Structure and Functions of Government

Which of these is an example of plea-bargaining?

A defendant admits guilt to a less serious charge instead of being tried for a more serious one.

Which of these is the best example of plea bargaining in a criminal case?

A defense attorney an a prosecutor negotiate the charges against a defendant.

Which of these legal documents orders a witness to appear in court?

A subpoena

Which of the following powers does the United States Constitution grant to the President of the United States?

Appointing Supreme Court justices

Which of the following officials is always appointed by a President and must be confirmed only by the Senate?

Attorney General of the United States

Which is NOT a constitutional qualification for becoming president of the United States?

Being male

Which case extended the Fourteenth's Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law?

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954)

How can a judge ensure the right of a person to a fair trial?

By selecting jurors who are not biased about the case

The President's cabinet is composed of the heads of the departments of the federal government. Which of the following accurately describes how members of the President's cabinet obtain office?

Cabinet officers are appointed by the President of the United States, then approved by the Senate.

The veto is an example of which principle in the United States Constitution?

Checks and balances

Which of the following officials must be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate?

Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

How is an Ohio Supreme Court Justice chosen?

Elected by Ohio voters

A congressional representative of the United States usually acquires office by which of the following methods?

Election by voters

Which of the following powers are granted to the executive branch of the United States government by the Constitution?

Enforcing federal laws

Which responsibility of the executive branch did President Eisenhower demonstrate when he sent federal troops to integrate a public high school?

Enforcing the law

United States marshals serve under the direction of the Attorney General and have the responsibility of enforcing federal laws. United States marshals are part of which branch of the federal government?

Executive

Enforcing the state laws of Ohio is the responsibility of the

Governor

The legislative branch of the federal government includes the

House of Representatives and Senate

Which of these best describes an effect of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison?

It established the power to void a congressional law

Which of these terms is used to describe a party who files a civil lawsuit?

Plaintiff

Which of these is required by a judge before the police can obtain a search warrant?

Probable cause linking the person to the crime

Which of the following federal government positions is not appointed by the President?

Speaker of the House

Which person is a member of the legislative branch?

Speaker of the House

Which of these was an effect of the Supreme Court decision in McCulloch v. Maryland?

State laws that conflicted with federal laws became unconditional

Which is an example of a "concurrent" power under the United States federal system of government?

Taxing personal income

Which of these has the most control over the United States' defense spending?

The Congress

It is said that the citizens of the United States elect the president. Inreality, what body casts the official vote?

The Electoral College

Which branch of the United States government has the power to interpret federal laws?

The judicial branch

Which branch of state governments has the power to override the veto of a bill?

The legislative branch

Congress ends its session the day a bill is sent to the president. Which action would constitute a pocket veto?

The president sets the bill aside and ignores it.

Which of these statements about presidential executive orders is true?

They have the force of federal law

Which of these statements about presidential executive orders is true?

They must be in agreement with the Constitution

Why are the seats of the House of Representatives reapportioned every 10 years?

To account for changing populations

Why are federal judges appointed for life?

To ensure freedom from control by elected officials

What is the purpose of an indictment?

To formally charge a person with a crime

Which of these is the main function of the legislative branch?

To make laws

Which of these is most likely a reason Presidents issue executive orders?

To make policy without congressional approval

Which of the following is the main function of the executive branch of state governments?

To see that laws are carried out and enforced

Which of the following officials is not elected by the people?

United States Attorney General

Which of these is a constitutional "check" that the executive has to "balance" the power of the legislature in the United States government?

Veto acts passed by Congress

When is a jury "hung"?

When the jury cannot agree on a verdict

A state judge takes an oath of office promising to preside over her court fairly at all times by deciding cases based on evidence rather than her own personal opinion. According to this oath, the judge must

allow a jury to reach a verdict that she disagrees with

Under the system of checks and balances, each branch of government has roles that check the other two branches. One example of how the legislative branch checks the powers of the executive branch is

approving cabinet appointments

A case that must be tried in a federal court is one involving

copyright violation

In Kelov. New London (2005), the Supreme Court ruled that local governments could take private property to be used for commercial economic development. The Supreme Court's ruling in this case impacted the principle of

eminent domain

The United States legal system requires that people accused of crimes be

informed of the charges against them

The judicial branch of the government is responsible for

interpreting laws

The ability of the Supreme Court to declare an act of Congress, or of the president, unconstitutional is an example of

judicial review

The legislature of the state of Ohio has the power to

pass laws affecting Ohio citizens

The prosecutor in a criminal case is the person who

represents the government

Congress may respond to United States Supreme Court rulings by

rewriting a law overturned by the court

Over the past fifty years, many Americans have moved from the Northeast and the Midwest to the South and the West. As a result of this population shift, the South and the West have gained influence in

the House of Representatives

The Congress of the United States has proposed an amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment can be added to the Constitution if the amendment is passed by

three-fourths of the fifty state legislatures

If the president vetoes an act of Congress, it can become law if

two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote for it

The role of a grand jury is to determine

whether there is enough evidence for an indictment