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FLORIDA CIVIC LITERACY EXAM 2026 | 140 CORRECT QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS & RATIONALES, ALREADY GRADED A+,
GUARANTEED PASS
1. The principle of “separation of powers” ensures that government power is
divided among which three branches?
A) Federal, state, and local
B) Legislative, executive, and judicial
C) House, Senate, and President
D) Citizens, government, and military
Answer: B – Legislative, executive, and judicial
Rationale: The U.S. Constitution divides government power into three branches to
prevent concentration of authority.
2. Which document established the first form of government for the United States
before the Constitution?
A) The Bill of Rights
B) The Articles of Confederation
C) The Federalist Papers
D) The Mayflower Compact
Answer: B – The Articles of Confederation
Rationale: Ratified in 1781, the Articles of Confederation created a weak central
government, replaced in 1789 by the U.S. Constitution.
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3. Which Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review?
A) Marbury v. Madison (1803)
B) McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
C) Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
D) Roe v. Wade (1973)
Answer: A – Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Rationale: Judicial review gives the courts power to declare laws unconstitutional,
strengthening the judiciary’s role.
4. The Bill of Rights is made up of which amendments?
A) The first 5 amendments
B) The first 10 amendments
C) The first 12 amendments
D) Amendments 11–20
Answer: B – The first 10 amendments
Rationale: Ratified in 1791, the Bill of Rights guarantees individual liberties such
as free speech, press, and due process.
5. The “supremacy clause” of the U.S. Constitution means:
A) States can override federal law if they disagree.
B) Federal law is the highest law of the land.
C) The Supreme Court must approve every law.
D) The President has supreme authority over states.
Answer: B – Federal law is the highest law of the land
Rationale: Article VI establishes the Constitution and federal laws as superior to
state laws.
6. What is the minimum age requirement to serve as President of the United
States?
A) 25
B) 30
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C) 35
D) 40
Answer: C – 35
Rationale: Article II requires Presidents to be at least 35 years old, a natural-born
citizen, and a U.S. resident for 14 years.
7. Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?
A) 19th Amendment
B) 21st Amendment
C) 24th Amendment
D) 26th Amendment
Answer: D – 26th Amendment
Rationale: Ratified in 1971, the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21
to 18, largely in response to the Vietnam War.
8. “Checks and balances” is best illustrated by which of the following?
A) Congress declaring war
B) The President vetoing a law
C) States conducting elections
D) Citizens serving on juries
Answer: B – The President vetoing a law
Rationale: A presidential veto checks the legislative branch, requiring cooperation
between branches.
9. The Federalist Papers were written to:
A) Encourage independence from Britain
B) Support ratification of the Constitution
C) Propose the Bill of Rights
D) Oppose slavery
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Answer: B – Support ratification of the Constitution
Rationale: Written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, the Federalist Papers argued
for a strong central government.
10. Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?
A) 13th Amendment
B) 14th Amendment
C) 15th Amendment
D) 19th Amendment
Answer: A – 13th Amendment
Rationale: Ratified in 1865, the 13th Amendment outlawed slavery and
involuntary servitude (except as punishment for a crime).
11. Which branch of government has the power to declare war?
A) The President
B) The Senate alone
C) Congress
D) The Supreme Court
Answer: C – Congress
Rationale: Article I gives Congress the power to declare war, although the
President is Commander-in-Chief.
12. The principle of “federalism” refers to:
A) The separation of church and state
B) The division of power between state and federal governments
C) The Supreme Court’s power to review laws
D) The process of impeachment
Answer: B – The division of power between state and federal governments
Rationale: Federalism shares sovereignty between states and the national
government.
FLORIDA CIVIC LITERACY EXAM 2026 | 140 CORRECT QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS & RATIONALES, ALREADY GRADED A+,
GUARANTEED PASS
1. The principle of “separation of powers” ensures that government power is
divided among which three branches?
A) Federal, state, and local
B) Legislative, executive, and judicial
C) House, Senate, and President
D) Citizens, government, and military
Answer: B – Legislative, executive, and judicial
Rationale: The U.S. Constitution divides government power into three branches to
prevent concentration of authority.
2. Which document established the first form of government for the United States
before the Constitution?
A) The Bill of Rights
B) The Articles of Confederation
C) The Federalist Papers
D) The Mayflower Compact
Answer: B – The Articles of Confederation
Rationale: Ratified in 1781, the Articles of Confederation created a weak central
government, replaced in 1789 by the U.S. Constitution.
,2 | Page
3. Which Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review?
A) Marbury v. Madison (1803)
B) McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
C) Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
D) Roe v. Wade (1973)
Answer: A – Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Rationale: Judicial review gives the courts power to declare laws unconstitutional,
strengthening the judiciary’s role.
4. The Bill of Rights is made up of which amendments?
A) The first 5 amendments
B) The first 10 amendments
C) The first 12 amendments
D) Amendments 11–20
Answer: B – The first 10 amendments
Rationale: Ratified in 1791, the Bill of Rights guarantees individual liberties such
as free speech, press, and due process.
5. The “supremacy clause” of the U.S. Constitution means:
A) States can override federal law if they disagree.
B) Federal law is the highest law of the land.
C) The Supreme Court must approve every law.
D) The President has supreme authority over states.
Answer: B – Federal law is the highest law of the land
Rationale: Article VI establishes the Constitution and federal laws as superior to
state laws.
6. What is the minimum age requirement to serve as President of the United
States?
A) 25
B) 30
,3 | Page
C) 35
D) 40
Answer: C – 35
Rationale: Article II requires Presidents to be at least 35 years old, a natural-born
citizen, and a U.S. resident for 14 years.
7. Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?
A) 19th Amendment
B) 21st Amendment
C) 24th Amendment
D) 26th Amendment
Answer: D – 26th Amendment
Rationale: Ratified in 1971, the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21
to 18, largely in response to the Vietnam War.
8. “Checks and balances” is best illustrated by which of the following?
A) Congress declaring war
B) The President vetoing a law
C) States conducting elections
D) Citizens serving on juries
Answer: B – The President vetoing a law
Rationale: A presidential veto checks the legislative branch, requiring cooperation
between branches.
9. The Federalist Papers were written to:
A) Encourage independence from Britain
B) Support ratification of the Constitution
C) Propose the Bill of Rights
D) Oppose slavery
, 4 | Page
Answer: B – Support ratification of the Constitution
Rationale: Written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, the Federalist Papers argued
for a strong central government.
10. Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?
A) 13th Amendment
B) 14th Amendment
C) 15th Amendment
D) 19th Amendment
Answer: A – 13th Amendment
Rationale: Ratified in 1865, the 13th Amendment outlawed slavery and
involuntary servitude (except as punishment for a crime).
11. Which branch of government has the power to declare war?
A) The President
B) The Senate alone
C) Congress
D) The Supreme Court
Answer: C – Congress
Rationale: Article I gives Congress the power to declare war, although the
President is Commander-in-Chief.
12. The principle of “federalism” refers to:
A) The separation of church and state
B) The division of power between state and federal governments
C) The Supreme Court’s power to review laws
D) The process of impeachment
Answer: B – The division of power between state and federal governments
Rationale: Federalism shares sovereignty between states and the national
government.
