Name: Directions (1 50): For each statement or question, record on your separate answer sheet the number of the word or expression that, of those given, best completes the statement or answers the question. (2 Points Each) 1. An organization of citizens/voters who share common interests about how government should be run is referred to as a 1) political unit 2) political party 3) political monopoly 4) political confederation 2. Which of the following statements is true about the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut? 1) The legislature was to be elected by smaller local assemblies. 2) The governor was elected by the people. 3) It was the first written constitution in America. 4) It was written by settlers of Hartford. 3. The primary purpose of the Bill of Rights was to 1) limit the spread of slavery in the United States 2) limit the power of the federal government 3) establish judicial review 4) allot specific powers to the states 4. The Tenth Amendment of the Bill of Rights was significant in particular, because it 1) defined the rule of the construction of the Constitution. 2) guaranteed trial by jury. 3) gave the right to bear arms. 4) guaranteed that any powers not delegated to the federal government went to the states. 5. The Bill of Rights included all of the following EXCEPT 1) the first twelve amendments made to the Constitution. 2) a means of limiting the power of the federal government. 3) a way of securing the rights of individual citizens. 4) ideas mainly developed by George Mason and James Madison. 6. Calling the Constitution a living document means that 1) the text is rewritten every century to keep up with the times. 2) it has been interpreted and amended in different ways to keep up with the times. 3) it changes depending on the circumstances of the presidency and the composition of the legislature. 4) it changes only in response to large, civil protests by many Americans. 7. What is true about the Bill of Rights? 1) It is focused on protecting natural rights, which had been established in state Bills of Rights and constitutions. 2) It focused primarily on the economic rights of citizens. 3) It only protected those in the wealthy classes. 4) It was starkly opposed by Thomas Jefferson. 8. Amendments to the Constitution 1) are added with a good deal of regularity. 2) have not been added since the 18 th century. 3) were opposed by the Anti-Federalists. 4) have been tried frequently, but are very rarely added. 9. Which statement about Constitutional amendments is true? 1) They are easy to pass, requiring only bare majorities in both the House and the Senate. 2) They require only heavy majorities on the federal level. 3) They require large majorities of Congress and of state legislatures. 4) They require the majority of the American people in order to be ratified. 10. "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." 10th amendment This part of the Bill of Rights was intended to 1) give the people the right to vote on important issues. 2) ensure the same rights to citizens of all states. 3) limit the powers of the federal government. 4) limit the power of the states over their citizens. 11. Base your answer to the following question on "Congress shall have power... to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers..." This section of the United States Constitution is used to 1) allow for a loose interpretation of the Constitution. 2) protect states' rights. 3) start the amendment process. 4) limit the authority given to Congress. 12. The basic purpose of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution is to 1) describe the powers of the three branches of government 2) limit the powers of state governments 3) guarantee the rights of individuals 4) establish a system of checks and balances 13. The Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution includes a guarantee of the right to 1) assemble peacefully. 2) have a job. 3) strike against an employer. 4) vote in elections. 14. The United States Constitution put forth the ideas of 1) federalism. 2) unilateralism. 3) direct democracy. 4) confederationism. 15. The Virginia House of Burgesses, the New York State Assembly, and the United States Senate are all examples of 1) direct democracies. 2) representative bodies. 3) executive branches. 4) appointed lawmakers. Page 1
16. Base your answer to the following question on the opinion poll below and your knowledge of social studies. 21. Which headline refers to a power granted only to the Federal Government by the United States Constitution? 1) "War Declared Against Germany" 2) "Reminder: File Income Tax Return Early" 3) "New Law Allows Right Turn at Red Light" 4) "Law Passed To Raise Drinking Age to 21" 22. I. Establish courts Collect taxes Borrow money Which of the following would be an appropriate heading for the chart? The issues included in the poll suggest that in the United States there is 1) a demand for a national education policy 2) an ongoing debate over federal versus state power 3) a desire to return to an agrarian society 4) a refusal by states to deal with controversial topics 17. A republican form of government is described as one in which 1) there is a two-party system 2) representatives are elected by the people 3) elected officials have limited terms 4) government power is limited by checks and balances 18. "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice... and secure the blessings of liberty... do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Preamble to the United States Constitution This quotation from the Preamble illustrates the constitutional principle that people 1) have a right to a trial by jury 2) are guaranteed an adequate standard of living 3) are the true source of political power 4) have the right to assemble peaceably 19. Which United States governmental principle includes the concepts of reserved powers, delegated powers, and concurrent powers? 1) unitary government 2) judicial review 3) federalism 4) the unwritten constitution 20. Which constitutional principle explains the reason for impeachment? 1) checks and balances 2) federalism 3) popular sovereignty 4) capitalism 1) concurrent powers 2) reserved powers 3) enumerated powers 4) delegated powers 23. According to the Constitution, all civil officers impeached for and convicted of "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" shall be 1) sent to a federal prison. 2) removed from public office. 3) forced to pay financial damages to the government. 4) deprived of citizenship. 24. Which action would most likely result in the greatest increase in the power of the executive branch? 1) abolishing the electoral college 2) borrowing money from the World Bank 3) broadening the President's wartime authority 4) lowering the age at which a person can be elected President 25. Filibustering is most likely to be used by a 1) court reviewing a federal law 2) majority attempting to override a presidential veto 3) minority seeking to delay a vote 4) congressional committee attempting to kill a bill 26. Which is the most accurate statement concerning a major role of a party "whip" in Congress? 1) He or she is the chairperson of the political party's national committee. 2) He or she protects the interests of public utilities. 3) He or she appoints conference committees and refers bills to them. 4) He or she tries to achieve party unity on key issues. 27. In order to end a filibuster, the Senate must get at least three-fifths of its members to vote for (a) 1) roll call 2) bill of attainder 3) cloture 4) quorum 28. The Speaker of the House is responsible for 1) proposing all new bills to the Senate. 2) choosing the majority and minority parties. 3) representing the constituents of the District of Columbia. 4) presiding over debates among representatives. Page 2
