FGCU Civic Literacy Practice Exam

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• What is the primary purpose of the electoral college?
• How did the U.S. Constitution resolve the dispute between slave and free states over representation?
• Who has the power to veto bills?
• Which of the following cases reinforced the power of the courts?
• Which landmark case established the "separation of church and state" doctrine?
• What role does the Chief Justice of the United States serve?
• Which is a shared power in the federal system?
• How did the holding in the United States Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona (1966) impact criminal defendants?
• What is the purpose of the Bill of Rights?
• How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution currently include?
• Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?
• What is the significance of the phrase "we the people"?
• What is an example of representation?
• How did District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) impact state's rights?
• Which of the following rights is protected by the First Amendment?
• How many articles are in the U.S. Constitution?
• What did the Emancipation Proclamation accomplish during the Civil War?
• What is the term for the introduction of a bill in Congress?
• Which is a core theme of the Anti-Federalist Papers?
• Which case had a significant effect on the interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment?
• Which of the following best describes the role of the U.S. census in government?
• What does the term "bicameral legislature" refer to?
• Who is in charge of the executive branch?
• What is the main purpose of political parties?
• How did the holding in the United States Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) impact criminal defendants?
• What are the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence commonly known as?
• Which branch of government was established based on the idea of consent of the governed?
• Which United States Supreme Court case established the power of judicial review?
• What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 aim to eliminate?
• What amendment granted women the right to vote?
• What do we call the power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional?
• What is one right included in the First Amendment?
• What is one branch of the U.S. federal government?
• What legislative process allows for an amendment to the Constitution?
• What was the main purpose of the Federalist Papers?
• Who is Commander in Chief of the military?
• What significance does the U.S. census have in political representation?
• Which action is an example of petitioning the government?
• Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?
• What United States Supreme Court decision focused on how states count popular votes for president and vice president?
• Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?
• What is one potential outcome of judicial activism?
• Which clause of the Constitution allows it to be amended?
• What is an example of a check the legislative branch has over the executive branch?
• Which of the following pairs of cases impacted First Amendment rights?
• Which principle of government is the separation of powers based on?
• Which of the following amendments granted women the right to vote?
• Which group is granted the power to impeach the President?
• What is the process by which a constitutional amendment can be proposed?
• What does the term "checks and balances" refer to?
• What is the main function of the judiciary?
• Which document served as a rationale for the Declaration of Independence?
• What does the 2nd Amendment protect?
• What does an amendment to the Constitution represent?
• What is the highest court in the United States?
• Which of the following represents the goal of the Supremacy Clause?
• Which document was adopted by the newly independent United States to organize the national government after declaring independence?
• What is an example of a democratic process?
• Who was the first Chief Justice of the United States?
• Which of the following correctly pairs a document with a core theme of that document?
• Which system of government features a division between national and local governments?
• What is civil disobedience?
• Which Supreme Court ruling held that the authors of the U.S. Constitution did not intend for African Americans to be U.S. citizens?
• Which of the following cases impacted Fourth Amendment protections at the state level?
• What is the principle of checks and balances designed to prevent?
• In which year was the Bill of Rights ratified?
• What is a purpose of civil rights movements?
• What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution known as?
• How long is the term for a U.S. senator?
• Which governmental body has the power to declare war?
• What is the purpose of the Seventeenth Amendment?
• Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?
• Which phrase from a letter written by President Thomas Jefferson in 1802 reflects a freedom in the Bill of Rights?
• Which United States Supreme Court decision was based on the First Amendment?
• What does the 14th Amendment guarantee?
• What might be a concern regarding judicial activism?
• Which amendment allowed for the direct election of Senators?
• What does the term "suffrage" refer to?
• What is the "rule of law"?
• Which principle allows for a system of government divided among different branches?
• What is the primary role of the judicial branch?
• How does judicial activism differ from judicial restraint?
• Which principle is expressed by the concept that government derives its power from the people?
• Which document formally established the United States' independence from Britain?
• What event directly prompted the drafting of the U.S. Constitution?
• What does the term 'judicial review' refer to?
• Which of the following actions is a responsibility of citizenship?
• Which of the following pairs of United States Supreme Court Cases resulted in limiting the power for local governments?
• What principle allows the government to be divided into different branches?
• What is the highest court in the United States?
• Which right from the English Bill of Rights is reflected in the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment?
• What is the primary duty of the Supreme Court?
• Which United States Supreme Court decision was based on the Free Exercise Clause?
• Which scenario represents a violation of the Equal Protection Clause?
• What is the length of a U.S. President's elected term?
• Which part of the U.S. Constitution protects the freedom of religion?
• What is the highest federal court in the United States?
• What is the purpose of the Selective Service System?
• Which of the following is NOT a power of Congress?
• What is the primary purpose of the U.S. Constitution?
• Which phrase in the U.S. Constitution addresses the power to seize property?
• Which of the following represents the principle of consent of the governed?
• What is the highest court in the United States?
• What is the main purpose of the First Amendment?
• What is popular sovereignty?
• What is the length of a U.S. Senator's elected term?
• Which document outlines the foundational structure of the U.S. government?
• Who is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution"?
• What is gerrymandering?
• Which branch of government is primarily responsible for making laws?
• What U.S. Constitution structure addresses concerns stated in the Declaration of Independence?
• What is an example of judicial review?
• What is the primary role of the Cabinet in the executive branch?
• Which amendment granted citizens the right to vote regardless of race?
• What are civil liberties?
• Which is a core theme of the Federalist Papers?
• What is the supreme law of the land?
• What is the social contract?
• Which of the following pairs of cases limited the rights of African Americans?
• How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?
