Grade Five Social Studies Assessment Government

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1 Name Grade Five Social Studies Assessment Government 1. (Gov 2) What is the MAIN advantage of the system of checks and balances? A. It is efficient because each branch specializes in one kind of work. B. It allows more people to take part in government. C. It lets people handle local problems at the local level. D. It keeps one branch from becoming too powerful. 2. (CRR 1) If you and your family recycle newspaper and plastic, you are doing something for A. money. B. self-interest. C. the common good. D. the voting process. 3. (Gov 1, 2) The Constitution carefully defines the powers and duties of each branch of government, including ways in which each branch can check the other. Why did the writers of the Constitution feel so strongly about making sure no branch had more power than the other two? (2 points) 4. (Gov 1, 2) What present feature of our government is a direct result of the Great Compromise of 1787? A. We have the Bill of Rights. B. We can amend the Constitution. C. In the Senate, each state has an equal number of votes; in the House of Representatives, votes are based on the state s population. D. The President can serve only two terms. 1

2 5. (Gov 2; CRR 3) The right to vote is an important part of living in the United States. However, gaining this right hasn t always been as easy as turning 18 years old. Below is a brief history of voting law in the United States. Colonial times right to vote extended to any adult, white male landowner vote extended to any adult male regardless of race, color, or former slave status 1920 voting in national elections extended to women 1964 state poll taxes declared illegal (You didn t need to pay to vote anymore.) 1971 voting age lowered in state and national elections from 21 to 18 Explain how the legislative branch has changed our Constitution to allow others to vote? (2 points) 2

3 Use the Venn Diagram to answer questions 6 and (Gov 2; SM 2, 6) Only the federal government can A. collect taxes B. control trade within a state C. issue money D. set up schools 7. (Gov 2; SM 2, 6) Both federal and state governments can A. pass laws B. run elections C. organize local governments D. set up an army or navy 8. (CRR 2) What do you think is the most important responsibility of citizenship? Why? (2 points) 3

4 9. (CRR 3) Suppose a small group of people in an audience get angry with a speaker and try to stop the person from speaking. Whose rights should the police protect? Explain. (2 points) 10. (CRR 3) Use your knowledge of the Bill of Rights to determine whether the event described in the headline is legal or illegal in the United States. Write 2 sentences to explain your answer. (2 pts.) The U.S. Times Writer Jailed for Magazine Article Criticizing President! - event 11. (Gov 2) How does a constitution limit the power of a government? A. All constitutions limit a president to one term. B. A constitution sets up how much money each person earns. C. A constitution spells out what a government can and can t do. D. A constitution sets the tax rate. 4

5 12. (Gov 2; CRR 3) What does the Bill of Rights do? A. It protects freedom of speech and religion. B. It gives the federal government total control. C. It prevents the Constitution from being changed. D. It gives the states total control. 13. (Gov 2) A person who breaks the law is given a trial and judged by fellow citizens. This is called A. The right to trial by jury. B. The right to refuge. C. The Great Awakening. D. The Frame of Government. 14. (Gov 3) What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence? A. to stop all taxes B. to state that each colony was independent of the other colonies C. to repeal the Townsend Acts D. to say that the colonies were free of British rule 15. (Gov 3) Why were the signers of the Declaration of Independence guilty of treason? A. They were not representing the opinion of the colonists. B. They were revolting against the British government. C. They had signed the document without reading it first. D. They did not have the support of Congress. 16. (Gov 2) A characteristic of a democracy is A. Decisions are usually made quickly. B. The people hold the power and vote. C. The President has the most power. D. Government does not act on behalf of the people. 5

6 17. (CRR 2) What is the one way people can show civic responsibility? μ μ μ μ A. serving on a jury B. making as much money as possible C. doing their math homework D. chasing people who break laws 18. (SM 4, 6) Like many Americans, George Washington felt an urgent need to create a new, stronger national government. He feared that a weak national government would not be able to stop fighting between states or against the national government. This would destroy the new country. Many Americans were afraid a strong national government could become as unfair as Great Britain s had been. Patrick Henry, for example, refused to be a delegate to the 1787 constitutional convention. When he was asked why, the famous speaker answered simply, I smelt a rat. (2 points) Summarize in your own words both points of view from the passage. George Washington: Patrick Henry: 6

7 19. (SM 3) Senator David Webster of Mass., speaking to Congress in 1850 stated I wish to speak not as a Massachusetts man, nor as a Northern man, but as an American I speak today for the preservation of the Union. Is the text shown above a primary or a secondary source? Name one characteristic of a primary source and one characteristic of a secondary source. Primary: Secondary: 7

8 (SM 6, Gov 1) Use the diagram to answer questions The executive branch of the government may check the power of the legislative branch by A. deciding what treaties mean B. vetoing laws C. impeaching members of Congress D. appointing judges 21. The legislative branch may check the power of the judicial branch by A. approving appointments of judges B. deciding whether laws are constitutional C. overriding vetoes D. deciding what laws mean 22. What does the judicial branch do? A. grants pardons B. impeaches judges C. decides what laws mean D. appoints executive officers 23. Congress can balance the President s power to appoint judges by A. impeaching judges B. confirming executive appointments C. overriding vetoes D. impeaching executive officers 8

9 24. (Gov 1) The judicial branch balances Congress s power to make laws by A. changing the Supreme Court s size B. deciding what treaties mean C. approving executive appointments D. ruling if laws are constitutional 25. (CRR 2) Citizens have responsibilities as well as rights and privileges. Read the statement below the picture. Then suggest 2 ways a responsible citizen might handle the situation. You notice that people are being careless about litter in your neighborhood. What are two ways you might handle this situation? (2 points) 26. (Gov 3) What ideas in the Constitution encourage citizens to be involved in their own government? (2 points) 9

10 Use the timeline to answer the question. 27. (H 1) When did the United States get the Northwest Territory? A. after the Homestead Act was passed B. before the Homestead Act was passed C. about ten years after the Louisiana Purchase D. shortly after the end of World War I 28. (Gov 3) The Constitution is a living document because A. it has lasted for two centuries without change. B. it is easy to change whenever Congress wants to. C. it has given us a strong government, by allowing the addition of Amendments to the Constitution as our country grows and changes. 29. (Gov 3) How did the Constitution help solve some of the problems that Americans faced after the Revolution? A. It took most powers away from the states and gave them to the national government. B. It made the President far more powerful than the Congress or the Supreme Court. C. It established a strong government that helped the country to grow and change with the times. 10

11 30. (CRR 2) Why is it important to make use of your personal and civic responsibilities? A. The law says you must be a good citizen. B. People who are good citizens earn more money. C. People who are good citizens are happier. D. A democracy only functions with responsible citizens. 31. (Gov 1) List and explain the responsibilities of the 3 branches of government. (3 points) 32.(Gov 2) Explain two characteristics of American democracy. (2 points) 33. (H 6) The purpose of the Northwest Ordinance was to A. prevent settlements in the Ohio River Valley. B. set up a system by which new states could be formed. C. ask the states to send delegates to Philadelphia for a convention. D. end the troubles caused by Shay s Rebellion. 11