Civics Semester Review

Name:

Matching

VOCABULARY
Match each definition with its term.

a.	a document that gives permission to establish a government
b.	a written agreement to make and obey laws
c.	a written plan of government
d.	traditions passed down from past generations
e.	a government in which citizens elect representatives to make laws

heritage

charter

republic

compact

Constitution

VOCABULARY
Match each definition with its term.

a.	to accuse a high government official of serious wrongdoing
b.	a system that gives each branch of government ways to limit the power of the other branches
c.	to reject a bill
d.	composed of two houses
e.	the division of power between the states and the national government
f.	powers given to Congress rather than to the states

bicameral

veto

federalism

checks and balances

10.

impeach

11.

delegated powers

Match each description with the correct article of the Constitution.

a.	makes the Constitution "the supreme law of the land"
b.	provides for a national court system
c.	describes the powers of the national legislature
d.	requires states to respect each other’s laws
e.	gives the power of the executive branch to one person, the President

12.

Article 1

13.

Article 2

14.

Article 3

15.

Article 4

16.

Article 6

VOCABULARY
Match each definition with its term.

a.	The government must treat accused persons according to rules established by law.
b.	The government cannot put a person on trial twice for the same crime.
c.	The government has the power to take private property for public use.
d.	The government may not favor any religion.

17.

separation of church and state

18.

eminent domain

19.

due process of law

20.

double jeopardy

Match each right of citizens with the amendment that protects it.

a.	First Amendment
b.	Fourth Amendment
c.	Fifth Amendment
d.	Sixth Amendment
e.	Eighth Amendment
f.	Second Amendment
g.	Ninth Amendment

21.

the right to ask the government to change the law

22.

the right to a fair bail amount if you are arrested for a crime

23.

the right to bear arms

24.

citizens’ rights are not limited to the ones listed

VOCABULARY
Match each description with its term.

a.	separation of African Americans and whites in public places
b.	the right to vote
c.	an active policy to hire and promote more minorities and women

25.

suffrage

26.

segregation

27.

affirmative action

VOCABULARY
Match each definition with its term.

a.	a proposed law
b.	the use of long speeches to prevent a Senator vote
c.	a way the President can prevent a bill from becoming law by keeping it until Congress ends its session
d.	an official population count made every ten years
e.	a plan of action designed to achieve a certain goal

28.

policy

29.

bill

30.

census

31.

pocket veto

32.

filibuster

Match each description with the correct congressional leader.

a.	aids the floor leader and tries to persuade members to support party positions
b.	presides over the Senate when the Vice President is not present
c.	Vice President of the United States
d.	presides over House sessions, decides who may speak, appoints committee members
e.	guides bills through Congress and is chief officer of his or her party in the House or Senate

33.

Speaker of the House

34.

president pro tempore

35.

floor leader

36.

whip

37.

president of the Senate

VOCABULARY
Match each description with its term.

a.	an organization of government departments, agencies, and offices
b.	a group of policy advisors to the President, including the executive department heads
c.	official representatives to foreign governments
d.	a team of executive branch officials appointed by the President

38.

bureaucracy

39.

administration

40.

Cabinet

41.

ambassadors

Match each description with its correct term.

a.	the right to keep some information secret from Congress and the courts
b.	arrangements with other countries about trade or foreign aid
c.	rules or regulations that employees in the executive branch must follow
d.	the branch of the government responsible for carrying out laws
e.	executive agencies, regulatory commissions, and government corporations
f.	Cabinet-level organizations that carry out laws and run government programs

42.

executive branch

43.

executive orders

44.

executive agreements

45.

executive privilege

46.

executive departments

47.

independent agencies

VOCABULARY
Match each definition with its term.

a.	a party who answers a complaint in court
b.	a government body that brings charges against a person accused of breaking the law
c.	to ask a higher court to review a decision
d.	an individual or group that brings a complaint against another party
e.	guideline for how similar court cases should be decided in the future

48.

plaintiff

49.

defendant

50.

prosecution

51.

precedent

52.

appeal

Match each description with its correct term.

a.	judges try to avoid overturning laws
b.	the authority to hear a case first
c.	the power to overturn laws in conflict with the Constitution
d.	judges frequently overturn laws
e.	the authority to hear a case on appeal

53.

original jurisdiction

54.

appellate jurisdiction

55.

judicial review

56.

judicial activism

57.

judicial restraint

VOCABULARY
Match each description with its term.

a.	a process by which voters can remove elected officials from office
b.	dividing the number of legislative seats among districts
c.	a process by which citizens can propose laws
d.	a process by which voters may approve or reject a law proposed or passed by a state legislature
e.	the power to reject parts of a bill

58.

initiative

59.

referendum

60.

