Purdue University Civics Literacy
Exam Questions and All Correct
Answers 2025-2026 Updated.
Limited Government - Answer The government can only do what the constitution allows
Rule of Law - Answer A principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern
Checks and Balances - Answer A system that allows each branch of government to limit the
powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Separation of Powers - Answer Division of powers among the legislative, executive, and
judicial branches
Legislative branch - Answer Makes laws
Executive branch - Answer Enforces laws
Judicial branch - Answer Interprets the laws
Declaration of Independence - Answer Signed in 1776 declaring the United States as a free
state.
Articles of Confederation - Answer 1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no
executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)
Great compromise - Answer 1787; Gave power to congress, created electoral college, house
of reps, and supreme court
electoral college - Answer number depends on state population
supreme court - Answer consists of 9 justices appointed by president and confirmed by
congress.
3/5ths clause - Answer 1787; stated that slaves counted as 3/5 of a person when speaking of
state population for representation
, senators are elected how? - Answer elected in statewide election
senator terms - Answer 6 years
how many senators up for election each year - Answer 1/3
how many members of senate - Answer 100
house of representatives elected every __ years - Answer 2
how many members of house - Answer 435
death penalty - Answer new York was first state to adopt electrocution method. the Supreme
Court has not ruled any specific method.
federalism - Answer a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or
national, government and the states
19th amendment - Answer 1920; women right to vote
redistricting - Answer The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines
following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible
in population.
Gerrymandering - Answer Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of
benefiting the party in power.
state of the union - Answer An annual speech in which the president addresses Congress to
report on the condition of the country and recommend policies.
how does a bill become a law - Answer It has to be passed by both houses, voted on,and the
president has to sign off on it
what happens if president vetoes a law - Answer congress can override with 2/3 vote
filibuster - Answer A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to
relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial
issue.
Exam Questions and All Correct
Answers 2025-2026 Updated.
Limited Government - Answer The government can only do what the constitution allows
Rule of Law - Answer A principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern
Checks and Balances - Answer A system that allows each branch of government to limit the
powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Separation of Powers - Answer Division of powers among the legislative, executive, and
judicial branches
Legislative branch - Answer Makes laws
Executive branch - Answer Enforces laws
Judicial branch - Answer Interprets the laws
Declaration of Independence - Answer Signed in 1776 declaring the United States as a free
state.
Articles of Confederation - Answer 1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no
executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)
Great compromise - Answer 1787; Gave power to congress, created electoral college, house
of reps, and supreme court
electoral college - Answer number depends on state population
supreme court - Answer consists of 9 justices appointed by president and confirmed by
congress.
3/5ths clause - Answer 1787; stated that slaves counted as 3/5 of a person when speaking of
state population for representation
, senators are elected how? - Answer elected in statewide election
senator terms - Answer 6 years
how many senators up for election each year - Answer 1/3
how many members of senate - Answer 100
house of representatives elected every __ years - Answer 2
how many members of house - Answer 435
death penalty - Answer new York was first state to adopt electrocution method. the Supreme
Court has not ruled any specific method.
federalism - Answer a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or
national, government and the states
19th amendment - Answer 1920; women right to vote
redistricting - Answer The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines
following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible
in population.
Gerrymandering - Answer Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of
benefiting the party in power.
state of the union - Answer An annual speech in which the president addresses Congress to
report on the condition of the country and recommend policies.
how does a bill become a law - Answer It has to be passed by both houses, voted on,and the
president has to sign off on it
what happens if president vetoes a law - Answer congress can override with 2/3 vote
filibuster - Answer A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to
relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial
issue.
