U.S. Government (Grade 12) Midterm — Semester 1, Form B

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. Federalism is best defined as
   1. A. the power of courts to strike down laws
   2. B. the separation of power among three branches
   3. C. the division of power between the national government and the states
   4. D. the rule that the majority always decides
2. What is the most common way the Constitution has been amended?
   1. A. The Supreme Court proposes it, and Congress ratifies it
   2. B. Two-thirds of both houses of Congress propose it, and three-fourths of state legislatures ratify it
   3. C. Two-thirds of the states propose it, and the president ratifies it
   4. D. A majority of Congress proposes it, and the president signs it
3. What did the Three-Fifths Compromise determine?
   1. A. How enslaved people would be counted for representation and taxation
   2. B. How many states had to approve amendments
   3. C. How many votes were needed to ratify the Constitution
   4. D. What fraction of Congress could override a veto
4. What does the Tenth Amendment say?
   1. A. The federal government may not establish an official religion
   2. B. Congress may collect an income tax
   3. C. Citizens have the right to a speedy and public trial
   4. D. Powers not given to the national government nor denied to the states are reserved to the states or the people
5. Which is an example of checks and balances?
   1. A. A city council passes a local budget
   2. B. A state sets its own speed limits
   3. C. The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress
   4. D. Citizens vote for their state governor
6. How long is the term of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives?
   1. A. Six years
   2. B. Two years
   3. C. Four years
   4. D. Eight years
7. Which power belongs only to the Senate?
   1. A. Starting bills to raise taxes
   2. B. Approving treaties by a two-thirds vote
   3. C. Declaring war
   4. D. Bringing articles of impeachment
8. How can Congress override a presidential veto?
   1. A. By a simple majority in both houses
   2. B. By a ruling from the Supreme Court
   3. C. By a two-thirds vote in both houses
   4. D. By a three-fourths vote in the Senate only
9. Who is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives?
   1. A. The vice president
   2. B. The House majority whip
   3. C. The president pro tempore
   4. D. The Speaker of the House
10. Gerrymandering is the practice of
    1. A. delaying a vote with long speeches
    2. B. drawing district lines to give one party or group an advantage
    3. C. adding unrelated amendments to a bill
    4. D. counting the population every ten years
11. Who is next in the line of presidential succession after the vice president?
    1. A. The Chief Justice
    2. B. The Secretary of State
    3. C. The Senate majority leader
    4. D. The Speaker of the House
12. What is an executive order?
    1. A. A Supreme Court ruling on presidential power
    2. B. A treaty approved by the Senate
    3. C. A directive from the president that manages how the executive branch operates
    4. D. A law passed by Congress at the president's request
13. What does the Twenty-Second Amendment do?
    1. A. Lowers the voting age to eighteen
    2. B. Limits a president to two elected terms
    3. C. Allows the direct election of senators
    4. D. Sets the order of presidential succession
14. Which is a constitutional requirement to be president?
    1. A. Holding a college degree
    2. B. Owning property in the United States
    3. C. Having served in Congress
    4. D. Being at least 35 years old
15. What did the Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 do?
    1. A. Began hiring many federal workers based on merit instead of political loyalty
    2. B. Created the president's Cabinet
    3. C. Required federal workers to join political parties
    4. D. Allowed presidents to fire any federal employee

Part 2: Written Response

16. Trace how a bill becomes a law in Congress. Identify two points where a bill is most likely to fail and explain why.