FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE)
FCLE — Civic Literacy Study Guide Academic Year: 2026/2027
Comprehensive Question Bank
Question 1
What is the Rule of Law?
A. Everyone must obey the law, including government officials
B. Only government officials must obey the law
C. The President can override the law
D. The law applies only to ordinary citizens
Correct answer A. Everyone must obey the law, including government officials
Rationale
The Rule of Law means that everyone, including government officials and leaders, is
subject to the law. No one is above the law.
Question 2
What does "consent of the governed" mean?
A. Government gets its power from the people
B. Government gets its power from the military
C. Government gets its power from the judiciary
D. Government gets its power from the President
Correct answer A. Government gets its power from the people
Rationale
Consent of the governed means that government authority derives from the will and
approval of the people. This is a fundamental principle of democratic governance.
, Question 3
Which branch interprets laws?
A. Judicial
B. Legislative
C. Executive
D. Administrative
Correct answer A. Judicial
Rationale
The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, interprets
laws and reviews them for constitutionality.
Question 4
What is Marbury v. Madison (1803) known for?
A. Established the principle of judicial review
B. Established the principle of federal supremacy
C. Established the principle of executive privilege
D. Established the principle of state sovereignty
Correct answer A. Established the principle of judicial review
Rationale
Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of judicial review, giving the
Supreme Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.
, Question 5
What is federalism?
A. Power shared between national and state governments
B. Power centralized in the national government
C. Power centralized in state governments
D. Power held by the judiciary
Correct answer A. Power shared between national and state governments
Rationale
Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a national
government and state governments, each with their own areas of authority.
Question 6
What is Brown v. Board of Education (1954) known for?
A. Declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional
B. Establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine
C. Upheld racial segregation in public schools
D. Denied citizenship to African Americans
Correct answer A. Declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional
Rationale
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared racial segregation in public schools
unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v.
Ferguson.
, Question 7
According to Locke, why do people create governments?
A. To protect their natural rights
B. To create a monarchy
C. To establish a military
D. To control the economy
Correct answer A. To protect their natural rights
Rationale
According to John Locke, people create governments to protect their natural rights—
life, liberty, and property. Government's legitimate purpose is to secure these rights.
Question 8
What are checks and balances?
A. Each branch has powers to limit the others
B. One branch has complete control over the others
C. The executive branch can overrule the courts
D. The legislative branch has unlimited power
Correct answer A. Each branch has powers to limit the others
Rationale
Checks and balances is a system in which each branch of government has powers that
can limit the actions of the other branches, preventing any one branch from becoming
too powerful.
Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE)
FCLE — Civic Literacy Study Guide Academic Year: 2026/2027
Comprehensive Question Bank
Question 1
What is the Rule of Law?
A. Everyone must obey the law, including government officials
B. Only government officials must obey the law
C. The President can override the law
D. The law applies only to ordinary citizens
Correct answer A. Everyone must obey the law, including government officials
Rationale
The Rule of Law means that everyone, including government officials and leaders, is
subject to the law. No one is above the law.
Question 2
What does "consent of the governed" mean?
A. Government gets its power from the people
B. Government gets its power from the military
C. Government gets its power from the judiciary
D. Government gets its power from the President
Correct answer A. Government gets its power from the people
Rationale
Consent of the governed means that government authority derives from the will and
approval of the people. This is a fundamental principle of democratic governance.
, Question 3
Which branch interprets laws?
A. Judicial
B. Legislative
C. Executive
D. Administrative
Correct answer A. Judicial
Rationale
The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, interprets
laws and reviews them for constitutionality.
Question 4
What is Marbury v. Madison (1803) known for?
A. Established the principle of judicial review
B. Established the principle of federal supremacy
C. Established the principle of executive privilege
D. Established the principle of state sovereignty
Correct answer A. Established the principle of judicial review
Rationale
Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of judicial review, giving the
Supreme Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.
, Question 5
What is federalism?
A. Power shared between national and state governments
B. Power centralized in the national government
C. Power centralized in state governments
D. Power held by the judiciary
Correct answer A. Power shared between national and state governments
Rationale
Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a national
government and state governments, each with their own areas of authority.
Question 6
What is Brown v. Board of Education (1954) known for?
A. Declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional
B. Establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine
C. Upheld racial segregation in public schools
D. Denied citizenship to African Americans
Correct answer A. Declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional
Rationale
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared racial segregation in public schools
unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v.
Ferguson.
, Question 7
According to Locke, why do people create governments?
A. To protect their natural rights
B. To create a monarchy
C. To establish a military
D. To control the economy
Correct answer A. To protect their natural rights
Rationale
According to John Locke, people create governments to protect their natural rights—
life, liberty, and property. Government's legitimate purpose is to secure these rights.
Question 8
What are checks and balances?
A. Each branch has powers to limit the others
B. One branch has complete control over the others
C. The executive branch can overrule the courts
D. The legislative branch has unlimited power
Correct answer A. Each branch has powers to limit the others
Rationale
Checks and balances is a system in which each branch of government has powers that
can limit the actions of the other branches, preventing any one branch from becoming
too powerful.
