Name: _________________
Unit 1
American Government Test
1) What is an institution through which a society makes and enforces its policies?
A. Government
B. State
C. Institutionalized Democracy
D. None of the Above
2) Over the course of human history, what has emerged as the dominant political unit?
A. Government
B. State
C. City
D. County
3) Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the state?
A. Undefined boundaries
B. Population
C. Sovereignty
D. Government
4) This theory believes that the state gradually moved from the family to the state over
time.
A. Force Theory
B. Evolutionary Theory
C. Social Contract Theory
D. Divine Right Theory
5) This theory believes that a powerful group or individual took over an area with his
military might and established government.
A. Force Theory
B. Evolutionary Theory
C. Social Contract Theory
D. Divine Right Theory
6) This theory states that God intended a particular person or family to rule over a state.
A. Force Theory
B. Evolutionary Theory
C. Social Contract Theory
D. Divine Right Theory
7) This theory believed that people were naturally endowed right rights to life, liberty,
and property.
A. Force Theory
B. Evolutionary Theory
C. Social Contract Theory
D. Divine Right Theory
8) Which statement is NOT part of the social contract theory?
A. The state exists to serve the will of the people.
B. The people are the source of its power.
C. The people cannot take power away from the government
D. None of the above.
9) Explain the four purposes of government and give an example of each one:
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10) This branch of the government contains Congress of the United States.
A. Executive Branch
B. Legislative Branch
C. Judicial Branch
D. Olive Branch
11) What is the purpose of the above branch?
A. Interpret Laws
B. Make Laws
C. Enforce Laws
D. All of the Above
12) Our Congress is a _______________ body:
A. Unicameral
B. Bicameral
C. Tricameral
D. Confederate
13. How many seats make up the House of Representatives?
A. 50
B. 235
C. 335
D. 435
14. The leader of the House of Representatives is called the ________:
A. President Pro Tempore
B. Vice President
C. House Majority Leader
D. Speaker of the House
15. Which statement is TRUE about the House of Representatives?
A. Share power with the Senate to impeach the President
B. Most bills dealing with raising money come from the House.
C. All bills must pass through the House before going to the President
D. None of the above
16. How many seats does the Senate have?
A. 50
B. 75
C. 100
D. 125
17. Who holds the highest office in the Senate?
A. President Pro Tempore
B. Vice President
C. Speaker of the House
D. Senate Majority Leader
18. Which statement about the Senate is NOT true?
A. The Senate has the power to try impeachment, with a majority vote.
B. Senate must have approval on any bill to raise money.
C. All bills must pass in the Senate before going to the President.
D. All of the Above
19. The President of the United States exemplifies which branch of the US Government?
A. Executive Branch
B. Legislative Branch
C. Judicial Branch
D. Olive Branch
20. What is the purpose of the above branch?
A. Interpret Laws
B. Make Laws
C. Enforce Laws
D. None of the Above
21. Qualifications for running for President of the United States include all of the
following, EXCEPT:
A. Must be a natural born citizen
B. Must be at least 35 years old
C. Must be a resident in the United States at least 14 years.
D. Must have served in the military
22. True or False: The President is the Commander and Chief of the Army and the Navy
23. True or False: The President has no power to grant pardons.
24. True or False: The President has the power to Veto.
25. True or False: The President cannot call Congress into session.
26. True or False: The President has the power to make treaties and appoint Supreme
Court Justices, pending Senate approval.
27. The President of the United States can be impeached for WHICH of the following
reasons?
A. Treason
B. Bribery
C. Other high crimes or misdemeanors
D. All of the Above
28. The Supreme Court embodies which branch of the American government?
A. Executive Branch
B. Legislative Branch
C. Judicial Branch
D. Olive Branch
29. The purpose of the above branch is to:
A. Interpret Laws
B. Make Laws
C. Enforce Laws
D. All of the Above
30. How long do Supreme Court Justices hold their offices?
A. 4 years
B. 8 years
C. 10 years
D. Life or retirement
31. What is the maximum amount of Supreme Court justices that can hold office right
now?
A. 7
B. 8
C. 9
D. 10
32. How many justices are needed to hear a case?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
33. What are the qualifications to be a Supreme Court justice?
A. Politically active
B. Must be a lawyer or a lower court Judge
C. Same political party as the President
D. The Constitution does not list any qualifications
34. ______ Autocracy
35. ______ Oligarchy
36. ______ Democracy
37. ______ Anarchy
38. ______Direct Democracy
39. ______Indirect Democracy
40. ______Unitary
41. ______Confederation
42. ______Federal
A. Power is shared between government and State
B. Rule by the People
C. Power is controlled by one central government
D. Rule by the Elite
E. Rule by one Person
F. The Absence of government
G. Voluntary association of states agree to follow govt.
H. People vote on all the issues and directly influence.
I. People elect representatives and give them the vote.
43. What did the Founding Fathers realize to be the ultimate failure of Democracy if not
checked?
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44. Explain how both Roman and Greek democracy influenced American government
today.
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45. Which English document contained the important principle of due process?
A. Magna Carta
B. English Bill of Rights
C. Two Treatises on Government
D. Mayflower Compact
46. Which document led to the Glorious Revolution in England, weakening the monarchy
and asserting the rights of the people?
A. Magna Carta
B. English Bill of Rights
C. Two Treatises on Government
D. Mayflower Compact
47. Explain how the Constitution limits the power of the federal government:
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48. The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called the:
A. Bill of Freedoms
B. Bill of Rights
C. Rights of Man
D. None of the Above
49. Explain how the electoral college functions:
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50. What are the five major principles of Democracy?
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51. Explain the difference between popular majority and representative majority.
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52. Discuss two advantages and two disadvantages of the Majority-Plurality System and
the Proportional Representation System.
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53. What did the framers of the Declaration of Independence mean by the word
“equality”?
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54. Give some examples of personal liberties which we have as Americans.
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55. Why is compromise necessary?
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56. Why is individual worth important for democracy to exist?
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