Government and Civil Service US History and Political System 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In what year was the US Constitution ratified?
- 1776
- 1781
- 1789 (Correct answer)
- 1791
Correct answer: 1789
The US Constitution was ratified in 1788 and took effect in 1789 when George Washington was inaugurated as the first president.
Question 2: Which political party was Abraham Lincoln a member of when he was elected president?
- Democrat
- Whig
- Republican (Correct answer)
- Federalist
Correct answer: Republican
Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican president, elected in 1860 on a platform opposing the expansion of slavery.
Question 3: What landmark Supreme Court case established the principle of racial segregation as constitutional under 'separate but equal'?
- Brown v. Board of Education
- Plessy v. Ferguson (Correct answer)
- Dred Scott v. Sandford
- Marbury v. Madison
Correct answer: Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upheld racial segregation laws under the 'separate but equal' doctrine, which was later overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
Question 4: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 primarily prohibited discrimination based on which characteristics?
- Race and religion only
- Race, color, religion, sex, and national origin (Correct answer)
- Race and color only
- Race, age, and disability
Correct answer: Race, color, religion, sex, and national origin
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin in employment and public accommodations.
Question 5: Which amendment to the US Constitution abolished slavery?
- 13th Amendment (Correct answer)
- 14th Amendment
- 15th Amendment
- 12th Amendment
Correct answer: 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United States.
Question 6: The US federal fiscal year runs from which dates?
- January 1 to December 31
- October 1 to September 30 (Correct answer)
- July 1 to June 30
- April 1 to March 31
Correct answer: October 1 to September 30
The US federal government's fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30, so FY2026 runs from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026.
Government and Civil Service US History and Political System 1
In what year was the US Constitution ratified?