PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/ FCLE/
FLORIDA CIVIC LITERACY EXAM 2025 (NEW!)
Which of the following ancient civilizations established a republican form of government?
A. Roman
B. Egyptian
C. Greek
D. Persian - ANSWER-A. Roman
During the 6th century B.C.E., the ancient Athenians divided the powers of their government
between two assemblies and guaranteed certain political rights to all male citizens. How do these
political reforms best illustrate how societies develop?
A. by limiting government authority
B. by choosing government leaders
C. by improving government services
D. by reducing government expenditures - ANSWER-A. by limiting government authority
A certain country is characterized by the following traits:
1. power achieved through inheritance
2. same ruling family for over a century
3. finite freedoms and rights
4. hierarchical social status
5. single established state religion
The establishment and maintenance of these traits is based on which of the following principles?
A. popular sovereignty
B. due process of law
C. social contract theory
D. divine right of kings - ANSWER-D. divine right of kings
,Which modern democratic concept practiced in the United States is most like the democratic process
of ancient Greece?
A. the referendum
B. the presidential election
C. the primary election
D. the nominating convention - ANSWER-A. the referendum
What is the principal function of a written constitution?
A. resolving disagreements between competing parties
B. confirming resistance to civil disobedience
C. declaring the independence of a state
D. outlining the structure and powers of a government - ANSWER-D. outlining the structure and
powers of a government
Which of the following objectives best describes the purpose of the system of checks and balances,
as defined in the U.S. Constitution?
A. establishing accountability for the government when levying taxes
B. maintaining a healthy economy and establishing trade with other governments
C. keeping any one of the three branches of government from becoming too powerful
D. assuring that the government spends only as much money as it takes in - ANSWER-C. keeping
any one of the three branches of government from becoming too powerful
Which modern process would be supported by the ancient Greeks?
A. electing governors
B. hiring press secretaries
C. nominating an ambassador
D. appointing a majority leader - ANSWER-A. electing governors
Laws against defamation, including libel and slander, property damage and breach of contract
represent which legal concern underlying most Western nations?
A. criminal law
B. military law
,C. civil law
D. juvenile law - ANSWER-C. civil law
Use the passage below, from an exchange between former president Nixon and a television
interviewer, to ANSWER the question that follows.
"Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal"--Richard M. Nixon Source: The
Washington Post, June 5, 1977
Which constitutional principle does the statement from President Nixon contradict?
A. separation of powers
B. republicanism
C. rule of law
D. equality - ANSWER-C. rule of law
Which form of government is based on popular sovereignty?
A. communism
B. dictatorship
C. monarchy
D. republic - ANSWER-D. republic
Use the Preamble to the US Constitution to ANSWER the question.
Which of the following statements best describes the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution?
A. Governments are accountable to the citizens over whom they rule.
B. States will ensure that all citizens are granted certain freedoms.
C. People allow representatives to speak on behalf of all citizens.
D. Courts will elect officials to represent the people and ensure liberty. - ANSWER-A. Governments
are accountable to the citizens over whom they rule.
The U.S. Congress fulfilled which of the following purposes of government when it declared war on
Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor?
, A. ensuring domestic tranquillity
B. promoting the general welfare
C. providing for the common defense D. establishing a system of justice - ANSWER-C. providing for
the common defense
Which United States Supreme Court decision was based on the Equal Protection Clause?
A) McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
B) Engel v. Vitale (1962)
C) Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
D) Marbury v. Madison (1803) - ANSWER-C) Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Which United States Supreme Court case focused on executive privilege?
A) Bush v. Gore (2000)
B) Marbury v. Madison (1803)
C) U.S. v. Nixon (1974)
D) Johnson v. Texas (1989) - ANSWER-C) U.S. v. Nixon (1974)
Which of the following cases held that reproductive rights were an element of the right to privacy
under the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment?
A) Roe v. Wade (1973)
B) District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)
C) Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
D) Mapp v. Ohio (1961) - ANSWER-A) Roe v. Wade (1973)
Which phrase in the U.S. Constitution addresses the power to seize property?
A) writ of habeas corpus
B) reserved powers
C) bills of attainder
D) eminent domain - ANSWER-D) eminent domain
What is the first phrase of the U.S. Constitution?