US Government Honors Final Exam

In what way was the government of ancient Athens different from that of the United States? a. Athens was a direct democracy in which citizens voted on laws themselves. b. Athens was an oligarchy ruled by the wealthy members of the Council of Five Hundred. c. Athens was a republic in which the people voted for their representatives. d. Athens was an autocracy ruled by a dictator who had absolute power.

A. Athens was a direct democracy in which citizens voted on laws themselves

Use the excerpt from The Federalist essays to answer the question. "[A] people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs, and who . . . have nobly established general liberty and independence.This country and this people seem to have been made for each other . . . united to each other by the strongest ties, should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties" —The Federalist No. 2, John Jay Based on this excerpt, which statement best describes the Federalist view of the proposed Constitution? a. The Federalists believed that similarities of the people in the United States was a source of strength and should be further strengthened by a strong national government. b. The Federalists believed that similarities of the people in the United States was a weakness and could only be strengthened by a strong national government. c. The Federalists believed that the variety of the people in the United States was a strength that could only be further strengthened by strong state government. d. The Federalists believed that a strong national government would weaken the strength of the diversity of the American people.

A. The Federalists believed that similarities of the people in the United States was a source of strength and should be further strengthened by a strong national government

Which of the following was one compromise related to the Declaration of Independence that was agreed to by the delegates to the Second Continental Congress? a. Language condemning the slave trade was removed. b. Language criticizing the English people was strengthened. c. A list of grievances against the king was removed. d. A list of grievances against tax collectors was strengthened.

A. language condemning the slave trade was removed.

Which of the following is an interest group that formed on the basis of economic interests? a. the AFL-CIO b. the LULAC c. the NAACP d. the NRA

A. the AFL-CIO

According to the lesson text, "Thomas Jefferson called the [Declaration of Independence] 'pure Locke,'" referring to the English philosopher John Locke. Which of the following ideas shows Locke's influence on the Declaration of Independence? a. The king of England has a divine right to rule the colonists, so only God can remove his authority. b. By violating the social contract with the colonists, the king has lost his authority to rule. c. Without a king, the colonists will be able to return to a state of nature in which all men are free. d. The king rules by right of force, so it is just for the colonists to overthrow the king using force.

B. By violating the social contract with the colonists, the king has lost all authority to rule

What is the general rule used by the Supreme Court when deciding if civil disobedience is a constitutionally protected right? a. If the protest is nonviolent, then civil disobedience is protected by the First Amendment right to free assembly. b. Civil disobedience is not protected by the First Amendment and so protestors may be charged if they break any laws. c. When the laws being protested are unconstitutional, then civil disobedience is protected by the First Amendment. d. Acts of civil disobedience are not protected if carried out on public property, but have First Amendment protection on private property.

B. Civil disobedience is not protected by the First Amendment and so protesters may be charged if they break any laws

Which constitutional clause is used as the basis for the separation of church and State at the federal level of the U.S. government? a. Due Process Clause b. Establishment Clause c. Free Exercise Clause d. Taking Clause

B. Establishment Clause

Based on the reasoning Chief Justice John Marshall uses in the excerpt below, what choice best describes the decision he made in the McCulloch v. Maryland case? "[T]he states have no power . . . to retard, impede, burden, or in any manner control, the operations of the constitutional laws enacted by Congress." —Chief Justice John Marshall, McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819 a. He decided that Congress did not have the authority to create a law that conflicted with State law. b. He decided that federal law could not be challenged by State law. c. He decided that State law took precedent over the federal law passed by Congress. d. He declared that the Supreme Court lacked the authority to settle a dispute between State and federal law.

