1. Sample Question # 1
Which of the following statements about a constitution is MOST accurate?
A. Governments with constitutions are limited governments
B. Some nations do not have constitutions
C. Dictatorial governments lack constitutions
D. Constitutions may be unwritten

2. Number 2
Why did the Framers adopt the Electoral College method of choosing a president?
A. they did not trust the judgment of the people
B. they were afraid the people would not vote
C. they had used that system in the colonies
D. they modeled it after the successful British system

3. Number 3
Policy making institutions of the U.S. Government include all of the following except
A. Congress
B. the Presidency
C. the Supreme Court
D. political parties
E. the senate

4. Number 4
The writers of the Constitution had a basic distrust of democracy and
A. the wealthy
B. human nature
C. pluralism
D. the elite
E. farmers

5. Number 5 Laswell defined politics as
A. a course of action to solve a problem
B. conflict in society
C. who gets what, when, and how
D. the resolution of conflict in a way that serves the public
E. the exercise of power

6. Number 6
The foundation of John Locke’s philosophy was that human beings
A. derive their rights from nature and they can not be taken away
B. determine their own rights through the government
C. are given their rights by the government
D. are granted their rights by the King

7. Number 7 The first U.S. Constitution was A. the Constitution
B. the British Rights of Englishmen
C. the Articles of Confederation
D. the Magna Carta

8. Number 8
Opposition to ratification of the Constitution was based on the belief that it would
A. give too much power to the states
B. promote pluralism, which threatened liberty
C. produce more democratic elements than desirable for a strong central government
D. provide for elite control, endanger liberty, and weaken the power of the states
E. all of these

9. Number 9 The Founders dealt with slavery by
A. prohibiting all slavery after 20 years
B. recognizing it by providing for the return of run away slavers
C. counting the slaves as one full person for the purposes of representation in the House
D. prohibited it only north of the Mason-Dixon line

10. Number 10 Judeo-Christian traditions emphasized
A. Reformation ideals of every man/woman for themselves
B. stressed the dignity and worth of each individual
C. stressed the common good
D. secular governments

11. Number 11
The major objection to the Constitution by George Mason and other Anti-Federalists was that
A. the judicial branch lacked sufficient power
B. it gave too much power to the House of Representatives
C. certain actions required more than a simple majority vote
D. it failed to contain a bill of rights protecting individuals

12. Number 12
The decline of voter turnout or participation has resulted in
A. increased influence of special interest voters
B. decreased number of opportunities to vote
C. increased importance of political parties
D. decreased cost of conducting elections at all levels

13. Number 13 In a constitutional democracy, citizens are expected to
A. promote their individual rights without regard to the common good
B. allow the government to assume responsibility for solving social problems
C. ignore their own personal interests when making political choices
D. think critically about public issues and participate in public affairs

14. Number 14
Which of the following is true about American elections over the past 100 years
A. the suffrage has broadened and the turnout has increased
B. the suffrage has broadened and the turnout has decreased
C. the suffrage has narrowed and the turnout has increased
D. the suffrage has narrowed and the turnout has decreased
E. the suffrage has broadened but there has been no change in the turnout

15. Number 15
Which of the following person is the most likely to vote in a Presidential election?
An unemployed African American steel worker with a high school diploma
A well paid African American political appointee to the Bush Administration
A 75 year old Hispanic retired railroad worker
An 18 year old white female high school drop-out

16. Number 16 Who is credited with the following Quote?
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world . . .”
Hillary Clinton
Thomas Jefferson
Margaret Mead
George W. Bush