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MCAP, Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program

This page shows a list of test questions in the American Government public release collection at MSDE. American Government
Standard "2.0 Peoples of the Nation and World," Indicator "2.1.1"

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Expand All Official Practice Test

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which of these is a characteristic of an authoritarian system of government?

  1. A.
    popular sovereignty
  2. B.
    equal protection under the law
  3. C.
    restrictions of personal freedoms
  4. D.
    majority rules with minority rights

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Read the quote below.

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Lord Acton, 1887

Based on the quotation, Lord Acton would probably be most opposed to which system of government?

  1. A.
    authoritarian
  2. B.
    democratic
  3. C.
    federal
  4. D.
    unitary

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

In an authoritarian government, freedom of speech is usually

  1. A.
    protected by the government as a civil right
  2. B.
    guaranteed in the government's constitution
  3. C.
    censored and controlled by the government
  4. D.
    regulated only when it presents a clear and present danger

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which of these is most associated with an authoritarian government?

  1. A.
    The legislative process is slow.
  2. B.
    Freedom of expression is valued.
  3. C.
    Government leaders have absolute power.
  4. D.
    Elections for government offices are conducted fairly.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which of these is an advantage of a representative democracy?

  1. A.
    Political parties have similar platforms.
  2. B.
    Citizens are able to vote on all issues.
  3. C.
    Government agencies make decisions quickly.
  4. D.
    Legislators are elected by the people.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Look at the flowchart below.

The diagram is titled System of Government in Mexico. A box at the top is labeled Voters Elect. There is an arrow pointing from that box to a box titled Legislative Branch and another arrow from the top box pointing to a box titled Executive Branch. The Legislative Branch box has a subheading titled National Congress with two parts: Senate and Federal Chamber of Deputies. The executive branch box has a subheading titled President. An arrow from the Legislative Branch box is labeled Confirms Presidential Appointments and points to a box at the bottom titled Supreme Court Justices. An arrow from the Executive Branch box is labeled Appoints Judges and points to the box at the bottom.

Based on the information in the diagram, which of these controls does Mexico's National Congress have over the President?

  1. A.
    vetoing laws
  2. B.
    rejecting judicial appointments
  3. C.
    electing the President
  4. D.
    selecting presidential candidates

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which of these would not take place in an authoritarian system of government?

  1. A.
    Government leaders decide what jobs people may have.
  2. B.
    Government leaders dictate what will be taught in schools.
  3. C.
    Political parties compete in elections for control of the government.
  4. D.
    Local political officials take orders from national officials.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which of these statements is true of a representative democracy?

  1. A.
    Citizens have unlimited individual rights.
  2. B.
    Citizens vote directly on all laws and government actions.
  3. C.
    Government leaders rule by force.
  4. D.
    The people elect government leaders.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which of these statements is usually true about the people who pass laws in a representative democracy?

  1. A.
    They inherit their power.
  2. B.
    They seize power by force.
  3. C.
    They are elected by citizens.
  4. D.
    They are appointed by government leaders.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which of these describes an authoritarian government?

  1. A.
    The people grant the government its power.
  2. B.
    The lives of citizens are controlled by the government.
  3. C.
    Government leaders are limited by established laws.
  4. D.
    Government leaders are elected directly by the people.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which of these could be a disadvantage of living under an authoritarian government?

  1. A.
    a slow legislative process
  2. B.
    a weak executive branch
  3. C.
    a lack of national laws
  4. D.
    a lack of individual freedoms

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

In which of these government systems are government leaders most accountable to citizens?

  1. A.
    oligarchy
  2. B.
    dictatorship
  3. C.
    absolute monarchy
  4. D.
    representative democracy

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Read the quotation below.

“ . . .  government of the people, by the people, for the people  . . . ”

Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863

Which type of government does Abraham Lincoln describe?

  1. A.
    democracy
  2. B.
    dictatorship
  3. C.
    monarchy
  4. D.
    oligarchy

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which of these could be a disadvantage of living under an authoritarian government?

  1. A.
    a slow legislative process
  2. B.
    a weak executive branch
  3. C.
    a lack of national laws
  4. D.
    a lack of individual freedoms

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Study the political cartoon.

A political cartoon is titled, Voters at Ballot Boxes. A woman is voting and placing her ballot into a box marked for recycling. A man is voting and placing his ballot into a box that appears to be a paper shredder.

Which type of government is most likely the focus of this political cartoon?

  1. A.
    dictatorship
  2. B.
    parliamentary democracy
  3. C.
    constitutional monarchy
  4. D.
    presidential democracy

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which type of government provides the best protection of individual rights?

  1. A.
    absolute monarchy
  2. B.
    parliamentary democracy
  3. C.
    dictatorship
  4. D.
    oligarchy

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select several options.

Which two types of government are generally considered to be most efficient in their decision-making processes?

  1. A.
    representative democracy
  2. B.
    dictatorship
  3. C.
    direct democracy
  4. D.
    oligarchy
  5. E.
    confederacy