B. He decided that federal law could not be challenged by State law.

Use the Preamble to the Constitution to answer the question. "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."—U.S. Constitution, Preamble Which of the following actions is one example of how the American government establishes justice? a. keeping the peace within the borders of the United States b. creating a set of laws and a court system c. protecting the United States from foreign threats d. establishing safety regulations to protect the public

B. creating a set of laws and a court system

Which of the following is NOT a check available to the legislative branch? a. creating a new federal district court b. declaring an executive act to be unconstitutional c. rejecting a treaty d. passing a bill that has been rejected by the President

B. declaring an executive act to be unconstitutional

According to John Locke, political society is created when individuals voluntarily form a government to create and enforce laws, thereby protecting the people who form that government. In this social contract, people give up some of their power to the government, which then rules in their interest. This is the basis of which of the following concepts? a. separation of powers b. government by consent c. common law d. absolute monarchy

B. government by consent

Which of the following lists the three basic powers a government must have? a. executive power, legislative power, military power b. legislative power, executive power, judicial power c. economic power, judicial power, legislative power d. judicial power, diplomatic power, executive power

B. legislative power, executive power, judicial power

Which statement BEST characterizes the implied powers of the Federal Government? a. They are explicitly given to Congress in the United States Constitution. b. They are sensible assumptions that are made based on the expressed powers. c. They are part of the amendments that have been added to the Constitution since 1789. d. They are the consequences of making the American government federal in form.

B. they are sensible assumptions that are made based on the expressed powers

The reason States have little discretion regarding age qualifications is a. the Constitution says that the minimum age for voting cannot be set lower than 18 years. b. the Constitution says only the Federal Government can regulate voting rights based on age. c. the Constitution says no State can set the minimum age for voting at more than 18 years. d. the Constitution says States must get federal approval to determine voting rights based on age.

C. The Constitution says no state can set the minimum age for voting at more than 18 years

The Framers included the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution for the purpose of a. giving the Federal Government complete authority over all actions of State governments. b. making the individual State governments more powerful than the Federal Government. c. helping to settle disputes between different levels of government in the federal system. d. making the Supreme Court the most powerful branch of the Federal Government.

C. helping to settle disputes between different levels of government in the federal system.

Which of the following powers is a concurrent power shared by both the Federal Government and the State governments? a. making treaties or forming alliances with foreign governments b. regulating public utilities such as gas or electric power c. levying and collecting taxes from businesses and citizens d. collecting duties or tariffs on imported goods

C. levying and collecting taxes from businesses and citizens

Use this quote by the French Enlightenment thinker Baron de Montesquieu to answer the question. "In every government there are three sorts of power; the legislative; the executive, in respect to things dependent on the law of nations; and the executive, in regard to things that depend on the civil law." What principle of government presented by the U.S. Constitution is Montesquieu describing? a. federalism b. republicanism c. separation of power d. sovereignty

C. separation of power

What is government? a. the services provided a community, such as police protection, fire protection, and public health programs b. the laws that protect peoples' rights and ensure the safety of a state's citizens c. the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies d. the process by which public officials are elected to and removed from office

C. the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

Which of the following correctly states a cause-and-effect that occurred during World War II? a. The alliance forged with the Soviet Union during the war led to the end of the cold war. b. The end of American isolationism ultimately led to the communist takeover of the Chinese mainland. c. The need to supply armaments to the Allies transformed the United States into a major military power. d. The upheaval caused by the war turned the attention of the United States toward its interests in Latin America.

C. the need to supply armaments to the Allies transformed the United States into a major military power

One concern related to Internet polls is that a. their samples often are not random. b. they reach many more respondents. c. they use too small a sample. d. their questions are usually poorly worded.

C. they use too small a sample

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances at work? a. The people choose not to re-elect a President whose policies they dislike. b. The Federal Government passes a law that overrides similar laws in several States. c. A bill passed by the House is vetoed by the Senate. d. Congress removes from the bench a federal judge who has accepted a bribe.

D. Congress removes from the bench a federal judge who has accepted a bribe

Use this quote written by the English jurist William Blackstone about the common law to answer the question. "For it is an established rule to abide by former precedents, where the same points come again ... to keep the scales of justice even and steady." Which of the following statements is an accurate rephrasing of Blackstone's argument? a. The common law is based upon the will of the people who decide what is just and what is not. b. Courts should interpret each new case based mainly on the judge's personal opinions. c. Only laws that are written down can be considered by the courts. d. Judges have a duty to look at previous legal decisions when deciding new cases.

D. Judges have a duty to look at previous legal decisions when deciding new cases

Which of the following is an example of the partisan press? a. A radio talk show that gives airtime to politicians only if all views are presented. b. A Web page on which anyone can post anything about immigration reform. c. A newspaper that includes one Democratic and one Republican editorial. d. A news network that airs stories only from a conservative point of view.

