2009-2010 Mid-Year Exam Mr. Cassutto U.S. Civics

Name:

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Which statement can be said to be true about third parties in American politics?

a.	They parties rarely win major elections, and have never won a presidential election.
b.	There have been a number of third party presidents.
c.	The Electoral College helps get third party candidates elected.
d.	Third parties express broad views help by the electorate.

The Nineteenth Amendment extended ____ to women.

a.	civil liberties	c.	civil rights
b.	suffrage	d.	equal pay

Which Amendment does not expand the right to vote to include a greater number of US Citizens?

a.	16th	c.	26th
b.	15th	d.	19th

In which civil liberty are the people in the image above engaging?

a.	Right to a speedy trial	c.	Freedom of Worship
b.	Petition for the Redress of Grievances	d.	Freedom of the Press

Which Supreme Court case held that segregation on the basis of race (in public education) was unconstitutional?

a.	Gideon vs. Wainwright
b.	Dred Scott vs. Sandford
c.	Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka
d.	Miranda vs. Arizona

What is the term for a detailed, written plan of government?

a.	compact	c.	constitution
b.	bicameral	d.	confederation

What part of the Constitution deals with how the legislative branch will work?

a.	Preamble	c.	Bill of Rights
b.	Article I	d.	the First Amendment

Which was the first document to guarantee that not even the monarch was above the law?

a.	Constitution	c.	House of Burgesses
b.	Magna Carta	d.	Mayflower Compact

How did colonists decided to protest against the Stamp Act, which was repealed by the British Parliament?

a.	steal weapons	c.	destroy British imports
b.	boycott British goods	d.	blockade British ships

10.

Which of the following sections can be found in both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?

a.	Statement of Natural Rights	c.	Crimes of the King
b.	The Bill of Rights	d.	The Preamble.

11.

What allows people to choose their leaders and voice their opinions on issues?

a.	rule of law	c.	free elections
b.	majority rule	d.	limited government

12.

From which important document of American history does the following quotation come?
III. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare

a.	The Articles of Confederation	c.	The Gettysburg Address
b.	The US Constitution	d.	The English Bill of Rights

13.

What was the legislative body that drew up the English Bill of Rights in 1689?

a.	the First Continental Congress	c.	the House of Burgesses
b.	Parliament	d.	the Second Continental Congress

14.

E pluribus unum is Latin for

a.	“In God we trust.”	c.	“One nation, under God.”
b.	“One nation to rule them all.”	d.	“Out of many, one.”

15.

In the chart above, which branch has the power to declare laws unconstitutional?

a.	The Congressional branch	c.	The Executive Branch
b.	The Legislative Branch	d.	The Judicial Branch

16.

How often are elections held for the US House of Representatives and one-third of the US Senate?

a.	Every year	c.	Every four years
b.	Every two years	d.	every six years

17.

What refers to powers given to state governments but not to the national government?

a.	separation of powers	c.	expressed powers
b.	reserved powers	d.	checks and balances

18.

Who led an armed uprising of about 1,200 Massachusetts farmers on a federal arsenal, an event that led the founding fathers to revise the Articles of Confederation?

a.	Daniel Shays	c.	George Washington
b.	Thomas Paine	d.	John Locke

19.

What term refers to all of the people who are eligible to vote?

a.	tabulates	c.	constituents
b.	masses	d.	electorate

20.

____ are the freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair treatment.

a.	Libel	c.	Due process rights
b.	Civil liberties	d.	Censorship

21.

Which proposal called for Congress to have a Senate with equal representation and a House of Representatives with representation based on population?

a.	Three-Fifths Compromise	c.	New Jersey Plan
b.	Great Compromise	d.	Olive Branch Petition

22.

Which types of powers are held by both state and federal governments?

a.	Reserved powers	c.	Enumerated powers
b.	Concurrent powers	d.	Expressed powers

23.

Public policy is a course of government action to achieve

a.	community goals.	c.	foreign relations.
b.	consumer protection.	d.	national security.

24.

Unlike citizens, aliens may not

a.	attend public schools.	c.	own property.
b.	hold jobs.	d.	vote in elections.

25.

