Representatives. b. gained seats in the House of Representatives. c. gained seats in the Senate. d. kept the same number of seats in the House of Representatives. 43. Which of the following is a qualification required by the Constitution for becoming president of the United States? a. political experience c. naturalized citizen b. 35 years old or older d. resident for at least 25 years 44. The Constitution gives the power to declare war to a. the vice president. c. the president. b. cabinet members. d. Congress. 8

9 45. What is the line of succession after the president and vice president? a. secretary of state president pro tempore of the Senate Speaker of the House b. president pro tempore of the Senate Speaker of the House secretary of state c. Speaker of the House president pro tempore of the Senate secretary of state d. president pro tempore of the Senate secretary of state Speaker of the House 46. Presidential appointees to head cabinet departments and other top government offices must be approved by a. the vice president. c. the Supreme Court. b. Congress. d. the Senate. 47. Who has the sole power of introducing bills in Congress? a. the president c. Supreme Court justices b. Congress members d. the American people 48. The most direct benefit of having a U.S. foreign policy that promotes democracy around the world is that it helps a. protect national security. c. reduce poverty. b. create jobs for U.S. workers. d. promote trade. 49. By what margin must the Senate approve a treaty with another nation? a. a simple majority c. two-thirds vote b. three-fifths vote d. three-fourths vote 50. Which of the president s closest political advisors is the most powerful? a. assistant for domestic affairs c. press secretary b. council to the president d. chief of staff 51. The core of the Executive Office of the President is the a. Cabinet. c. National Security Council. b. White House Office. d. Office of Administration. 52. The assassination of President James Garfield led to the passage of the a. Pendleton Act. c. War Powers Resolution. b. Twenty-fifth Amendment. d. Presidential Succession Act. 9

10 The map shows the number of electoral votes for each state and for Washington, D.C. 53. How many members of the U.S. House of Representatives does Florida have? a. 27 c. 23 b. 25 d The state with the most electoral votes is a. Washington, D.C. c. Texas. b. Vermont. d. California. 55. If a state is large, the number of electoral votes it has a. could be high or low, depending on how many voters the state has. b. is low because of the state s geographic size. c. could be high or low, depending on how many representatives the state has. d. is high because of the state s geographic size. AMENDMENT XXII Passed by Congress March 21, Ratified February 27, Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress This amendment went into effect a. before March 21, c. on February 27, b. on March 21, d. after February 27,

11 57. A person cannot be elected president a. for more terms than the previous president. b. for more than two years of a term. c. more than twice. d. more than once. 58. The president who was in office when this article was proposed a. would not be affected by it. c. suggested it to Congress. b. would have to leave office. d. vetoed it. 59. Which of the following is a qualification for the office of the president? a. 30 years old or older b. resident of the United States for at least 10 years c. native-born U.S. citizen d. college educated 60. The number of electoral votes each state has is equal to the number of a. registered voters it has. b. square miles the state covers. c. U.S. senators and representatives the state has. d. people who voted in the previous presidential election. 61. Which of the following indicates the line of succession after the vice president? a. Twenty-second Amendment c. Pendleton Act b. Twenty-fifth Amendment d. Presidential Succession Act 62. Who has the power to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate? a. vice president c. Speaker of the House b. secretary of state d. attorney general 63. The final authority to determine whether a law is acceptable under the Constitution rests with a. the Department of Justice. c. the president. b. the Supreme Court. d. Congress. 64. The statement in the Constitution that Executive Power shall be invested in a President means that the president is responsible for a. carrying out the laws passed by Congress. b. appointing the heads of the cabinet departments. c. introducing legislation to Congress for consideration. d. giving information to the country about the state of the union. 65. The United States will send an ambassador to another country only if the government of that country a. is democratic. b. holds power legally. c. agrees to treaties with the United States. d. approves U.S. trade sanctions against other countries. 66. The White House Office is the most important part of the a. Office of Administration. c. Council of Economic Advisors. b. National Security Council. d. Executive Office of the President. 67. One job of the Office of Administration is to a. respond to individuals seeking records under the Freedom of Information Act. b. give the president advice about matters such as tax policy and inflation. c. monitor the spending of hundreds of government agencies. d. supervise the Central Intelligence Agency. 11

