Civics Proficiency Test

Question 1

Scripture clearly teaches that ________.

Answer 1

government has the authority to use force to punish evil-doers.

Question 2

Liberals are correctly described by all of the following statements except

Answer 2

they believe that traditional values should be upheld even at a considerable cost to those citizens who disagree with those values

Question 3

the number of U.S. Senators per state is:

Answer 3

equal, with each state having two members of the Senate

Question 4

Under Our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

Answer 4

Make treaties

Question 5

The phrase “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” is found in ______.

Answer 5

The Declaration of Independence

Question 6

Which of the following are the inalienable rights referred to in the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 6

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Question 7

the principle of popular sovereignty refers to

Answer 7

the idea that all political power is derived from the people

Question 8

what part of the government has the power to declare war?

Answer 8

Congress

Question 9

Thinking of political parties in America, it seems we generally have

Answer 9

two main parties that compete for influence

Question 10

Members of the House of Representatives are

Answer 10

elected directly by the people

Question 11

Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 11

Thomas Jefferson

Question 12

T or F? In American government, the majority has the power to do whatever it wishes.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Voter turnout in America is best described as:

Answer 13

somewhat low but cyclical, with more voters in presidential elections, but fewer otherwise

Question 14

Our civil liberties are found in:

Answer 14

the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and other constitutional amendments

Question 15

If no candidate wins a majority of the Electoral College vote, the Constitution stipulates that:

Answer 15

the U.S. House of Representatives selects the President from the top three candidates

Question 16

What are the two possible reasons there has never been a major socialist movement in the United States?

Answer 16

support for economic competition and a distrust of central government authority

Question 17

The ____ prohibits Congress from creating a national religion

Answer 17

Establishment Clause

Question 18

Christians, according to the Bible, are able to disobey the government _______.

Answer 18

When it commands believers to engage in sinful behavior

Question 19

The executive branch of the federal government is described in Article ___ of the U.S. Constitution.

Answer 19

II

Question 20

The legislative branch of the federal government is described in Article ____ of the U.S. Constitution

Answer 20

I

Question 21

The Judicial branch of the federal government is described in Article ___ of the U.S. Constitution

Answer 21

III

Question 22

The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court is:

Answer 22

John Roberts

Question 23

What are the two phases of most American elections?

Answer 23

primary election and general election

Question 24

How many branches are in the federal government?

Answer 24

3

Question 25

According to the Bible, government derives its power and authority from _______

Answer 25

God

Question 26

Libertarians are opposed to governmental intervention ______

Answer 26

in both the economic and social sphere

Question 27

Which of the following is a formal constitutional requirement for becoming president?

Answer 27

One must be a natural-born citizen

Question 28

assuming good behavior, federal judges serve a term of ______

Answer 28

life

Question 29

The number of U.S. Representatives per state is ________

Answer 29

determined by the state's population

Question 30

which of the following accurately describes the President's veto power?

Answer 30

A president can threaten to veto the bill to influence decision making, because congress is usually unable to override a President's veto

Question 31

Free enterprise or capitalism exists insofar as:

Answer 31

individual citizens create, exchange, and control goods and resources

Question 32

The judiciary's status as an independent branch of national government depends on judicial review, which grants the judiciary the authority to

Answer 32

invalidate the actions of other branches of government

Question 33

the executive branch of the federal government is primarily responsible for _____ the law

Answer 33

enforcing and implementing

Question 34

Who is the commander in chief of the U.S. military?

Answer 34

President

Question 35

A major distinction of the United States from other countries is a wide-spread belief in ________

Answer 35

individual responsibility

Question 36

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects all the freedoms EXCEPT _____.

Answer 36

against self-incrimination

Question 37

How does direct democracy differ from representative democracy?

Answer 37

Representative democracy is carried out by elected officials who make laws on behalf of the citizens, but direct democracy includes all citizens

Question 38

The United States Electoral College:

Answer 38

is a constitutionally mandated assembly that elects the president

Question 39

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that Christians are commanded to ______.

Answer 39

all of the answers provided are correct

Question 40

the phrase "city on a hill" is often used in politics to express the

Answer 40

belief that the United States should serve as an example to other nations

Question 41

Which Supreme Court case ruled that racially segregated education was unconstitutional?

Answer 41

Brown v. Board of Education

Question 42

A conservative is opposed to government intervention _________.

Answer 42

in the economic but not in the social sphere

Question 43

The Great (or Connecticut) Compromise at the constitutional convention provided for:

Answer 43

a bicameral legislature

Question 44

the legislative branch of the federal government is primarily responsible for _____ the law

Answer 44

writing

Question 45

According to the original Constitution, Senate terms are served for

Answer 45

six years

Question 46

The theory of constitutional interpretation which holds that judges should look to how the Constitution was understood by those who wrote and ratified it is called

Answer 46

originalism

Question 47

The judicial branch of the federal government is primarily responsible for ____ the law

Answer 47

interpreting

Question 48

The best one word definition of America's government would be _____

Answer 48

republic

Question 49

Jim Crow laws mandated

Answer 49

segregation of the races in most social relations

Question 50

The phrase that in America there should be a "wall of separation" between church and state appears in

Answer 50

Thomas Jefferson's letters