GED Social Studies Preparation Course: Civics and government

1. Question 1 of 18

   In a direct democracy, who makes the laws?

   • AThe citizens, who vote on laws themselves
   • BRepresentatives whom the citizens elect to make laws
   • CJudges appointed for life
   • DA king or queen who inherits power
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   Answer: A. The citizens, who vote on laws themselves

   In a direct democracy, citizens vote on laws directly. In a representative democracy, they elect people to make laws for them.

2. Question 2 of 18

   In a parliamentary democracy, where does the leader of the government (often a prime minister) usually come from?

   • AA separate national election for the leader only
   • BThe royal family
   • CThe party or group that controls the legislature
   • DThe highest court in the country
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   Answer: C. The party or group that controls the legislature

   In a parliamentary system, the government leader comes from the legislature's majority. In a presidential system like the U.S., voters choose the president separately.

3. Question 3 of 18

   Which principle is expressed by the phrase "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed"?

   We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

   — Declaration of Independence, 1776

   • AFederalism
   • BSeparation of powers
   • CJudicial review
   • DPopular sovereignty
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   Answer: D. Popular sovereignty

   Popular sovereignty means the people are the source of government's power. Government is fair only when the people agree to it.

4. Question 4 of 18

   According to the excerpt, why are governments created?

   We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

   — Declaration of Independence, 1776

   • ATo collect taxes for the common defense
   • BTo keep the power of the states equal
   • CTo decide which rights people will receive
   • DTo secure the rights people already have
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   Answer: D. To secure the rights people already have

   The excerpt says "to secure these rights, Governments are instituted." This is the idea of natural rights: rights come first, and government protects them.

5. Question 5 of 18

   According to the Preamble, which is one purpose of the Constitution?

   We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

   — Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, 1787

   • ATo give each state its own army
   • BTo end the power of Congress
   • CTo create a national church
   • DTo insure domestic tranquility
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   Answer: D. To insure domestic tranquility

   The Preamble lists goals such as forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquility and providing for the common defense.

6. Question 6 of 18

   Article I of the Constitution creates which branch of government?

   • AThe judicial branch (the Supreme Court)
   • BThe legislative branch (Congress)
   • CThe state governments
   • DThe executive branch (the president)
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   Answer: B. The legislative branch (Congress)

   Article I gives lawmaking power to Congress, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

7. Question 7 of 18

   How many senators does each state have, and how long is a senator's term?

   • ATwo senators, six-year terms
   • BThree senators, six-year terms
   • CTwo senators, four-year terms
   • DOne senator per million people, two-year terms
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   Answer: A. Two senators, six-year terms

   The Constitution gives each state two senators, who serve six-year terms. About one-third of the Senate is elected every two years.

8. Question 8 of 18

   What decides how many members a state has in the House of Representatives?

   • AThe state's population
   • BThe state's land area
   • CThe year the state joined the Union
   • DThe number of counties in the state
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   Answer: A. The state's population

   House seats are divided among the states by population. There are 435 voting members, each serving a two-year term.

9. Question 9 of 18

   Before the 17th Amendment (1913), how were U.S. senators chosen?

   • ABy state legislatures
   • BBy the president
   • CBy the Supreme Court
   • DBy the House of Representatives
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   Answer: A. By state legislatures

   State legislatures first chose senators. The 17th Amendment, adopted in 1913, let voters elect senators directly.

10. Question 10 of 18

    The president vetoes a bill. What can Congress do to make it a law anyway?

    • APass it again with a simple majority in the Senate only
    • BPass it again with a two-thirds vote in each house
    • CAsk the Supreme Court to sign it
    • DWait 10 days and send it to the states
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    Answer: B. Pass it again with a two-thirds vote in each house

    Under Article I, a vetoed bill becomes law if two-thirds of each house votes to pass it again. This is a check on the president.

11. Question 11 of 18

    The president nominates a person to the Supreme Court. How does the Senate check this power?

    • AIt can choose a new president
    • BIt can veto the president's other bills
    • CIt can confirm or reject the nominee
    • DIt can remove the Chief Justice
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    Answer: C. It can confirm or reject the nominee

    The president nominates judges and agency heads, and the Senate gives "advice and consent" by confirming or rejecting them.

12. Question 12 of 18

    The House of Representatives impeaches a federal official. Which body holds the trial?

    • AThe Senate
    • BThe Supreme Court
    • CThe House Judiciary Committee
    • DA jury of citizens from the official's state
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    Answer: A. The Senate

    The House impeaches, and the Senate has the sole power to try impeachments. Conviction needs two-thirds of the senators present.

13. Question 13 of 18

    Which principle does this amendment most directly support?

    The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

    — 10th Amendment, U.S. Constitution, 1791

    • AFederalism
    • BJudicial review
    • CChecks and balances between the branches
    • DPopular election of senators
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    Answer: A. Federalism

    The 10th Amendment reserves powers to the states or the people, which is the idea of sharing power between the national and state governments.

14. Question 14 of 18

    Congress passes a law that bans newspapers from printing criticism of the president. Which part of the amendment does this law most clearly violate?

    Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

    — 1st Amendment, U.S. Constitution, 1791

    • AThe right to petition the government
    • BThe right to assemble peacefully
    • CFreedom of the press
    • DFree exercise of religion
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    Answer: C. Freedom of the press

    The 1st Amendment says Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press. Banning criticism in newspapers limits the press.

15. Question 15 of 18

    Police search a person's home without a warrant or probable cause. Which amendment protects against this?

    • AThe 8th Amendment
    • BThe 6th Amendment
    • CThe 4th Amendment
    • DThe 2nd Amendment
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    Answer: C. The 4th Amendment

    The 4th Amendment bans unreasonable searches and seizures and says warrants must be based on probable cause.

16. Question 16 of 18

    Which idea does the writer of this passage support?

    If men were angels, no government would be necessary. ... Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.

    — The Federalist No. 51

    • AOne strong leader should control all three branches of government
    • BGovernment is not needed if leaders are chosen carefully
    • CStates should have more power than the national government
    • DEach branch should be able to resist the power of the others
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    Answer: D. Each branch should be able to resist the power of the others

    "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition" means each branch should check the others, because people are not angels. This is checks and balances.

17. Question 17 of 18

    Which case established the courts' power to strike down laws that violate the Constitution?

    • APlessy v. Ferguson (1896)
    • BBrown v. Board of Education (1954)
    • CGibbons v. Ogden
    • DMarbury v. Madison (1803)
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    Answer: D. Marbury v. Madison (1803)

    In Marbury v. Madison, Chief Justice John Marshall wrote that a law "repugnant to the Constitution is void." This power is called judicial review.

18. Question 18 of 18

    A state has 9 members in the U.S. House of Representatives. How many electors does it have in the Electoral College?

    • A9
    • B11
    • C10
    • D18
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 11

    Each state gets one elector per House member plus two for its senators: 9 + 2 = 11.

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