12 68. How often does the cabinet meet with the president? a. at least once every week c. at least once every year b. more than twice every month d. whenever the president says 69. According to the chart, the president plans the budget of the federal government to fulfill the role of a. legislative leader. c. economic leader. b. party leader. d. chief executive. 70. Lighting the national Christmas tree is an example of the president s role as a. party leader. c. legislative leader. b. economic leader. d. head of state. 71. Which of the following is an example of the president s role as commander in chief? a. appointing justices to the Supreme Court b. granting amnesty to a group of people c. sending troops overseas to support foreign policy decisions d. issuing an executive order about an administrative problem 12

13 Abroad, our nation is committed to a historic, long-term goal we seek the end of tyranny in our world. Some dismiss that goal as misguided idealism. In reality, the future security of America depends on it. On September the 11th, 2001, we found that problems originating in a failed and oppressive state 7,000 miles away could bring murder and destruction to our country. Dictatorships shelter terrorists, and feed resentment and radicalism, and seek weapons of mass destruction. Democracies replace resentment with hope, respect the rights of their citizens and their neighbors, and join the fight against terror. Every step toward freedom in the world makes our country safer so we will act boldly in freedom s cause. President George W. Bush, State of the Union address, What requires President Bush to give a State of the Union address to Congress each year? a. Presidential Succession Act c. Pendleton Act b. Constitution d. Civil Service Reform Act 73. To which two key foreign policy goals does President Bush allude in this speech? a. international trade and homeland security b. promotion of democracy and international trade c. homeland security and promotion of democracy d. promotion of democracy and international trade 74. Which presidential role does this portion of the speech illustrate? a. legislative leader c. party leader b. chief diplomat d. economic leader Vice Presidents Who Became President Fourteen Vice Presidents have become President. Five vice presidents were elected to office: John Adams, George Bush, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buren, and Richard Nixon. Richard Nixon is the only person to serve two terms as Vice President and be elected to two terms as President. Four vice presidents succeeded to the presidency upon the assassination of the incumbent: Andrew Johnson for Abraham Lincoln in 1865, Chester Arthur for James Garfield in 1881, Theodore Roosevelt for William McKinley in 1901, and Lyndon Johnson for John Kennedy in Four Vice Presidents inherited the presidency after the natural death of the incumbent: John Tyler for William Henry Harrison in 1841, Millard Fillmore for Zachary Taylor in 1850, Calvin Coolidge for Warren Harding in 1923, and Harry Truman for Franklin Roosevelt in Four Vice Presidents who succeeded to the presidency did not name a vice president to fill the vacancy: John Tyler in 1841, Millard Fillmore in 1851, Andrew Johnson in 1865, and Chester Arthur in At the time there was no law addressing the vacancy of the vice president. The Twenty-fifth Amendment now permits the succeeding president to name a vice president. Gerald Ford was the first such nominee after the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew. Ford became President after the resignation of Nixon in 1974, thus making him the only person to serve as Vice President and President without having been elected to either office. 75. How did Thomas Jefferson become president? a. He was elected. c. The president died naturally. b. The president resigned. d. The president was assassinated. 13

14 76. Which of the following vice presidents inherited the presidency after the incumbent died of a natural death? a. John Adams c. Martin Van Buren b. Andrew Johnson d. Calvin Coolidge 77. What does incumbent mean? a. president b. the official who currently holds the office c. vice president d. the next person in line for the office Executive Order Establishing the Office of Homeland Security By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Establishment. I hereby establish within the Executive Office of the President an Office of Homeland Security (the "Office") to be headed by the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. Sec. 2. Mission. The mission of the Office shall be to develop and coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to secure the United States from terrorist threats or attacks. The Office shall perform the functions necessary to carry out this mission, including the functions specified in section 3 of this order. Sec. 3. Functions. The functions of the Office shall be to coordinate the executive branch's efforts to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States. 78. Who or what established the Office of Homeland Security? a. the president of Homeland Security c. the president of the United States b. the Constitution d. the assistant to the president 79. The Office of Homeland Security is a part of the a. legislative branch of government. c. military. b. executive branch of government. d. judicial branch of government. 80. What does Section 2 of the executive order explain? a. the mission of the Office of Homeland Security b. the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security c. the organization of the Office of Homeland Security d. the functions of the Office of Homeland Security 81. The federal court system consists of a. federal district courts, federal appeals courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. b. federal appeals courts, state appeals courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. c. federal district courts, state supreme courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. d. local courts, state courts, and federal district courts. 14