D. a news network that airs stories only from a conservative point of view

What is the significance of the 14th Amendment? a. It specifies restrictions on the National Government regarding basic rights. b. It provides that all protections of the Bill of Rights are extended to the States. c. It specifies which rights are "basic or essential" to the liberty of the American people. d. It provides that the States, like the Federal Government, cannot deny basic rights to their people.

D. it provides that all protections of the Bill of Rights are extended to the States

A legitimate government is a. one in which government leaders obtain and keep power by using force. b. one that offers the fastest solutions to a nation's problems and citizens' needs. c. one that is created by a union of many smaller groups that could not obtain power on their own. d. one that is accepted by its people and other governments as the sovereign authority of a nation.

D. one that is accepted by its people and other governments as the sovereign authority of a nation

Read the excerpt and answer the question. "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, . . ." —The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America Which of the following BEST paraphrases this statement? a. People must show allegiance to their king and country throughout their lives. b. People need to help others understand their basic rights as citizens. c. People owe their allegiance first to God, then to the monarch. d. People are born with certain rights that no one can take from them.

D. people are born with certain rights that no one can take from them.

Read this excerpt from the United States Constitution. "To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;" —Article I, Section 8 This section of the Constitution relates to a. the implied powers of the executive branch. b. the expressed powers of the executive branch. c. the implied powers of the legislative branch. d. the expressed powers of the legislative branch.

D. the expressed powers of the legislative branch

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Evidence exclusion landmark case in criminal procedure, in which the United States Supreme Court decided that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures". The Supreme Court accomplished this by use of a principle known as selective incorporation

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Supreme Court ruled on June 8, 1925, that the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protection of free speech, which states that the federal "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech," applied also to state governments

Read the quotation and answer the question that follows. "Today, thanks in no small part to the confidence and determination they developed through competitive sports and the work ethic they learned with their teammates, girls who play sports are more likely to excel in school. In fact, more women as a whole now graduate from college than men. This is a great accomplishment—not just for one sport or one college or even just for women but for America." —President Barack Obama, June 23, 2012 Based on context clues, which federal civil rights law is President Obama praising in this quotation? a. Title IX b. Civil Rights Act of 1968 c. Equal Protection Clause d. Voting Rights Act of 1965

Title IX

When Theodore Roosevelt sent the Great White Fleet around the world, he was acting in his role of a. commander in chief. b. chief diplomat. c. chief legislator. d. chief administrator.

a. commander in chief

Tariffs are taxes on foreign imports. In our federal system, the power to levy tariffs is a power a. granted exclusively to the Federal Government by the Constitution. b. assumed by the Federal Government. c. shared by both the State and Federal Government concurrently. d. denied to the Federal Government and reserved to the States.

a. granted exclusively to the federal government by the Constitution

How are federal judges selected? a. The person is named to the bench by the President and confirmed by the Senate. b. The person is named to the bench by the President and does not need to be confirmed. c. The person is publicly elected to the bench and confirmed by the Senate. d. The person is nominated by the Senate and chosen by the President.

a. the person is named to the bench by the President and confirmed by the Senate

Use the following quotation to answer the question. "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." —James Madison, Federalist No. 51 Which of the following BEST summarizes this idea? a. Government is necessary to make policy, but should not control people. b. Government is necessary, because people do not always behave perfectly. c. Government is not necessary, but people are better off when it exists. d. Government is not necessary, because people are naturally good.

b. Government is necessary, because people do not always behave perfectly

How do 1st Amendment protections of freedom of assembly apply to private versus public property? a. The constitutional right to assemble peacefully is a protected right on both private and public property. b. There is no constitutional right to assemble on private property, but peaceful assembly on public property is a protected right. c. There is only a right to assemble on public property in designated free speech zones, which don't apply to private property. d. The local government must grant permits before assemblies can be held on private property.

b. There is no constitutional right to assemble on private property, but peaceful assembly on public property is a protected right

The President is the author of the nation's public policies in his or her role of a. commander in chief. b. chief legislator. c. chief of party. d. chief citizen.

