U.S. Government Final Exam Review (Spring 2024)

Question 1

What theory of government does John Locke’s philosophy support?

Answer 1

Supports the social contract theory of government.

Question 2

Define the federal government

Answer 2

A system in which power is divided between a central government and individual states.

Question 3

What are the characteristics of a state?

Answer 3

Population, territory, sovereignty, and government

Question 4

How does majority rule work in a democracy?

Answer 4

Decisions are made by a vote, and the option with the most votes wins.

Question 5

What are the purposes of government listed in the Preamble?

Answer 5

Form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.

Question 6

Describe the concept of limited government

Answer 6

Government powers are restricted by the Constitution.

Question 7

What is the most important document for U.S. Government?

Answer 7

The U.S. Constitution.

Question 8

What are the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 8

No power to tax, no executive branch, no national court system.

Question 9

What is social contract theory?

Answer 9

Individuals agree to form a government for mutual protection.

Question 10

What is the divine right theory?

Answer 10

Leaders derive their authority from a higher power.

Question 11

What is the evolutionary theory?

Answer 11

Government develops naturally.

Question 12

What is the force theory?

Answer 12

Government arises from the force.

Question 13

Why did the Framers put an amendment process into the Constitution?

Answer 13

Allows for changes and updates

Question 14

How many active Amendments are in the U.S. Constitution?

Answer 14

26

Question 15

What Amendment is no longer valid?

Answer 15

18th Amendment (Prohibition).

Question 16

How can Congress informally amend the U.S. Constitution?

Answer 16

Through the interpretation of laws and the use of implied powers.

Question 17

Which Article to the U.S. Constitution deals with the legislative branch?

Answer 17

Article I.

Question 18

Who sets and who approves the salary for members of Congress?

Answer 18

Set by Congress, approved by Congress.

Question 19

How many senators per state?

Answer 19

2

Question 20

Why does Congress have the power to run investigations?

Answer 20

Oversight function.

Question 21

Who gets to impeach the president?

Answer 21

House of Representatives.

Question 22

How long do Senators serve?

Answer 22

6 years.

Question 23

When Congress is working they are said to be in ______________?

Answer 23

“Session.”

Question 24

Who is the commander-in-chief?

Answer 24

The President

Question 25

What day is Election Day?

Answer 25

The first Tuesday in November

Question 26

What does the Amendment XXV deal with?

Answer 26

Deals with presidential succession and disability.

Question 27

What are the official qualifications for the office of President?

Answer 27

Natural-born citizen, 35 years old, resident for 14 years.

Question 28

How many terms can a president serve? What is the most years they can serve?

Answer 28

2 terms, maximum of 10 years.

Question 29

If the president and vice president die, who takes over?

Answer 29

Speaker of the House.

Question 30

What is the Electoral College?

Answer 30

Body of electors choosing the president.

Question 31

How many electoral votes does each state get and how are electors chosen?

Answer 31

Based on the number of senators and representatives, electors chosen by the state.

Question 32

What are the 7 roles the President fulfills?

Answer 32

Chief Executive, Chief Legislator, Chief Diplomat, Commander-in-Chief, Chief of State, Chief of Party, Chief Guardian of the Economy.

Question 33

Cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited by this Amendment.

Answer 33

Eighth Amendment.

Question 34

What are the freedoms listed in Amendment I?

Answer 34

Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition.

Question 35

What is the Bill of Rights?

Answer 35

First ten amendments to the Constitution.

Question 36

What did the Brown v. Board of Education decision do?

Answer 36

Ended racial segregation in public schools.

Question 37

What is the significance of Miranda v. Arizona?

Answer 37

Established Miranda rights.

Question 38

What is precedent?

Answer 38

A legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative rule.

Question 39

What precedent came from the Tinker v. Des Moines case?

Answer 39

Students' free speech rights.

Question 40

What was decided in the U.S. v. American Library Association case?

Answer 40

Struck down parts of the Children's Internet Protection Act.

Question 41

How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

Answer 41

Life

Question 42

What powers does the Supreme Court have?

Answer 42

Judicial review, interpreting laws, settling disputes.

Question 43

What was decided in the Roe v. Wade case?

Answer 43

Legalized abortion.

Question 44

What power did the Supreme Court exercise in the Marbury v. Madison case?

Answer 44

Judicial review.

Question 45

What is the process by which Supreme Court justices get appointed to the Court?

Answer 45

Presidential nomination, Senate confirmation.

Question 46

What is judicial review?

Answer 46

Court's power to review and potentially invalidate government actions.

Question 47

What is a writ of certiorari?

Answer 47

An order to a lower court to send up the record in a given case.

Question 48

Who is the leader of the Democratic Party?

Answer 48

Joe Biden or Jaime Harrison

Question 49

Are Democrats more likely to be pro-life or pro-choice?

Answer 49

Generally pro-choice.

Question 50

Are Republicans more likely to support higher or lower taxes?

Answer 50

Generally lower taxes.

Question 51

What political party are liberals more likely to identify with?

Answer 51

Democratic Party

Question 52

What political party controls the H of R and Senate?

Answer 52

Democrats

Question 53

In what type of elections do more voters participate?

Answer 53

Presidential elections.

Question 54

Why was the Amendment XV (right to vote) ineffective when ratified in 1870?

Answer 54

Not enforced, especially in the South

Question 55

The most important predictor to whether you vote is___________?

Answer 55

Education.

Question 56

What is political socialization?

Answer 56

Process of acquiring political beliefs and values.

Question 57

What are good reasons for a citizen not to vote in an election?

Answer 57

Lack of interest, belief that their vote doesn't matter.

Question 58

What is ballot fatigue?

Answer 58

Voters are less likely to complete the ballot as they go down.

Question 59

How can voter participation be improved?

Answer 59

Voting accessibility, education, civic engagement.

Question 60

The five freedoms of the 1st Amendment

Answer 60

Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition.

Question 61

3 basic rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence

Answer 61

Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness.

Question 62

Secretaries of the President’s Cabinet

Answer 62

Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs

Question 63

Current Governor of Florida and Capital City

Answer 63

Ron De Santis

Question 64

Identify all the Amendments about voting

Answer 64

Amendments XV, XIX, XXIII, XXIV, XXVI.