VirtualSC Honors Government Practice Exam

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• Which of the following is NOT a reason for the delay in the shift from government to self-rule after the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
• Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a "unitary system"?
• True or False: Critical issues like marriage and criminal laws are usually decided by state and local officials rather than federal authorities.
• Which statement accurately describes the principle of "due process"?
• Which is an example of a factor influencing public opinion polls?
• All of the following are major pieces of federal environmental legislation EXCEPT for which of the following?
• Which example demonstrates shared power between the president and Congress?
• Which statement accurately characterizes "liberal" ideology?
• Why is the media's role as a watchdog over the government considered important?
• The types of taxes in South Carolina are which of the following?
• What policy allows judges to play a minimal policymaking role and defer to legislatures?
• Which statement is INACCURATE regarding the 5th Amendment?
• Which of the following is NOT true of lobbyists?
• How did President Andrew Jackson limit the power of the Supreme Court?
• Which title is NOT typically a staff member of the White House Office?
• What is the main purpose of Congress?
• What is the affirmation, or oath of office, the president takes before taking office?
• Which statement accurately characterizes "nationalism"?
• Which body decides how debates occur in the House of Representatives?
• A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president is known as which of the following?
• If a bill does not receive a majority of votes in the committee, it is said to have done which of the following?
• The Constitution assigned the President of the United States several powers EXCEPT for which one of the following?
• How often must Congress meet according to the U.S. Constitution?
• Which of the following describes powers that are shared by both state and federal governments?
• Which of the following is an example of inherent powers of the national government?
• The "cabinet agency assigned to operate and manage South Carolina's 47 state parks" is which of the following?
• Which condition must be considered to ensure freedom of assembly does not infringe on others' rights?
• Which of the following best describes a closed primary?
• Which of the following characterizes patronage?
• Which action is most likely to cause tension between individualism and rule of law?
• Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Articles of Confederation?
• The "Great American Melting Pot" concept signifies which of the following?
• Devolution is when Congress does which of the following?
• Which of the following amendments was created to deny the national government the authority to make general searches and seizures of property?
• After a legislative election, what is the party with the most representatives called?
• What constitutional right is emphasized in the 1st Amendment?
• One drawback of the "winner-take-all" system of elections in the United States is that third parties find it hard to compete with the two major parties.
• According to the Supreme Court, the 4th Amendment allows the police to search several areas EXCEPT for which ONE of the following?
• What demonstrates the Supreme Court's power to overrule itself?
• In the case of a president's removal from office, death, or resignation, which of the following shall become President of the United States?
• Which of the following regulates hiring and testing of 90% of federal bureaucrats through a written examination administered by the Office of Personnel Management?
• What characterizes the relationship between executive and legislative actions and the judicial branch?
• What is the first step in the process of a bill becoming law in South Carolina?
• Which political phenomenon is characterized by candidates aligning their views with poll results?
• What principle guarantees that laws are not applied in a discriminatory manner?
• According to the 14th Amendment, someone born in Canada to American parents is automatically what?
• According to libertarian views, how should the government approach healthcare to respect individual choice and rights?
• Which of the following best describes the purpose of the system of checks and balances?
• Which of the following characterizes how a minority political party can check the power of the majority political party?
• What is the responsibility of each state under Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution?
• Which of the following is the ability for any member of Congress to propose a bill?
• What is the name of the fund established by Congress in 1980 to address hazardous waste site clean-up?
• Which statement about the 25th Amendment is inaccurate?
• Which entity plays a crucial role in enforcing the rulings made by the judiciary?
• Which of the following best describes how policy reflects the attitudes and beliefs of citizens who choose to participate at a given time?
• "To purchase the most health for our citizens in need at the least possible cost to the taxpayer" is the mission of which of the following?
• South Carolina's legislature is called which of the following?
• How did the Supreme Court decisions in Marbury v. Madison and McCulloch v. Maryland clarify the role of the Supreme Court and the power of the federal government?
• Which of the following is NOT a required qualification to become a member of the House of Representatives?
• According to the Iron Triangle Theory, which ONE of the following statements is INACCURATE?
• How do organized interest groups apply pressure to the government?
• Which document, written in 1215, established the belief that a monarch's rule was not absolute?
• Which of the following actions would create the most tension between the competing values of rule of law and limited government?
• What is the main power of the judicial branch?
• Which of the following is considered an "implied power" of the government?
• Democratic societies strive for balance by achieving a compromise between which two elements?
• Which group consists of the elected representatives that make laws in the federal government?
• At the beginning of each new Congress, which term do Democrats use for their special meetings to talk about party policy and select their leaders?
• Which TWO of the following are main arguments in favor of interest groups?
• The 14th Amendment was adopted in what year?
