US Constitution Review
71. "Rights to personal liberty established by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and certain Congressional acts, especially as applied to an individual or a minority group." Read and analyze the above definition. Which term BEST summarizes this statement?
Civil Rights
49. Who has the power to declare war?
Congress
15. Which of the following is not a power of the President?
Declaring laws unconstitutional.
8. If you are arrested, all of the following would be considered your legal rights EXCEPT:
Diplomatic immunity
6. Which of the following would be the BEST definition of Federalism?
Division of power between a strong national government and state governments
Creating an army and navy is an example of what type of power?
Enumerated Powers
41. Which would be the BEST example of where American political traditions were chiefly derived?
European Enlightenment
54. Identify the BEST example of rule of law.
Every member of a society (including government officials) must obey the law.
1. The United States Constitution established two houses within Congress in Article I, Section I. What are they?
House and Senate
20. Which of the following represents the purpose of the branch of government described in Article III?
Interpret laws
23. King John was forced to sign a document by English nobles in 1215 that would become the foundation of English constitutional rights. Which of the following was that document?
Magna Carta
73. Identify the location where the Constitution AND the Declaration of Independence were written.
Philadelphia
Taxes, law enforcement, and eminent domain are examples of what types of power.
Powers shared by the national and state governments (Concurrent Powers)
16. Select which option lists the parts of the Constitution in the correct order.
Preamble, articles, amendments.
2. Each state's representation in the House of Representatives is _____________, while the number of Senators is ______________ among the states.
Proportional, Equal
56. Who has the final authority to approve justices appointed to the Supreme Court?
Senate
43. Which phrase BEST illustrates the philosophy of CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY?
Taking part in formal and informal activities that are good for the community/country (voting, respecting places are examples)
57. Which amendment specifies that all powers not specifically delegated to the federal government by the states are reserved to the states respectively, or the people?
10
75. Identify which Amendment to the U.S. Constitution extended suffrage to any citizen over the age of 18 years.
26
58. Which amendment specifies that an individual's person and property are free from police search, absent a warrant issued by a judge based on probable cause?
4
10. Complete the following sentence: "A President is limited to _____ terms by the _____ amendment."
4 years, 22nd Amendment
36. In 1937, President Roosevelt tried to increase the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, but it was ruled unconstitutional. He tried to increase the number from _____ justices to 15 justices.
9
52. Which statement BEST describes limited government?
A constitutional government governed by the rule of law
5. Which of the following BEST describes a change to the Constitution?
Amendments
37. "If you make the citizens of this country agree to become the subjects of one great consolidated empire of America, your government will not have sufficient energy to keep them together." Select the political philosophy that best fits the above quote by Patrick Henry.
Anti-federalists
64. Which is an example of fundamental rights?
Basic rights to life, liberty, and property
25. "Administration of a government chiefly through bureaus or departments staffed with non-elected officials."
Bureaucracy
46. Examine the diagram below. Which BEST describes the diagram?
Check and Balances
51. Who has the authority to appoint justices to the Supreme Court?
The President
35. Which statement BEST summarizes the Articles of Confederation?
The first Constitution of the United States
59. Select the number of amendments that are currently in the U.S. Constitution.
27
9. Once elected, what is the length of term of the President?
4 years
39. Identify how many representatives are in the House of Representatives.
435
53. "A form of government that derives its power directly or indirectly from the people, is administered by officials holding power for a limited time, and incorporates representative institutions." Which of the following BEST describes the above passage by James Madison?
A government with a written constitution
61. Which statement BEST describes the Bill of Rights?
A list of basic rights that the government may not interfere with and must protect
30. "Inalienable rights are inherent to each individual, regardless of wealth, social status, or birth." Analyze the above statement, and predict how it would impact government.
All citizens would be treated equally
70. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy, so its political leader is
Chosen by the party with the majority of members in the legislature
17. In the United States, the President is not elected directly by the people. Select which of the following government entities directly elects the President.
Electoral College
19. Which of the following represents the purpose of the branch of government described in Article II?
Enforces laws
48. According to the diagram above, the _______ branch has the power to appoint government officials; however, the ________ branch must confirm these appointments?
