End of Semester Test: US Government

What did President George Washington warn against in his farewell address? A. permitting too much trade with European powers B. becoming overly involved with foreign politics C. creating diplomatic relations with new nations D. establishing a trade agreement with Mexico and Canada E. forming an international forum for discussion

B. becoming overly involved with foreign politics

Which economic term refers to the situation where one country can manufacture and export automobiles at a lower cost than its competitors? A. opportunity cost B. comparative advantage C. inflation D. consumer price index (CPI) E. gross domestic product (GDP)

B. comparative advantage

Under which type of government would state or provincial governments have the most sovereignty? A. parliamentary B. confederal C. federal D. totalitarian E. dictatorship

B. confederal

"Stare decisis" means "let the decision stand." This concept is influential in our legal system and is most closely related with which legal term? A. habeas corpus B. precedent C. jurisdiction D. due process E. judicial review

B. precedent

In Congress, who has the right to unlimited debate and unlimited opportunity to offer amendments? A. the president B. senators C. the Speaker of the House D. the vice president E. majority leaders

B. senators

What was the goal of Congress when it passed the Sherman Antitrust Act to break up corporate trusts? A. to remove government regulation from businesses B. to return private competition to the marketplace C. to lower taxes on small and medium businesses D. to prevent politicians from investing in businesses E. to increase laissez-faire ideals in the marketplace

B. to return private competition to the marketplace

Which action is an example of direct democracy? A. protesting unfavorable government legislation B. voting for the recall of a state governor C. electing a member to the state senate D. serving as an official in the local government E. campaigning for a mayoral candidate in an upcoming election

B. voting for the recall of a state governor

-Why is a free press important and helpful to a democratic society? A. It allows presidential candidates to control citizens' votes. B. It prevents political parties from buying an election. C. It helps citizens become aware of a politician's wrongdoings. D. It gives the government a way to influence information. E. It stops private companies from owning major media outlets.

C. It helps citizens become aware of a politician's wrongdoings.

What did the War Powers Resolution of 1973 do? A. It slowed the growing power of the legislative branch. B. It promoted the powers of the executive branch. C. It limited the president's power to start wars. D. It forced the legislative branch to fund wars properly. E. It required the president to listen to the Joint Chiefs.

C. It limited the president's power to start wars.

What was the subject of the Louisiana laws upheld by Plessy v. Ferguson? A. grandfather clauses B. poll taxes C. separate rail facilities D. women's suffrage E. peaceful protest

C. separate rail facilities

Which statement about the executive role of the president of the United States is true? A. The president fills the roles of head of state and head of government. B. The president's only role is the head of government. C. The president's only role is the head of state. D. The president fills the role of the chief justice of the supreme court. E. The president's role is ceremonial, with Congress serving the roles of head of state and head of government.

A. The president fills the roles of head of state and head of government.

What is an enumerated power of Congress? A. a power specifically named in the Constitution B. a power given to it by the Supreme Court C. a power considered necessary to carry out other congressional duties D. a power given to it by the president E. a power restricted by the people

A. a power specifically named in the Constitution

What was an important concern for the Founding Fathers when drafting the Articles of Confederation? A. avoiding the tyranny of a powerful central government B. granting only limited powers to the new monarchy C. providing new powers to the executive branch D. limiting the power of certain states in the Union E. preventing states from trading with other nations

A. avoiding the tyranny of a powerful central government

What is considered an important Roman contribution to American government? A. the idea of representative government in which people elect officials to speak for them B. the idea of a legislature that has more power than any other branch of government C. the idea that everyone is judged under the same interpretation of the law D. the idea that governments are only legitimate if they rule with the consent of their people E. the idea that people naturally give up some rights to a government for the sake of maintaining order in society

A. the idea of representative government in which people elect officials to speak for them

Which sentence best describes a referendum? A. A political party holds a primary to choose a candidate for legislative elections. B. Citizens vote directly on a proposed law in their city or state. C. The state house of representatives holds a hearing to appoint a new Speaker. D. The state's citizens votes to remove their governor from office. E. The state conducts a voluntary census so it can change legislative districts.

B. Citizens vote directly on a proposed law in their city or state.

Imagine you are preparing a speech on social contract theory for your government class. As part of your speech, you need to focus on the idea that people have the authority to overthrow a government that has become tyrannical. Which Enlightenment text would be good source material? A. Hobbes's Leviathan B. Locke's Second Treatise of Government C. Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws D. Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England E. Machiavelli's The Prince

B. Locke's Second Treatise of Government

In 1783, which plan sought to highlight the need for a stronger national government and used army officers to threaten a coup d'état? A. Shays's Rebellion B. Newburgh Conspiracy C. The Virginia Plan D. The New Jersey Plan

B. Newburgh Conspiracy

A group of citizens is very serious about banning smoking in public places. Which course of action is the best way for the group to influence government smoking policies? A. They should vote for government officials who do not smoke. B. They should start a political action committee and lobby for antismoking policies. C. They should give antismoking speeches at local community centers and schools. D. They should ask their governor to support their antismoking policies. E. They should demonstrate outside local restaurants that allow smoking inside.

