Civics Quiz

1. What is a constitution's primary purpose according to the chapter?

To declare independence from a foreign power
To place power in the hands of a document instead of a person
To guarantee free elections every four years
To establish a monarchy with limited powers

2. Based on the information in the chart below about forms of government, what would you call a government where one person is in charge and gained power through inheritance?

Who is in charge?	How did they get power?	Form of Government
One person	Voting	Elected Autocracy
One person	Force	Dictatorship
One person	Inheritance	?
A ruling class	Voting	Elected Oligarchy
Everyone	Voting	Democratic Republic

Democracy
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Republic

3. What branch of government is responsible for writing and passing laws?

Executive
Judicial
Legislative
Monarchical

4. Looking at the diagram of the three branches of government below, which statement is true about the US government's structure?

THE THREE BRANCHES OF U.S. GOVERNMENT

LEGISLATIVE

Makes Laws

Congress
(House & Senate)

EXECUTIVE

Enforces Laws

President &
Cabinet

JUDICIAL

Interprets Laws

Supreme Court &
Federal Courts

Checks and Balances: Each branch has powers to limit the other branches

The President has ultimate power over all branches
The Executive branch creates laws for the other branches to follow
Each branch has separate powers that can check the other branches
The Judicial branch is not elected by the people

5. What is the Electoral College?

A university where government officials are trained
The system for electing members of Congress
The system for electing the President of the United States
A committee that selects Supreme Court judges

6. Which of the following is a right of US citizens according to the chapter?

Serving on jury duty
Paying taxes
Freedom of religion
Registering for the draft

7. Based on the Electoral College map below, how many electoral votes would a presidential candidate need to win?

ELECTORAL COLLEGE BASICS

Total Electoral Votes	538
Electoral Votes by State	Based on state's population (number of representatives in Congress)
How States Award Votes	Winner of state election gets all electoral votes from that state*
To Win the Presidency	Candidate needs majority of electoral votes

*Maine and Nebraska use a different system

51% of the popular vote
270 electoral votes
538 electoral votes
100 electoral votes

8. Which of the following is an example of checks and balances in the US government?

The President appointing cabinet members
Congress passing a budget
Courts ruling on legal cases
Courts declaring a law unconstitutional

9. In a democracy, who is in charge according to the chapter?

One person
A ruling class
Everyone
The military

10. Which branch of government enforces the laws?

Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Military Branch