Civics & Economics Practice Test 1

What organizational pattern do state constitutions follow?
1. U.S. Constitution
2. Declaration of Independence
3. Articles of Confederation
4. Bill of Rights
How long is the governor of North Carolina's term in office?
1. Two years
2. Four years
3. Six years
4. Eight years
What are the qualifications to become a candidate for governor in North Carolina?
1. 30 years old; citizen for 5 years; resident for 2 years
2. 35 years old; citizen for 10 years; resident for 4 years
3. 40 years old; citizen for 15 years; resident for 6 years
4. 45 years old; citizen for 20 years; resident for 8 years
Which house of the North Carolina legislature has the most elected members?
1. House of Representatives
2. Senate
3. General Assembly
4. Supreme Court
What is the major source of most state revenues?
1. Federal funds
2. State funds
3. Various taxes
4. Insurance trusts
What does North Carolina call its political divisions?
1. Boroughs
2. Parishes
3. Divisions
4. Counties
When County Commissioners pass action into law, what is that law called?
1. Bill
2. Statute
3. Ordinance
4. Law
Charters give cities a license to be a city. Once a city receives a charter from a state, what term describes the status of that city?
1. Authorized
2. Incorporated
3. Unincorporated
4. Chartered
How does the ebb and flow of economic cycles impact one's work, one's consumption, and one's training for work?
1. One has to watch the economy carefully to make decisions.
2. No effects at all are felt by the worker and his/her opportunities
3. Several effects might be seen in withholdings and buying power
4. Many effects could impact the worker depending on the cycle
What is another name for city courts?
1. Municipal courts
2. Appellate courts
3. Superior Courts
4. Supreme courts
Where is the division of powers between the states and the federal government recorded?
1. State Constitution
2. U.S. Constitution
3. State Charters
4. U.S. Charters
What are the four most common economic systems in the world?
1. Market, mixed, command, traditional
2. Goods, services, exports, imports
3. Market, exports, mixed, imports
4. Mixed, command, market, capital
In a command economy, who makes all the decisions about economic policies?
1. Manufactures
2. Government
3. Citizens
4. Landowners
What is another name for a market economy?
1. Communism and free markets
2. Capitalism and free enterprise
3. Fascism and military control
4. Socialism and government markets
Through what withholdings programs does the federal government involve itself in business?
1. Pensions, medical care, Social Security, Medicare
2. Medicaid, state retirement, state taxes
3. Medicaid, state and local taxes
4. Regulation of unsafe and dishonest practices
What is a sense of pride in one's nation called?
1. Patriotism
2. Nationalism
3. Feudalism
4. Socialism
Which of the following are examples of volunteer work that is done for a political party?
1. Handout leaflets and telephone canvassing
2. Conduct state and local meetings
3. Raise money for the candidate
4. Design and print flyers, buttons, and posters
Which interactions could most strongly affect the circular flow of economic activities and cause scarcities for consumers?
1. Serious decline of the currency and government control of the market
2. Increase in the value of the currency at home but not in foreign markets
3. Strikes and refusal of workers to accept no benefits for their labor
4. The overproduction of goods in the market and the decline in government spending
In the summer of a presidential year, party delegates from across the U.S. take part in a great political spectacle. What name is given to this event?
1. National campaign
2. National convention
3. National rally
4. National conference
On Election Day, reporters and polltakers interview voters as they leave precincts. What are these polls called?
1. Precinct polls
2. Exit polls
3. News polls
4. Projection polls
What governmental body gives proposed laws their direction and wording?
1. The Constitution
2. The Congress
3. The Supreme Court
4. The Bill of Rights
Which compromise at the Constitutional Convention led to a two-house legislature?
1. Great Compromise
2. New Jersey Plan
3. Virginia Plan
4. Compromise of 1850
How often is the national census conducted?
1. Every 2 years
2. Every 5 years
3. Every 10 years
4. Every 20 years
What are the most likely reasons a constituent will call his/her Congressperson?
1. To solve a problem and to get information
2. To report on actions of local government officials
3. To get funds just for oneself
4. To invite them to lunch when in the district
Where are federal bills (potential laws) usually introduced?
1. House of Representatives only
2. Senate only
3. House of Representatives and/or Senate
4. In either House, bill is sent by the president
In which area of the law-making process are hearings on issues and bills held?
1. Through committee work
2. Through presidential work
3. Through clerical work
4. Through judical work
What rule allows the Senate to stop a filibuster?