• Which statement best reflects the relationship between amendments and the Constitution?
• Which of the following pairs of cases focused on the rights of public school students?
• What is the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights?
• Which of the following was established by a constitutional amendment?
• What is due process?
• What is the term for a government ruled by a small group of people?
• Which landmark case established the principle of judicial review?
• If both the U.S. President and the U.S. Vice President are unable to serve, who acts as president?
• The U.S. Constitution requires that the President be elected by whom?
• Which United States Supreme Court case is correctly paired with the constitutional amendment on which it focused?
• Which amendment granted women the right to vote?
• What does the U.S. Constitution do?
• The colonists used a political cartoon with the caption "Join or Die" to support which action?
• What is the first phrase of the U.S. Constitution?
• Who was the primary author of the Federalist Papers?
• What significant effect did the ruling of Brown v. Board of Education (1954) have on public education?
• What is a constitutional monarchy?
• Who has the power to declare war?
• What did the Declaration of Independence do?
• Which United States Supreme Court decision was based on the Necessary and Proper Clause?
• What are reserved powers in the context of U.S. government?
• What is a right reserved for U.S. citizens only?
• Who has the power to declare war according to the U.S. Constitution?
• What is one non-legislative power of Congress?
• Why did many colonists fight the British during the American Revolution?
• Which statement from the English Bill of Rights is reflected in the U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment?
• Which government officials are elected by the people?
• Which document provided an outline for a state-centered government?
• What is one responsibility of only U.S. citizens?
• Which case held that reproductive rights were an element of the right to privacy under the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment?
• Who has the power to impeach federal officials?
• Which phrase from a letter written by Sarah Grimké in 1837 is reflected in the Fourteenth Amendment?
• Which of the following is not a branch of government?
• Which right did the colonists consider "inalienable" in the Declaration of Independence?
• What are two natural rights identified in the Declaration of Independence?
• Why is the U.S. census conducted every ten years?
• What does the 5th Amendment protect individuals from?
• Judicial activism refers to which of the following judicial philosophies?
• What are the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution called?
• What document officially ended the American Revolution?
• In what 1620 document do the writers form a "civil body politic"?
• What is the main function of the executive branch?
• Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?
• Which United States Supreme Court holding impacted the way that religious practice was approached in public schools?
• What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
• Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?
• Which document served as the foundation for the U.S. government before the Constitution?
• What is one chamber of the U.S. Congress?
• Which United States Supreme Court decision resulted in reduced power for state governments?
• What is the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights?
• What are the two key steps for appointing the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?
• Who signs proposed bills into federal laws?
• What role does the judicial branch serve in government?
• Which principle is central to the concept of checks and balances in the U.S. government?
• What is one specific power granted to the U.S. Senate?
• What is the main purpose of the U.S. census?
• What principle does the Separation of Powers promote?
• What is the significance of the Ninth Amendment?
• Which branch of government is responsible for making federal laws?
• Which phrase from the English Bill of Rights (1689) is reflected in the U.S. Constitution's Third Amendment?
• What is a veto?
• Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
• What is an example of federalism?
• Which phrase by Abigail Adams in 1776 is reflected in the Nineteenth Amendment?
• How many U.S. Senators represent each state?
• In which system do states share power with the national government?
• Which United States Supreme Court case focused on executive privilege?
• What is the purpose of the Bill of Rights?
• Why does Article 1, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution require that tax bills be introduced in the House of Representatives?
• Which United States Supreme Court decision was based on the Equal Protection Clause?
• Which principle allows citizens to vote for their leaders?
• Who has the power to veto legislation?
• What is the role of the Federal Reserve?
• What was the main issue resolved by the Great Compromise?
• Which point of view is reflected in Common Sense?
• Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
• Which phrase is included in the Declaration of Independence?
• Which United States Supreme Court case held that persons accused of crimes must be advised of their Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights upon their arrest?
• Who has the power to declare war according to the U.S. Constitution?
• How can Congress override a presidential veto?
• What does the legislative branch consist of?
• Which principle supports the idea that individuals have inherent rights?
• Based on the U.S. Constitution, which part of government was intended to hold the least power?
• What role does the Executive branch play in government?
• Which of the following cases reinforced the federal government's authority to run a federal institution without interference by a state?
• Which amendment protects the freedom of speech?
• What is an essential requirement for a proposed amendment to become law?
• Which amendment protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures?
• What is the length of a U.S. Representative's elected term?
• In what year was the Constitution of the United States ratified?
• What is an example of a power reserved to the states?
• What is federalism?
• Which document represents the supreme law of the land?
• What does the term 'amend' specifically refer to in the context of the Constitution?
• What is the primary role of the legislative branch of the U.S. government?
• What major change did the 18th Amendment introduce?
• Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?
• Which constitutional amendment abolished poll taxes in federal elections?
• What does the Eighth Amendment primarily protect against?
• What is an executive order?
• In which document were the foundational principles of the U.S. government first articulated?
• Which Supreme Court case dealt with the issue of an enslaved person's freedom after living in free territory?
• How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
• What does the First Amendment protect?
• What year was the Constitution ratified?
• Which amendment grants women the right to vote?
• What is the primary duty of a U.S. Senator?
• What is a primary election?
• What role does the President of the Senate fulfill?
• What is one qualification to serve as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives?
• What was the significance of the Federalist Papers?
• What was the first system of government established by the United States?
• Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?
• In what way does judicial activism potentially impact societal change?
• What principle is demonstrated through the right to free speech?
• What is due process of law?
• What is the minimum number of members of the U.S. House of Representatives representing each state?
• According to the authors of the Declaration of Independence, who is responsible for protecting natural rights?