Praxis II Government Political Science Test Questions

1. Thomas Paine's Common Sense influenced which American document that ultimately helped shape the Constitution?

A. The Articles of Confederation
B. The Declaration of Independence
C. Bill of Rights
D. The Treaty of Greenville

2. One reason the Articles of Confederation created a weak government was because it limited Congress's ability to do what?

A. Declare war
B. Conduct a census
C. Vote
D. Tax

3. The philosophy of the late 17th-18th centuries that influenced the Constitution was from the Age of:

A. Enlightenment
B. Empire
C. Discovery
D. Industry

4. The votes of how many states were needed to ratify the Constitution?

A. Five
B. Ten
C. Nine
D. Seven

5. Virginian _______________ advocated a stronger central government and was influential at the Constitutional Convention.

A. Benjamin Franklin
B. James Madison
C. George Mason
D. Robert Yates

6. Power divided between local and central branches of government is a definition of what term?

A. Bicameralism
B. Checks and balances
C. Legislative oversight
D. Federalism

7. The Senate and the House of Representatives are an example of:

A. Bicameralism
B. Checks and balances
C. Legislative oversight
D. Federalism

8. The civil rights act that outlawed segregation in schools and public places also:

A. Gave minorities the right to vote
B. Established women's right to vote
C. Outlawed unequal voter registration
D. Provided protection for children

9. Which court case established the Court's ability to overturn laws that violated the Constitution?

A. Miranda v. Arizona
B. Marbury v. Madison
C. United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corporation
D. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

10. The first ten amendments to the Constitution are more commonly known as:

A. the Civil Rights Act
B. Common law
C. the Equal Protection clause
D. the Bill of Rights