1. Override
2. Cloture
3. Veto
4. Roll call
What vole margin is needed for a bill to pass Congress?
1. 2/3 vote
2. 3/5 vote
3. Unanimous vote
4. Simple majority vote
What is the most powerful committee in the House of Representatives?
1. Homeland security
2. Rules
3. Taxation
4. Ethics
If you decide to spend your whole paycheck for clothes and do not save, invest, or shelter any of your income, which statement fits your financial behavior?
1. Lack of knowledge about tradeoffs and opportunity costs
2. Lack of interest in building a sound financial future
3. Allowing wants to prevail over needs in consumption patterns
4. Allowing peers to tell you what to buy with your dollars
If the trade deficit is high and increasing, and the national debt is high and increasing, what long-term effect could such policies have on the economy?
1. The economy will not be affected
2. The economy could struggle for GDP growth
3. The unemployment rates could grow
4. The workers will have to work longer hours
Which symbolic set of hats does the president wear when he entertains diplomats and discusses war or peace strategies?
1. Chief of State and Chief Legislator
2. Director of Foreign Policy and Chief Jurist
3. Chief of State and Commander-in-Chief
4. Chief Politician and Commander-in-Chief
Which symbolic hat is the president wearing when he attends campaign rallies for governors and other candidates?
1. Chief legislator
2. Chief Executive
3. Chief of State
4. Chief Politician
When the president exercises his role to pardon a federal official like President Ford and President Nixon, which "symbolic" hat is he wearing?
1. Chief Jurist
2. Director of Foreign Policy
3. Chief of State
4. Chief Executive
Which one hat represents a unique characteristic of the role of the U.S. civilian president?
1. Chief Executive
2. Commander-in-Chief
3. Chief Jurist
4. Director of Foreign Policy
To whom does the Constitution give the authority to declare war?
1. The President
2. The Congress
3. The Supreme Court
4. The Military
Why does the president give a "State of The Union" speech to Congress?
1. He knows he will get television coverage
2. Constitutionally he is required to give Congress a report
3. He has to share information with all political parties
4. He tries to get help and funds for his issues
Who elects the president of the U.S.?
1. The people
2. The senators
3. The electors
4. The states
Which set of terms best fits the idea of how domestic and international economies are interdependent and can impact human and capital resources at home?
1. War, trade deficit, unemployment
2. Trade deficit, full employment, and strong currency
3. Strong currency, unemployment
4. Full employment, war, and weak currency
In the basic laws of supply and demand in a market economy, which statement is the most correct?
1. When supply is up, demand is up also
2. When supply is down, demand should be down
3. When demand is down, supply is up
4. When demand is up, supply should go up
How do voters remember how many electoral votes a state has?
1. The Supreme Court assigns 13 even
2. The number of Senators plus House members
3. The governor checks the census numbers
4. The number of Senators plus 2
On which day does the Supreme Court traditionally open its annual session?
1. First Tuesday after the first Monday in November
2. First Monday in October
3. First Monday after the first Tuesday in October
4. First Tuesday in November
What is the term for trial court jurisdiction?
1. Referred jurisdiction
2. Appellate jurisdiction
3. Original jurisdiction
4. Primary jurisdiction
What term is given to the jurisdictional authority of a higher court?
1. Referred jurisdiction
2. Appellate jurisdiction
3. Original jurisdiction
4. Primary jurisdiction
Which of the following courts holds jury trials?
1. Appellate courts
2. State supreme courts
3. Superior courts
4. District courts
What is another term for "small fines and lesser crimes" in the court system?
1. Felonies
2. Misdemeanors
3. Appellate
4. Circuits
What term come to your mind on how the government functions in its three branches?
1. Capitalism
2. Federalism
3. Checks and Balances
4. Scales of Justice
What are the branches of government?
1. Executive and Judicial
2. Legislative and Executive and Judicial
3. Judicial and Legislative
4. Legislative, Judicial, and Political
How many federal district courts are in each state?
1. 0
2. At least one
3. 12-15
4. 50
How do federal judges get their jobs?
1. Appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate
2. Confirmed by the Senate
3. Elected by the citizens of U.S.
4. Elected by the citizens of a state
Which court handles citizen grievances against the U.S. government for failure to pay for goods?
1. U.S. Court of Claims
2. U.S. Tax Court
3. U.S. Court of Military Appeals
4. U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Which federal court hears cases dealing with appeals from lower courts involving people in the armed forces?
