U.S. Government (Grade 12) Midterm — Semester 2, Form B

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. The principle of stare decisis means that courts
   1. A. must rule in favor of the government
   2. B. must use juries in every case
   3. C. cannot hear cases about the Constitution
   4. D. generally follow precedents set in earlier cases
2. Under the Supreme Court's "rule of four,"
   1. A. four states must ask the Court to rule
   2. B. four justices must agree to decide a case
   3. C. four justices must agree for the Court to hear a case
   4. D. a case must pass through four lower courts first
3. What is a concurring opinion?
   1. A. An opinion that agrees with the majority's decision but for different reasons
   2. B. A ruling issued by a lower court
   3. C. An opinion that disagrees with the majority's decision
   4. D. An order sending a case back for retrial
4. A judge who practices judicial restraint believes courts should
   1. A. ignore the original meaning of the Constitution
   2. B. overturn precedents whenever possible
   3. C. defer to elected branches and strike down laws only when clearly unconstitutional
   4. D. actively use rulings to create new social policy
5. When the Supreme Court grants a writ of certiorari, it
   1. A. refuses to hear an appeal
   2. B. orders a new trial with a jury
   3. C. sends a case to Congress
   4. D. agrees to review a lower court's decision
6. What did Miranda v. Arizona (1966) require?
   1. A. Police must have a warrant for every arrest
   2. B. Police must inform suspects of their rights before custodial questioning
   3. C. Suspects must be given a jury trial within thirty days
   4. D. States must provide free lawyers in civil cases
7. Which statement best describes the difference between civil liberties and civil rights?
   1. A. Civil liberties limit government action; civil rights guarantee equal treatment
   2. B. Civil liberties come from state law; civil rights come from local law
   3. C. Civil liberties apply only to citizens; civil rights apply to everyone
   4. D. Civil liberties are about voting; civil rights are about speech
8. Selective incorporation is the process by which
   1. A. the Supreme Court applies Bill of Rights protections to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment
   2. B. states choose which federal laws to follow
   3. C. Congress adds new amendments to the Bill of Rights
   4. D. the president selects which rights to enforce
9. What does the Eighth Amendment prohibit?
   1. A. Unreasonable searches and seizures
   2. B. Forcing a person to testify against himself
   3. C. Housing soldiers in private homes during peacetime
   4. D. Cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail
10. In Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), the Supreme Court held that students
    1. A. keep free speech rights at school unless their speech substantially disrupts learning
    2. B. may say anything at school without any limits
    3. C. have no free speech rights inside public schools
    4. D. need a parent's permission to express political views
11. How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?
    1. A. 218
    2. B. 435
    3. C. 538
    4. D. 270
12. In a closed primary, who may vote?
    1. A. Only voters who did not vote in the last election
    2. B. Only voters registered with that party
    3. C. Any registered voter
    4. D. Only party officials and delegates
13. How is the number of a state's electoral votes determined?
    1. A. The number of counties in the state
    2. B. Its share of the national popular vote
    3. C. Its number of House members plus its two senators
    4. D. Its land area
14. When the news media influence which issues the public thinks are most important, this is called
    1. A. logrolling
    2. B. impoundment
    3. C. gerrymandering
    4. D. agenda setting
15. What did the Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971) do?
    1. A. Allowed District of Columbia residents to vote for president
    2. B. Gave women the right to vote
    3. C. Lowered the voting age to eighteen
    4. D. Banned poll taxes in federal elections

Part 2: Written Response

16. Choose one Supreme Court case on civil liberties or civil rights. Explain the facts, the ruling, the constitutional basis, and its impact on Americans today.