201 CIVICS QUESTIONS

1. Explain the process of citizenship/naturalization and who handles it.

2. List the differences between the rights of legal aliens and citizens.

3. What is a census, when is it taken and what is it used for?

4. What is common law?

5. How did the following influence American Democracy?

• Magna Carta

• Parliament

6. Explain the importance of the following in relation to democracy.

• The House of Burgesses

• The Mayflower Compact

7. Explain where and why town meetings developed.

8. How did Rousseau and Locke influence the Declaration of Independence?

9. What is the difference between Locke’s natural rights and Jefferson’s unalienable
rights?

10. List the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

11. What was the significance of Shay’s Rebellion?

12. Where and when was the Constitutional Convention held and what was its purpose?

13. Compare the following:

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

14. What solution/compromise did the Connecticut plan create?

15. What was the 3/5 Compromise?

16. What is the Electoral College?

17. Explain some basic beliefs surrounding the ratification of the Constitution by these
groups:
• Federalists

• Anti-Federalists

18. What are the Federalists Papers and who wrote them?

19. How did the Federalists satisfy the worries of the Anti-Federalists?

20. What is the purpose of the Preamble to the Constitution?

21. List and describe six goals of the Preamble.

22. How did the framers of the Constitution plan to uphold the Preamble?
23. What is the purpose of the:
• Executive Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Judicial Branch

24. How did the framers plan on preventing the national government from abusing their
power?

25. List and describe some examples of checks and balances for the:
• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

26. Explain the purpose of the “separation of powers.”

27. What is popular sovereignty?

28. Explain how the concept of Federalism works in the United States.

29. Explain each power and list several examples for each.
• Enumerated

• Reserved

• Concurrent

30. What is the purpose of the Supremacy Clause?

31. What is an Amendment?

 32. How can an Amendment be proposed?
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33. How can an Amendment be ratified?

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34. Explain the “necessary and proper” clause.

35. What is the elastic clause?

36. What responsibility does the Supreme Court have to the US Constitution?

37. What is the Bill of Rights and what purpose does it serve?

38. For each of the following Amendments, list the rights of US citizens
 1st
 2nd
 3rd
 4th
 5th
 6th
 7th
 8th
 9th
 10th

39. Why is the Zenger trial important?

40. What limits are placed on freedom of speech in the United States?

41. What rights do the 4th through 8th Amendments guarantee collectively?
 42. What is double jeopardy?
43. What is eminent domain?

44. What is the ACLU and what types of cases does it handle?

45. Explain the importance of the following amendments:

 13th (1865)
 14th (1868)
 15th (1870)

46. Upon which Amendment is the majority of Civil Rights legislation passed?

47. Explain the importance of the following Amendments:

 16th
 17th
 18th
 19th
 20th
 21st
 22nd
 25th
 26th

48. What is suffrage?

49. Citizen rights are broken down into three categories. Explain the differences
between these categories and list the Amendments which fall into these categories.
• Security
• Equality
• Liberty

50. Explain the difference between the following and give three to four examples of
each:
• Duties

• Responsibilities
51. List and explain the functions of a political party
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52. What is the most important function of a political party?

53. What are the advantages of a two party system?

54. What are the disadvantages of a two party system?

55. Explain how the following relate to political parties

• Platform
• Plank

56. Explain how the basic platform/planks differ for the Democratic and Republican
parties.

57. What is the difference between a majority and a plurality?

58. Why is it so important to political parties to have a majority in the American

representative system?

59. Describe the entire process a political party goes through in order to get their
candidate elected.

60. What is patronage?

61. What is the major reason that political parties hold National Conventions?
62. What is partisan politics?
63. What is a “grassroots” organization?

64. What are the requirements for voting in federal elections?

65. What is the electorate?

66. List some factors that contribute to voter apathy

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67. Explain how and why the following are used in nominating candidates for political
office
• Caucus
• Nominating convention
• Primary election
• National convention

68. Where is the first presidential primary election traditionally held?

69. Define the basic propaganda techniques used in getting candidates elected
• Name calling
• Endorsements
• Bandwagon
• Glittering generaity
• Stacked cards
• Symbols
• Just plain folks

