Quiz

1. The word “democracy” means:

a. The United States is run by the Democratic Party, and the Democrats can do whatever they want.

b. The form of government where supreme power rests with all the people entitled to vote and their elected representatives.

c. The form of government run directly by the people.  A small town could have a democracy where each person voted on all matters concerning the small town.

2. The word “republic” means:

a. The United States is run by the Republican Party, and the Republicans can do whatever they want.

b. The form of government where supreme power rests with all the people entitled to vote and their elected representatives.

c. The form of government run directly by the people.  A small town could have a republic where each person voted on all matters concerning the small town.

3. Our constitution established :

a. A republic.

b. A democracy.

c. A benevolent dictatorship.

4. Does our Constitution state that the President, Supreme Court Justices, Members of Congress and other government officials can be tried and punished according to law for offenses committed in office?

a. Yes.

b. No.

c. Only if the guilty party is not a member of the ruling party.

5. The “General Welfare” clause of the Constitution states: “Congress shall have the power to provide for the general welfare of the people living in the United States.”  At the time the Constitution was written, “general welfare” meant:

a. Prosperity and happiness for all or most people.

b. Government handouts for all or most people in need.

c. Government subsidies to all or most corporations in need.

6. The “Necessary and Proper” clause of the Constitution states “Congress shall have the power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper to execute the powers given in the Constitution.”  This clause grants:

a. Powers specified  in the Constitution.

b. Additional powers deemed necessary and proper by Congress.

c. Additional powers granted by the President to Congress.

7. The First Amendment gives freedom of religion, speech, the press, the right of people to peaceably assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.  These rights are:

a. Absolute.

b. Obsolete.

c. Subject to reasonable restriction.

8.One of the reasons why the American colonies declared their independence from the King of Great Britain was:

a. The King sent us such bad tea, that it had to be thrown into Boston harbor.

b. The American colonies were not being taxed enough, so the King’s tax collectors in the American colonies were starving.

c. The King sent swarms of British officials to the American Colonies to “harass our people.”

9. The Declaration of Independence sets forth the purposes of all governments, which are to secure the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for their peoples.  These purposes are established with:

a. The consent of the governed.

b. Without the consent of the governed.

c At the discretion of American legislators.

10. The Preamble to the Constitution sets forth the purposes of our federal government which are: 1) to form a more perfect Union; 2) establish justice, 3) insure domestic tranquility, 4) provide for the common defense, 5) promote the general welfare, and 6) secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.  These purposes were established by:

a. We the People.

b. Benedict Arnold, general during the Revolutionary War who became a traitor.

c. George Washington, military leader during the Revolutionary War, President of the Constitutional Convention and the first U.S. President under our Constitution.