1. A member of Congress is primarily responsible to
A) the people he or she represents.
B) special interest groups.
C) lobbyists.
D) his or her governor.

2. A) the people he or she represents.

3. The most important job of Congress is
A) leading our military forces.
B) making laws.
C) governing cities.
D) helping lobbyists.

4. B) making laws

5. Congress is made up of
A) presidents and vice-presidents.
B) judges and mayors.
C) interest groups and lobbyists.
D) representatives and senators.

6. D) representatives and senators.

7. Which is an example of a power of Congress?
A) regulate commerce
B) borrow money
C) declare war
D) all of the above

8. D) all of the above

9. In order to reach the President, a bill must pass through
A) the state legislatures.
B) only the Senate.
C) a standing committee.
D) both houses of Congress.

10. D) both houses of Congress.

11. The most powerful member of the House of Representatives is the
A) Speaker.
B) U.S. President.
C) president pro tempore.
D) majority floor leader.

12. A) Speaker.

13. Only a member of Congress can
A) draw up a bill.
B) veto a bill.
C) introduce a bill in Congress.
D) all of the above.

14. C) introduce a bill in Congress.

15. A filibuster can occur
A) only in the House.
B) in either house of Congress.
C) only in the Senate.
D) if the majority party agrees.

16. C) only in the Senate.

17. Which of these people could not serve as President?
A) a person who is a natural-born U.S. citizen
B) a person who has lived in the United States for 15 years
C) a person who is 30 years old
D) a person who has been elected to office

18. C) a person who is 30 years old

19. Presenting the State of the Union message to Congress shows the President's
A) limitations.
B) legislative powers.
C) term of office.
D) role as ambassador.

20. B) legislative powers

21. A President can
A) serve more than two terms.
B) carry out laws.
C) make laws.
D) be a U.S. immigrant.

22. B) carry out laws.

23. The President needs approval from Congress in order to
A) keep some information secret.
B) use executive privilege.
C) appoint a Supreme Court Justice.
D) speak with other countries.

24. C) appoint a Supreme Court Justice

25. Who is the defendant in this case:
The People of the State of Florida v. Jones?
A) The People
B) The State of Florida
C) the government
D) Jones

26. D) Jones

27. Which can decide the facts in a case?
A) the accused
B) the conflict
C) the jury
D) the lawyers

28. C) the jury

29. The major purpose of the Supreme Court is to
A) hear cases about kidnapping.
B) hear cases about foreigners.
C) conduct special jury trials.
D) serve as final court of appeals.

30. D) serve as final court of appeals

31. Which courts are the workhorses of the federal court system?
A) state appeals courts
B) state supreme courts
C) state trial courts
D) district courts

32. D) district courts

33. In the court system, what is a circuit?
A) a geographic area
B) a group of judges
C) a set of legislators
D) a type of job

34. A) a geographic area

35. Which best describes the U.S. Supreme Court?
A) a strong trial court
B) part of the executive branch
C) one of the district courts
D) the highest court in the land

36. D) the highest court in the land

37. Judicial review gives the judicial branch
A) the right to overturn a law.
B) rights in the Constitution.
C) the right to study precedents.
D) the duty to hear disputes among states.

38. A) the right to overturn a law.

39. The Supreme Court hears cases involving
A) disputes between states.
B) representatives of foreign governments.
C) appeals from state and federal courts.
D) all of the above.

40. D) all of the above.

41. Civil laws are laws that
A) settle disagreements.
B) protect property rights.
C) imprison people for more than one year.
D) tell how accused people should be tried.

42. A) settle disagreements

43. Criminal laws are laws that
A) keep people from stealing cars.
B) help settle disagreements.
C) protect children.
D) tell which acts are crimes.

44. D) tell which acts are crimes

45. Which is the main question asked in a civil case?
A) Did the person commit a crime?
B) What is a fair settlement?
C) Who do I believe?
D) What is a fair penalty?

46. B) What is a fair settlement?

47. What are laws?
A) rules of society that are enforced by government
B) beliefs about what is right or wrong
C) beliefs that most people in our society share
D) rules of society determined by judges

48. A) rules of society that are enforced by government

49. What is an example of vandalism?
A) shoplifting from a store
B) homicide
C) kidnapping
D) breaking windows

50. D) breaking windows

51. Taking something of value from someone without using violence is known as
A) homicide.
B) larceny.
C) robbery.
D) embezzlement.