70. What is a PAC?

71. Explain the difference between the following voter trends:

• Straight ticket
• Split ticket
72. What is the purpose of exit polls?
73. Explain the difference between:
• Popular votes
• Electoral votes
o Total electoral votes
o Percent needed to win election
o Number needed to win election
74. Explain how the following are used in passing state or local issues?
• Initiative
• Proposition
• Referendum
75. How do interest groups influence public policy?
76. What do the following interest groups favor?
• NAACP
• NOW
• CORE
• NRA
• AARP
• AMA
• AFL-CIO
• Audubon Society
77. What is a lobbyist?
78. Who employees lobbyists?
79. What are some strategies used by lobbyists?
80. What does bi-cameral mean?
81. How is the US Congress organized?
82. What are the requirements for serving in the House of Representatives?
83. How long is the term of a Representative?
84. What are the requirements for serving in the Senate?
85. How long is the term of a Senator?
86. How is representation in the US House of Representatives established? (use the
word)
87. Explain the roles of individuals in the following congressional positions:
• Majority leader
• Minority leader
• Party whip
• Speaker of the House
• President Pro Tempore
88. Why does Congress form committees?
89. Explain the purpose of the following Congressional Committees?
• Standing Committee
• Select Committee
 • Joint Committee
• Conference Committee
90. How are committee assignments traditionally made?
91. What is the difference between expressed and implied powers?
92. List some expressed powers held by Congress
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93. Describe some “non-legislative” powers held by Congress.
94. Explain the process of impeachment and the percents needed in each house for a
successful impeachment and removal of a political official.
95. Where do appropriations bills have to begin and why?
96. Explain the steps taken to make a bill into a law.
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97. Describe the three ways Congress votes on passing a Bill
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98. What happens to a Bill which is revised in a committee?
99. Explain how the following terms relate to the legislative process
• Pigeonhole
• Filibuster
• Cloture
• Veto
• Pocket Veto
100. What happens to a bill not signed by the President after 10 days when
• Congress is in session?
• Congress is not in session?
101. What are the requirements for serving as President of the United States?
102. How long is a presidential term?
103. How many terms can a President serve?
104. What are some of the privileges extended to the President of the United States?
105. List the order of succession to the Presidency of the United States and tell which
amendment established this policy.
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106. What is the purpose of the Presidential Cabinet?
107. How does the President play a role in these branches of government?
• Judicail
• Legislative
108. What is the War Powers Act?
109. Explain the purpose of the E.O.P. and list some examples of these offices and
their responsibilities.
110. What are the three most important E.O.P. offices and why?
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111. What is the difference between the E.O.P. and Executive cabinet?
112. How does Congress limit the President’s power in appointing Executive
Department leaders?
113. List and explain the responsibility of all the Presidential Cabinet positions.
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114. Explain the purpose of an Executive Agency?
115. List and describe some examples of Executive Agencies.
116. What is the difference between:
• Executive Agencies
• Regulator Commissions
117. What is the purpose of the FCC?
118. What is a government corporation?
119. Explain the federal bureaucracy and the problems it creates?
120. What is the purpose of the Civil Service?
121. How does one obtain a civil service position?
122. How long is the term of service for a Federal Judge?
123. Who has the power to create inferior courts?
124. What is the importance of the Judiciary Act of 1789?
125. What is the structure of the Federal Court System?
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126. Over what types of cases do Federal Courts have jurisdiction?
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127. What is the difference between the following types of jurisdiction?
• Exclusive jurisdiction
• Concurrent jurisdiction
• Original jurisdiction
128. Why do District Courts have original jurisdiction in most federal cases?
129. Which level of federal court hears the largest number of cases?
130. What is the role of the magistrate in federal courts?
131. What type of jurisdiction does the US Court of Appeals have and why?
132. What are the three types of rulings an appellate court may issue?
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133. List and explain the purpose of “Special Federal Courts.”
134. Why is the Supreme Court the highest court on the land?
135. In what two instances does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?
136. What does the concept of judicial review mean?
137. Which Supreme Court Case established the principle of judicial review?
138. How does the Supreme Court rely on the other branches of government?
139. Why is the appointment of Supreme Court Justices so important to political
parties?
140. How does the Supreme Court decide which cases to hear?
141. Fill out the following chart.
S. Court Case Date Importance
Marbury v Madison,
 Dartmouth College v
Woodward,
McCulloch v Maryland,
