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In which type of government system do citizens elect representatives who then represent the voters and make decisions on their behalf?
A. Autocracy
B. Direct democracy
C. Monarchy
D. Republic
D. Republic
How did the U.S. Constitution address the problem under the Articles of Confederation that Congress had no power to ensure its laws were followed by the states?
A. It created an executive branch to enforce laws.
B. It gave each state sovereign authority over its laws.
C. It required the president to resolve disputes between states.
D. It required unanimous consent of states to create new laws.
A. It created an executive branch to enforce laws.
What is a government that is run by the people, either directly or indirectly?
A. Democracy
B. Oligarchy
C. Autocracy
D. Communism
A. Democracy
Which of the following constitutional qualifications are required for a person to run for president of the United States?
A. Thirty years old and a minimum of nine years living in the United States
B. Thirty-five years old and a natural born citizen
C. A naturalized citizen and seven years living in the United States
D. A natural born citizen and previous senator
B. Thirty-five years old and a natural born citizen
Which example involves changing foreign policy?
A. Congress lifting the oil embargo on a formerly communist government
B. A Supreme Court hearing on worker discrimination based on national origin
C. Congress voting to construct an aid center in Florida for political refugees
D. A Supreme Court justice voting to take a case involving his country of birth
A. Congress lifting the oil embargo on a formerly communist government
What did many American colonists use Thomas Paine's Common Sense to justify?
A. Acts of sabotage against British merchants
B. Declaring independence from Britain
C. Joining the army instead of the militia
D. Supporting the British monarchy
B. Declaring independence from Britain
What does the phrase "insure domestic tranquility" in the Preamble of the Constitution mean?
A. Give land to the homeless
B. Fight wars on foreign soil
C. Keep the homeland at peace
D. Provide citizens with insuranc
C. Keep the homeland at peace
What is the term used in the Fourteenth Amendment to describe persons who are born or
naturalized in the United States?
A. Aliens
B. Citizens
C. Immigrants
D. Residents
B. Citizens
What happened in American schools after the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education?
A. States could continue segregation as long as facilities were separate but equal.
B. Individuals of different races voluntarily stopped all forms of school segregation.
C. The federal government ordered that states desegregate classes.
D. Desegregation was ordered for only high schools.
C. The federal government ordered that states desegregate classes.
Which of the following is the first step of the federal law-making process?
A. A bill goes through full committee review in the Senate.
B. A bill is debated in the House of Representatives.
C. A bill is introduced to the Senate or House of Representatives.
D. A compromise is made in Senate and House of Representatives.
C. A bill is introduced to the Senate or House of Representatives.
The Declaration of Independence included these complaints:
• Taxation without representation
• Limiting judicial powers
• Quartering Troops
• Dissolving legislature
Which complaint should be added to this list?
A. Requiring colonists to send representation to Parliament
B. Suspending trial by jury in many cases
C. Ordering colonists to move from Native American land
D. Allowing the wealthy to avoid local laws
B. Suspending trial by jury in many cases
Which viewpoint was common among Anti-Federalists?
A. There is no need for a separate Bill of Rights.
B. The Constitution does not give enough power to the states.
C. The Constitution will not strengthen the government.
D. A strong national government will protect the people in times of crisis.
B. The Constitution does not give enough power to the states.
Which situation does NOT involve a right protected by the Bill of Rights?
A. Freedom to publish opinions in the local newspaper
B. The ability to own a gun, as long as the laws are followed
C. The guarantee of a well-paying job
D. Freedom to join the church of choice
C. The guarantee of a well-paying job
A more informed society has resulted from which constitutional protection?
A. Trial by jury
B. Free speech
C. Right to bear arms
D. Due process
B. Free speech
James Madison wrote that “liberty is to faction what air is to fire.” After reading this, Jack points out that the Founders would have wanted more restrictions on lobbyists, special-interest groups, and media influencing the government. What would be a good counterargument?
A. Elected officials are better able to measure public opinion if there are no interfering factions.
B. Lobbyists will balance one another in government influence if they are subject to fewer laws.
C. Political ads, despite their biases, are best able to inform citizens when there are no regulations.
D. The media, despite its biases, are best able to monitor the government when they are free.
D. The media, despite its biases, are best able to monitor the government when they are free.
A person accused of a crime cannot afford a lawyer. Which Supreme Court case is most closely connected to this right?