52. B) larceny.

53. What is an example of a crime against the government?
A) larceny
B) homicide
C) terrorism
D) arson

54. C) terrorism

55. What is an indictment?
A) the right to make an arrest
B) a crime that could send a person to prison for more than one year
C) the appointment of a lawyer by the court
D) a formal charge against a person accused of a crime

56. D) a formal charge against a person accused of a crime

57. Why might a defendant plead guilty to crime?
A) to get a lawyer appointed by the state
B) to avoid staying in prison for more than a year
C) to get a lesser charge or a lighter sentence
D) to save money

58. C) to get a lesser charge or a lighter sentence

59. The Constitution says a grand jury must review all cases that involve
A) murder.
B) unsafe driving.
C) serious federal crimes.
D) felonies.

60. C) serious federal crimes.

61. During the dispositional hearing of a juvenile court case, the judge decides the
A) sentence.
B) arrest.
C) parole.
D) bail.

62. A) sentence.

63. Juvenile courts are
A) federal courts.
B) neither state nor federal courts.
C) civil courts.
D) state courts.

64. D) state courts.

65. At which step does a judge make the
decisions concerning the defendant?
A) arrest
B) initial hearing
C) intake
D) aftercare

66. B) initial hearing

67. Why do judges set bail for certain defendants?
A) to allow police to arrest that defendant
B) to formally charge the defendant with a crime
C) there is good reason to think the defendant was involved in a crime
D) to ensure that the defendant will return for the trial

68. D) to ensure that the defendant will return for the trial

69. A delinquent is a young person who
A) is found guilty of a crime.
B) is arrested.
C) serves a sentence outside prison.
D) is caught shoplifting.

70. A) is found guilty of a crime.

71. What is the purpose of a lease
between a landlord and tenant?
A) to tell how the tenant may damage an apartment or house
B) to explain how much money it will cost the tenant to sue the landlord
C) to state the rights and responsibilities of both parties
D) to pay for the cost of repairs to an apartment or house

72. C) to state the rights and responsibilities of both parties

73. Probate cases involve
A) landlord and tenant disputes.
B) the property of a deceased person.
C) divorces.
D) buyer and seller agreements.

74. B) the property of a deceased person

75. Which is not a civil case?
A) personal injury
B) trespassing
C) property damage
D) speeding

76. D) speeding

77. What is the first step in a civil lawsuit?
A) filing a discovery
B) filing a complaint
C) questioning a witness
D) hiring a judge

78. B) filing a complaint

79. What are contracts?
A) legal agreements between mediators and defendants
B) legal agreements between defendants and judges
C) legal agreements between tenants and landlords
D) legal agreements between buyers and sellers

80. D) legal agreements between buyers and sellers

81. Political parties act as “watchdogs” when they
A) set goals.
B) provide leadership.
C) check another party’s actions.
D) select candidates.

82. C) check another party’s actions.

83. What was the first political party established in the United States?
A) the Democrats
B) the Federalists
C) the Republicans
D) the Whigs

84. B) the Federalists

85. How can third party candidates change the outcome of an election?
A) keep voters away from polls
B) confuse voters
C) take votes from a main party
D) distract media from main candidates

86. C) take votes from a main party

87. Voting precincts are generally made up of
A) fewer than 1,000 voters.
B) more than 1,000 voters.
C) fewer than 100 voters.
D) none of the above.

88. A) fewer than 1,000 voters.

89. What are planks?
A) platform position statements
B) independent voters
C) voting districts
D) meetings to choose candidates

90. A) platform position statements

91. Which is NOT a requirement for voting in a general election?
A) being at least 18 years old
B) being a U.S. citizen
C) being a member of a political party
D) being a state resident where you vote

92. C) being a member of a political party

93. Presidential elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in
A) October.
B) November.
C) September.
D) January.

94. B) November.

95. An absentee ballot is
A) mailed in before election day.
B) marked at a polling place.
C) punched into a card.
D) mailed in after election day.

96. A) mailed in before election day.

97. In a primary election,
A) voters nominate candidates.
B) one candidate is elected.
C) political parties nominate candidates.
D) voters decide on ballot issues.

98. C) political parties nominate candidates.

99. What are polling places?
A) places where people can vote
B) places where candidates make speeches
C) places where people choose ballots
D) places where people cast their votes through the mail

100. A) places where people can vote