1. The District of Columbia Courts
2. Territorial Courts
3. U.S. Court of Claims
4. U.S. Court of Military Appeals
Which statement is the most correct in regard to the makeup of the Supreme Court?
1. There are nine members; eight associate justices and one chief justice
2. There are nine associate justices and one chief justice
3. There are eight members: seven associate justices and one chief justice
4. There are ten members; eight associate justices and two co-chief justices
The process of selecting justices for the Supreme Court supports which principle of government?
1. Levels of government
2. Checks and balances
3. Branches of government
4. Check on judiciary power
Which president petitioned Congress to allow him to add six more justices to the Supreme Court?
1. George W. Bush
2. Dwight D. Eisenhower
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt
4. Theodore Roosevelt
How can a federal judge be removed from office?
1. Fired
2. Died
3. Impeached
4. Voided
What rule of voting decides a Supreme Court case?
1. Unanimous vote
2. Two-thirds vote
3. Simple majority vote
4. Three-fifths vote
Name the two women who currently serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
1. O'Connor and Marshall
2. Rehnquist and Thomas
3. Warren and Marshall
4. Ginsburg and O'Connor
If a higher level of court does not have trial by jury, who decides the case?
1. The two lawyers
2. a single judge
3. Nine justices
4. a panel of judges
What does "appealing a case," mean in the court system?
1. Making a case interesting for a jury
2. Taking a case to a higher court
3. Making a case appropriate for the judge
4. Accepting the verdict of the jury
Which set of terms best explains the philosophy of loose interpretation of the Constitution?
1. Words stretched for new needs
2. Words followed exactly
3. Words stretched for executive
4. Words interpreted strictly
What is the name given to the first Ten Amendments to the Constitution?
1. People's Rights
2. Personal Freedoms
3. Bill of Freedoms
4. Bill of Rights
The "establishment clause" of the First Amendment refers to what exercise of rights?
1. Free exercise of religion
2. Free exercise of speech
3. Free exercise of assembly
4. Free exercise of petitioning the government
Grandfather Clauses - Equal Rights of Equal Work - Suffrage - Citizenship - Involuntary Servitude - Voting Rights

Which set of Amendments addressed the key issues of the terms above?
1. Amendments 1-10
2. Amendments 13, 14, 15
3. Amendments 17, 18, 19
4. Amendments 20, 21, 25
What is the term used for moving a trial from one location to another?
1. Change of venue
2. Double jeopardy
3. Change process
4. Implied venue
Of the following means for settling conflict in the work place, which term calls in a third party to reach an agreement?
1. Boycott
2. Mediation
3. Arbitration
4. Strike
Who besides workers and their employers are affected by labor disputes that end in strikes?
1. The manufacturer
2. Consumers and retailers
3. Health care workers
4. Other companies
Which set of advice would be most valuable to a responsible participant in the economy?
1. Purchase on credit and decide quickly
2. Manage your money, and buy your wants
3. Shop smart, study advertisements, pay full price
4. Spend wisely, avoid deep debt, plan for the future
Having a credit card carries a lot of responsibility. What set of terms holds the soundest advice for use of your card?
1. Minimum payment
2. Maximum Payment
3. Stretch the repayments
4. Shop for terms, proceed with caution
How is buying a car made easier by banks?
1. Checking accounts provide safe ways to transfer money
2. Banks will buy the car for you
3. Your bank and the car dealer's bank take care of the choices
4. You choose a pay by check without enough money; the bank protects you
If the economy slows down and you are worried about your high house payments what trends should you watch for?
1. Lower discount rates to banks and interest rates to customers
2. Higher discount rates to banks from the Federal Reserve System
3. Less money in circulation and less money to loan
4. More money in circulation by raising the discount rate
Which tax would raise prices on goods imported to a country?
1. Estate tax
2. Excise tax
3. Flat tax
4. Custom's duty
Which tax, providing large amounts of revenue for state and local governments, is also considered to be a burden to lower-income workers?
1. Flat tax
2. Sales tax
3. Gift tax
4. Excise tax
If a decision cannot be reached in an appeals court at the state and federal levels, where cant he legal case go next?
1. The case ends and goes nowhere
2. The case goes to the Supreme Court
3. The case goes to a special Federal Court
4. The case goes back to its original court
Which statement about the American Revolution is most likely explaining a pattern of history?
1. The Revolution was short-lived
2. Revolutions begin and end quickly
3. Rebellions can make revolutions
4. Revolutions have feared leaders
How was the continuing debate between the Federalist and Anti-Federalist conducted?
