FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT UNIT TEST

Read the following questions and write the correct answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Use the following fact situation to answer question#s 1, 2, and 3.

The US Congress is debating whether to amend the Constitution to provide the President a line-item veto. Currently, the President has to veto an entire bill that proposes to spend or provide money on projects. The line-item veto would allow the President to veto certain proposed projects without vetoing the entire bill. The House passed the pro-posed amendment with the required majority. The bill is now in the Senate.

1.How many senators must vote in favor of the proposed amendment to send it to the 50 states for ratification?

  1. 50
  2. 67
  3. 75
  4. 100

2. The Senate passes a proposed amendment with the required majority. How many states must ratify the proposed amendment before it becomes an amendment to the US Constitution?

  1. 25
  2. 34
  3. 38
  4. 50

3. As an alternative to the states voting on the proposed amendment, ratification could take place in which of the following locations?

  1. In a nominating convention.
  2. In a political convention.
  3. In a national convention to propose an amendment.
  4. In a special ratification convention.

4. The Preamble to the Constitution begins with the words “We the People.” These open-ing words demonstrates which of the following principles of our government?

  1. The US national government has limited powers.
  2. States are the source of national political power.
  3. The federal government is divided into 3 branches with checks and balances.
  4. Ultimate political power lies with the citizens of the US.

5. Which of the following identified one of the goals set out in the Preamble?

a. guarantee employment for all US citizens

b. expand national frontiers westward.

c. Establish independence from Great Britain.

d. Protect the rights and freedoms of all US citizens.

CHART:

The legislative branch makes laws.

The executive branch carries out the laws which Congress has passed.

The judicial branch interprets and enforces the laws which Congress has passed.

6. Which constitutional principle is illustrated in the above chart?

  1. Federalism.
  2. Separation of Powers.
  3. Confederalism.
  4. Popular Sovereignty.

7. President Obama nominated John Kerry to serve as the new Secretary of State after Hillary Clinton resigned. Which of the following constitutional principles is illustrated by the fact that the Senate must confirm Kerry before he can take over?

  1. Limited Government.
  2. Popular Sovereignty.
  3. Checks and Balances.
  4. Separation of Powers.

CHART:

The President meets the Prime Minister of Great Britain.

The Supreme Court declares a law unconstitutional.

The Congress passes a new environmental law.

8. Which of the following constitutional principles are illustrated by the chart?

  1. Limited Government
  2. Popular Sovereignty
  3. Separation of Powers
  4. Checks and Balances

9. Landowners from South Carolina and Georgia get into a dispute over where the boundary to their property lies. Congress gets involved and passes a bill that awards the property in dispute to the South Carolina landowner. The President vetoes the bill. The Supreme Court decides to hear the proposed bill and interprets it.

Which of the following facts from the scenario demonstrated the constitutional principle of checks and balances?

  1. Landowners from South Carolina and Georgia get into a boundary dispute.
  2. Congress passes a law giving the disputed land to the South Carolina landowner.
  3. The President vetoes the bill.
  4. The Supreme Court interprets the bill.

10. The Anti-Federalists relied on which of the following documents to support demands for a national bill of rights?

a. The English Bill of Rights and the Articles of Confederation

b. The Magna Carta and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense.

c. The Mayflower Compact and the Magna Carta

d. The English Bill of Rights and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense.

11. What was one of the Anti-Federalists’ strongest arguments against the Constitution?

  1. The Constitution did not create an executive branch.
  2. The Constitution did not include a list of protected rights and freedoms.
  3. The new national government would be too dependent on the States.
  4. The new national government would be too weak to protect US citizens abroad.

12. President Obama recently met with Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss the status of Israeli-American relations. In which of the following Article II roles did President Obama serve during the visit?

a. Chief Diplomat

b. Chief Legislator

c. Chief Executive

d. Commander in Chief

Use the following fact scenario to answer question #s 13 and 14.

President Clinton was accused of committing perjury because he lied under oath. Many people believed that lying under oath is not something that a president should do. As a result, an impeachment process took place.

13. What roles did Congress play in the impeachment process?

a. The Senate accused President Clinton and the House tried him.

b. The House accused President Clinton and the Senate tried him.

c. The House accused and tried President Clinton and the Senate waited to see whether it would appoint a new president.

d. The House accused and tried President Clinton and the Senate waited to swear in Vice-President Gore if President was convicted and removed from office.

