Constitution

  1. Under the United States Constitution, what is required for the ratification (formal approval)  of a Treaty? Answer: 2/3 majority vote of the Senate.

  2. In the presidential election of 2028, Candidate Smith wins 67 million popular votes and 253 electoral votes. Candidate Jones wins 63 million popular votes and 258 electoral votes. Daisy Jane MacKenzie wins 21 million popular votes and 27 electoral votes. Who wins the Presidency? Answer: The House of Representatives will decide between Smith, Jones, and MacKenzie because no candidate received a majority of electoral votes. 

  3. (Afghanistan) Which of the following statements are correct regarding the role of America's NATO Allies in Afghanistan from 2001 till August 2021? Answer: Every NATO Ally deployed personnel to Afghanistan- thousands of NATO Allied troops remained in Afghanistan until the withdrawal of all American and Allied forces in August 2021. Over the course of NATO's mission, more than 1000 NATO Allied personnel died in Afghanistan.

  4. In 2025, the largest share of United States national government spending goes to? Answer: Health Care

  5. (Articles of Confederation)  Which of the following statements is correct regarding the situation of the United States under the Articles of Confederation in the first four years after the British acknowledged American Independence by signing the Treaty of Paris in 1783? Answer: All of the above  statements are correct.

  6. Under the Articles of Confederation: All of the above are correct.

  7.  Shay's Rebellion (1786-1787) was important because it showed that: Answer: Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government did not have enough power to protect the country.

  8. Events surrounding the Whiskey Rebellion of  1794 showed that: Answer: The Congress had the power to levy excise taxes and the President had the authority and the power to enforce laws passed by Congress.  If necessary, the President could place  state militia forces under federal command to accomplish his duty

  9. Which part of the US Government is responsible for confirming or rejecting presidential nominations to the Cabinet and the federal courts? Answer: The Senate

  10. During Little Turtle's War of the early 1790's: Answer: An  alliance of Indian tribes defeated the first US army expedition sent out to fight them and virtually destroyed the second expedition.  More than 600 American soldiers  were killed near the Wabash river in a few hours.  A third American army finally defeated the allied tribes and ended the war.

  11. Which of the following powers is specifically given to Congress under Article I? Answer: All of the above

  12. Under the Constitution, what is the President's responsibility with regard to implementing the laws passed by Congress and signed by himself or a previous president? Answer: He is required by the Constitution to execute the laws of Congress and bring them into effect

  13. Once ratified by the United States, a treaty Answer: becomes part of the Supreme Law of the United States

  14. Which part of the United States Constitution requires that the United States government to "... provide for the Education of the American public sufficient to assure that the populations of the several states shall not lack the requisite knowledge and wisdom to hold their elected Representatives accountable…” Answer: None of the above. This provision is not part of the US Constitution.

  15. (Articles of Confederation) One power given to Congress under the Articles of Confederation was the power of "entering  into treaties and alliances". Which of the following countries entered into an alliance with the United States during the Revolutionary War and sent its navy and thousands of troops across the Atlantic to help the United States win the War of Independence? Answer: France

  16. (Article 1 Section 7)  When Congress sends a bill to the President and he holds on to it without signing it for ten days (not counting Sundays) and Congress adjourns before that time has elapsed, what happens? Answer: The bill is blocked by a pocket veto

  17. (NDAA 2021)  Both chambers of Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) very late in the 2nd session of the 116th Congress. Aside from authorizing the expenditure of more than $720 billion in defense spending, the bill blocked the president from withdrawing 12,000 US troops from Germany. President Trump vetoed the bill. What happened next? Answer: Congress obtained the votes necessary to override the veto.  The NDAA was passed and American troops were not withdrawn from Germany. 

  18. (Article I) Under the Constitution what limits are placed on what members of Congress are allowed to say in hearings or debate? Answer: None of the above. Members of Congress are free to express their ideas and to raise questions without restriction during any Congressional speech or debate.

  19. (US national economy)  Which statement is correct regarding the national economy and spending of the US government in 2025? Answer: The United States now spends more paying interest on the debt than it spends on national defense.

  20. (Historical Notes) Under America's system of Dual Federalism from 1789 until the end of the 1920's: Answer: State governments had almost complete responsibility for public education, public health, public safety, & construction of roads and bridges.