According to which principle of democracy, the law applies to everyone, even those who govern?

a.	First Amendment	c.	rule of law
b.	Bill of Rights	d.	Third Amendment

26.

From which important historical document does the following excerpt come?

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.

a.	The Gettysburg Address	c.	The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom
b.	The Magna Carta	d.	The US Constitution

27.

What is a third party formed only to promote one social, economic, or moral issue?

a.	lame duck	c.	plank party
b.	stump party	d.	single-issue party

28.

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia;...
IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.
From which historical document have the excerpts above been taken?

a.	The Declaration of Independence.	c.	The Magna Carta
b.	The Mayflower Compact	d.	The Virginia Charters

29.

In which of the following states did Barack Obama just barely win, but received all of its electoral votes? (Choices appear below the map and key).

a.	Texas	c.	Florida
b.	Virginia	d.	California

30.

When English judges were asked to try a case, they would look for a a ruling that had been formed on an earlier case according to common law. What term describes this idea?

a.	charter.	c.	compact.
b.	precedent.	d.	common law.

31.

Which idea is NOT found in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution?

a.	that all US citizens must receive equal protection of the law.	c.	that citizenship is defined as anyone born or naturalized in the US is a citzen.
b.	that all men and women over the age of 18 can vote.	d.	that US citizens must receive due process of law.

32.

Refer to this graphic to answer the question below:

Which legislative group of 3/4 of all the states must agree to ratify any proposed amendment to the Constitution?

a.	The House of Burgesses	c.	Congress
b.	State legislatures	d.	County Councils

33.

A system of law based on precedent and customs is known as

a.	statutory law.	c.	common law.
b.	tort law.	d.	legislature.

34.

The form of government in which power is divided between the national government and the states is called

a.	federalism.	c.	nationalism.
b.	anti-federalism.	d.	direct democracy

35.

A ____ is a series of statements expressing a party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.

a.	platform	c.	caucus
b.	ward	d.	plank

36.

____ is an attempt to promote a particular person or idea or persuade people to believe or do something by way of information.

a.	Propaganda	c.	Personification
b.	Incumbency	d.	Canvassing

37.

Special-interest groups help fund a candidate’s campaign by forming which type of group?

a.	propaganda units.	c.	bankrolls.
b.	political action committees.	d.	money beds.

38.

What is the term for people who move permanently to a new country?

a.	immigrants	c.	residents
b.	aliens	d.	citizens

39.

If neither presidential candidate wins a majority of electoral votes, who elects the president?

a.	Senate	c.	House of Representatives
b.	outgoing president	d.	Supreme Court

40.

What provides a way for citizens to approve or reject state or local laws that have been referred to the people by state legislatures?

a.	referendum	c.	Employment
b.	Impeachment	d.	Recall

41.

What was the name of the peaceful transfer of power that changed the idea of government in England?

a.	the Glorious Revolution	c.	Shays’s Rebellion
b.	the Boston Tea Party	d.	the Stamp Act

42.

The Boston Tea Party caused Parliament to pass the Coercive Acts, which Americans called the

a.	Tea Acts.	c.	Townshend Acts.
b.	Intolerable Acts.	d.	Declaratory Acts.

43.

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are known as the

a.	Bill of Rights.	c.	Great Compromise.
b.	Constitutional Convention.	d.	Articles of Confederation.

44.

OJ Simpson can never be tried again on the murder charge shown below becuase of which constitutional protection?

a.	Just Compensation	c.	No self-incrimination
b.	Eminent domain	d.	No double jeopardy

45.

Independent candidates can get on most states’ ballots by

a.	mandate.	c.	plurality.
b.	caucus.	d.	petition.

46.

Government by the consent of the governed is called

a.	public policy.	c.	popular sovereignty.
b.	monarchy	d.	self-perpetuating autocracy.

47.

As Americans, we show our ____, or love for our country, by flying the flag.

a.	patriotism	c.	majority rule
b.	jingoism	d.	citizenship

48.

Which term is used to describe the rights given to people accused of a crime in the United States?

a.	Rights of Liberty	c.	Rights of the Citizen
b.	Citizenship Rights	d.	Due Process rights

49.

The ____ defines a U.S. citizen as anyone “born or naturalized in the United States.”

a.	Fourteenth Amendment	c.	Fifteenth Amendment
b.	Seventeenth Amendment	d.	Sixteenth Amendment

50.