14. In the impeachment process, President Clinton was acquitted (found not guilty) of committing perjury. Had he been convicted, however, who would have succeeded him if he was removed from office?

a. The Speaker of the House

b. The Vice-President

c. The President Pro Tempe of the Senate

d. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

15. Which role does Governor Scott play when he speaks at a political rally?

a. Party Leader

b. Head of State

c. Chief Diplomat

d. Chief Executive

16. Riots erupt as citizens are upset that a teenager has been shot. Public pressure is put on the police to find and arrest the shooter. The police find their suspect, an old man who suffers from a severe mental illness. At trial, the judge determines that the defendant is not competent to stand trial. The public is outraged again and demands that the judge be removed from the bench. Which of the following constitutional principles demonstrates a judge’s independence from public pressure?

a. Annual review by the Senate Judiciary committee.

b. Lifetime appointments.

c. Elections every 4 years.

d. A limit of two 5 year terms.

17. How do Supreme Court justices communicate their decisions?

a. CNN televises justices as they vote.

b. Justices vote by secret ballot and then issue a decision without comment.

c. As soon as oral argument is over, the justices immediately vote from the bench.

d. Once a decision is made, justices in the majority write an opinion explaining the decision while justices in the minority write an opinion explaining why they don’t agree.

HEADLINE: “U.S. SUPREME JUSTICE IMPEACHED!”

18. Which of the following statements could follow the headline?

a. “Justice discovered ruling on case in order to win votes!”

b. “Justice discovered to be opposing President’s policies!”

c. “Justice accused of accepting secret payment from a party in the case!”

d. “Justice commits treason by ruling for France against the US in a court case!”

Use the following fact scenario to answer question #s 19 and 20:

Eustis decides to pass an ordinance authorizing a fine of $500 for anyone who is caught spitting on the sidewalk.

19. Which legislative body passed the ordinance?

a. the US Congress

b. the Florida Legislature

c. the Lake County Commissioners

d. the Eustis City Council

20. Mr. P is accused of spitting on the sidewalk. In which court would his case be heard?

a. a federal district court

b. a state district court

c. a county court at law

d. a municipal court

Use the following fact situation to answer question #s 21 and 23.

The Florida legislature is considering a law that would extend the school from 10 months to a full year. Florida has 120 representatives in its House of Representatives and 40 senators. A majority of each house must pass the bill for it to be sent to Governor Scott to sign it into law.

21. How many representatives must vote in favor of the bill for it to pass the House?

a. 51

b. 61

c. 80

d. 90

22. How many senators must vote in favor of the bill for it to pass the Senate?

a. 20

b. 21

c. 27

d. 30

Use the following fact scenario to answer question #s 23 and 24:

For decades, relations between the US and Cuba have been terrible. The US and Cuba are interested in improving relations between the two countries. As part of the improved relationship, the two countries have agreed to work together on a number of projects, including the protection of sea life. Cuba wants to open a consulate in Orlando. The land that Cuba wants to use for its consulate is only able to be used (zoned) for residential purposes, which does not include a consulate. The US federal government and Florida both have a role to play.

23.In order for the US and Cuba to formalize their relationship, which of the following must first take place?

a.Since the consulate will be in Orlando, Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer must enter into a treaty with Cuba, and the treaty must be approved by the Orlando City Council.

b. Since he has the sole authority to recognize other nations as part of his role as the US’ Chief Diplomat, President Obama signs an executive order recognizing Cuba.

c. Since he has the authority to recognize other nations, with the Senate’s advice and consent, as part of his role as the US’ Chief Diplomat, President Obama enters into a treaty with Cuba and the treaty must be approved by the US Senate.

d. Since Cuba wants to place its consulate in Florida, and since he is Florida’s Chief Executive, Governor Scott has to agree to the treaty signed by President Obama and the agreement must be sent to the Florida Senate for approval.

24. Before Cuba can build its consulate, which of the following must take place?

a. Since it is a foreign country, Cuba must get approval from the US State Depart-ment since the State Department deals with foreign nations.

b. Since Orlando is in Florida, Governor Scott must approve Cuba’s request to build a consulate.

c. Since the land that Cuba wants to use in Orlando, Florida, the Orange County Zoning Commission must change the zoning status of the land.

d. Since Cuba wants to use American land, the Land and Management Bureau of the Department of the Interior must approve Cuba’s request to build a consulate.

25. Which of the following is an example of one branch of government checking one of the other branches?

a. The Senate not agreeing to pass a bill which the House passed.

b. The Secretary of the Treasury not agreeing to a recommendation of the Chief of the Internal Revenue Service?

c. The US Supreme Court not agreeing to hear a case from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

d. The president refusing to sign a bill passed by both houses of Congress.