Executive; Legislative
Which part of the government in Federalism can create an army and navy, declare war, etc.?
Federal government
38. "Proportional representation is a democratic system which aims to represent the will of the population in the legislature by proportional support. The goal of proportional representation is to more accurately reflect the political inclinations of the population." Based on the above definition, which of the government entities uses proportional representation?
House of Representatives
13. In the presidential impeachment process, the __________ brings up the charges while the ________ serves as jury.
House, Senate
Forming an Air Force, NASA, Coast Guard, National Parks, and National Monuments are examples of what type of powers?
Implied Powers (Fed. gov't. can do this, but not part of Enumerated powers)
21. In the court case "McCulloch v Maryland," the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government had the power to create a Bank of the United States. With this decision, the Supreme Court affirmed that the federal government has:
Implied powers
11. Which of the following BEST describes the basic idea of our criminal justice system?
Innocent until proven guilty.
55. Identify the effect checks and balances has on the legislative process.
It distributes power so that one branch or official cannot dominate others.
47. According to the diagram above, which branch has the power to check the other two branches with the power to declare laws or acts unconstitutional?
Judicial
18. Which of the following represents the purpose of the branch of government described in Article I?
Makes laws
60. Which of the following Supreme Court cases established the principle of Judicial Review:
Marbury vs. Madison
24. The structure of the U.S. Senate, in which all States are represented by two Senators, was first suggested by which of the following plans?
New Jersey Plan
3. According to U.S. Constitution, Congress has the power to decide the date of the general elections. Currently, Congress has established which month for general elections?
November
29. Identify which of the following statements BEST refers to the Bill of Rights.
Only the first 10 amendments of the Constitution
42. "The indirect veto of a bill received by the President within ten days of the adjournment of Congress, effected by retaining the bill unsigned until Congress adjourns." Identify the term which BEST fits the above definition.
Pocket veto
4. Which of the following BEST describes our form of national government?
Representative Democracy
40. The ancient Roman Republic is to _________, as Ancient Greece is to __________ .
Representative Democracy; Direct Democracy
7. All of the following are rights guaranteed in the first amendment EXCEPT:
Right to bear arms.
27. Which of the following is considered a CIVIC DUTY?
Serving on a jury
28. If both the President and Vice President are removed from office through the legal process, incapacitation, or death--identify which of the following would be next in line to become President.
Speaker of the House
74. Who is the MOST powerful member of the House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
14. All of the following limit the powers of the Federal Government EXCEPT:
Supremacy Clause
12. Select the correct, in descending order (from top to bottom) of the federal courts.
Supreme/Appeals/District
31. In Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, it states, "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States. As Commander in Chief, the President has the authority to place U.S. military forces on alert and to authorize military force." What phrase BEST describes the power of the President as Commander in Chief?
The President is the highest-ranking person of all military forces.
65. In 2001, Vice President Dick Cheney voted for the first time in the U.S. Senate on a bill. Why did he vote?
The President of the Senate would break the tie.
32. According to John Locke, why do people enter into a social contract with their government?
The government will protect the life, liberty, and property of all citizens.
50. In the American democratic system, ultimate sovereignty lies chiefly with:
The people
72. Select the BEST explanation of the concept of "Popular Sovereignty."
The people have the supreme power in a country
63. Which of these BEST describes due process of law?
The right to be treated fairly by government, law enforcement, and the courts
44. What statement BEST describes the Mayflower Compact?
This was the first example of a governing document in the New World utilizing social contract theory.
45. Who is the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
22. Identify what proportion of States is required to APPROVE a proposed Amendment to the Constitution.
Three-Fourths
33. Identify the best definition of "ratify."
To confirm or approve
34. The Constitutional Convention decided to create a bicameral legislature. Which of the following statements BEST describes their reasoning?
To create a two house legislature that represents the population as well as the interests of individual states
62. Which sentence BEST identifies the Federalist philosophy?
Urged ratification of the U.S. Constitution and a strong central government
26. The structure of the U.S. House of Representatives, in which representation is based on population and therefore favoring the most populous states, represents which of the following plans?
Virginia Plan