Exploring Civics – Proficiency 1
1. Which aspect of politics in the United States most closely reflects the political
philosophy of John Locke?
a. Reserving the presidency for natural-born citizens to prevents allegiance to a foreign
nation
b. The power of the government originating from the consent of the governed to
prevent tyranny
c. The division of power between the national and state governments to better
represent all citizens.
d. Lifetime appointments for Supreme Court justices so there are not politically
motivated
2. The major reason the Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution was to
a.
b.
c.
d.
Limit the power of state governments
Protect individual liberties against abuse by the Federal Government
Provide for equal treatment of all people
Separate powers between the three branches of government
3. Which form of democracy is most characteristic of government in the United States?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Direct
Liberal
Representative
Unitary
4. Antifederalist criticized the United States Constitution primarily because governing
power was concentrated in the
a. state legislatures
b. President’s Cabinet
c. delegates to the Constitutional Convention
d. National Government
5. How does the social contract conflict with the concept of popular sovereignty?
a. Citizens give up some of their power to rule themselves in order for the government
to protect their rights and provide services.
b. Citizens refuse to submit to the power of government and retain all power as the
government carries out the function of rule.
c. Citizens agree to turn power over to the government to better serve the needs of all
member of society.
d. Citizens work in unison with the government, respecting the rule of government and
allocating the majority of power to the authorities who rule.
6. Why is the presence of civil society an important element of a democratic system of
government?
a. Outside groups of people often create laws
b. Politicians can better identify voters who will support them
c. Special interest groups provide a foundation for political parties
d. Citizens develop shared patterns of interaction and participation
7. John Locke’s theory of the social contract, as developed in the United States Declaration
of Independence, stated that
a. the people should revolt against a government that did not protect their rights
b. monarchs could rule autocratically, but they had to grant certain rights to their
subjects
c. legislatures should have more power than kings
d. government should guarantee equal economic conditions to all people
8. The United States Constitution reflects which political philosopher’s belief in the
separation of powers?
a. Thomas Hobbes
b. John Locke
c. Baron de Montesquieu
d. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
9. Which aspect of government was the Articles of Confederation LEAST effective in
establishing?
a. a national legislature
b. a strong central government
c. individual states’ rights
d. procedures for admitting new states
10. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, what problem was largely resolved through
the provision of a bicameral legislature?
a. federal ability to levy taxes
b. checks and balances
c. regulation of interstate commerce
d. state representation in national government
11. “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; that among these are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; . . .”
This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of
Independence were
a. limitations of the principles underlying most European governments of the 1700’s.
b. adaptations of the laws of Spanish colonial governments in North America.
c. Reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment
d. Adoptions of rules used by the Holy Roman Empire
12. Consider these events:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Revision of the Articles of Confederation
Signing the Declaration of Independence
Adoption of the Bill of Rights
Ratification of the Constitution
Which sequence of events show the correct chronological order, from the earliest event
to the latest event?
a. II, I, IV, III
b. III, IV, I, II
c. I, II, III, IV
d. IV, III, II, I
Constructed Response- Enlightenment Influence on U.S. Government
Directions: Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs
addressing the task below, and a conclusion.
Theme: Intellectuals, philosophers, and leaders have written works that have been used
throughout history to guide societies and influence the direction of a nation. During the
Enlightenment, philosophers often spoke about government and examined the standards by
which rulers governed. Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques
Rousseau were all Enlightenment thinkers who wrote works on government. Their works had a
major influence on colonial and American government. Using your knowledge of the ideas of
Enlightenment thinkers on government, the early formation of colonial government, and the
creation of a new nation, write an essay addressing the following tasks.
Task:

Choose two of the above listed philosophers and explain a specific idea about
government developed by each of the individuals you chose

