CIVICS EOC PRACTICE TEST

1. 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)

1. What is a government that is run by the people, either directly or indirectly? A. Democracy B. Oligarchy C. Autocracy D. Communism

A. Democracy

1. How do modern Democrats and Republicans view taxation? A. Democrats tend to favor tax increases to support new social programs more than Republicans. B. Republicans tend to favor tax increases to support new social programs more than Democrats. C. Democrats tend to favor tax decreases, while Republicans tend to favor keeping tax rates the same. D. Republicans tend to favor tax increases, while Democrats tend to favor keeping tax rates the same.

A. Democrats tend to favor tax increases to support new social programs more than Republicans.

Example A: The U.S. Supreme Court declares a law created by Congress unconstitutional. Example B: Congress passes a new tax law and the Internal Revenue Service enforces it. What constitutional principles are demonstrated in examples A and B? A. Example A: checks and balances; Example B: separation of powers B. Example A: checks and balances; Example B: judicial review C. Example A: separation of powers; Example B: individual rights D. Example A: separation of powers; Example B: checks and balances

A. Example A: checks and balances; Example B: separation of powers

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

The government of the U.S. ( ) for its power, exists to ( ). Which phrases complete the sentence? A. depends on people; serve the people B. depends on law; maintain the law C. depends on legislators; serve legislators D. depends on liberty; maintain those liberties

A. depends on people; serve the people

1. 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

1. 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

1. 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

1. 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

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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

"... the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places. " James Madison- Federalist 51 Which constitutional principle does Madison describe in the passage? A. Popular sovereignty B. Judicial review C. Checks and balances D. Separation of powers

C. Checks and balances

1. 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.

1. What does the phrase "ensure 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 insurance

C. Keep the homeland at peace

1. 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.

1. 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

1. Which complaint in the Declaration of Independence would John Locke agree? A. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. B. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people... C. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. D. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

D. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

1. 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