American Government
District Semester Final Exam
Multiple Choice:
For each of the following, write the letter of the best choice in the space
provided.
_____ 1.
In a democracy, supreme authority belongs to the
A. state.
B. people.
C. elite.
D. rulers.
_____ 2.
In a democracy, the will of the majority
A. cannot be changed or improved upon.
B. is not open to compromise.
C. cannot be used to deprive rights of a member of the minority.
D. is always unanimous
_____ 3.
Which of the following is among the characteristics of the states?
A. population
B. territory
C. government
D. all of the above
_____ 4.
Which statement about social contract theory is NOT true?
A. The state was created voluntarily by free people.
B. The state is a natural extension of the people’s family structure.
C. Governmental powers are granted by the people.
D. The people are superior to the state.
_____ 5.
All political power in a state are concentrated at the central level under which form of
government?
A. confederate government
B. unitary government
C. executive government
D. federal government
_____ 6.
The dominant political unit in the world today is the
A. territory.
B. state.
C. commonwealth.
D. union.
Revised: 7-20-10
_____ 7.
A federal government is one in which
A. all power is concentrated in the central government.
B. power is divided between a central government and local governments.
C. power is divided between the executive branch and the legislative branch.
D. bureaucrats organize and control government.
_____ 8.
A confederate government
A. is common in the modern world.
B. has never been used in the United States.
C. is seen today in the European Union.
D. is one in which all political power is located in the state’s capital.
_____ 9.
The Divine Right Theory of the origins of government is characterized by
A. the God given right to rule.
B. rule by the people.
C. the one in charge of the military rules.
D. the gradual evolution of power to larger and larger units.
_____ 10. Leaders in a dictatorship
A. derive their power from the people.
B. hold absolute power over the people.
C. are common in free societies.
D. are limited in power by other branches of government.
_____ 11. The leader in a Parliamentary form of government is called
A. the Prime Minister or Premier.
B. the President.
C. the Emperor.
D. the King
_____ 12. With the words “We the People”, the Constitution established its authority on the basis of
A. popular sovereignty.
B. separation of powers.
C. limited government.
D. Divine Right.
_____ 13. Which of the following best describes the concept of limited government?
A. All political power belongs to the people.
B. Government must operate within certain rules established by the people.
C. The people must behave according to rules set by the government.
D. Government is free to use any means to pursue its goals.
_____ 14. The president’s power to veto an act of Congress is an example of
A. judicial review.
B. checks and balances.
C. limited government.
D. popular sovereignty.
Revised: 7-20-10
_____ 15. Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?
A. The U.S. Supreme Court declares that a law is unconstitutional.
B. Power is divided between the National Government and the States.
C. The Senate observes senatorial courtesy.
D. Congress passes a law.
_____ 16. The formal amendment process is an example of the concept of
A. federalism.
B. the separation of powers.
C. checks and balances.
D. parliamentary government.
_____ 17. The Constitution defines the separation of powers as the relationship between
A. federal, state, and local governments.
B. legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
C. political parties.
D. presidential and parliamentary governments.
_____ 18. The distribution of powers on a geographic basis is called
A. federalism.
B. constitutionalism.
C. dictatorship.
D. popular sovereignty.
_____ 19. The Constitution can be changed informally by
A. actions taken by the president.
B. key decisions of the Supreme Court.
C. custom.
D. all of the above.
_____ 20. The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as
A. the Articles of Confederation.
B. the Code of Hammurabi.
C. the Bill of Rights.
D. Declaration of Independence.
_____ 21. In the United States, a political party is made up of a group of people who
A. disagree on how to resolve the basic issues affecting the country.
B. work to control government by getting candidates elected to political offices.
C. work separately to support one major program or policy.
D. support split-ticket voting.
_____ 22. People who belong to a particular political party choose to do so
A. according to regulations of State law.
B. voluntarily based on personal choice.
C. based on the location of the State in which they live.
D. according to regulations of federal law.
Revised: 7-20-10
_____ 23. The two-party system developed in the United States mainly because
A. the Constitution established a democratic government.
B. conflicts about the Constitution created opposing viewpoints.
C. leaders and voters agreed on the existence of two parties.
D. it was voted on and approved by both houses of Congress.
_____ 24. Which of the following is a sign of weakened political parties?
A. split-ticket voting.
B. straight-ticket voting.
C. newly registered voters.
D. campaigning for party candidates.
_____ 25. An increasing number of Americans today
A. hold political parties in high regard.
B. vote a straight party line.
C. favor mandatory party membership.
