Lately there have been a lot of people; both Liberal and
Conservative; who have called for the return of “literacy tests” to become
eligible to Vote. This is in addition to the Conservative movement to roll back
the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The photograph above was taken just after LBJ
signed that bill into law in August 1965.
Among the people in the photograph are MLK and Rosa Parks.
Most people that call for the return of literacy tests are
speaking in jest; more like exasperation at the views of the people who hold
different political views than they themselves have. But, just for fun, I’d
like everyone to take this 1965 Alabama test and see how they would score. Keep
in mind that your level of education is far greater than that of the average
African-American who would have been required to take this test in the 1960’s.
And remember, in Alabama at the time education was a privilege and not a right
for the people required to take this test.
The next time you hear someone talk about how “there ought
to be a test for voting” whip this out and see how they would fare. You have
about 15 minutes to complete the test and one wrong answer is a failing grade.
You will be surprised at how little you think you know.
1. Which of the following is a right guaranteed by the
Bill of Rights?
_____Public
Education
_____Employment
_____Trial by Jury
_____Voting
2. The federal
census of population is taken every five years.
_____True
_____False
3. If a person is
indicted for a crime, name two rights which he has. ______________________
________________________
4. A U.S. senator
elected at the general election in November takes office the following year on
what date? _________________________________________________
5. A President
elected at the general election in November takes office the following year on
what date? ______________________________________________________________________
6. Which
definition applies to the word "amendment?"
_____Proposed
change, as in a Constitution
_____Make of peace
between nationals at war
_____A part of the
government
7. A person
appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court is appointed for a term of __________.
8. When the
Constitution was approved by the original colonies, how many states had to
ratify it in order for it to be in effect?
_________________________________________
9. Does
enumeration affect the income tax levied on citizens in various states?
__________
10. A person
opposed to swearing in an oath may say, instead: I (solemnly)
______________________________________________________________
11. To serve as
President of the United States, a person must have attained:
_____25 years of
age
_____35 years of
age
_____40 years of
age
_____45 years of
age
12. What words are
required by law to be on all coins and paper currency of the U.S.?
________________________________________________________________________
13. The Supreme
Court is the chief lawmaking body of the state.
_____True
_____False
14. If a law
passed by a state is contrary to provisions of the U.S. Constitution, which law
prevails? ________________________________________________________________________
15. If a vacancy
occurs in the U.S. Senate, the state must hold an election, but meanwhile the
place may be filled by a temporary appointment made by
________________________________________________________________________.
16. A U.S. senator
is elected for a term of _____ years.
17. Appropriation
of money for the armed services can be only for a period limited to _____
years.
18. The chief
executive and the administrative offices make up the ___________________ branch
of government.
19. Who passes
laws dealing with piracy?
________________________________________________________________________
20. The number of
representatives which a state is entitled to have in the House of
Representatives is based on _________________________________________________
21. The
Constitution protects an individual against punishments which are
_______________ and _______________________.
22. When a jury
has heard and rendered a verdict in a case, and the judgment on the verdict has
become final, the defendant cannot again be brought to trial for the same
cause.
_____True
_____False
23. Name two
levels of government which can levy taxes:
________________________________________________________________________
24. Communism is
the type of government in: _____U.S.
_____Russia
_____England
25. Cases tried
before a court of law are two types, civil and _________________________.
26. By a majority
vote of the members of Congress, the Congress can change provisions of the
Constitution of the U.S.
_____True
_____False
27. For security,
each state has a right to form a _________________________________.
28. The electoral
vote for President is counted in the presence of two bodies. Name them:
_____________________________________________________________________
29. If no
candidate for President receives a majority of the electoral vote, who decides
who will become President? ___________________________________________________
30. Of the
original 13 states, the one with the largest representation in the first
Congress was
______________________________________________________________________.
31. Of which
branch of government is the Speaker of the House a part? _____Executive
_____Legislative
_____Judicial
32. Capital
punishment is the giving of a death sentence.
_____True
_____False
33. In case the
President is unable to perform the duties of his office, who assumes them?
___________________________________________________________________
34.
"Involuntary servitude" is permitted in the U.S. upon conviction of a
crime.
_____True
_____False
35. If a state is
a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original jurisdiction shall
be in ______________________________________________________________________.
36. Congress
passes laws regulating cases which are included in those over which the U.S.
Supreme Court has ____________________________________________ jurisdiction.
37. Which of the
following is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.
_____Public
Housing
_____Education
_____Voting
_____Trial by Jury
38. The
Legislatures of the states decide how presidential electors may be chosen.
