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Florida Civic Literacy Exam Study Questions
| ACCURATE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
ANSWERS | GUARANTEED PASS | GRADED
A | LATEST UPDATE 2025- 2026
1. Who was the President of the United States during World War I? A. Theodore Roosevelt B. Woodrow Wilson ✅ C. Franklin D. Roosevelt D. Herbert Hoover Rationale: Wilson led the U.S. through World War I (1914–1918) and advocated for the League of Nations afterward. 2. Who was the President of the United States during the Great Depression and World War II? A. Calvin Coolidge B. Harry Truman C. Franklin D. Roosevelt ✅ D. Dwight D. Eisenhower Rationale: FDR served four terms and led the country through both the Great Depression and WWII. 3. Who did the United States fight against in World War II? A. Russia, China, and Germany B. Germany, Italy, and Japan ✅ C. France, Germany, and Japan D. Spain, Germany, and Italy Rationale: The Axis powers in WWII were Germany, Italy, and Japan. 4. Before he was elected president, Eisenhower served as a general in which war? A. Korean War B. Vietnam War C. World War I
D. World War II ✅ Rationale: Eisenhower was the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during WWII.
5. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? A. Losing oil resources B. The spread of Communism ✅ C. Immigration D. Civil rights Rationale: The U.S. sought to prevent the global spread of Soviet-style communism. 6. What movement in the 1950s and 1960s tried to end racial discrimination? A. The labor movement B. The civil rights movement ✅ C. The feminist movement D. The environmental movement Rationale: The civil rights movement sought to end racial segregation and inequality. 7. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do? A. Led a political party B. Fought for civil rights ✅ C. Started the Black Panthers D. Founded the NAACP Rationale: King was a central figure in the non-violent civil rights movement. 8. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States? A. Pearl Harbor was attacked B. Stock market crash C. Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center ✅ D. Washington D.C. lockdown Rationale: Terrorists hijacked planes and attacked the WTC and Pentagon. 9. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. A. Hudson River B. Rio Grande
B. Cuba C. Panama D. Brazil Rationale: Mexico borders the southern U.S. states like Texas and Arizona.
15. What is the capital of the United States? A. New York B. Los Angeles C. Washington, D.C. ✅ D. Philadelphia Rationale: Washington, D.C. is the federal capital. 16. Why does the American flag have 13 stripes? A. To represent the 13 presidents B. For the 13 colonies ✅ C. For 13 states D. For 13 wars Rationale: The original 13 colonies that declared independence from Britain. 17. Why does the American flag have 50 stars? A. For 50 wars B. For 50 states ✅ C. For 50 colonies D. For 50 presidents Rationale: Each star represents one of the 50 states. 18. What is the name of the American national anthem? A. America the Beautiful B. God Bless America C. The Star-Spangled Banner ✅ D. My Country, ’Tis of Thee Rationale: Written during the War of 1812 by Francis Scott Key. 19. When does the United States celebrate Independence Day? A. July 1st
B. June 4th C. July 4th ✅ D. September 11th Rationale: July 4, 1776 marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
20. Name two national U.S. holidays. A. Boxing Day, Good Friday B. New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving ✅ C. Easter, Flag Day D. Halloween, Veterans Day Rationale: National holidays include New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Independence Day, etc. 21. Marbury v. Madison (1803) A. Created the Bill of Rights B. Established judicial review ✅ C. Allowed slavery D. Defined impeachment Rationale: Gave the Supreme Court authority to review laws for constitutionality. 22. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) A. States can tax federal banks B. Only states can create banks C. Congress can create a bank and states cannot tax it ✅ D. Banks are unconstitutional Rationale: Established federal supremacy and implied powers. 23. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) A. Declared war powers B. Affirmed federal control of interstate commerce ✅ C. Protected Native lands D. Ended slavery Rationale: Expanded federal power over trade between states.
