U.S. Government (Grade 12) Midterm — Units 1–2

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that
   1. A. a bill of rights was unnecessary
   2. B. states should be able to leave the Union
   3. C. the Articles of Confederation should be kept
   4. D. a large republic would control the dangers of factions
2. The Necessary and Proper Clause is the basis for which kind of powers?
   1. A. Concurrent powers of cities
   2. B. Reserved powers of the states
   3. C. Implied powers of Congress
   4. D. Inherent powers of the courts
3. What was a major weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation?
   1. A. The national army was too large
   2. B. The president had too much power
   3. C. Congress had no power to collect taxes
   4. D. Federal courts constantly overruled the states
4. How did the Great Compromise settle the debate over representation in Congress?
   1. A. It let the president appoint all members of the Senate
   2. B. It gave every state one vote in a single-house Congress
   3. C. It based both houses on population
   4. D. It created a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation
5. According to the Supremacy Clause, what happens when a valid federal law conflicts with a state law?
   1. A. The state law takes priority
   2. B. The two laws cancel each other out
   3. C. The federal law takes priority
   4. D. Voters in that state decide which law applies
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. A pocket veto occurs when
    1. A. the Senate rejects a treaty
    2. B. the president signs a bill but refuses to enforce it
    3. C. the president does not sign a bill within ten days and Congress has adjourned
    4. D. Congress refuses to send a bill to the president
12. What is a standing committee in Congress?
    1. A. A temporary committee formed to settle differences between the two houses
    2. B. A group of senators who advise the president
    3. C. A permanent committee that handles bills in a specific policy area
    4. D. A committee that meets only during a war
13. What is a filibuster?
    1. A. A vote of both houses to override a veto
    2. B. A committee hearing on a nominee
    3. C. Extended debate in the Senate used to delay or block a vote
    4. D. A rule limiting debate in the House
14. What is reapportionment?
    1. A. Redistributing House seats among the states after each census
    2. B. Changing the number of senators per state
    3. C. Redrawing state boundaries every ten years
    4. D. Assigning bills to committees
15. According to the Constitution, bills to raise revenue must begin in
    1. A. the Senate
    2. B. the Supreme Court
    3. C. the House of Representatives
    4. D. the Treasury Department
16. 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
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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
20. 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

Part 2: Written Response

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