U.S. and Virginia Government Benchmark
_______________________________
Colonial Influences
1. This document was written to convince the American colonists to support their
becoming independent from England.
a. Self-Government
b. Mayflower Compact
c. Articles of Confederation
d. Common Sense
2. Why was the Mayflower Compact created?
a. The Pilgrims needed a government that would provide order and protection.
b. The pilgrims needed a government so that everyone could share the gold that they
found.
c. The Pilgrims needed to have a king to provide leadership.
3. Who wrote the Mayflower Compact?
a. Thomas Jefferson
b. Native Americans
c. George Washington
d. Pilgrims
4. What is one big idea of the English Bill of Rights?
a. Limited government
b. Self-government
c. Rights of the people
d. The Rule of Law
5. Due Process is the big idea of the Magna Carta.
a. True
b. False
6. Self-government is a big idea of the Mayflower Compact.
a. True
b. False
7. The power of the United States Government is limited by the Constitution and each
branch is limited in what it can do.
a. True
b. False
8. What is a “popular or representative system where the people create and run their own
government?
a. Rule of Law
b. Due Process
c. Rights
d. Self-government
Declaration of Independence
9.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What is a right?
Something you were born with
Something you have to earn
What you get when you are a citizen.
Permission to do something
10. What is a resolution?
a. A Natural right
b. Complaint
c. Solution/action
d. Permission to do something
11. Was the Declaration of Independence written before or after the American Revolution?
a. Before
b. After
12. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
a. Thomas Jefferson
b. George Washington
c. Benjamin Franklin
d. Donald Trump
13. Who was the general of the Continental Army during the American Revolution?
a. Thomas Jefferson
b. George Washington
c. Benjamin Franklin
d. Donald Trump
14. Who was the first president of the United States?
a. Thomas Jefferson
b. George Washington
c. Benjamin Franklin
d. Donald Trump
Questions 15-18, identify if the statement is a grievance, natural right, preamble or resolution.
15. “All men are created equal.”
a. Grievance
b. Natural Right
c. Preamble
d. Resolution
16. “We declare the colonies are and should be free and independent states.”
a. Grievance
b. Natural Right
c. Preamble
d. Resolution
17. “The King has refused to agree to laws that would benefit the people.”
a. Grievance
b. Natural Right
c. Preamble
d. Resolution
18. The Declaration of Independence was presented on:
a. Dec. 25, 1776
b. July 4, 1776
c. October 31, 1776
d. July 4, 2016
Types of Government
19. When one person has complete power or control over the government.20 sec
A. Democracy
B. Oligarchy
C. Autocracy
20. With this form of government citizens often have little or no rights or freedoms.
a. Dictatorship
b. Direct Democracy
c. Representative Democracy
21. Nobody is in charge.20 sec
A.
B.
C.
Oligarchy
Monarchy
Anarchy
22. Led by a king or queen.20 sec
A.
B.
C.
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Democracy
23. Leader often shares power with other parts of the government.20 sec
A. Oligarchy
B. Dictatorship
C. Constitutional Monarchy
24. Democracy where citizens elect others to serve in the government. sec
A. Theocracy
B. Direct Democracy
C. Representative (Indirect) Democracy
25. When a small group rules the country.
a. Oligarchy
b. Monarchy
c. Theocracy
26. People do not answer to any leader or government.
a. Monarchy
b. Anarchy
c. Autocracy
27. God and religious law are the government's authority
A.
B.
C.
Anarchy
Monarchy
Theocracy
28. Government by a small group, the group that has power can be based on race or social
class. sec
A. Monarchy
B. Autocracy
C. Oligarchy
Branches of Government
29. The President of the United States works in
a.
b.
c.
d.
The White House
The Capitol
The Supreme Court
The legislative branch
30. The Supreme Court
a.
b.
c.
d.
Makes the laws.
Enforces the laws.
Explains the laws.
Lives in the White House.