D. identify with neither political party.
_____ 26. The length of a United States senator’s term is
A. two years.
B. four years.
C. six years.
D. none of the above.
_____ 27.
The Senate is referred to as a continuous body because
A. the length of their term is longer.
B. all of its seats are never up for election at the same time.
C. senators have more power and prestige than members of the House.
D. senators are appointed for life.
_____ 28.
As a rule, a greater number of people vote
A. in primary or special elections.
B. in general presidential elections.
C. in off-year elections.
D. for county offices rather than for State offices.
_____ 29. Disproportionally few members of Congress today
A. are minorities.
B. have college degrees.
C. are white males.
D. are married.
_____ 30. The number of seats in the House of Representatives is set by
A. the Constitution.
B. a nation-wide vote.
C. Congress.
D. the Census Bureau.
Revised: 7-20-10
_____ 31. More often than not, in off-year elections the party that holds the presidency
A. gains seats in Congress.
B. loses seats in Congress.
C. is not affected by off-year elections.
D. is defeated by third-party candidates.
_____ 32. The United States Congress is bicameral, which means
A. it meets twice a year.
B. it is divided into two houses.
C. it has twice the members of the Senate.
D. it is divided into two parties.
_____ 33. Congressional terms last for two years, and each term
A. is made up of two sessions.
B. has twice the members of the Senate.
C. lasts until a vote of no confidence.
D. is divided into two parties.
_____ 34. The smallest number of presidential electors a State can have is
A. one.
B. two.
C. three.
D. four.
_____ 35. Which of the following statements is NOT an argument against the electoral college
system?
A. A candidate who loses the popular vote may still be elected president.
B. A strong third-party effort might throw the election into the House of
Representative.
C. The results depend upon how State congressional districts are drawn.
D. Electors are not bound to vote in any particular way.
_____ 36. Which of the following is NOT one of the roles of the president?
A. Commander-in-Chief.
B. Chief Diplomat.
C. Chief Interpreter of the Constitution.
D. Chief Justice.
_____ 37. Who becomes Acting President if the President is disabled?
A. the Speaker of the House
B. the Vice President
C. a candidate nominated by the President
D. the President pro tempore of the Senate
Revised: 7-20-10
_____ 38. According to the Constitution, the President must
A. be a man who owns property.
B. be at least 35 years of age.
C. have held one major public office.
D. have lived in the U.S. for at least 20 years.
_____ 39. A formal duty assigned to the Vice President by the Constitution is to
A. call Cabinet meetings.
B. choose the Secretary of State.
C. preside over the House.
D. preside over the Senate.
_____ 40. When people vote for President, they are really voting for their State’s
A. primaries.
B. caucus.
C. electors.
D. Senators.
_____ 41. If the presidential vote in the electoral college results in a tie,
A. a run-off election is held in the electoral college.
B. a run-off election is held in the State legislatures.
C. the Senate votes to elect the president.
D. the House of Representatives votes to elect the president.
_____ 42. The court that first hears a case is said to have
A. appellate jurisdiction.
B. exclusive jurisdiction.
C. original jurisdiction.
D. concurrent jurisdiction.
_____ 43. The independence of the judicial branch is ensured by the
A. manner in which federal judges are chosen.
B. terms federal judges serve.
C. fact that judges do not belong to a political parties.
D. all of the above.
_____ 44. According to most State constitutions, if a governor resigns or leaves office midterm the
serves the remainder of the term.
A. attorney general
B. secretary of state
C. lieutenant governor
D. president of the senate
Revised: 7-20-10
_____ 45. How long are the terms of State legislators?
A. 1 or 2 years
B. 2 or 3 years
C. 1 or 3 years
D. 2 or 4 years
_____ 46. Which statement is true about all counties in the United States?
A. Their size is based on the size of the State.
B. Their size is based on the population of the State.
C. They can only be created by the State.
D. They serve only a judicial function.
_____ 47. Which of the following is a direct result of the government’s concern about the general
welfare of its citizens?
A. providing an army
B. establishing a state church
C. establishing schools
D. resolving disputes between local governments
_____ 48. The government of the United States is
A. a democracy, federal, and presidential.
B. a dictatorship, unitary, and parliamentary.
C. a democracy, confederate, and parliamentary.
D. a dictatorship, unitary, and presidential.
_____ 49. All of the following are significant reasons for nonvoting in United States elections today
EXCEPT
A. widespread use of religious and literacy tests.
B. long term mental or physical illness or illness on election day.
C. rules and regulations that make registration and voting cumbersome.
D. apathy or distrust of politics.
_____ 50. In Congress, screening bills for floor consideration is a major duty of
A. committee members.
B. constituent servants.
C. constituent representatives.
D. lobbyists.
Revised: 7-20-10
American Government District Semester Final Exam
Answer Key
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Revised: 7-20-10
B
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A