recall

61.

apportioned

62.

item veto

Match each description with its term.

a.	a tax charged on purchases of goods and services
b.	certificates that people buy from the government, which the government agrees to pay interest on
c.	the income a government receives
d.	a tax charged on certain goods such as alcohol or tobacco
e.	a tax on what individuals and businesses earn

63.

revenue

64.

sales tax

65.

excise tax

66.

income tax

67.

bonds

VOCABULARY
Match each definition with its term.

a.	a meeting of party leaders to discuss issues or choose candidates
b.	to go door-to-door handing out information and finding out which candidates citizens support
c.	a statement of a party’s official stand on issues
d.	the system in which party leaders do favors for loyal party supporters
e.	an election in which party members choose candidates to run for office

68.

platform

69.

canvass

70.

patronage

71.

caucus

72.

direct primary

Match each description with the correct political party.

a.	formed by groups opposed to slavery
b.	N/A
c.	the first political party in the United States
d.	formed in 1828 under the leadership of Andrew Johnson
e.	N/A

73.

Federalist party

74.

Democratic party

75.

Republican party

VOCABULARY
Match each definition with its term.

a.	process of signing up to be a voter
b.	an election in which voters make final decisions about candidates and issues
c.	television, radio, newspapers, and magazines
d.	favoring one point of view
e.	a way of sending written messages to large groups of people

76.

general election

77.

registration

78.

direct mail

79.

media

80.

bias

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

81.

A legislature is

a.	a group of people who support tyranny.
b.	a group of people chosen to make laws.
c.	a group of people who have the right to vote.
d.	a group of people elected to create charters.

82.

In the colonies the right to vote was held by

a.	anyone who could read and write.
b.	only white men who owned a certain amount of land.
c.	men and women over age 21.
d.	only members of the Anglican church.

83.

The idea of direct democracy came from

a.	the Magna Carta.	c.	ancient Athens.
b.	colonial newspapers.	d.	Roman law.

84.

A town meeting is an example of

a.	representative democracy.	c.	a tyranny.
b.	direct democracy.	d.	a republic.

85.

Tyranny refers to

a.	a strong central government.
b.	a government that abuses its power.
c.	a government controlled by citizens.
d.	a powerful monarchy.

86.

Which was NOT a reason for revising the Articles of Confederation?

a.	Congress had already agreed on a new form of government.
b.	Congress could not enforce the laws.
c.	Congress could not settle disputes between states.
d.	Congress could not tax.

87.

Madison's plan for government

a.	was rejected almost immediately.
b.	was especially popular with the smaller states.
c.	seemed too weak to many delegates.
d.	created a strong central government.

88.

On the question of the slave trade, the delegates

a.	agreed that each state should end it by 1808.
b.	agreed to end it in 1808.
c.	agreed that the national government could not end it before 1808.
d.	could not reach agreement.

89.

The Great Compromise

a.	was never adopted by the delegates.
b.	established a two-house legislature.
c.	won by a huge majority of the votes at the Constitutional Convention.
d.	showed the weaknesses of the Constitutional Convention.

90.

In order for the Constitution to go into effect it had to be approved by

a.	at least nine state conventions.	c.	the Continental Congress.
b.	at least nine state legislatures.	d.	the President.

91.

The Federalists wanted

a.	to have a weak President.
b.	to ignore old debts.
c.	to have a strong national government.
d.	to keep the Articles of Confederation.

92.

Which of the following is NOT a goal set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution?

a.	to promote the general welfare
b.	to create a bicameral legislature
c.	to provide for the common defense
d.	to establish justice

93.

Under federalism,

a.	state and federal governments have some shared and some separate powers.
b.	the federal government decides what powers the states have.
c.	the states can check the power of the federal government.
d.	state and federal governments have completely different powers.

94.

Separation of powers means that

a.	the judicial branch decides the powers of the other branches.
b.	state and federal governments have different powers.
c.	power is divided among the three branches of government.
d.	each branch can limit the powers of the other branches.

95.

Which of the following is NOT true about amending the Constitution?

a.	Every amendment must be ratified by three fourths of the state legislatures.
b.	An amendment may be proposed by a national convention called by two thirds of the state legislatures.
c.	Every amendment must be approved at both the national and state levels.
d.	Congress may propose an amendment by two-thirds vote in both houses.

96.

The main argument in favor of the Bill of Rights was that it would

a.	make the Constitution more like the Magna Carta.
b.	win more public support for the new government.
c.	test whether the amendment process worked.
d.	limit the constitutional powers of the federal government.

97.

Freedom of the press ensures that

a.	newspapers are free to print lies.
b.	in wartime, newspapers can print reports that endanger the nation.
c.	people may criticize the government in newspapers and on television.
d.	the press is not limited at all.

