The test is being written.  If you would like to help proofread it, make suggestions, or be one of the first to take it, please email Tim at climbtodaysmountain@yahoo.com 


The test will be in three parts, Levels 1, 2 and 3.   Level 1 is easiest and covers basics.  Level 2 contains things many people should know but don't.  Level 3 covers critical thinking.  

Here are questions that will probably be on Level 1 of the test:

PTTN Proficiency Test, Level One 


1. According to the Constitution, who does the U.S. government work for? (Who is the boss and employer of the federal government?)

A. The President
B. Congress
C. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
D. We the People of the United States


2. What makes up the Congress of the United States? 

A. The Senate and the Office of Management and Budget 
B. The House of Representatives and the Cabinet 
C. The House of Representatives and the Senate 
D. The Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of the government.
  


3. Which one of the following is not a power of the Congress? 

A. To create laws about trade 
B. To make laws about taxes 
C. To interpret the Bill of Rights 
D. To declare war
 


4. How long does a Congress last? 

A. Two years 
B. Four years 
C. Six years 
D. There is no time limit on Congress.


 
5. What is the least mandated period of time a Congress has to meet? 

A. January 1st through October 20th 
B. January 20th through August 31st 
C. January 3rd through July 31st 
D. October 30th through June 1st
 


6. Each state has how many Senators? 

A. Only one per state 
B. Only two per state 
C. One per every one million residents 
D. A maximum of six based on population
 
 

7. What number of votes is needed to have a majority vote in the Senate? 

A. 60 
B. Depends o the number of votes actually cast 
C. two-thirds of the vote plus one 
D. 51
 


8. What is the limit to the number of terms a Senator can serve? 

A. Like the President, only two 
B. A maximum of twenty four years 
C. A maximum of five terms 
D. There is no limit
 


9. Which is not a job of the Senate? 

A. To elect the President of the Senate 
B. To hold trials for officials who have done wrong 
C. To pass new laws 
D. To approve nominees to the Supreme Court
 


10. What determines the number of Representatives in each state? 

A. The population of the state 
B. The number of registered voters in a state from the last Presidential election 
C. The number of representatives is the same for each state 
D. The state Senate decides the number every ten years
 


11. A House Representative serves for how many years with each election? 

A. Four 
B. Six 
C. Two 
D. Once elected, a Representative serves for life
 

12. What is the term limit for a Representative? 

A. They can only serve for a maximum of four terms 
B. They can only serve for two terms 
C. There is no term limit, since it is a lifetime election 
D. As long as the people elect them, there is no limit.
 


13. Only the House of Representatives can:  

A. Declare war for the country 
B. Impeach a president 
C. Initiate laws that create taxes 
D. Approve treaties made by the President
 
 
 
 
14. What is the number needed to have a majority in the House? 

A. Sixty percent of the votes cast 
B. 251 
C. 218 
D. Fifty percent of the votes cast plus one
 


15. What is the fewest number of Representatives a state can have? 

A. One 
B. Two 
C. Six 
D. One for every 100,000 residents 





16. Which of the follow ideas is not found in the Declaration of Independence? 

A. People are born with natural rights. 
B. The power of government comes from the people. 
C. The people can change their government if it hurts their natural rights. 
D. The government will have three branches.



17. What is the supreme law of the land (of the United States)? 

A. The Bill of Rights
B. The Supreme Court
C. The Constitution 
D. “In God We Trust”


18. Which of the following does the Constitution not do? 

A. It sets up the federal government. 
B. It protects basic rights of Americans. 
C. It explains which powers are reserved to states.
D. It explains which powers are reserved to local governments.


19. What does “We the People” mean in the Constitution? 

A. The power of government comes from the people. 
B. It means the United States is a democracy.
C. It means the United States is a republic.
D. It means the court case that began our nation was We the People vs. King George III.



20. What do we call changes or updates to the Constitution? 

A. Bills 
B. Amendments
C. The U.S. Code of Law
D. Constitutional Articles





21. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? 

A. The Bill of Rights 
B. The Articles of Confederation
C. The Federalist Amendments
D. The Ten Freedoms


22. What five rights or freedoms are in the First Amendment?

A. Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Right to Vote, Right to Bear Arms, Ownership

B. Freedom of Speech, Ownership, Religion, Right to Vote, Right to Assemble, 

C. Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Right to Assemble, Freedom of the Press, Right to Petition the government 

D. Freedom to Bear Arms, Freedom of Speech, Protection from Unlawful Arrest, Freedom of Religion and Right to Vote


23. How many amendments does the Constitution have? 

A. 21
B. 25
C. 27
D. 29 




24. What does freedom of religion mean? 

A. You can practice any religion you want, or not practice at all. 
B. You can practice any religion but can’t be an atheist. 
C. The government would not tax any religious organization.
D. Religious services must be free, but people can make donations.




