PURDUE UNIVERSITY CIVICS
LITERACY EXAM QUESTIONS &
UPDATED COMPLETE ANSWERS
RATED 100% CORRECT
Right to Marry - CORRECT ANSWER
private life - CORRECT ANSWER relates to a citizens right to privacy and the pursuit of
private and personal interests.
civic life - CORRECT ANSWER the public life of the citizen concerned with the affairs
of the community and nation
Limited Government - CORRECT ANSWER the government has only the powers
granted to it in the constitution, and it can only conduct actions permitted by the
constitution. in other words these are established and respected restraints on
government power.
Rule of Law - CORRECT ANSWER an essential component of limited government.
society is governed according to widely known and accepted rules followed not only by
government but also by those in authority.
Checks and Balances - CORRECT ANSWER The Constitutionally granted power for
one branch of government to block action by an equal branch of government. The
Constitution specifies instances in which one of the three branches can stop action by
another.
Separation of powers - CORRECT ANSWER The Constitution keeps the three
branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) separate. The powers and
responsibilities of each is described in a separate Article. Separation makes each
Branch the equal of the others.
Declaration of Independence - CORRECT ANSWER the public act by which the
Second Continental Congress, on July 4, 1776, declared the Colonies to be free and
independent of Britain.
Articles of Confederation - CORRECT ANSWER 1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788
(government weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to
regulate trade, declare war, raise revenue, coin money, or control international tarrifs.)
, power was in the states (provide troops and money, own currency, own tarrifs. tax
goods)
Took agreement of 9 states before the government could act and every state had to
agree before articles were to change.
Great Compromise or Connecticut compromise (revised constitution) - CORRECT
ANSWER 1787 combined Virginia and New Jersey plans calling for bicameral
legislature or two houses.
house of representatives in which larger states had more representatives and the
senate where each state had 2 senators regardless of population.
creation of electoral collage and Supreme Court
power to congress not states (raise taxes, coin money, regulate commerce between
state and foreign, pass necessary and proper laws, war power, ability to amass forces
to fight war, power to declare war, president was comander in chief)
Electoral College - CORRECT ANSWER the body of electors who formally elect the
United States president and vice-president.
the number of electors depends on states population
Supreme Court - CORRECT ANSWER Consists of nine justices, each appointed by the
President and confirmed by Congress. approval by the senate. Appointment is for life.
Supreme Court exercises the power to determine constitutionality of laws.
3/5ths clause 1787 - CORRECT ANSWER Method the Constitution laid out for
counting the populations among Southern states for "proportional" representation in
Congress, slaves would not be citizens but counted as 3/5 of a person, South wanted
slaves to count because then they'd have more representation but the North didn't. so
out of 5 slaves it accounted 3 people.
Legislative Branch - CORRECT ANSWER the branch of government that makes the
laws
Judicial Branch - CORRECT ANSWER the branch of government, including the federal
court system, that interprets the nation's laws
Executive Branch - CORRECT ANSWER the branch of government that carries out
laws
president and vice president - CORRECT ANSWER elected by electoral college
serve 4 year terms
LITERACY EXAM QUESTIONS &
UPDATED COMPLETE ANSWERS
RATED 100% CORRECT
Right to Marry - CORRECT ANSWER
private life - CORRECT ANSWER relates to a citizens right to privacy and the pursuit of
private and personal interests.
civic life - CORRECT ANSWER the public life of the citizen concerned with the affairs
of the community and nation
Limited Government - CORRECT ANSWER the government has only the powers
granted to it in the constitution, and it can only conduct actions permitted by the
constitution. in other words these are established and respected restraints on
government power.
Rule of Law - CORRECT ANSWER an essential component of limited government.
society is governed according to widely known and accepted rules followed not only by
government but also by those in authority.
Checks and Balances - CORRECT ANSWER The Constitutionally granted power for
one branch of government to block action by an equal branch of government. The
Constitution specifies instances in which one of the three branches can stop action by
another.
Separation of powers - CORRECT ANSWER The Constitution keeps the three
branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) separate. The powers and
responsibilities of each is described in a separate Article. Separation makes each
Branch the equal of the others.
Declaration of Independence - CORRECT ANSWER the public act by which the
Second Continental Congress, on July 4, 1776, declared the Colonies to be free and
independent of Britain.
Articles of Confederation - CORRECT ANSWER 1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788
(government weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to
regulate trade, declare war, raise revenue, coin money, or control international tarrifs.)
, power was in the states (provide troops and money, own currency, own tarrifs. tax
goods)
Took agreement of 9 states before the government could act and every state had to
agree before articles were to change.
Great Compromise or Connecticut compromise (revised constitution) - CORRECT
ANSWER 1787 combined Virginia and New Jersey plans calling for bicameral
legislature or two houses.
house of representatives in which larger states had more representatives and the
senate where each state had 2 senators regardless of population.
creation of electoral collage and Supreme Court
power to congress not states (raise taxes, coin money, regulate commerce between
state and foreign, pass necessary and proper laws, war power, ability to amass forces
to fight war, power to declare war, president was comander in chief)
Electoral College - CORRECT ANSWER the body of electors who formally elect the
United States president and vice-president.
the number of electors depends on states population
Supreme Court - CORRECT ANSWER Consists of nine justices, each appointed by the
President and confirmed by Congress. approval by the senate. Appointment is for life.
Supreme Court exercises the power to determine constitutionality of laws.
3/5ths clause 1787 - CORRECT ANSWER Method the Constitution laid out for
counting the populations among Southern states for "proportional" representation in
Congress, slaves would not be citizens but counted as 3/5 of a person, South wanted
slaves to count because then they'd have more representation but the North didn't. so
out of 5 slaves it accounted 3 people.
Legislative Branch - CORRECT ANSWER the branch of government that makes the
laws
Judicial Branch - CORRECT ANSWER the branch of government, including the federal
court system, that interprets the nation's laws
Executive Branch - CORRECT ANSWER the branch of government that carries out
laws
president and vice president - CORRECT ANSWER elected by electoral college
serve 4 year terms