  21. (Funding of public education) From the 1950's until the year 2020, what portion of funding for public education came from the state and local governments? Answer: The state and local governments provided about 9/10 of the funding for public education.

  22. (Federal funding for state budgets) In 1927, what portion of the average state budget came from national government funds? Answer: About 2%

  23. (Historical Notes) From the years 1789 through 1913, the United States was able to: Answer: All of the above are correct.

  24. (Historical Notes) Which of the following statements is correct about the United States before 1913? Answer: All of the above are correct.

  25. Before Congress can send a bill to the President for his review, the bill must be passed by: Answer: Both chambers with a simple majority vote in each.

  26. (UNSC) Before it is able to authorize a No Fly Zone, an arms embargo, or the deployment of UN Peacekeepers, the UNSC (United Nations Security Council) must first obtain: Answer: an affirmative vote of nine of the 15 members, including the consent of all five of the permanent members who  must vote for the measure or at least abstain from voting against it.

  27. (UNSC P-5) In addition to the United States, United Kingdom, China, and Russia,  which of the following countries has a Permanent Seat  on the United Nations Security Council? Answer: France

  28. (Economist-Pretend to negotiate) What was the result of the Trump-Putin Summit in mid-August 2025?  Answer: Pressure on Putin was reduced. The Alaska Summit ended Putin's diplomatic isolation and also resulted in Trump's decision to drop demands for a ceasefire as a precondition for peace talks.

  29. (Economist-Pretend to negotiate) According to recent polls, 70% of the Russian population believes that Russia is winning against Ukraine on the battlefield.  What percentage of the Russians say that they are in favor of peace talks to end the war? Answer: 60% are in favor of peace talks at this time.

  30. (Economist- Ukraine Is it safe?) In August 2025, what did President Trump say about the chances of Ukraine joining NATO? Answer: He explicitly ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, saying that Ukraine's effort to join NATO was an insult to Russia. 

  31. (Economist- Ukraine Is it safe?)   When the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, newly independent Ukraine was left in possession of the World's 3rd largest nuclear arsenal. By 1994, it had given up many - but not all, of its nuclear warheads.  It was persuaded to give up the last of its nuclear weapons in 1994 under the provisions of the Budapest Memorandum.  According to the the terms of the Budapest Memorandum,  several countries promised to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and to consult if Ukraine's territory was violated. In addition to the United Kingdom, which other two countries signed the Budapest Memorandum? Answer: the United States and Russia

  32. (Economist- Ukraine Is it safe?)   Which two countries have been leading a coalition of countries planning to deploy troops to Ukraine to help ensure that Russian forces don't attack Ukraine again if a peace agreement is reached? Answer: Britain and France

  33. (Economist- Ukraine Is it safe?) In August 2025, what did President Trump say about the deployment of a European-led force to Ukraine after a peace agreement is reached? Answer: He said that the Europeans would be 'the first line of defense' but that America "would help them out with it." He said that the United States might contribute airpower to support the Europeans. 

  34. (Economist- Capital Offensive)  President Trump has mobilized the National Guard to help the police patrol the streets of Washington D.C.  and has taken control of the Washington, D.C. police force. He said that he was taking these steps because the situation in the nation's capital was becoming one of "complete and total lawlessness." Which statement is correct regarding violent crime in Washington? Answer: The murder rate in Washington, D.C. is actually lower than it was a year ago and is falling towards pre-pandemic levels.  The number of carjackings has also declined. Overall, the city is much safer from violent crime than it was in the 1990's when Washington D.C had the highest murder rate in the country.

  35. (Economist-Capital Offensive) Under the Constitution and Federal law what limits President Trump's ability to deploy the National Guard and to take control  of the police force of Washington, D.C.? Answer: President Trump can only take control of the Washington D.C. police force for thirty days. After that, he would need a vote from Congress for an extension. Generally speaking,  the President has no authority to deploy the National Guard for law enforcement purposes over a Governor's objection.  Before Trump did so in Los Angeles earlier this year, the last time a President did it was in the 1960's when President Johnson did it in Alabama during the civil rights crisis.

  36. Four candidates are running for office.  Daisy Jane Mackenzie wins 40% of the vote. Republican Roscoe wins 31% of the vote and Democrat Denise wins 29% of the vote. What measure of the vote has Daisy Jane won? Answer: plurality.