Use the cartoon below to arrive at the conclusion called for in the question.

What was the final result of the Great Compromise of 1787, found in the Constitution of the United States?

a.	The US Congress was set up as a national bicameral legislature.	c.	The New Jersey plan was passed.
b.	A one house legislature was set up.	d.	The Virginia Plan set up the Presidency

51.

A ____ is a court order allowing police to search a suspect’s home or business and take specific items as evidence.

a.	indictment	c.	grand jury
b.	subpoena	d.	search warrant

52.

The state legislatures that were formed just after the American Revolution had what characteristic in common with the English Parliament? They were both...

a.	wealthy.	c.	powerless.
b.	unbalanced.	d.	bicameral.

53.

____ is the study of the rights and duties of citizens.

a.	Civics	c.	Citizenship
b.	Patriotism	d.	Economics

54.

Which group was formed by martin Luther King to help bring about civil rights for blacks and other minorities in the 1950s and 1960s?

a.	The Southern Christian Leadership Confederence (SCLC)	c.	The Nation of Islam
b.	The NAACP	d.	The Black Panthers

55.

Using the chart above as a guide, which statement can be considered as true regarding the forms of government of the early American republic?

a.	The Articles of Confederation put in place a strong central government with a powerful executive.	c.	The Founding Fathers feared a strong central government, but decided to put one in place after seeing that the Articles were too weak to govern the nation.
b.	The Constitution gives more power to the states to protect the rights of the people.	d.	In a confederation, the central government shares power with the states.

56.

A ____ is the ruling authority for a community.

a.	government	c.	majority rule
b.	public policy	d.	democracy

57.

The following section of the Declaration of Independence is taken from which part of this important American historical document?

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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

a.	The Preamble	c.	The list of natural rights of man
b.	The crimes against the King	d.	The statement of separation or independence.

58.

Radio, television, and the Internet are considered ____ media.

a.	broadband	c.	invisible
b.	wireless	d.	electronic

59.

The ____ was the first constitution of the United States of America.

a.	Articles of Confederation	c.	United States Constitution
b.	Declaration of Independence	d.	Mayflower Compact

60.

Which form of government did the American colonies have under Great Britain?

a.	direct democracy	c.	aristocracy
b.	monarchy	d.	representative democracy

61.

____ includes the ideas and attitudes that most people hold about the government and political issues.

a.	Propaganda	c.	Public policy
b.	Mass media	d.	Public opinion

62.

The primary goal of interest groups is to influence

a.	public opinion.	c.	public policy.
b.	the president.	d.	corporations.

63.

Use the graphic above to answer this question:

Advisors to the president and the heads of the executive departments are called what?

a.	Political Parties	c.	The Cabinet
b.	The Courts	d.	Congress

64.

Why was the right to bear arms included in the second amendment?

a.	To allow for a “well-regulated militia” for each state.
b.	In case the people wanted to rebel against the government.
c.	To help commit crimes.
d.	So Americans could roll up their sleeves.

65.

Unfair treatment based on prejudice against a certain group is called what?

a.	discrimination	c.	segregation
b.	racial profiling	d.	affirmative action

66.

Which First Amendment freedom were the Tinkers exercising when they protested the Vietnam war by wearing their black arm bands to school?

a.	Freedom of Speech
b.	Freedom of the Press
c.	Freedom of Religion
d.	Freedom to Vote

67.

What is the term for the process by which aliens can become citizens?

a.	probation	c.	naturalization
b.	dual citizenship	d.	immigration

68.

A government controlled by one person or a small group of people is called

a.	a dictatorship.	c.	a representative democracy.
b.	a direct democracy.	d.	a parliamentary government

69.

A ____ party is an association of voters with broad common interests who want to elect candidates that share those interests.

a.	political	c.	Populist
b.	third	d.	social

70.

Which role do the mass media play regarding how the people relate to their government in a democracy?

a.	The media set public policy.
b.	The media convince people to donate money to candidates.
c.	They expose government misconduct.
d.	The media try to get people to oppose government action.

71.

