The government may do only what the people give it the power to do.
1. This statement best describes the fundamental political principle of –
A.
B.
C.
D.
limited government
the rule of law
natural rights
representative government
2. Which statement is an example of the principle of rule of law?
F.
G.
H.
J.
A
A
A
A
city council member is found guilty of speeding.
state senator is reelected to her second term.
crime suspect is informed of his constitutional rights.
citizen is shown how to register to vote.
3. Which document served as a model for the Bill of Rights?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Charters of the Virginia Company of London
4. The Charters of the Virginia Company of London guaranteed to the
Virginia colonists the –
F.
G.
H.
J.
right to separate from England
right to choose their own king
same rights as people living in England
same rights as the colonists in other parts of North America
5. All of the following were principles or ideals set forth in the Declaration
of Independence EXCEPT —
A.
B.
C.
created a new democratic system of government
stated the colonies’ grievances against the king of Great Britain
established the idea that all people have certain unalienable rights and are equal
under the law
D. declared the colonies independence from Great Britain
“We hold these truths to be self−evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
6. This is an excerpt from what famous document?
F.
G.
H.
J.
Virginia Statue of Religious Beliefs
Articles of Confederation
Declaration of Independence
Constitution of the United States
7. Which document failed because it established a weak central
government and was replaced by the Constitution of the United States?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom
Articles of Confederation
Declaration of Independence
8. Which document establishes the current structure of the United States
government?
F.
G.
H.
J.
Constitution of the United States
Articles of Confederation
Bill of Rights
Declaration of Independence
9. The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States begins, "We the
people", which establishes that the power of the government comes from....
A.
B.
C.
D.
Congress only
the Supreme Court only
the President only
the citizens of the United States
Purposes of the U.S. Government
 To form a more perfect union
 To establish justice
 To ensure domestic tranquility
 ?
10. What item belongs in this list?
F.
G.
H.
J.
To
To
To
To
promote religious freedom
promote the general welfare
establish a republic
establish independence
11. What is the correct process to add an amendment to the Constitution of
the United States?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Proposed
Proposed
Proposed
Proposed
by
by
by
by
the Supreme Court and ratified by the state courts.
Congress and ratified by the President.
Congress and ratified by state legislatures.
the President and ratified by the Supreme Court.
12. An amendment to the Constitution of Virginia can be ratified by a
majority vote –
F.
G.
H.
J.
by
by
by
by
both houses of the General Assembly in one session
both houses of the General Assembly in two sessions in a row
the governor’s cabinet
the voters in Virginia during a general election
13. When a person is NOT a citizen by birth, he or she can become one
through the process of –
A.
B.
C.
D.
immigration
socialization
naturalization
examination
14. What amendment defines the ways to become a United States citizen?
F.
G.
H.
J.
12
13
14
15
15. The Chicago Tribune prints an editorial in Sunday’s newspaper
criticizing the President and his new economic plan. This is an example of –
A.
B.
C.
D.
freedom
freedom
freedom
freedom
of
of
of
of
religion
assembly
the press
petition
16. Amanda loves to ride her mountain bike, but the park in her town does
not have a bike trail. She wants to hold a community meeting to discuss the
problem. She runs an advertisement in the newspaper about the
community meeting. Lots of people attend the meeting and Amanda
collects over one hundred signatures from people in support of a bike trail.
She sends the signatures and a letter to the local town council asking them
to build a bike trail in the park.
Which freedom in First Amendment is the only one Amanda did NOT
exercise in the example above?
F.
G.
H.
J.
Freedom of
Freedom of
Freedom of
Freedom of
Assembly and Petition
Speech
the Press
Religion
“The most strict protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely
shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic.” - Chief Justice Oliver
Wendell Holmes, Scheneck v. United States (1919)
17. This statement is an example of –
A.
B.
C.
D.
a limit on government
the use of slander
equality under the law
a limit on a First Amendment freedom
18. Which amendment to the Constitution of the United States extended
due process and equal protection to the action of state and local
governments?
F.
G.
H.
J.
10th
14th
16th
18th
19. Responsibilities are voluntary, but citizens who do not fulfill their civic
duties –
A.
B.
C.
D.
cannot vote in the next election.
must pay higher taxes.
face legal consequences.
lose their citizenship.
20. Which of the following is a duty of citizenship?
F.
G.
H.
J.