  37. If a Presidential election is thrown into the House of Representatives which of the following statements would be correct? Answer: The members of the House  must choose between the three candidates who won the most electoral votes.

  38. (Federal Judges) How long are the terms of service for the Judges who sit on the bench of US District Courts and on the bench of US Circuit Courts of Appeal? Answer: There are no limits on the number of years these judges can serve on the bench of the federal courts. As is the case with Supreme Court Justices, once confirmed, they serve on the Courts until they die or until they voluntarily retire at a time of their own choosing.

  39. The Anti-Federalists included American heroes like Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Mason.  One of their primary contributions to the United States after the Revolutionary War was their key role in: Answer: insisting on the promise that  a Bill of Rights  be added to the Constitution as a condition of ratification.

  40. (Strategic Atlas Canadian Losses in Afghanistan)  Which statement is correct regarding Canadian fatal losses in Afghanistan? Answer: Canada lost more than 150 dead in Afghanistan.

  41. (Prelude to Georgia 2008 & Prelude to  Ukraine 2014) Russia staged major military exercises just across the border from Georgia before invading it in 2008.  In 2014, Russian military forces staged large scale exercises across the border of Ukraine just before invading it. Aside from the exercises, what else did Russia do before invading these two countries? Answer: In each case before launching the actual ground force invasion, Russian military aircraft repeatedly violated the airspace of the targeted country.

  42. (Strategic Atlas- RSM) In February 2021, the United States had approximately 3000 military personnel in Afghanistan. This included 2500 serving with NATO's Resolute Support Mission and another 600 serving under a separate chain of command. Which NATO Ally  had more than 700 military personnel still deployed in Afghanistan as of February 2021 - almost twenty years after the 11 September attacks on America? Answer: All of the above.

  43. (Strategic Atlas) How long had Osama bin Laden been hiding out in his compound  in  a garrison town within a mile of Pakistan's top military academy before he was killed by US Navy SEALs in 2011? Answer: 5 years.

  44. We have had  more than 160 Supreme Court Justices since 1789.  How many of these Supreme Court justices have been removed by conviction in an impeachment case? Answer: 0

  45. (Strategic Atlas- Death of bin Laden) In May 2011, US Navy SEALS killed Osama bin Laden during a raid on his compound which was located near Pakistan's top military academy. Where was this raid launched from? Answer: From Afghanistan.

  46. (Strategic Atlas) Bilateral Aid to Ukraine as Percentage of GDP)      As a percentage of GDP, which of these NATO Allies provided more aid to Ukraine between January 2022 and December 2024  than America sent to Ukraine in the same time  frame? Answer: All of  these Allies sent a larger portion of their GDP to Ukraine than the United States sent. 

  47. (Strategic Atlas Baltic Aerial Episodes)  Aside from the fact that it occurred only a couple of weeks after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, what was remarkable about the fact that Russian military aircraft violated Swedish airspace in March 2022? Answer: The Swedish fighter jets that intercepted the four trespassing Russian jets reported that two of them were carrying nuclear weapons.

  48. (Strategic Atlas- UN Vote on Russian War in Ukraine) In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn the invasion. In March 2025, the General Assembly again voted on a resolution condemning the Russian invasion. Most European countries, the Australians and Canadian voted  to condemn the Russian aggression. Which one of these voted together with Russia  against the resolution? Answer: United States

  49. (Economist- Lexington Capitol Punishment) What forced Congress to suddenly adjourn on the 21st June 1783? Answer: Hundreds of Continental Army soldiers surrounded Congress and demanded  to be paid for their service in the Revolutionary War. Because Congress had no ability to pay them, it swiftly fled Philadelphia.

  50.  (Infographic Poland downs Russian drones)  On the night of 10th September 2025,  Russia violated Polish airspace with at least 19 drones over the space of 7 hours.  Some of these drones were shot  down. In addition to F-16s flown by pilots of the Polish Air Force, what other NATO assets were used to defend Polish airspace during this aggressive provocation? Answer: Dutch F-35 fighter jets, which along with the Polish F-16 fighter jets  were directed in this operation by Italian AWACS aerial surveillance planes.