American Government - U.S. Constitution Test

How many total electoral votes are cast in a Presidential Election?

538

What happens to a bill on day #11 that the President has had for ten days (not counting Sundays) and Congress has remained in session working during that time?

Bill becomes law

How long is the term of office for a member of the U.S. Senate?

6 years

When is General Election Day?

Tuesday after the first Monday in November during even number years

The ___ is also the President of the Senate.

vice president

If Wisconsin were to sue Illinois, what type of jurisdiction is granted to the U.S. Supreme Court to decide on the case?

original

How many judges are on the U.S. Supreme Court?

9

When do the official votes of the electoral college get counted by the President of the Senate?

third Wednesday in December after the general election

If the President is on trial for impeachment in the Senate, who presides over the trial?

chief justice of the supreme court

For how many years must a candidate have lived in the U.S. to run for President?

14 years

What type of jurisdiction did the U.S. Supreme Court use to decide the famous case Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?

appellate

How many total members are elected to the U.S. Senate?

100

Every two years, ____ of the U.S. House of Representatives is up for reelection.

100%

Every two years, ____ of the U.S. Senate is up for reelection.

1/3

The Senate must confirm the President’s nominees for what jobs/positions?

cabinet positions, supreme court justices, and U.S. ambassadors

The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise found in Article I Section 9 outlawed the Congress from eliminating the U.S. involvement in the international slave trade until after the year:

1808

What happens to a bill on day #11 that the President has had for ten days (not counting Sundays), but Congress has adjourned during that time?

pocket veto

What is the purpose of gerrymandering?

drawing of Congressional district lines to benefit one political party

If there is a tie in the electoral votes for President, then how is the President selected?

each state in the house of representatives gets one vote

How long can a member of the U.S. House of Representatives debate a bill?

1 hour

How long can a member of the U.S. Senate debate a bill?

Unlimited

What are the three categories of crimes that members of Congress can be arrested for?

felony, breach of the peace, or treason

What term means the U.S. Constitution cannot be violated by any state law, state constitution, or federal law passed by Congress?

supremacy clause

What term means Congress cannot create a national religion?

establishment clause

What term means defamation through speech?

slander

What term means evidence was obtained illegally by law enforcement and so it cannot be used against the accused in court?

inadmissible

What term means formal accusation initiating a criminal case, presented by a grand jury and usually required for felonies and other serious crimes?

indictment

What term means a legal document requiring the presence and testimony of a person in court or else be subject to arrest?

subpoena

What term means a court-appointed criminal defense attorney?

public defender

What term means after arrest, the accused has the right to know the charges, have certain court hearings, and the court has to prove the accused guilty of the crime?

due process

What term means defamation through print?

Libel

What term means a person can worship any religion he/she chooses as long as their actions do not violate the public health, safety, or morality?

free exercise clause

Muhammad Ali protested his draft into military service during the Vietnam War based upon his devotion to his Islamic beliefs and in the Qu’ran.  This is an example of:

conscientious objector

I go back to Rock Island County for trial on the charge of murdering Donald Duck, but I am found “Not Guilty” at trial.  Two months later, the State’s Attorney (prosecutor) writes me a letter that a new witness has come forward stating that he saw me pull the trigger in the death of Donald Duck and that I need to come back to the jail and be rearrested.  Does the Constitution allow the State’s Attorney to prosecute me again for the same crime that I have already been tried for?  Explain your answer.

No, this is double jeopardy which is unconstitutional

If you were seated on a jury in a criminal trial, why could the accused’s use of “plead the 5th” to avoid answering questions actually hurt his attempt at proving his innocence?

makes it look like he has something to hide which is why he wont testify

Under Article 4 Section 3, if Illinois went bankrupt and Iowa wanted to annex Illinois and make Illinois part of Iowa, who would have to approve of this measure?  (there are 3 answers)

Illinois Legislature, Iowa Legislature, and congress

Provide a real-life example of the Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London.

a Mercedez Benz dealer was going to buy a diner because the dealership would bring in more economic revenue than what the diner pays in property taxes.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London was based upon the principle of:

eminent domain

If you are a convicted felon in Illinois, then you are also going to be a convicted felon if you move to Oregon.  This is due to:

article 4

The U.S. Constitution was effective only after it had been ratified by ___ states according to Article 7.