• What type of power prohibits states from taxing interstate commerce?
• Judicial review allows the modern Supreme Court to act as which of the following?
• Which of the following statements best explains why no third-party candidate received any electoral votes during the 2016 Presidential Election?
• If the President does not sign a bill presented by Congress, which of the following is an option for it to become a law?
• What is the constitutionally established group of electors that select the president?
• Political parties serve which of the following functions?
• Which theory did John Locke develop regarding government and society?
• Have campaigns become shorter and cheaper in recent years, necessitating no further reforms?
• Which ONE of the following is considered a form of participation in a democracy?
• Which event showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a Constitution that balanced order and liberty?
• Which committee in Congress is primarily responsible for reviewing and editing bills before they proceed to the floor for a vote?
• How is a Supreme Court justice appointed?
• Legislators that cooperate with the chief executive because they belong to the same political party are performing which of the following political party roles?
• What is the significance of checks and balances in the U.S. government?
• What best explains the compromise behind the creation of the Electoral College?
• Which attitude is NOT attributed to factors contributing to American political culture?
• What was a major cause for the writing of the Federalist Papers?
• Which ONE of the following is NOT a responsibility imposed on noncitizens?
• What does the 14th Amendment guarantee?
• What organization is led by the Surgeon General and focuses on health care research and monitoring?
• What was a major debate topic at the Constitutional Convention?
• Which demographic group has historically shown loyalty to the Democratic Party?
• Which of the following is a type of grant that is appropriated by Congress to states for a specific purpose and allocated by a precise formula with detailed conditions imposed by the national government?
• What does impeachment mean in the context of U.S. governance?
• Which former president attempted to "pack" the courts with Federalist judges?
• What is a potential reason for tension between the president and Congress regarding executive orders?
• What principle ensures that similar cases are treated similarly in a legal context?
• Which ONE of the following features does NOT characterize American bureaucracy?
• What argument did Federalists use in defense of the Constitution?
• Anti-Federalists believed which of the following?
• Who confirms the South Carolina governor's Cabinet members after their nomination?
• What is the primary method through which leaders of the House and the Senate exert their power?
• In 1993, Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act, also known as the "Motor-Voter" law, requiring which of the following?
• When states cannot tax imports or exports, they are exercising which type of power?
• Congress delegates substantial authority to administrative agencies in several areas EXCEPT for which ONE of the following?
• What type of legislature does every state, except Nebraska, have?
• Judicial review was established in which of the following cases?
• Which of the following is an interactive medium, allowing citizens to send and receive information in real-time?
• Which principle is NOT found in the Declaration of Independence?
• Which branch serves as a watchdog for the other branches of government under constitutional principles?
• Which scenario is NOT within the federal courts' jurisdiction according to the Constitution?
• Which case is the best example of judicial activism?
• Political parties perform several functions EXCEPT for which ONE of the following?
• The right to a speedy and public trial is guaranteed by which amendment?
• Which social and economic characteristic is NOT strongly associated with high levels of political participation?
• The process by which the Supreme Court determines the constitutionality of a legislative act is known as what?
• What economic consequence can arise from having insufficient money in circulation?
• How is legal precedent typically used by the courts?
• One suggestion for making civil servants more accountable for their work includes which of the following?
• Which of the following political party roles involves criticizing the party in power and offering solutions?
• Around 350 B.C., Aristotle proposed which of the following theories?
• Based on the Tenth Amendment, which of the following describes powers reserved to the states or the people?
• Which amendment established the procedures for succession to the presidency?
• What role does the South Carolina governor play in the legislative process once a bill has been passed by the legislature?
• Which statement does NOT describe the exclusive powers given to the Senate?
• Which of the following describes when the "rule of law" is being exercised?
• What is the term for the power of the courts to review decisions of other government branches?
• The state governor is chosen by which of the following?
• What constitutional principle allows the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional?
• Which ONE of the following is NOT a characteristic of a model bureaucracy?
• The toleration of Catholics in Maryland and Quakers in Pennsylvania exemplifies which fundamental value?
• What prompted the American colonies to seek a new government after 150 years under British rule?
• Which of the following is a right explicitly denied to noncitizens by the Supreme Court?
• What is a primary duty of the Office of Management and Budget?
• In the context of the U.S. Constitution, what does "pocket veto" refer to?
• What is the main objective of the Federal Election Commission (FEC)?
• Which of the following is an example of a special interest group?
• Which of the following is a characteristic of a confederal government?
• What was the title of the essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay in favor of ratification?
• The American government is rooted in a European movement that sought to question monarch authority known as?
• If the Special Rules Committee in the House sets a short time limit on debates and allows no amendments from the floor, what have they imposed?
• Which of the following is the role of the judicial branch?
