Multiple Choice
Identify the
choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1.
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Why do presidents use executive
orders instead of laws passed by Congress?
a. | Executive orders are more
democratic | c. | Presidents want
laws that Congress (the people) may not agree with | b. | Presidents are usually smarter than
Congressmen | d. | The people are not smart enough to
make their own laws |
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2.
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In the United States the law is
designed to protect individual citizens from the government and its agents such as police, courts,
and politicians. Which item below is not
protected by the law?
a. | Individual citizens accused of a
crime | c. | The
government | b. | People who are not popular with the rest of
society | d. | People who are not citizens but live in the
U.S. |
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3.
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. What is the purpose of a U.S.
Grand Jury?
a. | To make it easier to convict
people | c. | To see if there is enough evidence
to hold someone for trial | b. | To provide jobs for federal workers | d. | To make U.S. courts superior to state
courts |
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4.
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What is the purpose of a
“Preliminary Judge” in state court?
a. | To make it easier to convict
people | c. | To see if there is enough evidence
to hold someone for trial | b. | To provide jobs for state workers | d. | To make U.S. courts superior to state
courts |
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5.
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What is the difference between
“criminal court” and “civil court?”
a. | In civil court you can be put in
jail, in criminal court you cannot be put in jail | c. | It is harder to convict someone in civil
court | b. | In civil court you cannot sue for damages (money), in criminal court you
can | d. | Civil courts are used to sue people for damages, not
convict them of a crime |
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6.
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. What is “double
jeopardy?”
a. | If the government fails to convict
someone, they can try again with a new trial | c. | In a new trial you can get “double” the
punishment | b. | You cannot be tried twice for the same crime | d. | It is twice as hard to convict
criminals |
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7.
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Miranda rights have to be read
to people before they are arrested. Which item below is NOT part of the Miranda
Rights?
a. | You have the right to remain
silent | c. | If you cannot afford a lawyer, the
government will provide you with one | b. | You have the right to a lawyer | d. | If you are found innocent in criminal court, you cannot be tried for damages
in civil court |
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8.
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The 5th Amendment says you do not have to testify
against yourself. What does that mean?
a. | You do not have to talk to the
police | c. | You cannot be forced to testify in
court | b. | You do not have to talk to federal or state
prosecutors | d. | All of these answers are
true. |
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9.
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Congress cannot pass a Bill of
Attainder. What is a Bill of Attainder?
a. | Congress cannot pass a law to punish
someone without going through a court trial | c. | Congress can punish anyone it wants to
punish
| b. | Congress can pass any law it wants to pass | d. | The Congress can put people on
trial |
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10.
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Congress cannot pass, “Ex
Post Facto” laws, designed to punish people for something they did in the
past.
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11.
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People are guaranteed
“writs of habeas corpus.” What are they?
a. | You can be put in jail without a
trial | c. | You cannot charge murder without a
corpus | b. | Police can take their time in bringing
charges | d. | You must see a judge soon after your
arrest |
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12.
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Which statement below is
true?
a. | State crimes are always misdemeanors
while federal crimes are always felonies. | c. | Federal crimes are crimes against U.S. law while state crimes are against
state law | b. | Federal crimes are always misdemeanors while state crimes are always
felonies | d. | There is no difference between state
and federal law |
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13.
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The Federal Building in
Oklahoma City is a U.S. building, but it is in the state of Oklahoma. Which agency has first
jurisdiction to bring the criminal to court over the bombing?
a. | The federal
government | b. | The state of
Oklahoma |
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14.
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The 6th Amendment says that even in cases of rape
the victim has to face the rapist in court
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15.
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The 6th Amendment says you have a right to be tried
by a jury instead of a judge
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16.
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The 6th Amendment says you can bring secret charges
against someone
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17.
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You are charged with a crime
and your boyfriend knows you are innocent, but he is mad at you and does not want to testify. Can you
force him to testify?
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18.
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You get in a car accident and
the other party wants to sue you for damages in civil court. Can you request a jury
trial?
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19.
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A person spills a hot coffee
and sues McDonalds for damages. The jury awards the person one million dollars in damages. The judge
thinks this is unfair. What can he do?
a. | Increase the
award | c. | Keep McDonalds from selling coffee
in the future | b. | Decrease the award | d. | Nothing. A judge cannot override a jury decision.
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20.
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Some people argue that the
death penalty is a violation of the 8th Amendment. What is their logic?
a. | They say the death penalty itself is
a form of torture | c. | They say that the
death penalty should be reserved for criminal crimes but not civil
crimes | b. | They say that the 8th Amendment gives everyone the right to a jury
trial | d. | They say that the law discriminates against men because
almost all prisoners awaiting the death penalty are men, not
women. |
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21.
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The Constitution says you can
worship God any way you want. It does not say anything about atheism. Does this mean that Atheist
have no rights.
a. | Yes, the Founding Fathers did not
recognize atheism | b. | No The Bill of
Rights restricts the government from interfering with your rights. It does not place restrictions on
citizens. Therefore, people have rights even if they are not listed in the
Constitution |
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22.
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Even though the Constitution
and Bill of Rights was written more than 200 years ago, it is still the most effective tool in the
modern world for ensuring a stable government and freedom for its people.
a. | False; People are more free under
Socialist forms of government | b. | True; The U.S. Constitution is copied by nations around the world and provides
the greatest freedom for the individual. |
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23.
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What is the purpose of the
10th
Amendment?
a. | To guarantee the rights of the
government | c. | To make society
more important than the rights of individual citizens | b. | To make sure the government has enough power to make
society better | d. | To make sure the government does not
get too powerful. The individual citizen is more important than
society |
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24.
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What is the meaning of this
cartoon?
a. | People control the
government | c. | Big government is
a threat to individual freedom | b. | Government can lift people out of poverty | d. | People do not deserve freedom |
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