9

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Illinois v. Roy Caballes stated that K-9 searches are a form of what type of legal search?

probable cause

Rock Island County has a warrant out for my arrest  for Murder so I go hide out in Federal City, Colorado at my cousin’s farm.  I get arrested in Federal City for Reckless Driving and Rock Island County finds out about the arrest warrant.  Governor Pritzker writes a letter to Governor Jared Poler asking for permission for the Sheriff’s Department to go to the jail in Federal City, pick me up, and bring me back to Rock Island County to stand trial for Murder.  What is this process called?

extradition

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Vernonia School District v. Acton about drug testing students involved in extracurricular activities is based upon:

amendment 4

____ legalizes my Illinois driver’s license allowing me to drive in Indiana.

article 4

In Miranda v. Arizona, the Supreme Court ruled that:

during a police interview you have the right to remain silent or have an attorney present during the interview

In Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled that

you have the right to an attorney even if you cant afford one in criminal trials

Under the U.S. Supreme Court case Santa Fe Independent School District v. Jane Doe, students are allowed to pray together at athletic competitions as long as what rule is followed?

no school official leads the prayer

According to Amendment 2, a person is allowed to bear arms as long as:

they serve in the town militia

School officials can search a student’s locker if they have ____ that the student is involved in illegal activity.

reasonable suspicion

If you sue someone for more than ___, then you have the right to a jury trial to hand down a decision.

$20

The U.S. Supreme Court case of Gregg v. Georgia upheld the use of ___ in the United States.

capital punishment

The U.S. Supreme Court case of Grutter v. Bollinger upheld the use of Affirmative Action based upon the ___ Amendment.

14th

The 10th Amendment: allows certain rights to be granted to the states like education requirements, gambling, to have the death penalty or not, to have abortion rights or not, or what the state’s minimum wage is called the ___ powers.

reserved

The U.S. Supreme Court case Ingraham v. Wright upheld the use of ___ in the United States.

corporal punishment

What amendment repealed Prohibition?

21st

The General Election of ____ was the first election that women could vote in and Warren G. Harding was elected President.

1920

Why are chain gangs of jail or prison inmates legal under the 13th Amendment?

the involuntary servitude is punishment for the crime they committed

What amendment guaranteed me (Mrs. Neece) due process of law?

14th

What amendment gave newly-freed male slaves the right to vote in any election?

15th

Income tax is a result of which amendment?

16th

Voters get to elect their state’s U.S. senator due to the ____ Amendment.

17th

The manufacture, sale, importation, and exportation of alcoholic beverages was prohibited by the

18th

The ratification of the ___ Amendment gave me (Mrs. Neece) the right to vote

19th

Amendment 20 changed the inauguration day for the President to:

January 20th

Amendment 20 changed the inauguration day for members of Congress to:

January 3rd

How many years of another elected President’s term can a Vice President serve and still be eligible for two terms of his own?

2

What amendment gave U.S. citizenship to newly freed slaves?

14th

What event from American history had the most significance on the ratification of the 22nd Amendment?

FDR being elected 4 terms

What amendment gave citizens of Washington, DC, the right to vote and DC three electoral votes?

23rd

Which of the following obstacles was outlawed by the ratification of the 24th Amendment?

poll tax

Why did the assassination of President John F. Kennedy have such an impact on the ratification of the 25th Amendment?

raised the question about what the U.S. would do if we had a president that was conscious but couldn’t carry out presidential duties

Why did the Vietnam War play such an important role in the ratification of the 26th Amendment?

Soldiers were being sent off to a war by a president they couldn’t vote for

What term means “all laws apply to all Americans regardless of any circumstances?”

equal protection clause

What vote is needed in both houses of Congress to approve of a President’s nominee for Vice President?

majority

Who comes after the Speaker of the House in the line of presidential succession?

president pro tempore