• The founders included several principles into government to limit majority rule EXCEPT for which of the following?
• As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the president is responsible for which of the following?
• South Carolina's sales tax rate is which of the following?
• Which TWO of the following factors could contribute to low voter turnout?
• Which agency is responsible for the rehabilitation of offenders in South Carolina?
• What major principle does the requirement for government to follow established laws represent?
• What is the mission of the South Carolina Department of Corrections?
• The times, places, and manner of electing senators and representatives shall be determined by which of the following?
• What is a watchdog's main function in the context of political parties?
• Each cabinet department is headed by a Secretary who sits on the President's Cabinet, with the exception of the Justice Department, headed by which of the following?
• Which body has the exclusive power to initiate revenue bills?
• How do most cases come to the Supreme Court?
• What document outlines the fundamental principles of the U.S. government?
• When deciding cases regarding free speech, what important question do courts consider?
• The 5th Amendment protects individuals against which of the following?
• What is the main responsibility of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services?
• The power to confirm appointments to the Supreme Court resides in which of the following?
• Under what condition did Thomas Jefferson support the Constitution?
• Who is recognized as the "father of American polling" and founded the American Institute for Public Opinion?
• The Miranda v. Arizona decision relates to which key principle?
• What term describes political candidates that shift their positions based on public opinion polls?
• Which of the following characterizes how the power of judicial review acts as a check on the legislative and executive branches?
• What action does the Department of Education take after the enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)?
• What action did President Franklin D. Roosevelt attempt regarding the Supreme Court?
• What is the function of the National Security Council within the Executive Office of the President?
• What principle is Thomas Jefferson advocating for in the Declaration of Independence excerpt regarding government?
• The President's ability to veto a bill is an example of which of the following?
• True or False: State judges have the final voice in most cases in the United States.
• What is an example of how Congress can check the power of the president?
• The situations listed below illustrate when voter turnout was low in the United States EXCEPT for which?
• States that impose stringent rules on voting by mail are characterized by which of the following institutional barriers?
• Section 1 of the 14th Amendment is commonly known as what?
• Which of the following concepts refers to the relationship between religion and government?
• Who serves as the President of the Senate and votes only in case of a tie?
• Which level of government has the authority to manage state parks in South Carolina?
• What role do political parties serve in connecting citizens to their government?
• Once a bill is proposed by a South Carolina legislator, it then goes to which of the following?
• Thomas Jefferson's famous phrase in the Declaration of Independence proclaimed that "all men are created equal" but that does not include which of the following?
• Which of the following is a way to scale back bureaucracy by turning over bureaucratic functions to private entities?
• What characteristic is most closely related to consistently high voting rates?
• Based on a provision of the U.S. Constitution, why did the framers include a two-year term for the House of Representatives?
• Which former President claimed that federal efforts to improve society were eroding individual freedoms?
• Which factor is known to exacerbate the welfare debate among lawmakers?
• Which power of Congress is considered the most significant?
• Which document asserted that people have the right to rebel against an improper government?
• Congress's ability to investigate the executive branch serves what purpose?
• According to the U.S. Constitution, enslaved individuals were counted as what?
• Which of the following parties rarely win major elections and have never won a presidential election?
• Which economic philosophy advocates for government intervention in the economy?
• How can the judiciary influence policy at all government levels?
• Which TWO of the following statements characterize how interest groups interact with the government?
• How do elected branches most commonly seize statutory control from the Supreme Court?
• The historical influence of the two-party political system in the United States began with which of the following?
• As the chief administrator, what is one responsibility of the President of the United States?
• One of the two broad areas in the Bill of Rights that protected civil liberties is which of the following?
• What document do presidents use to explain their endorsement of a bill and its expected impact?
• Which of the following committees is primarily responsible for reviewing proposed legislation in the House?
• Which branch of government is responsible for proposing legislation in South Carolina?
• What belief holds that the Constitution is to be interpreted strictly?
• Since Marbury v. Madison, the judicial branch has determined whether decisions of other governmental entities are?
• What is the purpose of the Federal Election Campaign Act passed in 1974?
• What did the Great (Connecticut) Compromise establish?
• Which document served as the first governing document of the United States?
• Which characteristic does NOT indicate high levels of political participation?
• Which ONE of the following is NOT a type of primary election?
• In the Schenck v. The United States case, what principle did the court establish regarding free speech?
• Which of the following would be considered a violation of the Establishment Clause?
• The Supreme Court decision in McCulloch v. Maryland established which principle of federalism?
• Which one of the following is NOT a reason why the people have a negative opinion of the bureaucratic system?
• Which component of political parties is involved in supporting candidates?
• The principle of "separation of church and state" is intended to prevent which of the following?