b. chief legislator

American foreign aid might be used to support which of the following foreign policies? a. deterrence b. containment c. collective security d. isolationism

b. containment

If a President receives a bill that has some provisions he or she supports and some provisions he or she opposes, the President can a. veto the provisions he or she opposes and sign the rest of the bill. b. sign the bill and issue a signing statement addressing the parts of the bill he or she opposes. c. veto parts of the bill and sign others, and provide reasons to Congress in writing. d. issue a signing statement that orders Congress to rewrite the bill.

b. sign the bill and issue a signing statement addressing the parts of the bill he or she opposes

What specific constitutional principle was Alexander Hamilton referring to in this quotation? "It therefore belongs to [the courts] to ascertain . . . the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body." —Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 78, 1788 a. the power to veto acts of Congress b. the authority to interpret laws c. the right to form a federal court system d. the system of checks and balances

b. the authority to interpret laws

The principle of popular sovereignty is based on the belief that a. the government must be run by officials who are appointed to office by their predecessors. b. the government gets its power from the people and can exist only with their consent. c. the people have the authority to declare any federal or State law unconstitutional by voting on it. d. the people do not have to obey any laws with which they disagree.

b. the government gets its power from the people and can only exist with their consent

The guarantee of religious liberty found in this proposed law is the sort of guarantee of individual rights that Anti-Federalists demanded be added to the Constitution. "We the General Assembly of Virginia do enact, 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 [burdened] 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 opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise [way] diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities." —Virginia General Assembly, 1777 This resulting listing of basic liberties in the Constitution is called a. the 1st Amendment. b. Article V. c. the Bill of Rights. d. the Declaration of Independence.

c. Bill of Rights

In 2012, as the United States sought a United Nations resolution supporting the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the presidents of China and Russia issued a joint statement that is excerpted in the following quotation: "Both sides firmly oppose any attempt to resolve the Syrian crisis through foreign military intervention as well as promoting forced 'regime change' at the United Nations Security Council and other venues. . . ." —Joint statement by Presidents Hu Jintao of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, June 7, 2012 Which of the following would have to happen in order for the U.N. to pass a resolution supporting the ousting of Syrian President Assad? a. Nothing additional would have to happen; the resolution could pass with just the votes of the United States, Britain, and France. b. Only Russia would have to be convinced to change its position. c. Both China and Russia would have to be convinced to change their positions. d. Only China would have to be convinced to change its position.

c. Both China and Russia would have to be convinced to change their positions

Which statement best describes the intent of the 10th Amendment? a. It is designed to make the States more powerful than the Federal Government by granting them extra powers. b. It seeks to limit the influence of the States by prohibiting them from exercising certain powers. c. It is an effort to promote a balance of power between the Federal and State governments in the federal system. d. It has the goal of forcing the States to request new constitutional amendments to expand their powers.

c. It is an effort to promote a balance of power between the Federal and State governments in the federal system.

"During the years the Articles of Confederation were in force (1781-1789), there were no national courts and no national judiciary. The laws of the United States were interpreted and applied as each State saw fit, and sometimes not at all. Disputes between States and between persons who lived in different States were decided, if at all, by the courts in one of the States involved. Often, decisions by the courts in one State were ignored by courts in the other States." This excerpt from the text explains why a. delegates to the Constitutional Convention wanted checks and balances among the branches of government. b. the Framers of the Articles of Confederation felt there was no need for a national Judiciary. c. the Framers of the Constitution thought it was important to have a national Judiciary. d. many members of Congress felt there was no need for a strong federal government.

c. The Framers of the Constitution thought it was important to have a national Judiciary.

What is one way the Speaker of the House differs from the president of the Senate? a. The Speaker of the House is not a member of his or her chamber, while the president of the Senate is a member of his or her chamber. b. The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the upper chamber, while the president of the Senate is the presiding officer of the lower chamber. c. The Speaker of the House is voted into the position by colleagues, while the Vice President of the United States serves as president of the Senate. d. The Speaker of the House is typically from the minority party, while the president of the Senate is typically from the majority party.

c. The speaker of the House is voted into the position by colleagues, while the Vice President of the United States serves as president of the Senate.