98.

People who "take the Fifth"

a.	have to tell the truth even if it will send them to jail.
b.	are using their constitutional right to remain silent.
c.	misunderstand the Constitution.
d.	are admitting their guilt.

99.

The rights of the accused do NOT include

a.	the right to a secret trial.
b.	the right to a speedy public trial.
c.	the right to remain silent.
d.	the right to question witnesses.

100.

Protecting the rights of citizens is

a.	easy to do since the Bill of Rights was passed.
b.	taken care of by the Bill of Rights.
c.	the job of the Supreme Court.
d.	a responsibility that all Americans share.

101.

The Thirteenth Amendment

a.	made African Americans citizens of the states in which they lived.
b.	gave African American men the right to vote.
c.	was overturned by a later amendment.
d.	abolished slavery.

102.

The Fourteenth Amendment

a.	gave African American men the right to vote.
b.	abolished slavery.
c.	was found unconstitutional.
d.	gave citizenship to African Americans born in the United States.

103.

The Fifteenth Amendment

a.	made African Americans citizens of the states in which they lived.
b.	made segregation illegal.
c.	gave African American men the right to vote.
d.	abolished slavery.

104.

Women gained suffrage

a.	from the Bill of Rights.
b.	from the Fifteenth Amendment.
c.	from the Nineteenth Amendment.
d.	from the Twenty-fourth Amendment.

105.

The Twenty-sixth Amendment granted the right to vote to

a.	all women.
b.	people between 18 and 21 years of age.
c.	immigrants.
d.	African American women.

106.

The amendments to the Constitution are evidence that the Constitution

a.	is flexible.	c.	is finally perfect.
b.	changes only in wartime.	d.	gives the people too much power.

107.

The Supreme Court

a.	must be obeyed except by the President.
b.	can change the Constitution.
c.	has the final say over whether a law is constitutional.
d.	cannot overturn its earlier decisions.

108.

Which of the following statements is NOT true about Congress?

a.	Its main job is to make laws.
b.	It is the legislative branch of the government.
c.	It is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
d.	It can appoint federal judges.

109.

Constituents, political parties, and lobbyists are similar in that they

a.	are illegal.
b.	work full time to try to influence members of Congress.
c.	put the needs of the whole nation ahead of local needs.
d.	want members of Congress to support their interests.

110.

When deciding how to vote, a member of Congress should consider all of the following EXCEPT

a.	the party's position.	c.	how much he or she will be paid.
b.	his or her own conscience.	d.	what constituents want.

111.

Congressional staff members do NOT include

a.	administrative assistants.	c.	caseworkers.
b.	lobbyists.	d.	legislative assistants.

112.

The number of representatives from a state

a.	does not change.
b.	can change after a census.
c.	is determined by the majority party.
d.	can never be more than 45.

113.

Senators

a.	represent an entire state.
b.	must have been born in the United States.
c.	serve the same length term as Representatives.
d.	do not have to worry about what people in their states think.

114.

The powers of Congress

a.	are given to it by state legislatures.
b.	are unlimited.
c.	are based on the goals of the Constitution.
d.	are limited to making laws.

115.

Congress does NOT have the power

a.	to regulate commerce with other countries.
b.	to declare laws unconstitutional.
c.	to declare war.
d.	to spend money.

116.

The elastic clause in the Constitution

a.	gives Congress room to expand its powers.
b.	sets strict limits on the powers of Congress.
c.	gives Congress unlimited powers.
d.	has been found unconstitutional.

117.

The President

a.	sets goals and develops policies for the nation.
b.	is responsible for making laws.
c.	is the head of the legislative branch of the government.
d.	represents only voters.

118.

The President's power is limited in all of the following ways EXCEPT

a.	Congress has the power to make the laws.
b.	the Supreme Court can declare that a presidential act is unconstitutional.
c.	the President can play only the roles mentioned in the Constitution.
d.	a President can serve two terms.

119.

Making foreign policy is an example of the President's role as

a.	chief diplomat.	c.	legislative leader.
b.	chief executive.	d.	party leader.

120.

The President's judicial powers do NOT include

a.	declaring laws unconstitutional.
b.	pardoning convicted criminals.
c.	reducing the punishment of convicted criminals.
d.	appointing federal judges.

121.

The Vice President

a.	is appointed by the President.
b.	presides over the House of Representatives.
c.	may act as President if the President is seriously ill.
d.	does not need to be as qualified as the President.

122.

The President

a.	has a good deal of freedom in spite of checks and balances.
b.	has the right to keep all information secret from Congress and the courts.
c.	cannot act in a crisis without the consent of Congress.
d.	can order the government to take private property in a national emergency.