• Who were the opposing sides in the debate over ratification of the Constitution?
• Which ONE of the following statements accurately describes "liberty"?
• Who has the authority to confirm judicial appointments in South Carolina?
• Which of the following is when Congress limits the number of regulations that an agency is allowed to enforce?
• Which of the following are semi-formal groups within Congress organized around particular identity or interest?
• What is the key function of a bicameral legislature?
• Which of the following is an INACCURATE description of "civil liberties"?
• How are polls principally used by political candidates?
• In the United States, the constitutional protection of the basic rights of citizenship is found in which of the following amendments?
• The President of the United States is exercising which of the following when presenting information on the state of the union to Congress and when convening both houses of Congress on extraordinary occasions?
• Who is typically regarded as the president's main adviser on foreign policy matters?
• Which type of grant was consolidated and given to states with few strings attached during the Reagan Administration?
• What is the term for the fierce loyalty to one's political party, despite calls for independence from party affiliation?
• A social insurance plan for the elderly, the most extensive single welfare program is which of the following?
• Which aspect of governance does "government derives power from the consent of the governed" illustrate?
• The largest expense for most states is which of the following?
• Which THREE of the following are ways that Americans may lose their citizenship?
• Why might state and local officials handle certain issues such as driving age and marriage laws?
• What is a primary function of policy networks in relation to interest groups and government officials?
• What is the primary function of the Electoral College in the United States?
• Which of the following describes the principle that the government should reflect the collective will of the people?
• The concept of limited government is most directly associated with which of the following?
• Which Republican group in 1994 sought to return many functions to the states?
• Which of the following best describes the role of the Bill of Rights?
• Which eighteenth-century philosopher believed that the right to rule comes from the "consent of the governed"?
• The evolving power and enlarging scope of responsibility have required the President of the United States to perform several roles EXCEPT for which ONE of the following?
• Which of the following characterizes "weekday voting" as an institutional barrier to voter participation?
• According to the presidential line of succession, when the president and vice president both become incapacitated, which of the following takes over the presidency?
• Which department is responsible for marketing South Carolina as a preferred vacation destination?
• In which case did the Supreme Court establish the "supremacy" of the federal government?
• What fundamental value in American government allows freedom of music choice?
• Powers shared between different levels of government are called which of the following?
• Lyndon B. Johnson's expansion of domestic public policy in the 1960's was called which of the following?
• In what scenario is the government allowed to limit free speech?
• Which position serves the president directly as part of the White House staff?
• Which factor does NOT contribute to American political attitudes and behavior?
• In Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled that individuals accused of a crime have the right to which of the following?
• Which constitutional clause allows Congress to make laws necessary to carry out its enumerated powers?
• Which ONE of the following statements is a violation of the Hatch Act?
• The power to tax at federal, state, and local levels is classified as what type of power?
• Which of the following is NOT a constitutional power granted to Congress?
• What is the term for the postal privilege that allows members of Congress to send mail for free?
• How does the executive branch influence legislation according to the separation of powers?
• What does the First Amendment protect citizens' rights related to?
• What is the most common indication that a government is ruled by law?
• Which of the following amendments protects against self-incrimination?
• The Bill of Rights guarantees specific individual liberties EXCEPT for which of the following?
• What is the essential purpose of laws enacted by the South Carolina legislature?
• Which ONE of the following items is NOT a requirement for a U.S. citizenship applicant?
• Which of the following is an example of power shared between the judiciary and the other two branches of government?
• The belief that the federal courts must correct injustices that are perpetuated or ignored by other branches is known as which of the following?
• Which of the following principles ensures that the government does not take private property for public use without compensation?
• Which policy is primarily concerned with regulating the quantity of money in circulation within the economy?
• Unlike other branches of our government and bureaucracy, the judiciary can change policy only if which of the following happens?
• Symbolic speech is illustrated in which of the following?
• Which foundational principle refers to the idea that government derives its power from the consent of the governed?
• The maze of government rules, regulations, and paperwork that make government so overwhelming to citizens that many people try to avoid any contact is a common complaint about bureaucracy known as which of the following?
• Which ONE of the following does NOT constitute a step in the U.S. naturalization process?
• Which of the following aptly describes "The American Dream"?
• The 6th Amendment guarantees the right to have which TWO of the following?
• Which THREE of the following rights does the Supreme Court provide to noncitizens?
• What does the federal, state, and local power to tax illustrate about U.S. governance?
• Which amendment grants the right to bear arms?
• Which election presented a famous example of public opinion polls missing the mark, predicting a landslide victory for Thomas E. Dewey, but ultimately resulting in a win for Harry Truman?
• Which THREE of the following actions are ways that people may participate in politics?
• What philosophy allows judges to make decisions based on the spirit of the times?