Describe how the ideas you explained had an immediate impact and lasting influence on
U.S. government
Guidelines:
In your essay, be sure to:
 Address all aspects of the task
 Support the essay with relevant facts, examples, and details
 Use a clear plan of organization
 Include an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion
1. B
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. A
6. D
7. A
8. C
9. B
10. D
11. C
12. A
Answer Key
Governmental Philosophy
Revolution and Constitution
U.S. Democracy
Revolution and Constitution
Governmental Philosophy
U.S. Democracy
Governmental Philosophy
U.S. Democracy
Revolution and Constitution
Revolution and Constitution
U.S. Democracy
Revolution and Constitution
Constructed Response- Scoring Criteria
Students should write an analytical essay in which they explain the specific ideas about
government from the philosophers they chose, describe colonial government in the American
colonies, and describe the lasting impact enlightenment philosophy had on U.S. government.
A. The specific ideas of the Enlightenment philosophers listed:
Thomas Hobbes- Hobbes first introduced and helped develop social-contract theory.
Social-contract theory states that people in society agreed to give up some of their
freedom to governments in exchange for security and order. In his book Leviathan,
Hobbes theorized that people had once lived in a state of nature. In a state of nature,
people behaved freely and on impulse, without laws or restraints. This enabled
individuals to prey on others resulting in war of every man against every man. In order
to escape the misery of such a life, people pledged obedience to a ruler and the ruler
agreed to bring peace and order to society. Hobbes ideas laid the groundwork that
government was formed by the consent of the people.
John Locke- Locke took the idea of social contract a step further in Second Treatise on
Government, arguing that in state of nature all people were equal or enjoyed certain
natural rights (rights that all people have by virtue of being human). Life, liberty, and
ownership of property were included in those natural rights. Locke agreed with
Hobbes that it was in the people’s self-interest to give up their freedom for the
protection of government but went on to say that the social contract was provisional.
If a ruler did not fulfill their part of the agreement then the people had a right to
overthrow that ruler and establishing a new government.
Baron de Montesquieu- Montesquieu argued that governments should be organized in
a way so that one person or group cannot dominate or oppress others. In his book The
Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu proposed a three-branch system of government with
separate functions for each branch. Each branch would act to limit the powers of the
other branches. Montesquieu is credited for the principle of separation of powers.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau- Rousseau took the social contract a step further in his book
The Social Contract. He added the idea that for a government formed by a social
contract to have legitimacy, it must be based on popular sovereignty, or the general
will of the people. Rousseau also argued that if a government acted against the
general will of the people, it had broken the social contract and should be dissolved.
B. As the British and American colonies clashed over power and taxes, the colonists made
moves to dissolve their ties to the British crown. Invoking the Enlightenment
philosophers, the Declaration of Independence was written to define “unalienable
rights” and to throw off a government that had not protected and fulfilled the
sovereign will of the people. Throughout the Revolutionary period, social-contract
theory, natural rights, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty were all used to
craft the need for independence and also provide the structure for a new government,
through the Constitution of the United States of America.
Students may include some of the following historical information about the
development of colonial government for context. Several of the events pertaining to
colonial government coincided with Enlightenment thinkers’ ideas and may or may not
have been a direct result of Enlightenment thought. Looking at the big picture, there is
a seamless connection between the actions of the colonists and the ideas of the
philosophers.
Colonial governments were an extension of English government, established by royal
charters issued by the king. In some colonies, settlers modified their royal charters or
added other agreements. The Mayflower Compact is an example of a written
framework for self-government in the American colonies. Colonists from New England
developed their own form of local government by creating the town meeting, which was
a version of direct democracy. Elected assemblies were established in the colonies as
well. The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first assembly, established in 1619. These
colonial assemblies were not models of democracy however. In most cases only white
male landowners were allowed to vote. The assemblies did reflect a belief in selfgovernment. Over time, these assemblies played an important role in the formation
and practice of colonial government. As the colonial governments grew accustomed to
managing their own affairs throughout the 18th century, conflict surfaced when Britain
changed their policy of “benign neglect” and began taxing and placing restrictions on
the colonies.
Rubric for Constructed Response
4
 Shows a thorough understanding of philosophers’ ideas that were chosen; explains
with specific detail and vocabulary the lasting contributions of the ideas of the
philosophers and their thoughts on government

Thoroughly describes how Enlightenment philosophers’ ideas had a lasting influence
on U.S. government that may include: discussion of history of colonial governmentcharters, town meeting, elected assemblies, colonial self-sufficiency in governing their
own affairs; ideas of the philosophers in connection with colonial government-
dissolving political ties with the British crown, social contract theory, “unalienable
rights,” natural rights theory, separation of power and the formation of state and
national constitutions, popular sovereignty and the will of the people.
3
2
1

Shows an ability to analyze the effect and impact of ideas on shaping government in
the colonies

Supports essay with correct facts, specific and relevant information, and clear
examples

Is a well-developed essay that has clear organization, i.e. introduction, supporting
paragraphs, and a conclusion

Shows a good understanding of philosophers’ ideas that were chosen; explains with
detail the impact the philosophers had on government

Describes with detail how the Enlightenment philosophers’ ideas influenced the
formation of U.S. government but does so unevenly and without insight

Shows the ability to connect the impact of ideas on shaping government in the
colonies but specific details are missing

Includes correct facts, details, and examples.

Essay is developed, mostly organized

Shows basic understanding of philosophers’ ideas and briefly explains their impact on
government

Addresses the question and how the Enlightenment philosophers’ ideas had an impact
on U.S. government, but response is limited

Shows a brief connection of how Enlightenment ideas shaped government in the
colonies, but depth of understanding is lacking

Includes few facts and details

Essay is somewhat organized

Shows a very limited understanding of philosophers’ ideas and is unable to make a
clear connection of their impact on government

An attempt to answer the question is made but is severely limited

Is unable to clearly connect how Enlightenment ideas shaped government in the
colonies; brief descriptions without analysis

Includes little to no facts, examples, and details; contains inaccuracies
0

Poorly organized essay

Blank; incoherent throughout