Name:

Class Period:
Date:

State Government Test

Each multiple choice questions each worth 3 points each.

1. What group leader helped draw up a plan for the first colonial constitution?

A. Thomas Jefferson
B. Thomas Hooker
C. George Washington
D. Benjamin Franklin

2. Under English rule, the original 13 colonies used what form of documents given by
England to rule? (example: Magna Carta)

A. constitutions
B. declarations
C. charters
D. legislations

3. What are the two kinds of changes that can be made to state constitutions?

A. amendments and revisions

B. checks and balances
C. statutory law and fundamental law
D. charters and referendums

4. In some states, what is the process where citizens can suggest constitutional
amendments? ( think petition)

A. veto
B. initiative
C. revision
D. recall

5. What is police power?

 A. the power that police forces control
B. the power that the governor has over his officials
C. the authority of each state to guard the safety, health, and welfare of citizens
D. the authority of each state to have a police force

6. Which of these is an example of a non-legislative power that the state legislature has?

A. the power to impeach

B. the power to regulate trade
C. the power to pass laws
D. the power to tax

7. What are the two presiding official positions in the state legislature (2 pts each) (Hint:
one from each house)? Bonus: (1 pt each) Give the names of Mississippis
presiding officers at the national level.

8. Who can suggests the ideas for bills to be passed by the state legislator?

A. the governor only

B. the state legislators only
C. Both A&B
D. Anyone can suggests a bill

9. List the two ways that states allow citizens to take a direct part in proposing new
legislation? (2 pts each)

10. List the three types of referendums. (3 pts each)

1.

2.

3.

11. How is the unified court system organized?

A. supreme courts; lower courts; courts of appeals; trial courts

B. lower courts; trial courts; courts of appeals; supreme courts
 C. supreme courts; courts of appeals; lower courts; trial courts
D. lower courts; courts of appeals; supreme courts; trial courts

12. What are the roles of a governor?

A. the leader of his or her political party

B. appearing at ceremonies and making speeches
C. suggests laws to the legislature and influence the passage of laws
D. all of the above

13. Who appoints the heads of departments and agencies needed to run the state?

A. the courts
B. the governor
C. the people
D. the legislature

14. Who handles most of the work in the state legislative branch?

A. the governor
B. the lt. governor
C. committees
D. the speaker of the house

15. Who is the chief legal officer in the state?

A. the attorney general

B. the governor
C. the lieutenant governor
D. the superintendent

16. What is the role of the state treasurer?

A. succeeds the governor if necessary

B. the chief legal officer in the state
C. keeps all records and publishes laws
D. collects taxes and pays bills
17-22. Please match the following laws with the correct definitions (2 pts each)

Constitutional law a. law intended to stop wrongs before they

happen
Administrative law b. law that deals with citizens behavior that
does not involve a crime
Common law c. law based on the United States
Constitution, the state
constitutions, and court rulings on
any part of these documents
Equity d. law that regulates citizens behavior and
protects the public order
Criminal law e. law that regulates federal and state
government agencies not covered
by constitutional law
Civil law f. law based on customs or tradition

23. List and describe the two types of juries. (4 pts each)

1.

2.

24. Short answer: What is the importance behind having a jury? (3 pts)

25. List two differences between a criminal case and a civil case. (2 pts each)

1.

2.

26. In Mississippi, judges are selected by voting from the . (think popular
vote)

A. people
B. governor
C. state legislature
D. other judges

27. What are the states highest courts?

 A. courts of appeal
B. supreme courts
C. district courts
D. trial courts

28. What role does the courts of appeal have? (3 pts.)

29. How many district courts does Mississippi have?

A. 120
B. 5
C. 22
D. 50

30. What is the purpose of a juvenile center? (3 pts.)

Bonuses:

1) Who is Mississippis Governor? (1 pt)

2) What is the only state with a unicameral legislature? (1 pt)

3) What is the Missouri Plan? (3 pts)