29. Based on the Constitution, a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress is necessary for what? 1) commencing the impeachment process of a public official 2) confirming appointments made by the President 3) overriding a presidential veto 4) passing ex post facto laws 30. Which statement about the Speaker of the House is true? 1) He or she is usually a member of the majority party. 2) He or she is appointed by the President. 3) He or she is the only person allowed to call for a joint session of Congress. 4) He or she is permitted to serve for a six-year term. 31. Which of the following statements is true when a tax or budget bill is to be introduced to Congress? 1) It must first be approved by the President. 2) It must be introduced by a member of the House of Representatives. 3) It must have the support of the Department of the Treasury. 4) It must be introduced during the first month that Congress is in session. 32. According to Article I of the Constitution, which of the following has the sole power of impeachment? 1) the president pro tempore 2) the Senate 3) the House of Representatives 4) the Supreme Court 33. Which of the following statements is true about the members of the House of Representatives? 1) They serve six-year terms. 2) Every member gets to be Speaker of the House for a day. 3) They represent the constituents of their congressional district. 4) They vote on judicial nominations. 34. The order of presidential succession became much clearer following which event? 1) the Supreme Court decision in McCulloch v. Maryland 2) the passage of the Twenty-fifth Amendment 3) the Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright 4) the Election of 1800 35. An executive agreement takes place between 1) the President and the Senate. 2) the President and the Speaker of the House. 3) the President and a foreign leader. 4) the President and the Secretary of State. 36. How many electoral votes does a candidate need in order to win the presidency? 1) 250 2) 260 3) 270 4) 280 37. According to the original, unamended Constitution, the American people must directly elect which of the following? 1) the President 2) Senators 3) Representatives 4) Secretary of State 38. As chief executive of the United States, it is the President's job to do which of the following? 1) determine whether or not a law is unconstitutional 2) approve the annual budget proposed by Congress 3) choose the governor of each state 4) carry out and enforce laws made by Congress 39. According to the Constitution, which of the following statements is a specific requirement to be President? 1) A person must be at least 25 years old. 2) A person must be a natural-born citizen of the United States. 3) A person must be a resident of the United States for at least 20 years. 4) A person must have held prior elective office. 40. What does the judicial branch of government include? 1) the Supreme Court and the Federal Reserve 2) the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice 3) the state courts and the Federal Bureau of Investigation 4) the Supreme Court and all of the lower federal courts 41. Which action is an example of judicial review? 1) Congress overrides the President's veto of a court reform bill. 2) The Senate refuses to approve a nominee to the Supreme Court. 3) The Supreme Court declares that a minimum wage law is unconstitutional. 4) Congress impeaches and convicts a federal judge. 42. Marbury v. Madison (1803) marked the first time that 1) Congress exercised its powers under the necessary and proper clause. 2) the Supreme Court decided a presidential election. 3) the Supreme Court protected the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment. 4) the Supreme Court exercised its power of judicial review. 43. The passage of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments in the period following the Civil War showed that 1) the states had increased their power at the expense of the federal government. 2) segregation was illegal throughout the United States. 3) federal powers could be expanded to protect the rights of minorities. 4) southern states quickly resumed their dominant role in Congress. 44. The work of a lobbyist would most properly involve 1) managing the election campaign of a legislator. 2) speaking on the floor of a legislature on certain bills. 3) talking with legislators about proposed bills. 4) paying the salaries of secretaries of legislators. 45. A major objection to many lobbying groups is that they 1) are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. 2) are not regulated by the federal government. 3) have too much influence on individual politicians. 4) are permitted to appear in front of congressional committees. Page 3
46. Which of the following statements is correct about ex post facto laws? 1) Congress has the constitutional power to pass them. 2) They make a legal act a crime after it has been committed. 3) They give original jurisdiction to all federal district courts. 4) The President can only enforce them with the approval of the Senate. 47. What is a bill of attainder? 1) a law that makes an act a crime after it has been committed 2) a law that convicts a person of a crime without a trial 3) an executive pardon of a U.S. ambassador 4) a formal accusation of misconduct for a government official 48. According to the Constitution, who has the power to pardon individuals convicted of a crime in a federal court? 1) the President 2) the Speaker of the House 3) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 4) the Vice President 49. What happens after the House of Representatives initiates the impeachment process of a public official? 1) The Justice Department conducts an investigation. 2) The matter is referred to the Senate for a trial. 3) A federal district court reviews the facts of the case. 4) The matter is brought before the Supreme Court. 50. In the United States federal government, the system of checks and balances set up by the Founding Fathers showed 1) a fear of concentrated political power 2) a rejection of the spoils system 3) reliance on the House of Representatives to restrain popular influence 4) an abandonment of the principle of separation of powers Page 4
Answer Key Tri 1 14_15 1. 2 2. 3 3. 2 4. 4 5. 1 6. 2 7. 1 8. 4 9. 3 10. 3 11. 1 12. 3 13. 1 14. 1 15. 2 16. 2 17. 2 18. 3 19. 3 20. 1 21. 1 22. 1 23. 2 24. 3 25. 3 26. 4 27. 3 28. 4 29. 3 30. 1 31. 2 32. 3 33. 3 34. 2 35. 3 36. 3 37. 3 38. 4 39. 2 40. 4 41. 3 42. 4 43. 3 44. 3 45. 3 46. 2 47. 2 48. 1 49. 2 50. 1 Page 5