Topic 1
In which way does the media act as a watchdog of the government?
A. by reporting important news
B. by writing scathing editorials
C. by gearing stories to public interest
D. by bringing problems to public attention
D. by bringing problems to public attention
Use the chart below to answer the question.
- Run for office to advance a specific cause
- Convince other individuals to support a cause
- Attend public meetings to make an opinion known
- Vote for a political candidate with a particular view
Which of the following titles best describes the details in the chart?
A. Duties of Members of Interest Groups
B. Obligations of Members of Interest Groups
C. Responsibilities of Members of Interest Groups
D. Evaluation of Roles of Members of Interest Groups
C. Responsibilities of Members of Interest Groups
Which method is at work when a representative of an interest group sways a member of Congress to a certain point of view?
A. fundraising
B. legal action
C. lobbying
D. organizing
C. lobbying
The passage below is from a speech that Joe Biden delivered in 2014 when he was vice president.
"For any young democracy, the most difficult but important step is burying the legacy of tyranny and establishing an economy and a government and institutions that abide by the rule of law. Every country faces challenges to the rule of law, including my own."
Based on the passage, what did Biden mean by “rule of law”?
A. Every country must have a legislative branch.
B. Everyone, including leaders, must follow the law.
C. Laws are required for governments to operate smoothly.
D. Citizens have total responsibility for ensuring that laws are followed.
B. Everyone, including leaders, must follow the law.
What causes a local government to determine that a potential candidate is serious about running for office?
A. a candidate’s education background and political experience
B. a petition containing a required number of signatures
C. the size of fee a candidate is willing to pay
D. the endorsement of a major political party
B. a petition containing a required number of signatures
20. How can interest groups help an individual monitor the government?
A. by presenting objective views on issues
B. by serving the public as a media watchdog
C. by reporting on the track record of lawmakers
D. by telling all about events in the local community
C. by reporting on the track record of lawmakers
Which statement best describes the role of a jury in the administration of justice?
A. to judge whether a peer is subject to the requirements of rule of law
B. to determine beyond a shadow of a doubt whether a person is guilty
C. to decide whether an accused person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
D. to evaluate whether an individual should be accused of a civil or criminal crime
C. to decide whether an accused person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
In which situation would one take the action of petitioning the government?
A. A very low number of citizens in your district took part in the last state election.
B. A post on social media accuses an opposition party of always doing the wrong thing.
C. You have been very pleased with the laws made by the majority of the state legislature.
D. A neighbor is trying to get the city to expand the boundaries of the local elementary school.
D. A neighbor is trying to get the city to expand the boundaries of the local elementary school.
Who is most likely to start a grassroots movement to enact a change in government policy?
A. an elected mayor
B. an average citizen
C. a group of business leaders
D. a member of the U.S. Senate
B. an average citizen
● Most states require that governors be 30 years of age.
● Oklahoma requires a minimum age of 31.
● There is no age requirement in six states.
● Three states require that governors are at least 18 years old.
● Six states have a minimum requirement of 25 years old.
Which of the following best compares the age requirements to be governor with the age requirements to be president in the United States?
A. Governors must be at least 30 years old to serve in most states.
B. The minimum age requirement for president and governors is the same.
C. Several states have a younger age requirement than that of the president.
D. The minimum age requirement for governor is higher than that of the president.
A. Governors must be at least 30 years old to serve in most states.
The table below shows events that took place in four fictional countries.
Country Example
Country A Most people stand trial for crimes they have been accused of.
Country B Government leaders are exempt from paying federal taxes.
Country C The president refuses to take gifts in return for favors.
Country D Citizens rarely report crimes committed against them.
Which example in the table shows the most accountability to the law?
A. the example for Country A
B. the example for Country B
C. the example for Country C
D. the example for Country D
C. the example for Country C
Your state senator does not seem concerned about major issues that affect your district. What might you do to try to solve this problem?
A. speak up about the senator’s poor record
B. ask from more transparency in government
C. find out what others think about the senator
D. read what the news media says about the senator
A. speak up about the senator’s poor record
The passage below was written by John Adams, a Framer of the Constitution and second president of the United States.
"Representative government and trial by jury are the heart and lungs of liberty. Without them we have no other fortification against being ridden like horses, fleeced like sheep, worked like cattle and fed and clothed like swine and hounds."
What does the passage reveal about trial by jury?
A. It implies that people desire to be tried by a jury.
B. It enables all citizens to have economic success.
C. It alone determines whether people have liberty.
D. It guarantees that people have basic rights.
D. It guarantees that people have basic rights.
The passage below is from the Florida Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual.
"Our system of open government is a valued and intrinsic part of the heritage of our state. Each day, Floridians use these laws to inform themselves as citizens, to attend government meetings and to review government records. As a result of these efforts, government leaders can be held accountable for their actions."
Which idea is described in the passage?
A. government transparency
B. media as a watchdog
C. criminal misconduct
D. decision-making
A. government transparency
The chart below shows a report card that an engineering interest group gave the United States government regarding how well it maintains basic structures needed for transportation and movement of people and goods.
Type of Infrastructure Grade
Aviation (airplanes) D+
Bridges C
Ports B-
Railroads B
Roads D
Transit (movement of people and goods) D
What impact might such a report card have on the United States government?
A. It might mean that legislatures will not have a say in updating such structures.
B. It might make citizens urge the government to improve these structures.
C. It might increase voter turnout in all local, state, and national elections.
D. It might force the federal government to improve all structures.
B. It might make citizens urge the government to improve these structures.