Purdue Civics Literacy Test Questions
with Complete Answers 2025-2026
Updated.
Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration - Answer Was longer and contained more
criticism of King George
Which of the following writers did not directly influence Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of
Independence? - Answer Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Jefferson was born in - Answer Rural Virginia
Patrick Henry introduced what important change in mindset at the first Continental congress -
Answer That the colonists should consider themselves American not Virginians, New Yorkers,
etc
The first three words of the Declaration of Independence are "We the People." (True or False) -
Answer False
As a result of the Great Compromise, which statement is not correct? - Answer A vote for a
House district in New York, is worth less than a vote in a House district in Texas.
Who was the ancient sage? - Answer Benjamin Franklin
Which of the following plans for Representation was most similar to that under the Articles of
Confederation? - Answer New Jersey Plan
Who was the "One Legged Man?" - Answer Gouverneur Morris
The compromise of allowing slavery to continue in the United States has been "justified" by
which of the following? - Answer Without allowing slavery there would have been no new
Constitution
Who was the respondent in the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company case? - Answer
Commerce Secretary Charles Sawyer
The first words of Article 1 of the Constitution are - Answer All legislative power
, The Constitution gives the President the sole power to make and approve treaties. (True or
False) - Answer False
The Founders reinforced institutional separateness by - Answer Having different term lengths
for House, Senate and President
Aristotle broke the functions of government down into "deliberative," "magisterial" and what
else? - Answer Judicial
What case first established "Judicial Review?" - Answer Marbury v Madison
Who or what was "Gruesome Gertie"? - Answer A mobile electric chair
"Judicial Review" is mentioned in - Answer Judicial Review is not found in the Constitution
Which of the following has not been used as a method of execution in the United States? Select
all that apply - Answer Drowning
The 8th Amendment - Answer Protects against "cruel and unusual punishment."
The 11th Amendment - Answer Protects the states from some lawsuits.
The Supreme Court has used the Fourteenth Amendment to - Answer Extend to Bill of Rights
to be applicable in the States.
California legalizing medical marijuana and Wyoming granting the vote to women are examples
of - Answer The states as "laboratories" of Democracy
The Nielsen and Wardlow cases illustrate - Answer Similar crimes may receive very different
punishments depending on which state the crime is committed in.
Luther Martin and George Mason argued - Answer The proposed constitution was a threat
to the sovereignty of the states.
Redistricting ensures - Answer House districts across the nation have similar populations
The reallocation of House seats between the States every ten years is known as - Answer
Reapportionment
with Complete Answers 2025-2026
Updated.
Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration - Answer Was longer and contained more
criticism of King George
Which of the following writers did not directly influence Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of
Independence? - Answer Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Jefferson was born in - Answer Rural Virginia
Patrick Henry introduced what important change in mindset at the first Continental congress -
Answer That the colonists should consider themselves American not Virginians, New Yorkers,
etc
The first three words of the Declaration of Independence are "We the People." (True or False) -
Answer False
As a result of the Great Compromise, which statement is not correct? - Answer A vote for a
House district in New York, is worth less than a vote in a House district in Texas.
Who was the ancient sage? - Answer Benjamin Franklin
Which of the following plans for Representation was most similar to that under the Articles of
Confederation? - Answer New Jersey Plan
Who was the "One Legged Man?" - Answer Gouverneur Morris
The compromise of allowing slavery to continue in the United States has been "justified" by
which of the following? - Answer Without allowing slavery there would have been no new
Constitution
Who was the respondent in the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company case? - Answer
Commerce Secretary Charles Sawyer
The first words of Article 1 of the Constitution are - Answer All legislative power
, The Constitution gives the President the sole power to make and approve treaties. (True or
False) - Answer False
The Founders reinforced institutional separateness by - Answer Having different term lengths
for House, Senate and President
Aristotle broke the functions of government down into "deliberative," "magisterial" and what
else? - Answer Judicial
What case first established "Judicial Review?" - Answer Marbury v Madison
Who or what was "Gruesome Gertie"? - Answer A mobile electric chair
"Judicial Review" is mentioned in - Answer Judicial Review is not found in the Constitution
Which of the following has not been used as a method of execution in the United States? Select
all that apply - Answer Drowning
The 8th Amendment - Answer Protects against "cruel and unusual punishment."
The 11th Amendment - Answer Protects the states from some lawsuits.
The Supreme Court has used the Fourteenth Amendment to - Answer Extend to Bill of Rights
to be applicable in the States.
California legalizing medical marijuana and Wyoming granting the vote to women are examples
of - Answer The states as "laboratories" of Democracy
The Nielsen and Wardlow cases illustrate - Answer Similar crimes may receive very different
punishments depending on which state the crime is committed in.
Luther Martin and George Mason argued - Answer The proposed constitution was a threat
to the sovereignty of the states.
Redistricting ensures - Answer House districts across the nation have similar populations
The reallocation of House seats between the States every ten years is known as - Answer
Reapportionment