Voting
Paying taxes
Taking part in political campaigns
Staying informed
21. Which of the following choices is a responsibility of citizens?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Voting
Obeying the laws
Paying taxes
Defending the nation if called
22. All are ways citizens can serve their community EXCEPT
F.
G.
H.
J.
become a tutor at an elementary school.
volunteer at a nursing home.
collect trash along a roadside.
watch others organize a blood drive.
23. As John was coming out of the store, he held the door for an elderly
woman who was coming inside. What trait did John demonstrate?
A.
B.
C.
D.
patriotism
respect for the law
courtesy and respect for others
trustworthiness and honesty
Chad stood as the school band played “The Star Spangled Banner” before
the football game.
24. What trait of good citizens did Chad display?
F.
G.
H.
J.
Honesty
Patriotism
Respect for the law
Self-reliance
 Recruit candidates
 Educate voters about campaign issues
 Monitor actions of officeholders
25. This list describes some of the roles of –
A.
B.
C.
D.
the President
the judicial branch of government
special-interest groups
political parties
26. Which one of these is NOT something the two major political parties
have in common?
F. They both
G. They both
majority.
H. They both
J. They both
organize to win elections.
appeal to the political center in order to gain the support of the
attempt to influence public policy.
have the same ideas in their political platforms and campaigning.
27. Which of the following is TRUE of third parties in the United States?
A.
B.
C.
D.
They
They
They
They
often win elections.
are too minor to influence elections.
often form around a new issue or idea.
include the Democratic and Republican parties.
Evaluating Campaign Messages
 Detecting Bias
 Identifying Propaganda
 ?
28. Which item would best complete this diagram?
F.
G.
H.
J.
Writing a letter to the editor
Canvassing for a political candidate
Separating fact from opinion
Donating to a political campaign
29. In what way can the news media impact an election?
A.
B.
C.
D.
They do not have an impact on an election.
Identify the candidates and broadcast different views to inform the public.
They can refuse to broadcast politics.
They can tell you which candidate to choose.
30. The main purpose of a Political Action Committee (PAC) is to —
F.
G.
H.
J.
see that money is distributed equally among presidential candidates
publicize a presidential candidate’s ideas through the use of the media
raise money for candidates who support the same views
develop the party platform for the candidate’s party
31. Which of the following is a negative effect of rising campaign costs?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Candidates run more advertisements on television.
Wealthy candidates have an advantage over other qualified candidates.
Candidates can no longer get public financing for presidential campaigns.
Voter turnout for election has decreased.
32. In order to register to vote in Virginia, a citizen must meet all of the
following requirements EXCEPT —
F.
G.
H.
J.
United States citizen
own land
18 years old
resident of the state of Virginia
33. In Virginia, a citizen may register to vote in all of the following ways
EXCEPT
A.
B.
C.
D.
by mail application.
at the registrar's office.
at your voting precinct on the day of the election.
at the Division of Motor Vehicles
Factors in Predicting
Which Citizens Will Vote
 Income
 Age
 ?
34. Which of the following best completes this list?
F.
G.
H.
J.
Education
Political Party
Hobbies
Personality
35. More people vote during ________ elections than at any other time.
A.
B.
C.
D.
city and county
state
Congressional
Presidential
36. The Electoral College is used to elect the —
F.
G.
H.
J.
President and Vice President
United States Senators
Governors and Lieutenant Governors
United States Representatives
37. Which one of the following is a FALSE statement about the Electoral
College?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Candidates target large populated states in order to get the most votes.
Candidates must pay attention to states with small populations in a tight election.
The Electoral College system favors a three party system.
The number of electors in a state is based on the state’s representation in
Congress, which is based on the state’s population.
38. Which one of the following is NOT a way for a 14 year old student to
participate in a Presidential Election?
F.
G.
H.
J.
Participate in classroom and online simulated elections.
Vote for a candidate during the general election.
Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper in support of a candidate.
Pass out bumper stickers and buttons in support of a candidate.
From The Roanoke Times:
“Governor Accused in Illegal Benefits Scandal”
39. This newspaper headline illustrates how the media influences
policymakers by –
A.
B.
C.
D.
enabling government officials to communicate with the public
offering a forum for expressing opposing views
holding government officials accountable to the public
focusing attention on a policy issue
40. When special interest groups try to influence the decision of
policymakers, they are –
F.
G.
H.
J.
campaigning
demonstrating
canvassing
lobbying