FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

1. Where does the power of the U. S. government come from? A.Supreme Court B.President C.Articles of Confederation D.the people

The government may do only what the people have given it the power to do. 2. This statement best describes which fundamental political principle? A.limited government B.rule of law C.representative government D.absolute freedoms

3. People electing public officeholders to make laws and conduct government on their behalf is an example of which political principle? A.freedom of the press B.representative government C.rule of law D.limited government

Mayor Goes to Jail for Stealing Public Funds 4. Which political principle is represented by the newspaper headline? A.consent of the governed B.rule of law C.limited government D.democracy

5. What document guaranteed the rights of Englishmen to the colonists? A.Declaration of Independence B.Articles of Confederation C.Virginia Declaration of Rights D.Charters of the VA Company of London

6. In what document did the colonists state grievances against the British king and claim the right to form their own country? A.Declaration of Independence B.English Bill of Rights C.U. S. Constitution D.Articles of Confederation

7. Which document established the first form of national government for the independent states? A.Magna Carta B.Charters of the VA Company of London C.Articles of Confederation D.U. S. Constitution

8. Which statement best describes the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? A.The central government had too much power. B.The national government kept raising taxes. C.The states complained they had too little power. D.The national government had no power to tax or enforce laws.

9. The U. S. Constitution guarantees equality under the law. Which other American document established the idea that all people are equal under the law? A.Declaration of Independence B.Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom C.Magna Carta D.Articles of Confederation

10. What document served as a model for the U. S. Bill of Rights? A.Charters of the VA Company of London B.Declaration of Independence C.Articles of Confederation D.Virginia Declaration of Rights

11. The words “We the people” are at the beginning of which document? A.Charters of the VA Company of London B.Virginia Declaration of Rights C.Articles of Confederation D.U. S. Constitution

12. Which part of the U. S. Constitution states the goals and purposes of the government? A.Bill of Rights B.Preamble C.First Amendment D.Articles

13. The Virginia legislature, or law-making body, is called the A.State Congress B.State Assembly C.General Congress D.General Assembly

14. Who can ratify amendments to the U. S. Constitution? A.the President B.the Senate C.the states D.the House of Delegates

15. How many amendments have been added to the U. S. Constitution? A.10 B.17 C.22 D.27

16. Who can ratify an amendment to the constitution of Virginia? A.House of Delegates B.voters of Virginia C.Virginia Senate D.Congress

17. What document establishes the structure of the U. S. government and protects people’s fundamental freedoms? A.Articles of Confederation B.Declaration of Independence C.Virginia Declaration of Rights D.Constitution of the United States of America

18. What is the U. S. Bill of Rights? A.the first ten amendments to the U. S. Constitution B.a list of the rights of state governments C.a description of national government’s three branches D.a list of the rights of Virginia citizens

19. Ratification is part of the amendment process. What is the best definition of ratification? A.proposal B.introduction C.approval D.failure

20. Which phrase explains majority rule? A.a vote of more than half B.two-thirds of the vote C.three-fourths of the vote D.the lesser amount

1D 2A 3B 4B 5C 6A 7C 8D 9A 10D 11D 12B 13D 14C 15D 16B 17D 18A 19C 20A