1. By news from the town crier
2. By fliers in the towns
3. With essays in the newspapers
4. By letters sent to enemies
Which of the following is considered a major leading indicator of the health of the domestic economy?
1. Housing starts rates
2. Trade deficits
3. Unemployment rates
4. Stock indices
Why did Congress pass the War Powers Act?
1. To protect its constitutional authority to declare war
2. To keep the Supreme Court out of war issues
3. To limit the power of the armed forces
4. To remove the president's role as commander-in-chief
Which set of First Lady special interest is a correct match?
1. Hillary Clinton: Health Care
2. Laura Bush: Western lands
3. Abigail Adams: White House restoration
4. Barbara Bush: Veterans
What is meant by the term "First Family"?
1. The president and all his relatives
2. The president, his wife, and children
3. The president, vice-president, and Cabinet
4. The president and his parents
If the President vetoes a bill, what happens to the bill?
1. The bill automatically becomes law within 10days
2. Teh bill is held for another session of Congress
3. The bill is held for 10 days by the clerk
4. The bill is returned to Congress with explanations of objections
Where did the American Founding Fathers get most of their ideas about self-government?
1. From Roman writings
2. From British traditions
3. From a leader's vision
4. From Eastern cultures
Which event caused the 13 colonies to turn inward and think about themselves as separate from Britain?
1. Reading about revolutionary ideas
2. Western territorial troubles and uprising
3. The French and Indian War and its aftermath
4. The blockades of shipping routes in trade
Which set of terms best describes the weaknesses of the new government under the Articles of Confederation?
1. 13 tax and trade systems
2. 13 social and religious systems
3. 1 national government
4. 2 documents defining conflicts
What word best describes the role of the minority and/or majority "whip" in the House of Representatives?
1. Principal
2. Coach
3. Teacher
4. Nurse
To whom does the Constitution give the job to preside over the U.S. Senate?
1. Vice-president of the U.S.
2. Speaker of the House
3. President of the Senate
4. Majority Leader
States form committees to redraw congressional districts. What is the political maneuvering of district lines called?
1. Gerrymandering
2. Getting even
3. Party politics
4. Apportioning
What is the role of the Speaker of the House?
1. Gives the speeches for members of Congress
2. Leader of the minority party
3. Presiding officer of the House of Representatives
4. The person to be interviewed for the news
Which law enforcement agency is responsible for your safety in your neighborhood or community?
1. Sheriff and police departments
2. Homeland Security Department
3. Prisons Department
4. Neighborhood Watch agency
Which compromise at the Constitution Convention led to a two-house legislature?
1. Great Compromise
2. New Jersey Plan
3. Virginia Plan
4. Compromise of 1850
What is a bicameral legislature?
1. Two branches of government
2. Two sections of a building
3. Two-house body
4. Two-committee system
How do the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment extend the Constitution for citizens of the United States?
1. They enlarge the role of the judicial branch
2. They amend the roles of the executive agencies
3. They added more sections to the original document
4. They document assurances of protection of rights
Which of the following types of community is near a city where people commute to work?
1. Urban community
2. Suburban community
3. Rural community
4. Religious Community
How does "competition" help consumers?
1. Determines the level of profit
2. More choices at lower prices
3. Determines the selling prices of an item
4. More items at higher prices
In which economic system does a consumer have more power? Why?
1. Traditional because they know what is expected
2. Mixed because they have choices as well as the government
3. Market because they have the right to own property and earn profits
4. Command because the government tells them what not to do
What is the main function of county governments in North Carolina?
1. Provide the main form of media information to citizens
2. Provide the main structure of government for rural areas
3. Provide oversight of all open spaces and/or parks
4. Provide an avenue to ask protection of city and state governments
Which factor of production involves the worker and the value of his/her time?
1. The land factor
2. The labor factor
3. The capital factor
4. The entrpreneurial factor
What is the official name for the bicameral legislature of North Carolina?
1. State legislature
2. Upper House
3. House of Representatives
4. General Assembly
What is the primary responsibility of any state legislature?
1. Enforce laws
2. Enact laws
3. Interpret laws
4. Defend laws
What are the documents called that the Supreme Court justices prepare to explain their position on a Supreme Court ruling?
1. Majority decision, concurring decision, dissenting decision
2. Majority opinion, minority opinion, no opinion
3. Minority opinion, concurring opinion, dissenting decision
4. Majority decision, concurring opinion, dissenting opinion

Civics & Economics Practice Test 1

Quiz