_____True
_____False
39. If it were
proposed to join Alabama and Mississippi to form one state, what groups would
have to vote approval in order for this to be done?
________________________________________________________________________
40. The Vice
President presides over ____________________________________________.
41. The
Constitution limits the size of the District of Columbia to
______________________________________________________________________.
42. The only laws
which can be passed to apply to an area in a federal arsenal are those passed
by ___________________________________________ provided consent for the
purchase of the land is given by the _________________________________________.
43. In which
document or writing is the "Bill of Rights" found?
______________________.
44. Of which
branch of government is a Supreme Court justice a part?
_____Executive
_____Legislative
_____Judicial
45. If no person
receives a majority of the electoral votes, the Vice President is chosen by the
Senate. _____True
_____False
46. Name two
things which the states are forbidden to do by the U.S. Constitution.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
47. If election of
the President becomes the duty of the U.S. House of Representatives and it
fails to act, who becomes President and when?
_______________________________________________________________________
48. How many votes
must a person receive in order to become President if the election is decided
by the U.S. House of Representatives? _______________________________
49. How many
states were required to approve the original Constitution in order for it to be
in effect? ______________________________________________________________
50. Check the
offenses which, if you are convicted of them, disqualify you for voting:
_____Murder
_____Issuing
worthless checks
_____Petty larceny
_____Manufacturing
whiskey
51. The Congress
decides in what manner states elect presidential electors.
_____True
_____False
52. Name two of
the purposes of the U.S. Constitution.
_________________________________________________________________________
53. Congress is
composed of __________________________________________________.
54. All
legislative powers granted in the U.S. Constitution may legally be used only by
______________________________________________________________________.
55. The population
census is required to be made very _____ years.
56. Impeachments
of U.S. officials are tried by ___________________________________.
57. If an effort
to impeach the President of the U.S. is made, who presides at the trial?
_____________________________________________________________________
58. On the
impeachment of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S., who tries
the case? ________________________________________________________________
59. Money is
coined by order of:
_____U.S. Congress
_____The
President's Cabinet
_____State
Legislatures
60. Persons
elected to cast a state's vote for U.S. President and Vice President are called
presidential _________________________________________________________.
61. Name one power
which is exclusively legislative and is mentioned in one of the parts of the
U.S. Constitution above______________________________________________.
62. If a person
flees from justice into another state, who has authority to ask for his return?
_____________________________________________________________________
63. Whose duty is
it to keep Congress informed of the state of the union?
_____________________________________________________________________
64. If the two
houses of Congress cannot agree on adjournment, who sets the time?
_____________________________________________________________________
65. When
presidential electors meet to cast ballots for President, must all electors in
a state vote for the same person for President or can they vote for different
persons if they so choose? _____________________________________________________________________
66. After the
presidential electors have voted, to whom do they send the count of their
votes? _____________________________________________________________________
67. The power to
declare war is vested in ________________________________________.
68. Any power and
rights not given to the U.S. or prohibited to the states by the U.S.
Constitution are specified as belonging to whom? ______________________________
Here are the answers;
1. Trial by Jury only
2. False (every 10
years)
3. Habeas Corpus
(immediate presentation of charges); lawyer; speedy trial.
4. January 3
5. January 20
6. Proposed
change, as in a Constitution
7. Life (with good
behavior)
8. Nine
9. Yes
10. Affirm
11. 35
12. In God We
Trust
13. False
14. U.S. Constitution
15. The governor
16. Six
17. Two
18. Executive
19. Congress
20. Population (as
determined by census) less untaxed Indians
21. Cruel and
unusual
22. True
23. State and
local
24. Russia
25. Criminal
26. False
27. Militia
28. House of
Representatives, Senate
29. House of
Representatives
30. Virginia
31. Legislative
32. True
33. The Vice
President
34. True
35. The Supreme
Court
36. Co-appellate
37. Trial by Jury
38. True
39. Congress and
the legislatures of both states
40. The Senate
41. 10 miles
square
42. Congress;
state legislatures
43. Constitution
44. Judicial
45. True
46. Coin money;
make treaties
47. The Vice
President, until the House acts
48. 26
49. 9
50. Murder
51. False
52. (Preamble
statements) "to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity."
53. House of Representatives
and Senate
54. Congress
55. 10
56. The Senate
57. The Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court
58. The Senate
59. The U.S.
Congress
60. Electors
61. Pass laws,
coin money, declare war
62. The Governor
63. The President
64. The President
65. They can vote
for different people
66. Vice President
(President of the Senate)
67. Congress
68. The states;
the people
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