Which group believed the Constitution should provide protection for certain basic liberties and opposed its ratification without a bill of rights?

a.	Abolitionists	c.	Anti-Federalists
b.	Liberals	d.	Whigs

72.

The Declaration of Independence states that among our inalienable rights are “Life, Liberty, and ____.”

a.	freedom of Religion	c.	the pursuit of Happiness
b.	the search for Prosperity	d.	independence from Tyranny

73.

In the chart above, which branch has the power to override a presidential veto?

a.	Executive	c.	The President
b.	Judicial	d.	Legislative

74.

What is the group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president?

a.	the Electoral College	c.	the House of Representatives
b.	the Senate	d.	the Federalists

75.

The middle part of the Constitution’s ____ states the six purposes of the government.

a.	Preamble	c.	Bill of Rights
b.	amendments	d.	articles

76.

The powers and duties of the which branch include dealing with the leaders of other countries in order to sign treaties?

a.	judicial branch	c.	industrial branch
b.	legislative branch	d.	executive branch

77.

What document marked the beginning of self-government in colonial America?

a.	the House of Burgesses	c.	the First Continental Congress
b.	the Mayflower Compact	d.	the Boston Tea Party

78.

What keeps one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

a.	The Elastic Clause	c.	checks and balances
b.	rule of law	d.	supremacy of the Constitution

79.

Use the image below to answer the question:

Which political system best describes that of the United States?

a.	three-party	c.	multiparty
b.	one-party	d.	two-party

80.

The “necessary and proper” clause, also called the “elastic” clause, allows Congress to exercise which of the following?

a.	judicial powers.	c.	wartime powers.
b.	implied powers.	d.	unconstitutional powers.

81.

A budget is a plan drawn up by a household or a government for doing which activity?

a.	helping needy people.	c.	collecting and spending money.
b.	paying politicians.	d.	protecting citizens.

82.

How is the number of presidential electors per state determined?

a.	It is determined by the number of voters in each state.	c.	It is set by the number of members in the House and Senate combined for each state.
b.	Congress must pass a law that sets the number for each state.	d.	It is equal to the number of members in the House of Representatives.

83.

Use the follwing chart to answer the questions below:

Which two members of the government sit behind the president when the president addresses a joint session of Congress?

a.	President of the Senate and House Majority Leader	c.	Vice president and Speaker of the House
b.	Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader	d.	Secretary of State and Vice president

84.

Which of the following activities is a civic responsibility?

a.	Registering for the draft	c.	Reading the newspaper
b.	Paying Taxes	d.	Driving the speed limit.

85.

The ____ is a way that citizens can propose or start new laws or state constitutional amendments.

a.	electorate	c.	referendum
b.	mandate	d.	initiative

86.

Which of the following amendments allows the federal government to collect income taxes?

a.	Twenty-seventh	c.	Sixteenth
b.	Fifth	d.	First

87.

Which branch of government is shown here signing a bill into law?

a.	Judicial	c.	Executive
b.	Legisexecudicial	d.	Legislative

88.

____ is the first step to gaining American citizenship.

a.	Filing an application for citizenship	c.	The Oath of Allegiance
b.	Living in the United States for five years	d.	The Declaration of Intention

89.

More than half the members of the which group voted to break away from Britain in 1776?

a.	Second Continental Congress	c.	Boston Tea Party
b.	Committees of Correspondence	d.	Confederation Congress

90.

____ is the use of violence by groups against civilians to achieve a political goal.

a.	Terrorism	c.	Police action
b.	Patriotism	d.	Deportation

91.

The right to ____ means the right to ask the government to change something that is wrong.

a.	eminent domain	c.	petition
b.	slander	d.	libel

All classes: Write a one to two paragraph response to the following question.

Honors: You must complete question 93 on a separate essay response sheet.

92.

Explain how the Electoral College compromise resolved the argument over how the president is chosen. Make a case for keeping the Electoral College or for scraping it in favor of some other system. If you argue in favor of getting rid of the Electoral College, be sure to describe your suggestions for an alternative method and why your alternative should be adopted.

93.

Using the images included here, describe how the legislative branch of American government is set up. Be sure to outline how each part of the legislative branch came into existence. Draw a distinction (show the difference) between the three levels of our federal system where the legislative branch is concerned.

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