Oregon's no self-service law is an example of a government using what type of power in our federal system? a. An exclusive power granted to State governments by the Constitution. b. A power explicitly denied to the Federal Government by the Constitution. c. A reserved State power not mentioned in the Constitution. d. A concurrent power shared by the State and Federal Governments.

c. a reserved state power not mentioned in the Constitution

Use the following quote to answer the question. "The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins." —Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes What point was Justice Holmes making about the foundations of democracy? a. Everyone has rights, and they can freely use force to exercise them. b. Everyone has rights, but only those willing to use force will keep them. c. Everyone has rights, but the exercise of these rights cannot endanger others. d. Everyone has rights, and can exercise them in any way they want.

c. everyone has their rights, but the exercise of these rights cannot endanger others

"At the SEC, one of the most meaningful powers that we have to wield on behalf of investors is our authority to require companies to tell investors about the things that matter to them . . . Without proper disclosure, investors would be unable to make informed decisions." —Mary Jo White, SEC Chair, October 15, 2013 Which aspect of the SEC is Chairperson White describing when she speaks about one rule the SEC puts in place for companies to follow? a. its independence from Congress b. its judicial-like power c. its legislative-like power d. its relationship with Congress

c. its legislative-like power

What ruling did the Supreme Court make regarding flag burning in Texas v. Johnson? a. It is legal to burn flags other than the U.S. flag, but burning an American flag is not free speech because it affects public morale. b. Burning any sort of flag is a form of intimidation and thus it is not a form of protected free speech. c. Laws banning the burning of the U.S. flag are unconstitutional because flag burning is a form of free speech. d. Each State must decide, based on its own community values, whether to allow flag burning as free speech.

c. laws banning the burning of the U.S. flag are constitutional because flag burning is a form of free speech

Which of the following is MOST directly related to the idea that government should be restricted in what it can do? a. representative government b. ordered government c. limited government d. colonial government

c. limited government

"The Senate will turn down such a presidential appointment if it is opposed by a senator of the President's party from the State involved. The Senate's observance of this unwritten rule has a significant impact on the President's exercise of the power of appointment; in effect, this rule means that some senators virtually dictate certain presidential appointments." This excerpt from the text refers to a. the impeachment process. b. congressional hearings. c. senatorial courtesy. d. the seniority rule.

c. senatorial courtesy

What is the difference between a unitary government and a federal government? a. In a unitary government, power is shared by an alliance of independent states; in a federal government power is divided between a central government and local governments. b. In a federal government, power is shared by an alliance of independent states; in a unitary government power is divided between a central government and local governments. c. In a federal government, power is held by a single, central agency; in a unitary government power is divided between a central government and local governments. d. In a unitary government power is held by a single, central agency; in a federal government power is divided between a central government and local governments.

d. In a unitary government power is held by a single, central agency; in a federal government power is divided between a central government and local governments

Consider a scenario in which an unmarried, 28 year-old American woman gives birth to a daughter while working abroad. Her daughter is an American citizen as long as the woman a. has lived in the United States for at least 5 years. b. was born in the United States, its territories, a U.S. embassy, or U.S. public vessel. c. gets married to a United States citizen who has lived in the United States or an American territory for a period of time. d. has lived in the United States for at least 5 years and raises her daughter in the United States for at least 5 years after her daughter turns 14.

d. has lived in the United States for at least 5 years and raises her daughter in the United States for at least 5 years after her daughter turns 14

What is the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction? a. Original jurisdiction refers to a case being heard in a federal court; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case being heard in a State court. b. Original jurisdiction refers to criminal or civil cases; appellate jurisdiction refers to only to civil cases. c. Original jurisdiction refers to a case that could be heard in a federal or a State court; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case that must be heard in a federal court. d. Original jurisdiction refers to a court where a case is first heard; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case being heard after it was tried in a lower court.

d. original jurisdiction refers to a court where a case is first heard; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case that must be heard in a federal court

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

rights of the accused

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

ruled that separate-but-equal facilities were constitutional. The Plessy v. Ferguson decision upheld the principle of racial segregation over the next half-century. The ruling provided legal justification for segregation on trains and buses, and in public facilities such as hotels, theaters, and schools. The Supreme Court overruled the Plessy decision in Brown v. the Board of Education on May 17, 1954