GED Social Studies Practice Test: The Constitution and Government
- The Constitution and American Government
- 10 questions
- 12 minutes
Civics and government is the largest part of the GED Social Studies test. These 10 questions cover the principles of the Constitution, the three branches, federalism and the Bill of Rights. Many questions describe a situation, so decide which principle or amendment the situation is really about.
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Question 1
The Constitution begins with the words "We the People of the United States."
Which principle does this phrase best reflect?
Correct answer: C
Popular sovereignty means that the government's power comes from the people. Federalism is about dividing power between national and state governments, which this phrase does not mention.
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Question 2
The President vetoes a bill that Congress has passed.
What can Congress do to make the bill a law anyway?
Correct answer: B
Congress can override a veto if two-thirds of the members in each chamber vote for the bill again. Approval by three-fourths of the states is part of ratifying a constitutional amendment, not of passing a law.
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Question 3
Under the U.S. system of federalism, which power belongs to the states rather than to the federal government?
Correct answer: D
States set their own rules for licensing drivers. Printing money, declaring war and making treaties are powers the Constitution gives to the national government.
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Question 4
A city newspaper publishes an article that sharply criticizes the mayor. The city council then votes to close the newspaper as punishment.
Which amendment most directly protects the newspaper?
Correct answer: A
The First Amendment protects freedom of the press, and the Fourteenth Amendment applies this protection to state and local governments. The Fifth Amendment deals with rights of people accused of crimes, such as protection against self-incrimination.
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Question 5
Police believe that evidence of a crime is hidden in a person's home. In most cases, they must first get a warrant from a judge before they search it.
This requirement comes from which amendment?
Correct answer: B
The Fourth Amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires warrants to be based on probable cause. The Sixth Amendment covers trial rights, such as a speedy trial and a lawyer.
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Question 6
Congress has proposed an amendment to the Constitution with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
What must happen next for the amendment to take effect?
Correct answer: C
Article V requires ratification by three-fourths of the states. The President does not sign constitutional amendments, and there is no national popular vote on amendments.
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Question 7
At the Constitutional Convention, large and small states disagreed about representation in Congress. The Great Compromise created a House based on population and a Senate with a different rule.
Which feature of the Senate protects the interests of small states?
Correct answer: A
Every state has two senators regardless of population, so small states have the same voice in the Senate as large states. Term length and age requirements apply to all senators equally and do not favor small states.
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Question 8
What is the name for the power of the courts to declare a law unconstitutional?
Correct answer: D
Judicial review lets courts strike down laws that conflict with the Constitution; the Supreme Court established it in Marbury v. Madison (1803). A filibuster is a Senate tactic for delaying a vote, not a power of the courts.
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Question 9
The House of Representatives votes to impeach a federal official.
Which body then holds the trial to decide whether to remove the official from office?
Correct answer: B
The Constitution gives the House the power to impeach (bring charges) and the Senate the power to try the case; removal requires a two-thirds vote of the senators present. The Chief Justice presides when a President is tried, but the Supreme Court does not decide the case.
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Question 10
Which constitutional amendment lowered the voting age to 18?
Correct answer: D
The Twenty-sixth Amendment, ratified in 1971, set the voting age at 18 for all elections. The Nineteenth Amendment (1920) protected women's right to vote, and the Twenty-fourth banned poll taxes in federal elections.
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