Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE) Sample Items, Exams of Civil Law

Download Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE) Sample Items and more Exams Civil Law in PDF only on Docsity!

Florida Civic Literacy Examination

(FCLE)

Sample Items

Copyright State of Florida Department of State 2022

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 2

The purpose of these sample test materials is to orient faculty and students to the types of questions on the Florida Civic Literacy Examination. The sample questions and answers are not intended to demonstrate the length of the actual test; however, each of the four outcomes assessed on the test are represented in the same proportion on the sample test as on the actual test (approximately 25% each). Student performance on the sample test should not be used as a predictor of performance on the actual test, and the sample test is not intended to guide classroom instruction.

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 4

5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 5

9. 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

10. Which form of government is based on popular sovereignty? A. communism B. dictatorship C. monarchy D. republic
11. Use the provided Preamble to the United States Constitution to answer the question.

“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: National Archives and Records Administration

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.

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 7

17. Which article of the U.S. Constitution grants the power to coin money, make treaties, and levy import duties? A. Article I B. Article II C. Article III D. Article IV
18. Use the scenario below to answer the question that follows.

Which of the following represents a suitable petition for the suspect in this situation, in regard to their constitutional rights? A. petition for a writ of extradition B. petition for a writ of habeas corpus C. petition for release into their custody D. petition for overturning of the charges

19. Which phrase best describes the power of impeachment? A. the ability of the U.S. House to charge federal officers with a crime or violation B. the ability of the U.S. Supreme Court to determine constitutionality of laws C. the power of the U.S. Senate to remove federal officers for a crime or violation D. the power of the U.S. President to enforce decisions of federal courts

A suspect is accused of a crime in one state and flees to another state where they are apprehended. The state is very slow in returning the suspect to the state of origin and keeps them imprisoned.

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 8

20. 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? A. The president has the power to declare war under Article II. B. The Second Amendment ensures that citizens have the right to keep and bear arms. C. The Third Amendment limits the quartering of soldiers to specific circumstances. D. The president has the power to determine the deployment and use of soldiers under Article II.

21. 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? A. Transcendentalism B. Reformation C. Progressivism D. Enlightenment

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 10

25. 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? A. Declaration of Independence B. U.S. Constitution C. Magna Carta D. Bill of Rights

26. Which person is considered to be the principal author of the U.S. Constitution? A. Thomas Jefferson B. Richard Henry Lee C. Benjamin Franklin D. James Madison
27. Government by the people and the separation of powers are the main principles of which founding document? A. Bill of Rights B. U.S. Constitution C. Mayflower Compact D. Northwest Ordinances

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 11

28. 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 the above language? A. Declaration of Independence B. Articles of Confederation C. Northwest Ordinances D. Federalist Papers

29. 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? A. The government should protect the property of influential citizens. B. The government should provide equal protection under the law. C. The government should advance the goals of the elite. D. The government should establish religious unity.

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 13

34. Which of the following statements regarding the Monroe Doctrine is accurate? A. The Monroe Doctrine prohibited future European colonization in the Western Hemisphere. B. Debates over the Monroe Doctrine heightened sectional divisions in the United States. C. The United States used the Monroe Doctrine to justify the annexation of overseas territories. D. Great Britain's opposition to the Monroe Doctrine was a major cause of the War of 1812.
35. By what process were eighteen-year-olds fully granted the right to vote? A. resolution of Congress B. voter initiative C. Supreme Court decision D. constitutional amendment
36. Use the passage below, taken from a presidential nomination speech, to answer the question that follows.

“What do the people of America want more than anything else? To my mind, they want two things: work,... and with work, a reasonable measure of security.. .” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

Based on the passage, which government program would the speaker support? A. Great Society B. Fair Deal C. New Deal D. Brain Trust

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 14

37. In order to attract investment and business and reduce expenses, a state legislature proposes passing a law that removes the need for certain federal regulatory features relating to office and factory environments.

Which legislative action would most likely cause the U.S. Supreme Court to decide that this violated the Supremacy Clause? A. Pendleton Act B. Fair Housing Act C. Social Security Act D. Occupational Safety and Health Act

38. Use the passage below, from a landmark Supreme Court case opinion, to answer the question that follows.

“So if a law be in opposition to the constitution; if both the law and the constitution apply to a particular case, so that the court must either decide that case conformably to the law, disregarding the constitution; or conformably to the constitution, disregarding the law; the court must determine which of these conflicting rules governs the case.” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

Which Supreme Court case established the precedent described in the opinion? A. Bush v. Gore B. Miranda v. Arizona C. Marbury v. Madison D. Dred Scott v. Sandford

39. Which of the following cases resulted in a decision that undermined civil rights and liberties in prioritization of national security? A. Regents of the University of California v. Bakke B. Brown v. Board of Education C. District of Columbia v. Heller D. Korematsu v. United States

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 16

FCLE Sample Item Key

Item Number

Correct Response

Item Number

Correct Response 1 A 21 D 2 A 22 D 3 D 23 C 4 A 24 A 5 D 25 B 6 C 26 D 7 A 27 B 8 C 28 C 9 C 29 B 10 D 30 B 11 A 31 C 12 C 32 A 13 D 33 B 14 A 34 A 15 C 35 D 16 C 36 C 17 A 37 D 18 B 38 C 19 A 39 D 20 C 40 D

Office of Assessment, Florida Department of Education 17

Authorization

Developed, produced, and printed under the authority of the Florida Department of Education.

Authorization for reproduction of this document is hereby granted to persons acting in an official capacity within the Florida K-20 education system, as enumerated in Section 1000.04, Florida Statutes.

Permission is NOT granted for distribution or reproduction outside the State system of public education or for commercial distribution of the copyrighted materials without written authorization from the Department of Education. Questions regarding use of these copyrighted materials are to be addressed to:

FTCE/FELE Administrator Florida Department of Education 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 414 Tallahassee, Florida 32399- Copyright 2022 State of Florida Department of State