Gibbons v Ogden,
Dred Scott v Sanford,
Plessy v Ferguson,
West Virginia Board of
Education v Barnette,
Korematsu v US,
Brown v Board of
Education Topeka,
Kansas,
Mapp v Ohio,
Engel v Vitale,
Abington School District v
Schempp,
Gideon v Wainwright,
Escobedo v Illinois,
Heart of Atlanta Motel,
Inc. v US,
In re Gault,
Miranda v Arizona,
Tinker v Des Moines,
New York Times v US,
Furman v Georgia,
Roe v Wade,
US v Nixon,
Gregg v Georgia,
Regents of University of
California v Bakke,
New Jersey v TLO,
Bethel School District v
Frasier,
Hazelwood v Kuhlmeier,
Texas v Johnson,
142. How does the constitution limit the power of state governments?
143. What are some powers denied to the states?
144. List and explain some powers reserved to the states:
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145. Although state constitutions vary, what must all state governments be?
146. In what ways do the federal and state governments cooperate?
147. How long is a North Carolina governor’s term?
148. Is the NC governor limited to a serving only a specified number of terms?
149. What are the duties and powers of governors?
• Duties
• Powers
150. What are some differences between NC’s Executive Cabinet and the US
Executive Cabinets?
151. Explain how the office of governor is both similar to and different from the office
of president.
• Similar
• Different
152. When did the NC governor get veto power?
153. Describe the structure, terms and requirements for the NC General Assembly
• Structure
• Terms
o Senate
o House
• Requirements for Office
o Senate
o House
154. What is the major problem facing most state governments?
155. List and explain how state governments raise revenue
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156. What is the major source of revenue for NC’s State government?
157. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a bond?
158. What steps must be taken in order to pass a bond?
159. Indicate the purpose of the state courts listed below and whether or not a jury is
present in that court.
State Court Purpose Jury Present (Yes/No)
State Supreme Courts
Appellate Courts
General Trial Courts
Justice Courts
Magistrate Courts
Municipal Courts (Traffic)
Municipal Courts (Juvenile)
Municipal Courts
(Misdemeanor)
Civil Courts
160. What methods are used to reduce the number of cases on a docket every day?
161. How do county governments receive their power?
162. Who makes the decisions for Union County?
163. What powers do most county boards have?
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164. List and describe some executive positions created to help enforce county
ordinances
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165. Why has the role of county governments become so complex?
166. Describe the size, location and structure of the following
• Townships
• Villages
• Special Districts
167. Who serves as Chief Executive in most city governments?
168. Explain the structure of
• Council Manger government
• Commission government
169. Why do many cities and surrounding areas form metropolitan areas?
170. What are some problems local governments are facing?
171. What does it mean to “build infrastructure?”
172. What variable/factors must communities take into consideration when creating
public policy?
173. What is the responsibility of a zoning board?
174. How is public policy for city governments funded?
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175. Although education is funded at many levels (federal, state, and local) which level
of government contributes the greatest amount of money?
176. How do many communities address the lack of funding for different services?
177. Who regulates the amount of pollution emitted into the environment?
178. What is the largest source of energy in the US?
179. How have communities begun to address the issue of scarcity in the United
States?
180. What is jurisprudence?
181. On what is the American legal system based?
182. Explain how the following relate to basic legal rights in the United States:
• Write of Habeas Corpus
• Bill of attainder
183. Explain how the following help insure the rights of the accused
• Grand Jury
• Rights against self incrimination
• Rights to an adequate defense
• Right to a speedy trial
• Appeals
• Protection against Double Jeopardy
184. What is the “burden of proof?”
185. What is the difference between:
• Grand Jury
• Petit Jury
• Bench Jury
186. Explain and give examples for each type of law:
• Criminal Law
• Civil Law
• Constitutional Law
• Administrative Law
• International Law
187. Explain how the following relate to Civil Law
• Complaint
• Lawsuit
• Plaintiff
• Defendant
• Injunction
188. List and explain four basic types of lawsuits
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189. Explain and give an example for the following types of crime
• Crimes against property
• Crimes against people
 • Victimless crimes
190. Which is the most common?
191. What is the basic rule when sentencing a convicted criminal? (remember the 8th)
192. Explain the difference between the following types of sentences:
• Minimum sentence
• Maximum sentence
• Indeterminate sentence
• Mandatory sentence
193. How do the following terms relate to criminal proceedings?
• Summons
• Prosecution
• Testimony
• Cross examination
194. What are some factors that have contributed to the rise in juvenile crime?
195. What is the guiding principle of juvenile courts?
196. List the full name for the acronyms listed below and explain there purpose.
Acronyms Full Name Purpose
HUD
IRS
OSHA
FDA
ACLU
SBI
INS
FDIC
CPI
GDP
GATT
WTO
OPEC
FCC
NASA
EPA
FTC
DOT
USDA
CIA
ATF
EOP
FAA
HMO
NAFTA
NATO
NSC
NLRB
WHO