123.

All American courts, at every level,

a.	determine whether a person is innocent or guilty.
b.	settle disagreements between individuals.
c.	decide whether an action is constitutional.
d.	apply the law to an actual situation.

124.

A court can interpret a law

a.	whenever the President asks it to.
b.	whenever it wants to establish a precedent.
c.	only in a specific case.
d.	whenever Congress asks it to.

125.

Which of the following courts NEVER have original jurisdiction?

a.	United States courts of appeals
b.	United States district courts
c.	state trial courts
d.	the United States Supreme Court

126.

Who has the final say about what the Constitution means?

a.	the Supreme Court	c.	the President
b.	Congress	d.	all three government branches

127.

Marbury v. Madison established

a.	judicial review.	c.	Congress's right to make laws.
b.	limits on the presidency.	d.	the federal court system.

128.

Supreme Court decisions require a

a.	unanimous vote.	c.	three-fourths vote.
b.	two-thirds vote.	d.	simple majority vote.

129.

A Supreme Court decision can be overturned by

a.	public opinion.	c.	a vote of Congress.
b.	a presidential veto.	d.	a constitutional amendment.

130.

State constitutions

a.	were models for the national Constitution.
b.	are less detailed than the national Constitution.
c.	usually do not include a bill of rights.
d.	cannot be amended.

131.

Changes to state constitutions

a.	usually are not necessary.
b.	are made more often than changes to the national Constitution.
c.	can only be made by state legislatures.
d.	do not require voter approval in most states.

132.

A common argument for strong state governments is that, compared to the federal government, they are

a.	less corrupt.
b.	more likely to provide equal opportunities.
c.	better able to solve problems involving many states.
d.	better able to serve their citizens' needs.

133.

Seats in state legislatures are apportioned on the basis of the

a.	wealth of the districts.	c.	area of the districts.
b.	needs of the districts.	d.	population of the districts.

134.

One main difference between state legislatures and Congress is that

a.	state legislatures cannot propose constitutional amendments.
b.	state legislators are appointed by the governor.
c.	citizens in some states can propose and pass laws.
d.	all state legislators are volunteers.

135.

Most state tax revenue comes from

a.	excise and property taxes.	c.	income and sales taxes.
b.	sales and excise taxes.	d.	property and income taxes.

136.

The greatest source of executive power is the governor's

a.	role as commander in chief of the National Guard.
b.	power to enforce laws.
c.	power to change the state constitution.
d.	budget-making role.

137.

The governors in many states have less power than the President to

a.	make the budget.
b.	influence lawmaking.
c.	veto bills.
d.	appoint top executive branch officials.

138.

All state court judges

a.	are chosen under the Missouri Plan.
b.	serve for life if they are able.
c.	have duties similar to federal judges.
d.	are elected.

139.

Political parties help all Americans by

a.	fund-raising.	c.	running elections.
b.	patronage.	d.	informing them about issues.

140.

The first political parties

a.	still exist today.
b.	were established by the Constitution.
c.	formed to elect George Washington.
d.	arose because of differing views of the role of government.

141.

Third parties

a.	do not last beyond one election.
b.	were established by the Constitution.
c.	can influence the ideas of major parties.
d.	often succeed in electing a President.

142.

The Democratic and Republican parties disagree most strongly about

a.	basic American beliefs.
b.	what the role of the federal government should be.
c.	whether or not to take extreme stands on issues.
d.	how a party should be organized.

143.

Most candidates for state and federal office are chosen by

a.	national convention.	c.	direct primary.
b.	caucus.	d.	self-nomination.

144.

Limits on individual contributions to presidential candidates have been set by

a.	party platforms.	c.	federal laws.
b.	tradition.	d.	nominating conventions.

145.

One major role of a party's national convention is to

a.	nominate candidates for Congress.
b.	approve the party platform.
c.	organize the state caucuses.
d.	choose delegates.

146.

General elections

a.	fill federal, state, and local offices.
b.	include only ballot measures.
c.	fill only federal offices.
d.	are held to choose candidates for President.

147.

In most states voters must be all of the following EXCEPT

a.	registered.
b.	employed.
c.	at least 18 years old.
d.	a resident of the state in which they vote.

148.

Which of the following is generally the BEST source of information on a candidate?

a.	direct mail	c.	posters and bumper stickers
b.	debates between candidates	d.	television ads

149.

In elections, incumbents

a.	challenge a candidate voters know.
b.	have a very good chance of winning.
c.	are newcomers to elected office.
d.	lose more often than they win.

150.

The Electoral College

a.	generally confirms the choices of the majority of voters.
b.	is not mentioned in the Constitution.
c.	meets each year to discuss elections.
d.	helps inform and educate voters.