Civic literacy

Which of the following ancient civilizations established a republican form of

government?

romans

During the 6th century B.C.E., the ancient Athenians divided the powers of their

government between two assemblies and guaranteed certain political rights to all

male citizens. How do these political reforms best illustrate how societies develop?

By limiting government authority

A certain country is characterized by the following traits:

1. power achieved through inheritance

2. same ruling family for over a century

3. finite freedoms and rights

4. hierarchical social status

5. single established state religion

The establishment and maintenance of these traits is based on which of the

following principles?

divine rights of kings

Which modern democratic concept practiced in the United States is most like the

democratic process of ancient Greece?

the referendum

What is the principal function of a written constitution?

outlining the structure and powers of a government

Which of the following objectives best describes the purpose of the system of checks

and balances, as defined in the U.S. Constitution?

keeping any one of the three branches of government from becoming to powerful

Which modern process would be supported by the ancient Greeks?

electing governors

Laws against defamation, including libel and slander, property damage and breach

of contract represent which legal concern underlying most Western nations?

civil law

Use the passage below, from an exchange between former president Nixon and a

television interviewer, to answer the question that follows.

"Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal"--Richard M. Nixon

Source: The Washington Post, June 5, 1977

Which constitutional principle does the statement from President Nixon contradict?

rule of law

Which form of government is based on popular sovereignty?

republic

Use the provided Preamble to the United States Constitution to answer the question.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,

establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,

promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and

our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of

America."

Which of the following statements best describes the Preamble of the U.S.

Constitution?

governments are accountable to the citizens over whom they rule

The U.S. Congress fulfilled which of the following purposes of government when it

declared war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor?

providing for the common defense

Which circumstance would require a search warrant?

examining the contents of a hotel room

In the United States, which of the following is permitted to citizens by the right of

freedom of assembly?

the right to demonstrate

A man is walking down a public street window-shopping. A robbery is reported in

that same area. Police officers stop and search the man who is shopping. On what

Constitutional grounds could this man contest this search as a violation of his rights?

fourth amendment

In the United States, how are conflicts between state laws and federal laws generally

resolved?

the conflict must be resolved using the supremacy clause

Which article of the U.S. Constitution grants the power to coin money, make treaties,

and levy import duties?

article I

Use the scenario below:

A suspect is accused of a crime in one state and flees to another state where they

are apprehended. The state is very slow in returning the suspect to the state of

origin and keeps them imprisoned.

Which of the following represents a suitable petition for the suspect in this situation,

in regard to their constitutional rights?

petition for a wit of habeas corpus

Which phrase best describes the power of impeachment?

the ability of the U.S. House to charge federal officers with a crime or violation

Use the excerpt below from the Declaration of Independence:

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of

our legislatures.

Which constitutional provision was inspired by the above complaint?

the third amendment limits the quartering of soldiers to specific circumstances

Use the passage from a historical document:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,

establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,

promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and

our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of

America."

Which philosophical movement best reflects the ideals in the passage?

enlightenment

Use the passage below, which was included in the Declaration of Sentiments

adopted at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, to answer the question that

follows.

Declaration of independence

Which political philosopher's ideas are best represented in the Declaration of

Independence?

john locke

Why did colonists living under British rule protest British tax policies?

the colonists claimed that the tax policies violated their political rights

In the Mayflower Compact, Plymouth settlers pledged to unite into "a civil body

politic" and agreed to make and abide by laws that "insured the general Good of the

Colony."

What founding document did this set a precedent for?

U.S. constitution

Which person is considered to be the principal author of the U.S. Constitution?

james Madison

Government by the people and the separation of powers are the main principles of

which founding document?

u.s. constitution

Use the excerpt below, from the Thirteenth Amendment, to answer the question that

follows.

"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof

the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any

place subject to their jurisdiction."

Which of the following contains a clause that may have served as an inspiration for

the above language?

northwest ordinances

The Mayflower Compact includes a pledge to ensure that all citizens look out for the

general good of the colony. Based on this, what impact has the Mayflower Compact

had on modern understanding of the purpose of government in the United States?

the government should provide equal protection under the law

At the Constitutional Convention, there was a major debate between large states

and small states about representation in the new Congress. This debate was

resolved by the Great Compromise.

What was the result of this compromise?

congress would have two houses, one in which state representation was based on population and one in which all states had equal representation

Which of the following reflects the most important consequence of the Watergate

break-in?

resignation of the president of the United states

Which legislation reflects federal efforts to regulate transportation?

interstate commerce act

The U.S. Supreme Court enabled which government practices to continue in its

ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson?

segregating public facilities

Which of the following statements regarding the Monroe Doctrine is accurate?

the monroe doctrine prohibited future european colonization in the western hemisphere

By what process were eighteen-year-olds fully granted the right to vote?

constitutional amendment

Use the passage below, taken from a presidential nomination speech, to answer the

question that follows.

"What do the people of America want more than anything else? To my mind, they

want two things: work, . . . and with work, a reasonable measure of security . . ."

Based on the passage, which government program would the speaker support?

new deal

In order to attract investment and business and reduce expenses, a state legislature

proposes passing a law that removes the need for certain federal regulatory features

relating to office and factory environments.

Which legislative action would most likely cause the U.S. Supreme Court to decide

that this violated the Supremacy Clause?

occupational safety and health act

Use the passage below, from a landmark Supreme Court case opinion, to answer

the question that follows.

"So if a law be in opposition to the constitution; if both the law and the constitution

apply to a particular case, so that the court must either decide that case conformably

to the law, disregarding the constitution; or conformably to the constitution,

disregarding the law; the court must determine which of these conflicting rules

governs the case."

Which Supreme Court case established the precedent described in the opinion?

marbury v. madison

Which of the following cases resulted in a decision that undermined civil rights and

liberties in prioritization of national security?

korematsu v. United States

A person is charged with felony breaking and entering. During the court

proceedings, the defendant requested an attorney and was denied the right to

counsel.

Which Supreme Court case overturned the trial court's decision, due to lack of

counsel?

gideon v. wainwright