Florida Civic Literacy Examination
1. We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect
union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the commondefense, promote
the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for theUnited States of America.
Source: The U.S. Constitution, National Archives and Records Administration
Which philosophical movement best reflects the ideals in the passage?: En-lightenment
2. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are createdequal; that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights;that among these are life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.
Which of the following documents influenced the aims and strategies of the authors of the
Declaration of Sentiments?: Declaration of Independence
3. Which political philosopher's ideas are best represented in the Declaration of
Independence?: John Locke
4. .Why did colonists living under British rule protest British tax policies?: -
The colonists claimed that the tax policies violated their political rights
5. In the Mayflower Compact, Plymouth settlers pledged to unite into "a civil body politic"
and agreed to make and abide by laws that "insured the generalGood of the Colony."
What founding document did this set a precedent for?: U.S. Constitution
6. Which person is considered to be the principal author of the U.S. Consti-tution?: James
Madison
7. Government by the people and the separation of powers are the mainprinciples of which
founding document?: U.S. Constitution
8. "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within theUnited States, or any place subject
to their jurisdiction."
Source: National Archives and Records Administration
, Which of the following contains a clause that may have served as an inspira-tion for the above
language?: Northwest Ordinances
9. The Mayflower Compact includes a pledge to ensure that all citizens lookout for the
general good of the colony. Based on this, what impact has the Mayflower Compact had on
modern understanding of the purpose of gov- ernment in the United States?: The government
should provide equal protectionunder the law.
10. At the Constitutional Convention, there was a major debate between largestates and small
states about representation in the new Congress.This debatewas resolved by the Great
Compromise. What was the result of this compro-mise?: Congress would have two houses,
one in which state representation was based on population and one in which all states had
equal representation.
11. Which of the following reflects the most important consequence of theWatergate break-
in?: resignation of the president of the United States
12. Which legislation reflects federal efforts to regulate transportation?: Inter-state Commerce
Act
13. The U.S. Supreme Court enabled which government practices to continuein its ruling in
Plessy v. Ferguson?: segregating public facilities
14. Which of the following statements regarding the Monroe Doctrine is accu- rate?: The
Monroe Doctrine prohibited future European colonization in the WesternHemisphere.
15. By what process were eighteen-year-olds fully granted the right to vote?-
: constitutional amendment
16. "What do the people of America want more than anything else? To my mind, they want
two things: work, . . . and with work, a reasonable measureof security . . ."
Source: National Archives and Records Administration
Based on the passage, which government program would the speaker sup-port?: New Deal
17. In order to attract investment and business and reduce expenses, a state legislature
proposes passing a law that removes the need for certain federal regulatory features relating to
office and factory environments.
Which legislative action would most likely cause the U.S. Supreme Court todecide that this
violated the Supremacy Clause?: Social Security Act
18. Which of the following ancient civilizations established a republican form ofgovernment?:
Roman
1. We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect
union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the commondefense, promote
the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for theUnited States of America.
Source: The U.S. Constitution, National Archives and Records Administration
Which philosophical movement best reflects the ideals in the passage?: En-lightenment
2. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are createdequal; that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights;that among these are life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.
Which of the following documents influenced the aims and strategies of the authors of the
Declaration of Sentiments?: Declaration of Independence
3. Which political philosopher's ideas are best represented in the Declaration of
Independence?: John Locke
4. .Why did colonists living under British rule protest British tax policies?: -
The colonists claimed that the tax policies violated their political rights
5. In the Mayflower Compact, Plymouth settlers pledged to unite into "a civil body politic"
and agreed to make and abide by laws that "insured the generalGood of the Colony."
What founding document did this set a precedent for?: U.S. Constitution
6. Which person is considered to be the principal author of the U.S. Consti-tution?: James
Madison
7. Government by the people and the separation of powers are the mainprinciples of which
founding document?: U.S. Constitution
8. "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within theUnited States, or any place subject
to their jurisdiction."
Source: National Archives and Records Administration
, Which of the following contains a clause that may have served as an inspira-tion for the above
language?: Northwest Ordinances
9. The Mayflower Compact includes a pledge to ensure that all citizens lookout for the
general good of the colony. Based on this, what impact has the Mayflower Compact had on
modern understanding of the purpose of gov- ernment in the United States?: The government
should provide equal protectionunder the law.
10. At the Constitutional Convention, there was a major debate between largestates and small
states about representation in the new Congress.This debatewas resolved by the Great
Compromise. What was the result of this compro-mise?: Congress would have two houses,
one in which state representation was based on population and one in which all states had
equal representation.
11. Which of the following reflects the most important consequence of theWatergate break-
in?: resignation of the president of the United States
12. Which legislation reflects federal efforts to regulate transportation?: Inter-state Commerce
Act
13. The U.S. Supreme Court enabled which government practices to continuein its ruling in
Plessy v. Ferguson?: segregating public facilities
14. Which of the following statements regarding the Monroe Doctrine is accu- rate?: The
Monroe Doctrine prohibited future European colonization in the WesternHemisphere.
15. By what process were eighteen-year-olds fully granted the right to vote?-
: constitutional amendment
16. "What do the people of America want more than anything else? To my mind, they want
two things: work, . . . and with work, a reasonable measureof security . . ."
Source: National Archives and Records Administration
Based on the passage, which government program would the speaker sup-port?: New Deal
17. In order to attract investment and business and reduce expenses, a state legislature
proposes passing a law that removes the need for certain federal regulatory features relating to
office and factory environments.
Which legislative action would most likely cause the U.S. Supreme Court todecide that this
violated the Supremacy Clause?: Social Security Act
18. Which of the following ancient civilizations established a republican form ofgovernment?:
Roman