A. Marbury v. Madison
B. Gideon v. Wainwright
C. Plessy v. Ferguson
D. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
B. Gideon v. Wainwright
How does rule of law affect U.S. government officials and institutions?
A. It holds government officials and institutions accountable to the law.
B. It requires government officials and institutions to create new laws.
C. It prevents government officials and institutions from making their work public.
D. It ensures government officials and institutions are exempt from laws.
A. It holds government officials and institutions accountable to the law.
Peter Brown has lived in his home since he was a child. Now the department of parks and recreation wants to tear down his neighborhood to build a park. A government official comes to visit Peter and offers to buy the house from him. Peter refuses. The official says that the government will now seize the property under the constitutional power of "eminent domain." According to the U.S. Constitution, under what circumstances would Peter win his fight to keep his home?
A. If Peter could prove that he had paid the full price of the house already
B. If Peter was born as a citizen of the United States, not a naturalized citizen or resident
C. If the government did not make a reasonable effort to build the park in an uninhabited area
D. If the government did not offer him fair market price for his home
D. If the government did not offer him fair market price for his home
The constitutional guarantee of a free press has resulted in
A. a government more likely to hide its actions from the people
B. a government more responsive to the needs of the people
C. the establishment of English as the official language of the United States
D. the establishment of government-run news organizations
B. a government more responsive to the needs of the people
Josh breaks his neighbor’s window while playing baseball. Josh did not mean to damage the window and feels his apology should be enough. However, his neighbor wants Josh to pay for the window and sues him. Which court will be the first to hear the case?
A. Civil court
B. Criminal court
C. Federal court
D. Supreme court
A. Civil court
Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
A. The government did not have a separate judicial branch.
B. The states could not print their own currency.
C. The president was able to spend taxes freely.
D. The government had too much power over trade.
A. The government did not have a separate judicial branch.
This box lists actions that citizens can take.
• Attending public meetings
• Helping neighbors after a storm
• Following rules at landmarks
• Volunteering in the community
What will happen if a citizen does NOT perform these actions?
A. The democracy will fail.
B. The common good will suffer.
C. The citizen will be charged with a crime.
D. The citizen will be fined.
B. The common good will suffer.
Ben was prosecuted and convicted in state court for speaking out publicly against the governor. During his trial, he was denied the counsel of a lawyer. Two years later, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction, explaining that the state had not guaranteed Ben’s constitutional rights. Which amendments apply to this case?
A. Amendment I (free speech) and Amendment VI (due process)
B. Amendment I (free press) and Amendment IV (search and seizure)
C. Amendment IX (unenumerated rights) and Amendment VI (due process)
D. Amendment IX(unenumerated rights) and Amendment IV (search and seizure)
A. Amendment I (free speech) and Amendment VI (due process)
Anne Tracy works as a journalist for The Daily Mouth. She wrote a story about how Senator Jones cheated on a law school exam. She interviewed witnesses who saw the senator cheating. The story ran on the front page. Senator Jones denied the charges. Then he resigned from office. He plans to sue The Daily Mouth for damages. Under what circumstances could he sue the paper and win his lawsuit?
A. He could sue the paper for libel and could win the case if he proved that Tracy had a grudge against him.
B. He could sue the paper for slander and could win the case if he proved that Tracy had a grudge against him.
C. He could sue the paper for libel and could win the case if he proved that the accusations were untrue and his reputation was hurt.
D. He could sue the paper for slander and could win the case if he proved that the accusations were untrue and his reputation was hurt.
C. He could sue the paper for libel and could win the case if he proved that the accusations were untrue and his reputation was hurt.
Following the 1966 Supreme Court decision in Miranda v. Arizona, police began informing people placed under arrest that they "have the right to remain silent." What basic freedom is this meant to protect, and how does it affect arrested individuals?
A. The right to freedom of speech; it provides them with the ability to speak to their attorneys without fear of incrimination.
B. The protection against self-incrimination; it informs them that speaking to law enforcement could incriminate them.
C. The protection of due process; it prevents convicted offenders from receiving cruel and unusual punishments.
D. The right to freedom of assembly; it prevents law enforcement from asking them questions without the presence of an attorney.
B. The protection against self-incrimination; it informs them that speaking to law enforcement could incriminate them.