15 82. In which cases would federal courts have jurisdiction? a. disputes between two citizens of the same state b. violations of local ordinances c. disputes between two states d. violations of state laws 83. In which type of court do federal trials and lawsuits usually begin? a. state supreme courts c. federal appeals courts b. federal district courts d. municipal courts 84. The job of an appeals court is to a. review decisions made in lower courts. b. sentence people who are convicted in federal courts. c. decide the defendant s guilt or innocence. d. decide whether a law is allowed by the U.S. Constitution. 85. What does it mean when a judge uses precedent to arrive at an opinion? a. The judge does not refer to the U.S. Constitution. b. The judge relies heavily on previous opinions in similar cases. c. The judge asks for the opinions of several other justices. d. The judge arrives at an opinion unlike any in the past. 86. What kinds of trials do district courts hold? a. They hold only criminal trials. b. They hold only civil trials. c. They do not hold trials. d. They hold both criminal and civil trials. 87. Which of the following established the principle of federal judicial review? a. U.S. Constitution b. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas c. Judiciary Act of 1789 d. Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison 88. Which of the following can limit the power of the Supreme Court? a. political elections c. special interest groups b. Congressional legislation d. lifetime appointments 89. How does a case come before the Supreme Court? a. All federal cases automatically come before the Supreme Court. b. The Senate determines the cases that the Supreme Court will hear each year. c. The justices of the Supreme Court choose the cases they will hear. d. Any case in which a state government loses is appealed to the Supreme Court. 90. The Supreme Court s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson reflected American s approval of a. segregation. c. relocation centers. b. integration. d. women s suffrage. 15

16 Source: Supreme Court of the United States 91. Which president appointed the most chief justices? a. Adams c. Reagan b. Harding d. Washington 92. Which states have had the highest number of chief justice appointments? a. Ohio and Maryland c. New York and Virginia b. Maryland and New York d. Virginia and Washington 93. The longest serving chief justice was a. Warren Earl Burger. c. William H. Rehnquist. b. John Marshall. d. Roger Brooke Taney. 16

17 In the interest of finality, the majority effectively orders the disenfranchisement of an unknown number of voters whose ballots reveal their intent... but were for some reason rejected by ballot-counting machines. What must underlie petitioners entire federal assault on the Florida election procedures is an unstated lack of confidence in the impartiality and capacity of the state judges who would make the critical decisions if the vote count were to proceed.... Although we may never know... the identity of the winner of this year s Presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the Nation s confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law. Justice John Paul Stevens, from his dissenting opinion in Bush v. Gore, In what way does Justice Stevens say the majority decision injures the voters? a. They did not have the chance to vote. b. Their voting rights were denied because their ballots were not counted. c. They were forced to vote for the wrong candidate. d. They did not receive a fair trial. 95. Who does Justice Stevens say that the loser of the election is? a. voters b. the president c. the nation s confidence in ballot-counting machines d. the nation s confidence in judges 96. Why does Justice Stevens say that the majority of the justices decided to end the ballot counting in Florida? a. They believed that the people in Florida were not counting correctly. b. They believed the ballots were used incorrectly. c. They wanted to finalize the presidency quickly. d. They wanted to count the ballots themselves. 97. When can the Supreme Court rule on the constitutionality of a law? a. It can rule at any time. b. It can rule only during a case. c. It can rule within 30 days after the law is passed. d. The Supreme Court can never rule a law unconstitutional. 98. What did the Judiciary Act of 1789 establish? a. the U.S. Supreme Court b. state court systems c. rules for choosing Supreme Court justices d. federal district courts and circuit courts of appeal 99. The Supreme Court would have jurisdiction in a case involving a a. violation of freedom of speech. b. real estate dispute between two large companies in Texas. c. traffic violation in Washington, D.C. d. child custody dispute between divorced parents Which of the following is an appeals court allowed to do? a. to retry a case c. to call a jury b. to reverse a lower court decision d. to advise the Supreme Court 101. All Supreme Court Justices have been a. representatives. c. lawyers. b. senators. d. political scientists. 17

