Social Studies Civics and Government Flashcards
7 cards from real GED practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Social Studies Civics and Government flashcards as text
Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution lowered the voting age to 18?
Answer: 26th Amendment
The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, lowered the national voting age from 21 to 18, partly in response to the Vietnam War draft.
What is an 'initiative' in state government?
Answer: A process allowing citizens to propose laws by collecting signatures
An initiative is a form of direct democracy that allows citizens to propose new laws or constitutional amendments by gathering a required number of signatures.
Which of the following is NOT a protected right under the First Amendment?
Answer: Right to bear arms
The right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment, not the First Amendment, which covers religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
What does it mean for the U.S. Senate to 'advise and consent' on a presidential nominee?
Answer: The Senate must approve the nominee through a confirmation vote
The Senate's 'advise and consent' role means it holds hearings and votes to confirm or reject presidential nominees for positions such as Supreme Court justices.
A state passes a law that conflicts with a federal law on the same topic. What happens under the Supremacy Clause?
Answer: The federal law takes precedence and the state law is invalid
The Supremacy Clause in Article VI establishes that the U.S. Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land, overriding conflicting state laws.
Which of the following best describes a bicameral legislature?
Answer: A lawmaking body divided into two separate chambers
A bicameral legislature is one divided into two chambers, such as the U.S. Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
What is the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights?
Answer: To protect individual liberties from government infringement
The Bill of Rights — the first ten amendments — was added to the Constitution specifically to protect individual rights and freedoms from government overreach.