Civics Test Practice

Civics Test Practice for this week. Current as of 2025-09-09.

Donald Trump

Who is the current president of the United States?

Marco Rubio

Who is our current Secretary of State?

Republic

Which of these government types would offer the most freedom to their people?

All of the Above

Which of these is a communist nation today?

All of the above

Which of the following is a purpose for having government?

Direct Democracy

When all citizens vote on measures and laws, that can be classified as a…

Federal

Which level of government in the U.S. runs the Post Office?

Federal System

What system of government does the United States have right now?

Democratic & Non-Democratic

What are the two main categories of government?

They are limited by the rights of others.

How are your rights limited?

The state religion's deity

Who ultimately is said to rule a theocracy?

State or Provincial Government

In a confederation, what level of government is supreme?

Running Elections

Which of these, do State Governments run?

Unitary

What is the most common system of government in the world today?

Senate and House of Representatives

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules.

Social Contract

Governor

The is the head of the STATE executive branch.

Saudi Arabia

Which of these nations is an absolute monarchy today?

Checks and balances

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Cleisthenes

Who is considered the Father of Democracy?

federal

In which distribution of power is power shared between the central and local governments?

Confederation

A loose association, rather than a firm union of states in which the states hold the majority of the power is known as what?

Jamestown, VA

Where was the first representative government in the New World?

All of the above

How did the Christian religion influence the thinking of our Founding Fathers?

Checks and Balances

What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

The Magna Carta

Which of these documents that our Founding Fathers used was the first to limit the power of the King?

Montesquieu

Which Enlightenment Philosopher contributed the idea of a separation of powers in government?

Ancient Rome

Where did the idea of a republic first appear in human history?

Iran

Where is there a theocracy around the world today?

A Republic

What is the US Government called?

Oligarchy

What would you call a government that has several people leading it, without allowing people to vote?

Massachusetts

Where was self-government first practiced in North America?

Executive Branch

What branch of government enforces the laws?

thinking about what is best for the community in question, rather than taking action for one's own self-interest.

What does the common good mean?

government by the people

democracy

oligarchy

What type of citizen participation exists when a small group has power?

Senate, House of Representatives

Name the two parts of the U.S Congress?

100

How many U.S Senators are there?

Life, Liberty, & Property

John Locke said that we are born with these basic rights:

Checks and Balances

A system in which power is shared across branches. Each branch "checks" each other so that the power stays in balance.

veto

A president can do this to a bill if he does not want it to become a law.

The people elect representatives.

What makes the United States a representative democracy?

Legislative

What branch of government makes the laws?

The Veto

What is an idea Ancient Rome used that our Founding Fathers also decided to use?

Small or local governments

Where in the world might direct democracy be practiced?

Judicial

What branch of government makes sure the laws are fair?

To make sure no one person has all of the power in the country.

Why do we have three branches of government?

Connecticut

Which English colony in North America was the first to write a constitution?

Kamala Harris

Who is the first woman to become vice president?

All of the above

Which of the following had a Confederate System of Government?

Constitution

What is the supreme law of the land?

consent of the governed

Which phrase means if the government fails to protect citizens they have the right to revolt?

There should be a separation of powers within a government

Which statement most closely resembles one of Montesquieu's influential ideas?

the government's unfair treatment (federal and state)

Due process protects you from

Protects our rights, sets up our government

What does the constitution do?

founded on the principle of elected officials representing a group of people,

What is a representative democracy?

Issue driver's license, provides schooling and education

What is one power of the states?

Legislative Branch

This branch of government is responsible for writing the laws.

an act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies.

Separation of Powers

Volunteering to help clean up the local park

Which of the following is an example of promoting the common good?

social contract

Which Enlightenment idea was an implied agreement between governments and the people?

Author of Common Sense

Thomas Paine

John Locke

Which Enlightenment philosopher started in a state of nature and formed a government with a social contract?

A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society

constitution

natural law

Which Enlightenment idea is any law passed to protect peoples' basic human rights?

president

Which job is a part of the national executive branch of government?

We the People

The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

A bicameral legislature is made up of two houses while a unicameral legislature only has one house.

Which of the following BEST describes the difference between bicameral and unicameral legislatures?

Executive Branch

This branch of government enforces the law, negotiates treaties, and directs foreign policy.

Congress

The House of Representatives and the Senate together are called this.

Executive Branch

A branch of government that is made up of the president, the vice president, and the cabinet.

separation of powers

Which Enlightenment idea is represented by the image?

enforcing laws

What is the MAIN responsibility of the executive branch of the US government?

Has one source of power - but it may be delegated to smaller units of government

A unitary system can be defined as one that:

(1215) a charter of liberties (freedoms) that King John "Lackland" of Englad was forced to sign; it made the king obey the same laws as the citizens of his kingdom

Magna Carta

wealth

Which of the following is NOT an example of a natural right?

autocracy

What type of citizen participation exists when one person has all the power?

A popular philosophical movement of the 1700s that focused on human reasoning, natural science, political and ethical philosophy.

Enlightenment

Judicial Branch

This branch of government contains the Supreme Court.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government that interprets the Constitution and decides whether or not a law is unconstitutional.

A government in which the supreme power is vested in the people

Democracy

Constitution

A written plan of government is known as what?

1689 laws protecting the rights of English subjects and Parliament

English Bill of Rights

The government should give people a fair and speedy trial

Which idea is from the Magna Carta?

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that claimed the colonies had a right to be an independent nation

Common Sense

natural rights

Which Enlightenment idea said that all people are born with the rights to life, liberty, and property?

It helps the whole community practice freedom.

Why is it important to respect the rights of others?

Bill of Rights

What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

the Speaker of the House

If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

The House of Burgesses

What was the first elected assembly of representatives in North America called?

democracy

A government in which citizens vote on laws and help make decisions, either directly or by voting for representatives to do these jobs. What type of citizen participation is being identified?

Baron de Montesquieu

Which Enlightenment philosopher came up with the idea to balance the government with separation of powers & checks and balances?

giving one's time by volunteering

Use the information to answer the question. Which civic duty BEST fits the description?

Local Level

The city or town government is an example of a __ government.

1620 - The first agreement for self-government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government for the Plymouth colony.

Mayflower Compact

separation of powers

Which Enlightenment idea divided the government into 3 branches with different responsibilities?

Supreme Court

A part of the Judicial branch that is made up of nine justices appointed by the president and approved by Congress.

Legislative Branch

Responsible for making laws. The two houses of Congress are located in this branch of government.

US Constitution

The document that established the 3 US branches of government.