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GED Test (Mathematical Reasoning, Science, Social Studies, Reasoning Through Language Arts)

Civics and government: practice questions

Our GED bank has 52 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1

Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

  1. Nineteenth Amendment
  2. Twenty-sixth Amendment
  3. Fifteenth Amendment
  4. Twenty-fourth Amendment
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B. Twenty-sixth Amendment — The Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971) bars denying the vote to citizens 18 or older on account of age.

Question 2

The 'necessary and proper' clause allows Congress to:

  1. Remove state governors from office
  2. Override any decision of the Supreme Court by a simple majority vote
  3. Make laws needed to carry out its listed powers
  4. Ignore the Bill of Rights in wartime
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C. Make laws needed to carry out its listed powers — Article I, Section 8, clause 18 lets Congress pass laws 'necessary and proper for carrying into Execution' its powers. This is the basis of implied powers.

Question 3

Which branch of the federal government has the power to make laws?

  1. The cabinet departments
  2. The legislative branch (Congress)
  3. The judicial branch (the courts)
  4. The executive branch (the President)
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B. The legislative branch (Congress) — Article I, Section 1 vests 'all legislative Powers' in Congress, made up of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Question 4

The Eighth Amendment forbids:

  1. Being tried twice for the same crime
  2. Unreasonable searches and seizures of homes and personal papers
  3. Excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishments
  4. Quartering soldiers in homes in peacetime
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C. Excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishments — The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail, excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishments. Quartering is the Third; searches the Fourth; double jeopardy the Fifth.

Question 5

The Twenty-fourth Amendment banned which practice in federal elections?

  1. Secret ballots
  2. Literacy tests
  3. Primary elections
  4. Poll taxes
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D. Poll taxes — The Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964) forbids denying the vote in federal elections for failure to pay a poll tax or other tax.

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