18 102. Which group prosecutes people accused of breaking federal laws? a. U.S. attorneys c. U.S. marshals b. magistrate judges d. probation officers 103. Which of the following correctly describes the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court? a. five associate justices b. nine associate justices and one chief justice c. five assistant justices, five associate justices, and one chief justice d. eight associate justices and one chief justice 104. What is the significance of the Supreme Court decision in the case Marbury v. Madison? a. It was the first case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. b. It established the U.S. Supreme Court s right of judicial review in federal cases. c. It established the U.S. Supreme Court s jurisdiction in cases between states. d. It overturned the practice of separate but equal in schools The U.S. Supreme Court s decision in the case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, is an example of a. stare decisis. c. concurrent jurisdiction. b. remanding a case. d. breaking with precedent The Supreme Court ruling in the case of Worcester v. Georgia demonstrated the a. value of the Constitution. c. limits of the Supreme Court. b. power of the Supreme Court. d. power of Congress The blindfolded Justice figure is used to represent the Supreme Court because justice is supposed to be a. ignorant. c. playful. b. impartial. d. prejudiced The artist uses the man in the cartoon to suggest that affirmative action goals will be a. hard to meet in the face of new restrictions. b. the downfall of American business people. c. balanced against the needs of American men. d. dropped in favor of new American values. 18

19 109. Which of the following would make the best title for this cartoon? a. Affirmative Action Rules b. Quotas and Percentages Outweigh Affirmative Action c. The Impartial Supreme Court d. Justice Is Blind to the Problems It May Cause... [In recent years,] the Court has more and more often and more and more boldly asserted a power to veto laws passed by the Congress and by state legislatures in complete disregard of... [the] original limitation [of the Constitution]... In the last four years the sound rule of giving statutes the benefit of all reasonable doubt has been cast aside. The Court has been acting not as a judicial body, but as a policymaking body Roosevelt objects to the Supreme Court s tendency to a. hear cases having nothing to do with federal law. b. decide that certain laws are unconstitutional. c. pass laws on its own. d. rewrite certain sections of the Constitution What power of the Court has Roosevelt questioned? a. original jurisdiction c. interpreting the Constitution b. writing dissenting opinions d. judicial review 112. What problem does Roosevelt believe the Court s actions will cause? a. The president and Congress will not be able to pass legislation. b. Congress will lose its powers under the Constitution. c. People will demand to elect the members of the Supreme Court. d. The Supreme Court will stop ruling on cases and start creating laws. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, discussing his plan to reorganize the federal judiciary in the face of Supreme Court opposition to New Deal legislation A citizen who is concededly loyal presents no problem of espionage or sabotage. Loyalty is a matter of the heart and mind not of race, creed, or color In the Ex parte Endo case, Endo was a a. U.S. corporation accused of financial mismanagement. b. Japanese American fired from her job. c. French immigrant suspected of terrorism. d. Russian diplomat accused of breaking U.S. laws What practice did the Ex parte Endo case question? a. false record keeping by large corporations b. discrimination against foreign diplomats c. internment of Japanese Americans d. segregation of immigrants Ex parte Endo,

20 115. What was the outcome of the Ex parte Endo case? a. Japanese Americans were released from internment. b. Foreign diplomats were given immunity. c. Endo executives were sentenced to prison. d. The government provided assimilation programs. United States Court System 1. Limited original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction 2. U.S. Courts of Appeals Appellate jurisdiction 3. U.S. District Courts Original jurisdiction 116. According to the graphic above, U.S. district courts are the only federal courts in which a. juries hear cases and reach verdicts. b. lawyers present evidence that may change verdicts. c. judges evaluate the fairness of trials. d. decisions are final unless appealed The appellate jurisdiction of U.S. courts of appeals, as shown above, means that appeals courts have the authority to a. try persons accused of breaking federal laws. b. hear cases for the first time. c. call witnesses to testify in defense of the accused. d. hear cases appealed from lower courts Which court belongs in the box labeled 1 in the graphic above? a. magistrate court c. municipal court b. U.S. Circuit Court d. Supreme Court [I]t is apparent, that the framers of the constitution contemplated that instrument as a rule for the government of courts, as well as of the legislature. Why otherwise does it direct the judges to take an oath to support it? This oath certainly applies, in an especial manner, to their conduct in their official character. How immoral to impose it on them, if they were to be used as the instruments, and the knowing instruments, for violating what they swear to support! Chief Justice John Marshall Which of the following statements BEST explains the point John Marshall is making in the above excerpt from Marbury v. Madison? a. Supreme Court justices should not have to swear oaths of office if legislators do not. b. Supreme Court justices must uphold the Constitution and avoid becoming political pawns. c. Legislators must balance the Constitution against the needs of special-interest groups. d. The Constitution provides moral guidelines for the nation. 20