29. West Virginia v. Barnette (1943) A. Required flag salutes in schools B. Prohibited public protests C. Upheld student free speech rights against forced flag salutes ✅ D. Removed religious exemptions Rationale: Students can’t be forced to salute the flag due to First Amendment protections. 30. Korematsu v. United States (1944) A. Opposed Japanese internment B. Upheld Japanese internment during WWII ✅ C. Granted reparations D. Declared war on Japan Rationale: The Court justified internment as a military necessity—later discredited. 31. Cooper v. Aaron (1958) A. States may ignore federal rulings B. Supreme Court decisions are not binding C. States cannot nullify federal court decisions ✅ D. Only Congress enforces the Constitution Rationale: Reinforced federal supremacy and the binding nature of Supreme Court decisions. 32. Mapp v. Ohio (1961) A. Allowed use of illegally obtained evidence B. Banned search warrants C. Established the exclusionary rule ✅ D. Supported surveillance without cause Rationale: Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court. 33. Engel v. Vitale (1962) A. Allowed school prayer B. Mandated Bible reading in schools C. Banned state-sponsored prayer in public schools ✅ D. Supported silent meditation Rationale: School-led prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
34. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) A. Limited access to legal counsel B. Only rich defendants get lawyers C. Required states to provide attorneys for indigent defendants ✅ D. Removed the right to counsel Rationale: Ensures the Sixth Amendment right to legal representation. 35. New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) A. Outlawed fake news B. Banned press criticism C. Established “actual malice” standard for libel of public figures ✅ D. Made defamation easier to prove Rationale: Protects press freedom unless false statements are made knowingly or recklessly. 36. Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) A. Banned contraception B. Supported state restrictions on birth control C. Recognized a right to privacy in marital relations ✅ D. Upheld a ban on sex education Rationale: Found “penumbras” in the Constitution protecting privacy, including contraception use. 37. Miranda v. Arizona (1966) A. Removed right to silence B. Allowed secret interrogations C. Required Miranda warnings for suspects in custody ✅ D. Gave police unlimited interrogation powers Rationale: Ensures suspects are informed of their rights under the 5th and 6th Amendments. 38. What are the Miranda Rights? A. Right to privacy and protest B. Freedom from search C. Right to remain silent and right to an attorney ✅ D. Right to a jury trial Rationale: These warnings must be read to suspects upon arrest to ensure due process.
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
- Ans - Freed the slaves Freed slaves in the Confederacy Freed slaves in the Confederate states Freed slaves in most Southern states What did Suan B. Anthony do?
- Ans - Fought for women's rights Fought for civil rights Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
- Ans - World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War Persian Gulf War Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) - Ans - Established that affirmative action must be limited and that race cannot be the only factor when determining a candidates eligibility. New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985) - Ans - Established that a student may be searched if there is "reasonable ground" for doing so. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988) - Ans - Supreme Court decision which held that public school curricular student newspapers that have not been established as forums for student expression are subject to a lower level of First Amendment protection. The U.S Supreme Court held for the first time that public schools can limit what appears in school-sponsored student publications.
Texas v. Johnson (1989) - Ans - Flag-burning is symbolic speech with a political purpose and is protected by 1st Amendment. Bush v. Gore (2000) - Ans - The Supreme Court ruled that manual recounts of presidential ballots in the Nov. 2000 election could not proceed because inconsistent evaluation standards in different counties violated the equal protection clause. District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) - Ans - D.C. ban on registering handguns and the requirement to keep guns in the home disassembled or nonfunctional with a trigger lock mechanism violated the Second Amendment. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) - Ans - The First Amendment protects the right to free speech, despite the speaker's corporate identity. McDonald v. Chicago (2010) - Ans - The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment extends the Second Amendment's right to keep and bear arms to the states, at least for traditional, lawful purposes such as self-defense Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) - Ans - The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State. Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022) - Ans - In an overturn of Roe v. Wade (1973), the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Brown v. Board of Education (1954) - Ans - The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated. Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) - Ans - Court ruled that Scott was the property of Sanford and, as a slave, was prohibited from suing in court. Chief Justice Taney gives his opinion that the Missouri
What is freedom of religion? - Ans - You are free to practice any religion, or not practice a religion at all What is the economic system in the United States? - Ans - Capitalist economy/Market economy What is the "rule of law?" - Ans - Everyone must follow the law Leaders must obey the law Government must obey the law No one is above the law What are the three branches of the United States' government? - Ans - Legislative Executive Judicial What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? - Ans - Checks and Balances Separation of Powers Who is in charge of the Executive branch? - Ans - President of the United States What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? - Ans - Senate and House of Representatives How many U.S. Senators are there? - Ans - 100 How many years are U.S. Senators elected for? - Ans - 6 years