B. They should start a political action committee and lobby for antismoking policies.

Which sentence in the US Constitution provides for limiting the power of government? A. "All persons born or naturalized in the United States . . . are citizens of the United States." B. "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived." C. "The president shall be commander in chief of the army and navy." D. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . . or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press." E. "The Constitution . . . shall be the supreme law of the land."

D. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . . or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press."

What specifically was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking out against when he made this statement in 1958? "I could never adjust to the separate waiting rooms, separate eating places, separate rest rooms, partly because the separate was always unequal, and partly because the very idea of separation did something to my sense of dignity and self-respect." A. civil disobedience B. the Montgomery Bus Boycott C. the march on Selma, Alabama D. Jim Crow laws E. integration of public schools

D. Jim Crow laws

Which event is an example of a hortatory, or encouraging, technique? A. a hefty fine issued for driving more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit B. a government program that provides citizens with new job-training opportunities C. a tax imposed on people who buy motorboats with large, loud engines D. a sign in a restaurant that states "Think before you smoke—secondhand smoke kills" E. a tax credit that helps citizens purchase electric or hybrid vehicles

D. a sign in a restaurant that states "Think before you smoke—secondhand smoke kills"

What were the Founding Fathers trying to create when they divided powers between the judicial, legislative, and executive branches? A. republicanism B. executive privilege C. due process of law D. checks and balances E. a federal government

D. checks and balances

The Constitution created a federal system in the United States. Which of the following best describes a federal government? A. equal and full sovereignty granted to all states with a weak central government B. a parliament that grants limited power to each provincial government C. an executive branch that has great, sweeping powers to direct a nation D. power split and shared between the central and state governments E. a unicameral national legislature that provides equal voting to each state

D. power split and shared between the central and state governments

Which program is an example of domestic policy? A. NAFTA B. the Versailles Treaty C. the Carter Doctrine D. the Clean Air Act E. NATO

D. the Clean Air Act

Imagine that you are writing a report on the people who most influenced a president during the administration. Which advisor would be the best source on a president's personal thoughts? A. the national security advisor B. the secretary of state C. the attorney general D. the chief of staff E. the secretary of treasury

D. the chief of staff

What is the primary purpose of most constitutions? A. to define a moral code for people to follow B. to provide a substitute for government C. to prevent a strong central government D. to define and limit government power E. to give the government absolute power

D. to define and limit government power

According to the Declaration of Independence, when do the people have the right to overthrow their government? A. when the government taxes the people too much B. when the people as a whole do not agree with the policies of the government C. when they are ruled by a king D. when the government fails to protect the fundamental rights of the people E. when the economy fails to create new jobs

D. when the government fails to protect the fundamental rights of the people

After educating himself on the ideas and policies of both congressional candidates, Andrew has decided he prefers one candidate over the other. What is the best way Andrew can help his favored candidate get elected? A. He can remember to vote on election day. B. He can watch the local news every evening. C. He can educate himself on local public policies. D. He can write a letter to the candidate to show his support. E. He can volunteer to work on the campaign.

E. He can volunteer to work on the campaign.

Which of these is an example of how the government regulates business in the mixed economy of the United States? A. The Department of Transportation builds a highway and approves all the work done on roadways. B. The Federal Bureau of Investigation works with members of local police forces to solve crimes. C. The Department of Education sets educational standards for all schools in the country. D. The Centers for Disease Control warn citizens of an outbreak of avian flu in their local area. E. The Food and Drug Administration must approve a new drug before it can be sold to the public.

E. The Food and Drug Administration must approve a new drug before it can be sold to the public.

-Which sentence correctly states the relationship between the federal and the state judiciaries? A. Federal courts can overrule any state court in its interpretation of the law. B. The two always operate separately, and neither system ever interferes with the other's decisions. C. All state courts are trial courts, and all federal courts are appeals courts. D. State courts have original jurisdiction in civil cases, and federal courts have original jurisdiction in criminal cases. E. The two generally operate separately, although federal courts may overrule state court decisions that violate the US Constitution or federal law.

E. The two generally operate separately, although federal courts may overrule state court decisions that violate the US Constitution or federal law.

In which type of US election is it possible for the winning candidate to get fewer popular votes than the opposing candidate? A. most state government elections B. House elections C. Senate elections D. most local government elections E. presidential elections

E. presidential elections

Which government agency's primary mission is ensuring that enough money and credit are available to sustain economic growth without causing inflation? A. the US Treasury B. the Senate Budget Committee C. the House Committee on Appropriations D. the Labor Department E. the Federal Reserve

E. the Federal Reserve