21 1. Written Arguments 2. Oral Arguments 3. Conference 4. Opinion Writing 5. Steps in Supreme Court Decision Making 120. At which step pictured in the graphic above are briefs presented? a. 1 c. 3 b. 2 d How many justices must be present for a decision during the conference step listed in the graphic above? a. five c. eight b. six d. all nine 122. What is the last step that the Supreme Court takes on a decision? a. voting c. public hearing b. announcement d. appeal 123. Which leader warned Americans that political parties may have harmful effects? a. Alexander Hamilton c. George Washington b. Theodore Roosevelt d. Thomas Jefferson 124. Federalists believed that the best way to protect individual rights was to have a. a strong national government. c. a balance of power. b. strong state governments. d. constitutional amendments Which of the following is an example of a single-issue party? a. Reform c. Communist b. Socialist Labor d. Prohibitionist 126. What kind of political party system do many democracies have? a. one-party c. multiparty b. two-party d. theocratic 127. By reading a party platform, you can learn about the party s a. plans for the national convention. b. beliefs and positions on election issues. c. campaign strategies for the coming election. d. budget for campaign spending Which group writes a party s platform at its national convention? a. delegates b. ward leaders c. Senate campaign committee members d. local caucus members 129. What is the main event at a national party convention? a. raising money for the national election b. recruiting volunteers to campaign for the party c. preparing television and radio advertisements d. nominating a candidate for president 21

22 130. The role of a party committee at the county level is to a. follow rules passed down from state and national committees. b. dictate the work of precinct captains and ward leaders. c. support party efforts at the local, state, and national levels. d. prepare planks for the party s platform Which role is a party member performing when he or she tells leaders about concerns neighbors have? a. campaigning for candidates c. carrying the people s message b. informing citizens d. operating the government 132. How does a candidate who is not a Democrat or a Republican get his or her name on the ballot for a general election? a. submit a petition c. join a caucus b. form a political party d. seek help from a political machine 133. The man in the cartoon represents a a. candidate. c. pollster. b. lobbyist. d. voter The cartoonist uses big eyes, folded hands, and a rush of words to show that Republicans and Democrats are a. angry. c. mean. b. anxious. d. hopeful Which title below best fits this cartoon? a. Voters Fear Politicians c. Voters Should Not Shop Alone b. Both Parties Plead for Votes d. Beware of Angry Politicians 22

23 The Constitution was written by the Founders when they had not yet realized the vital necessity of politics and parties in the process of our elections. Further, the enormous transformation of politics from the part-time avocation [hobby] of public-spirited gentlemen to the multibillion-dollar enterprise of electoral institutions in a rich, diverse, continental Republic has not been matched by constitutional adaptation. The absence of modern politics in the Constitution from the structure of presidential selection to the manner of congressional elections to some critical aspects of electioneering, such as redistricting and campaign finance has caused no end of difficulties, which can only be corrected by the inclusion of thoughtful provisions in a new twenty-first-century Constitution. It is long past time to do so. Larry J. Sabato, Director of the Center for Politics, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Sabato believes political parties are a. Republican enterprises. c. important to democracy. b. unconstitutional. d. twenty-first-century hobbies Who does Sabato suggest is responsible for political problems in the United States? a. public-spirited citizens c. Founders of the United States b. millionaires d. Republicans and Democrats 138. Sabato believes that the best way to correct political problems in the United States is to a. add constitutional amendments. b. end campaign finance reforms. c. promote electioneering. d. increase the use of closed primaries Thomas Jefferson believed that strong state governments would protect individual rights better than a strong national government because states are a. easier to manage. c. closer to the citizens. b. more likely to tax. d. less expensive to operate A breakaway group of Democrats and Whigs formed the Republican Party in 1854 because they tended to a. oppose the Federalists. c. support state s rights. b. favor eight-hour workdays. d. oppose slavery In the United States, third parties are also called minor parties because they a. have never won a presidential election. b. draw attention to social issues. c. influence government policies. d. support independent candidates Which of the following countries is governed by a one-party system? a. Canada c. Germany b. China d. Israel 143. A single statement that describes a political party s position on an election issue is called a a. caucus. c. plank. b. deck. d. platform The job description for a chairperson of a national committee includes a. running for public office. b. leading fund-raising efforts. c. reporting to the president of the United States. d. controlling party activities at the state and county level. 23