How many U.S. Representatives are there? - Ans - 435 How many years are U.S. Representatives elected for? - Ans - 2 years Who does a U.S. Senator represent? - Ans - All the people of the state they are elected from Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? - Ans - The number of representatives is based off of a state's population How long is one presidential term? - Ans - 4 years In which month do U.S. citizens vote for the president? - Ans - November If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President? - Ans - Vice President If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President? - Ans
- Speaker of the House Who is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military? - Ans - the President Who signs bills to become laws? - Ans - the President Who vetoes bills? - Ans - the President What does the President's Cabinet do? - Ans - advises the President What does the Judicial branch do? - Ans - Reviews laws
What are some ways that Americans can participate in their democracy? - Ans - Vote Join a political party Help with a campaign Join a community group Join a civic group Run for office When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms? - Ans - April 15 When must all men register for the Selective Service? - Ans - at 18 years old What are some reasons that colonists came to America? - Ans - Freedom Political liberty Religious freedom Economic opportunity Escape persecution Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? - Ans - Native Americans What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves? - Ans - Africans Why did the colonists fight the British? - Ans - High taxes No representation in Parliament Quartering of British soldiers Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence? - Ans - Thomas Jefferson
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? - Ans - July 4, 1776 Name 3 of the original 13 colonies. - Ans - New Hampshire Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia What happened at the Constitutional Convention? - Ans - The Constitution was written In what year was the Constitution written? - Ans - 1787 What year was the Constitution ratified? - Ans - 1788 In what year did the Constitution go into effect? - Ans - 1789 Who were the 3 primary authors of the Federalist papers? - Ans - Alexander Hamilton John Jay James Madison
Which of the following represents a suitable petition for the suspect in this situation, in regard to their constitutional rights? - Ans -. petition for a writ of habeas corpus .Which phrase best describes the power of impeachment? - Ans - the ability of the U.S. House to charge federal officers with a crime or violation Use the excerpt below, from the Declaration of Independence, to answer the question that follows. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. Source: National Archives and Records Administration Which constitutional provision was inspired by the above complaint? - Ans - The Third Amendment limits the quartering of soldiers to specific circumstances. .Use the passage below, from a historical document, to answer the question that follows. "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Source: The U.S. Constitution, National Archives and Records Administration Which philosophical movement best reflects the ideals in the passage? - Ans - Enlightenment Which of the following documents influenced the aims and strategies of the authors of the Declaration of Sentiments? - Ans - Declaration of Independence Which political philosopher's ideas are best represented in the Declaration of Independence? - Ans - John Locke Why did colonists living under British rule protest British tax policies? - Ans - The colonists claimed that the tax policies violated their political rights. In the Mayflower Compact, Plymouth settlers pledged to unite into "a civil body politic" and agreed to make and abide by laws that "insured the general Good of the Colony." What founding document did this set a precedent for? - Ans - U.S. Constitution
6.Which person is considered to be the principal author of the U.S. Constitution? - Ans - James Madison .Government by the people and the separation of powers are the main principles of which founding document? - Ans - U.S. Constitution .Use the excerpt below, from the Thirteenth Amendment, to answer the question that follows. "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Source: National Archives and Records Administration Which of the following contains a clause that may have served as an inspiration for - Ans - Northwest Ordinances The Mayflower Compact includes a pledge to ensure that all citizens look out for the general good of the colony. Based on this, what impact has the Mayflower Compact had on modern understanding of the purpose of government in the United States? - Ans - The government should provide equal protection under the law At the Constitutional Convention, there was a major debate between large states and small states about representation in the new Congress. This debate was resolved by the Great Compromise. What was the result of this compromise? - Ans -. Congress would have two houses, one in which state representation was based on population and one in which all states had equal representation. Which of the following reflects the most important consequence of the Watergate break-in? - Ans - resignation of the president of the United States Which legislation reflects federal efforts to regulate transportation? - Ans - Interstate Commerce Act The U.S. Supreme Court enabled which government practices to continue in its ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson? - Ans - segregating public facilities
