Florida Civics Literacy exam Questions With
Verified Answers
What is gerrymandering? - when a political group tries to change a voting district to
create a result that helps them or hurts the group who is against them. It is named after
Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814).
Proclamation of 1763 - A proclamation from the British government which forbade
British colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, and which required any
settlers already living west of the mountains to move back east.
Sugar Act of 1764 - An act that raised tax revenue in the colonies for the crown. It also
increased the duty on foreign sugar imported from the West Indies.
Stamp Act of 1765 - This act required colonists to pay for an official stamp, or seal,
when they bought paper items.
Townshend Acts (1767) - passed by Parliament, put a tax on glass, lead, paper, and
tea. The acts caused protest from the colonists, who found ways around the taxes such as
buying smuggled tea. Due to its little profits, the Townshend Acts were repealed in 1770,
except for the tax on tea. The tax on tea was kept to keep alive the principle of Parliamentary
taxation.
Quartering Act of 1765 - Act forcing colonists to house and supply British forces in the
colonies; created more resentment; seen as assault on liberties.
separation of church and state doctrine - idea that the government and religion
should be separate, and not interfere in each other's affairs. In the United States, this idea is
based on the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which states that the government
cannot make any laws to establish a state religion or prohibit the free exercise of religion.
Shay's Rebellion (1786) - This MA conflict caused criticism of the Articles of
Confederation; weak govt; increased calls for a Constitutional Convention to revise the
Articles
,What are two holidays that honor the members of the armed forces? - Memorial Day
and Veterans Day
From where does the US government get its power? - from the consent of the people
Where was the original capital of the US? - New York City
Common Law - draws from institutionalized opinions and interpretations from judicial
authorities and public juries. Common laws sometimes prove the inspiration for new
legislation to be enacted
What is the US judicial system based on? - constitution, statutes, common law
Which is the supreme law of the United States? - U.S. Constitution
How many amendments does the US Constitution have? - 27
What are the first ten amendments called? - Bill of Rights
First Amendment - 5 freedoms: speech, press, religion, assembly, petition
Second Amendment - A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a
free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Fourth Amendment - Protects against unreasonable search and seizure
Fifth Amendment - prohibits government from forcing individuals to testify against
themselves.
, Sixth Amendment - Right to a speedy and public trial
Seventh Amendment - Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Eighth Amendment - The constitutional amendment that forbids cruel and unusual
punishment.
Third Amendment - The government may not house soldiers in private homes without
consent of the owner
Nineth Amendment - peoples rights are not just limited to those listed in the
Constitution and Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment - The powers not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to
the people.
Thirteenth Amendment - The constitutional amendment ratified after the Civil War
that forbade slavery and involuntary servitude.
Fourteenth Amendment - A constitutional amendment giving full rights of citizenship
to all people born or naturalized in the United States, except for American Indians.
Fifteenth Amendment - The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude.
Nineteenth Amendment - The constitutional amendment adopted in 1920 that
guarantees women the right to vote.
Twenty-sixth Amendment - Changed the legal voting age from 21 to 18.
Verified Answers
What is gerrymandering? - when a political group tries to change a voting district to
create a result that helps them or hurts the group who is against them. It is named after
Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814).
Proclamation of 1763 - A proclamation from the British government which forbade
British colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, and which required any
settlers already living west of the mountains to move back east.
Sugar Act of 1764 - An act that raised tax revenue in the colonies for the crown. It also
increased the duty on foreign sugar imported from the West Indies.
Stamp Act of 1765 - This act required colonists to pay for an official stamp, or seal,
when they bought paper items.
Townshend Acts (1767) - passed by Parliament, put a tax on glass, lead, paper, and
tea. The acts caused protest from the colonists, who found ways around the taxes such as
buying smuggled tea. Due to its little profits, the Townshend Acts were repealed in 1770,
except for the tax on tea. The tax on tea was kept to keep alive the principle of Parliamentary
taxation.
Quartering Act of 1765 - Act forcing colonists to house and supply British forces in the
colonies; created more resentment; seen as assault on liberties.
separation of church and state doctrine - idea that the government and religion
should be separate, and not interfere in each other's affairs. In the United States, this idea is
based on the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which states that the government
cannot make any laws to establish a state religion or prohibit the free exercise of religion.
Shay's Rebellion (1786) - This MA conflict caused criticism of the Articles of
Confederation; weak govt; increased calls for a Constitutional Convention to revise the
Articles
,What are two holidays that honor the members of the armed forces? - Memorial Day
and Veterans Day
From where does the US government get its power? - from the consent of the people
Where was the original capital of the US? - New York City
Common Law - draws from institutionalized opinions and interpretations from judicial
authorities and public juries. Common laws sometimes prove the inspiration for new
legislation to be enacted
What is the US judicial system based on? - constitution, statutes, common law
Which is the supreme law of the United States? - U.S. Constitution
How many amendments does the US Constitution have? - 27
What are the first ten amendments called? - Bill of Rights
First Amendment - 5 freedoms: speech, press, religion, assembly, petition
Second Amendment - A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a
free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Fourth Amendment - Protects against unreasonable search and seizure
Fifth Amendment - prohibits government from forcing individuals to testify against
themselves.
, Sixth Amendment - Right to a speedy and public trial
Seventh Amendment - Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Eighth Amendment - The constitutional amendment that forbids cruel and unusual
punishment.
Third Amendment - The government may not house soldiers in private homes without
consent of the owner
Nineth Amendment - peoples rights are not just limited to those listed in the
Constitution and Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment - The powers not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to
the people.
Thirteenth Amendment - The constitutional amendment ratified after the Civil War
that forbade slavery and involuntary servitude.
Fourteenth Amendment - A constitutional amendment giving full rights of citizenship
to all people born or naturalized in the United States, except for American Indians.
Fifteenth Amendment - The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude.
Nineteenth Amendment - The constitutional amendment adopted in 1920 that
guarantees women the right to vote.
Twenty-sixth Amendment - Changed the legal voting age from 21 to 18.