24 145. The purpose of congressional campaign committees is to a. help elect party members. b. write campaign speeches for presidential candidates. c. appoint state delegates to the national conventions. d. monitor the work of the national committee for their parties Which political committee would be most likely to focus on electing party candidates to the position of governor? a. state c. county b. national d. city 147. To win a primary election in most states, a candidate must receive a a. ballot recommendation. c. majority of the votes. b. petition from qualified voters. d. plurality of the votes The purpose of the watchdog role is to a. protect candidates from negative advertising. b. find party members willing to run for public office. c. make sure that the winning party does not abuse its power. d. report misbehavior of local party volunteers Which group belongs in Box 3 of the diagram? a. city managers c. county commissioners b. ward leaders d. county committees 24

25 150. Which level probably has the largest number of members? a. Level 2 c. Level 5 b. Level 4 d. Level What is a good title for this diagram? a. Responsibilities of Political Parties b. Organization of Political Parties c. How to Vote in a National Election d. Management of Voter Registration I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State.... Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.... The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.... And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume. George Washington, Farewell Address, This passage suggests that Washington believes that political parties will a. protect the United States from foreign powers. b. ensure the civil liberties of all citizens. c. have harmful effects on the nation. d. lead to higher taxes Which of the following is an effect that Washington believes that political parties will cause? a. One party or person will control the country. b. The nation s capital will catch on fire. c. Citizens will enjoy spirited debates about politics. d. New political parties will be formed from old ones What does Washington think American citizens should do about political parties in the United States? a. support them b. write laws allowing only two at a time c. look to other nations for advice d. oppose them 25

26 Votes for Leading Third-Party Presidential Candidates 155. From 1988 to 1992, the number of third-party votes a. decreased sharply. c. increased marginally. b. increased sharply. d. decreased marginally After 1992, the number of third-party votes a. decreased. c. stayed the same. b. increased. d. fluctuated During which four year period did the smallest change in third-party votes occur? a c b d During which two year period did both parties raise the most money? a c b d

27 159. Generally, during a year when the Republicans raise less money, the Democrats a. raise less money. b. raise more money. c. are not effected. d. raise the same amount as the previous year Overall, what trend do you notice within the graph? a. Both parties continue to raise less money. b. Both parties continue to raise more money. c. The Democrats raise more money, and the Republicans raise less. d. The Republicans raise more money, and the Democrats raise less Which of the following is a requirement for voting in elections in the United States today? a. ability to get to a polling place c. property ownership b. high-school education d. U.S. citizenship 162. Citizens who are unable to vote at the polls on Election Day a. can vote by absentee ballot. b. can vote by regular ballot. c. can vote by reregistering in another voting district. d. are not allowed to vote Which of the following is a true statement about the characteristics of voters in the United States? a. Most citizens who vote have a negative attitude toward government. b. Most citizens who vote have a high level of education. c. Citizens under the age of 25 have the highest voting turnout rate of all groups. d. The lower a person s income, the more likely he or she is to vote In which type of election do voters choose a party s candidates for the general election? a. local election c. primary election b. national election d. special election 165. A runoff election is held a. so that citizens can vote to remove a public official from office. b. after a law is sent back to the voters for approval. c. to help citizens propose new laws or state constitutional amendments. d. when none of the candidates for a particular office has won a majority of the vote in the general election In recent years, what has been the main function of the political parties national conventions? a. to kick off the presidential campaign and rally party members across the country for the work ahead b. to provide a platform for the major candidates of each party to debate each other c. to elect the new president d. to choose candidates for the general election 167. A presidential election is won by the candidate who a. receives a majority of electoral votes. b. receives a majority of the popular vote. c. wins the popular vote in more than 25 states. d. wins the primary election in a majority of states. 27