31. United States representatives work in
a.
b.
c.
d.
the judicial branch
the executive branch
the White House
the legislative branch
32. The Congress of the United States
a.
b.
c.
d.
makes the laws.
enforces the laws.
explains the laws
lives in the White House
33. The three branches of the U.S. government are the legislative, the executive, and
a.
b.
c.
d.
The representatives
The senators
The White House
The judicial
34. United States senators work in
a.
b.
c.
d.
the Supreme Court.
the executive branch.
the judicial branch.
the legislative branch.
35. The Supreme Court Justices work in
a.
b.
c.
d.
The capitol
The executive branch
The judicial branch
The legislative branch
36. The executive branch
a.
b.
c.
d.
enforces the laws.
makes the laws.
writes the laws.
explains the laws.
37. The Congress works in
a.
b.
c.
d.
the Supreme Court.
the judicial branch.
the White House.
the Capitol.
38. The United States Capitol is in
a.
b.
c.
d.
New York.
Los Angeles.
Washington, D.C.
Miami
39. There are three branches in
a.
b.
c.
d.
the Congress.
the U.S. government.
the Capitol.
the Supreme Court.
40. Who DOESN’T work in the legislative branch?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Congress.
The President.
Senators.
Representatives.
Executive Branch
41. The President of the United States is
a.
b.
c.
d.
the head of the legislative branch.
the Chief Justice.
the Chief Executive.
the head of the judicial branch.
42. The American people elect a president
a.
b.
c.
d.
every 2 years.
every 4 years.
every 6 years.
for life.
43. The executive branch
a.
b.
c.
d.
enforces the laws.
makes the laws.
explains the laws.
writes the laws.
44. Which sentence isn’t true?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The President’s term is four years.
The President is Commander-in-Chief.
The President can serve four terms.
The President is the Chief Executive.
The Judicial Branch
45. The American people don’t elect
a.
b.
c.
d.
Supreme Court justices.
Senators.
Representatives
The President and Vice President
46. The Chief Justice is
a.
b.
c.
d.
the head of the legislative branch.
the head of the executive branch.
the head of the Congress.
the head of the Supreme Court.
47. The Supreme Court Justices serve
a.
b.
c.
d.
for 4 years.
for 6 years.
for 8 years.
for life.
48. The President appoints
a.
b.
c.
e.
the representatives.
the Supreme Court justices
the Vice President.
the armed forces.
Legislative Branch
49. There are 435 congressmen and congresswomen in
a.
b.
c.
d.
The White House.
The House of Representatives.
The Supreme Court.
The Senate.
50. The two parts of the U.S. Congress are the House of Representatives and
a.
b.
c.
d.
the White House.
the Capitol.
the Supreme Court.
the Senate.
51. Each state has two
a.
b.
c.
d.
Congressmen and congresswomen.
Senators.
Representatives.
Supreme Court justices.
52. A United States representative’s term is
a.
b.
c.
d.
2 years.
4 years.
6 years.
life.
Elections
53. If a vote is very close, sometimes there must be a ___________________, to count the
votes again.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Register
Vote
Recount
secret
54. It is important that many ______________, vote on election day.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Citizens
Students
Children
senators
55. To be able to vote, citizens must ______________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Ballot
Register
Walk
Announce
56. A _____________ lists the choices a voter must make.
a.
b.
c.
d.
List
Analyze
Ballot
Machine
57. To be able to ___________ is a privilege.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Register
Citizen
Vote
Work
58. Your vote on your ballot is a ___________, because no one knows how you voted.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Privilege
Secret
Success
Danger
59. The location of the place where you vote is called a _____________________________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
School
Polling Place
DMV
Church
Choose Fact or Opinion for the following questions.
60. In a close election, recounts are not very important.
a. Fact
b. Opinion
61. You must register to be able to vote.
a. Fact
b. Opinion
62. All citizens must vote.
a. Fact
b. Opinion
63. Your voting ballot is a secret.
a. Fact
b. Opinion
64. Your vote really doesn’t matter, because there are so many people voting.
a. Fact
b. Opinion
65. The legal age for a citizen to vote is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
16
18
20
21
66. The United States Flag has 50 stars, which represent the 50
a. States
b. Colonies
c. Capitals