28 168. What is the purpose of a campaign? a. to learn about voters needs b. to raise money c. to convince the public to vote for a certain candidate d. to gain endorsements 169. Political action committees have given most of their money to a. Republicans. c. third-party candidates. b. Democrats. d. incumbents The McCain-Feingold Act a. raises the limits on soft money contributions and prohibits hard money donations. b. raises the limits on hard money contributions and prohibits soft money donations. c. raises the limits on both hard and soft money contributions. d. makes political action committees illegal What is the theme of this painting? a. the nature of fair elections b. the right and responsibility of voting c. the importance of primary elections d. the relationship between issues and elections 172. Which word BEST describes the artist s attitude toward voting? a. negative c. indifferent b. fearful d. respectful 28

29 173. The artist probably includes a child in this painting because young people should a. have the right to vote. b. help their parents make choices at the polls. c. learn the importance of voting. d. obey their parents. The deadliest enemies of nations are not their foreign foes; they always dwell within their borders. And from these internal enemies civilization is always in need of being saved. The nation blessed above all nations is she in whom the civic genius of the people does the saving day by day... by speaking, writing, voting reasonably; by smiting corruption swiftly; by good temper between parties; by the people knowing true men when they see them, and preferring them as leaders to rabid partisans or empty quacks. William James, Dedication Speech upon the Unveiling of the Shaw Monument, Boston Music Hall, May 31, What is the topic of James s statement? a. the need for national security b. the importance of political involvement c. the importance of the two-party system d. the lack of campaign reform 175. According to James, the deadliest enemies of nations are a. foreign foes. b. politicians who act like rabid partisans. c. citizens who speak, write, and vote. d. citizens who fail to think and act reasonably Which of the following statements BEST summarizes James s words? a. Government has the right and the responsibility to identify dangerous people. b. Improving and maintaining civilization is the responsibility of elected officials. c. Citizens have the power and the responsibility to monitor government actions. d. Opening a country s borders to foreigners is civilization s best hope Which of the following is true regarding voter registration in the U.S.? a. You must register as a Democrat, a Republican, or an independent. b. You must register before you can vote. c. You must register as part of the exit poll. d. You must register in order to renew your driver s license Which of the following is a location in which you would find a polling place? a. bank c. school b. grocery store d. private home 179. Which of the following questions is a good indicator of whether you should vote for a certain candidate? a. Does the candidate have relevant past experience? b. Is the candidate attractive? c. Does the candidate have a family? d. Does the candidate make a good impression on television? 180. In a general election, voters choose a. a governor. c. a political party s nominees. b. the president. d. candidates for all offices. 29

30 181. The candidate who is elected to public office by an indirect vote is a a. U.S. senator. c. U.S. representative. b. president. d. state governor Why are national conventions no longer the setting for choosing a political party s presidential candidate? a. National conventions are too expensive. b. State conventions have taken their place. c. Primary elections determine the party s candidate. d. National conventions do not represent party members Presidential elections begin with a. acceptance speeches. c. the nomination of candidates. b. campaign tours. d. exit polls Which of the following is essential to running a successful political campaign? a. a group of advisers c. knowledge of past campaigns b. an office in the state capital d. sufficient funding 185. Donations given to a political party without being designated for a particular candidate s election campaign are called a. public funding. c. private funding. b. soft money. d. hard money Recent campaign reform legislation increases the emphasis on a. political campaigns getting many small donations rather than a few large ones. b. total public funding of political campaigns. c. limiting the number of potential donors to a political campaign. d. political campaigns securing the largest donations possible from a select group of wealthy individuals Which group had the lowest percentage of registered voters in November 2004? a. Group 1 c. Group 3 b. Group 2 d. Group Which group had the highest percentage of voter turnout for the November 2004 election? a. Group 1 c. Group 3 b. Group 2 d. Group 4 30