25. What are the three branches or parts of the government? 

A. federal, state and local 
B. executive, legislative, and judicial 
C. assessment, planning, and execution
D. The President, the Cabinet and the courts




26. How many United States Senators are there? 

A. 50
B. 100
C 200
D. 250


27. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? 

A. 4
B. 2
C. 6
D. 8



28. The House of Representatives has how many voting members? 

A.  435 
B.  Depends on the total population.
C.  535
D. 250



29. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years? 

A. 4
B. 2
C. 6
D. 8


30. What decides each state’s number of U.S. Representatives? 

A. The number was fixed by the 14th Amendment
B. The state’s population 
C. The state’s area
D. The state’s population divided by its area



31. Why do we have three branches of government? 

A. Because England had three branches of government, when we became independent.
B Because government has three jobs: collect taxes, make laws, spend tax money.
C. Because most chairs and stools in 1776 had three legs, and were very stable.
D. So that no branch has too much power. 



32. Which of the following is not an example of checks and balances? 

A. The President can veto a bill. 
B. Congress can confirm or not confirm a President’s nomination. 
C. The Supreme Court can strikes down a law make by Congress. 
D. The President writes the checks and Congress balances the budget.



33. What is the name of the President of the United States? 

A. George W. Bush
B. Dick Cheney
C. Al Gore
D. Karl Rove 


34. Who is the Vice President now? 

A. George W. Bush
B. Dick Cheney
C. Al Gore
D. Karl Rove 




35. Who becomes President if both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve? 

A. The Majority Leader of the Senate
B. The Secretary of State
C. The Speaker of the House 
D. The Attorney General


36. Which of the following is not true of the President?

A. When the President signs a bill, it become law.
B. The President can serve four or eight years.
C. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the military.
D. The President must have been a Senator or Congressman.


37. What is a veto? 

A. Congress refuses to accept a Presidential decision
B. Congress votes against a bill
C. The President refuses to sign a bill passed by Congress. 
D. The President issues a warning to Congress.



38. What doesn’t the President’s Cabinet do? 

A. Make laws in specific areas. 
B. Advises the President 
C. Take orders from the President.
D. Run departments of the executive branch.


39. Which of the following are not departments of the President’s Cabinet? 

A. Commerce, Defense, Housing and Urban Development
B. Interior, Energy, Transportation
C. Environment, Science and Technology, Foreign Affairs
D. Veteran’s Affairs, Health and Human Services, Treasury



40. What Cabinet-level agency advises the President on foreign policy? 

A. The Defense Department
B. The State Department 
C. The National Security Agency
D. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)



41. What doesn’t the judicial branch do? 

A. Reviews and clarifies laws 
B. Decide salaries of the executive and legislative branches.
C. Resolves disputes between parties 
D. Decides if a law goes against the Constitution (“is unconstitutional”)



42. Who confirms Supreme Court justices? 

A. The Senate and the House of Representatives
B. The President
C. A majority of the current Supreme Court justices.
D. The Senate


43. Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

A. Anthonin Scalia
B. Clarence Thomas
C. John G. Roberts
D. Samuel A. Alito, Jr.



44. How many justices are on the Supreme Court? 

A. 12
B. 5
C. 7
D. 9 



45. Who nominates justices to the Supreme Court? 

A. The Senate and the House of Representatives
B. The President
C. A majority of the current Supreme Court justices.
D. The Senate




46. What does it mean that the U.S. Constitution is a constitution of limited powers? 

A. The federal government has only the powers that the Constitution states that it has. 
B. Only God has unlimited powers.
C. The people, the states, and the local government have powers, too.
D. The Constitution is limited to governing the United States, and not other countries.




47. Who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? 

A. Nancy Pelosi 
B. Jim Connor
C. Hillary Clinton
D. John McCain



48. Who is the Senate Majority Leader now? 

A. Harry Reid 
B. Ralph Reed
C. Al Gore
D. Dick Cheney



49. Who is the Secretary of State now? 

A. Colin Powell
B. Donald Rumsfeld
C. Dr. Condoleezza Rice 
D. Alberto Gonzales



50. Who is the Attorney General now? 

A. Colin Powell
B. Donald Rumsfeld
C. Dr. Condoleezza Rice 
D. Alberto Gonzales


51. Which of the following is not implied in “the rule of law”? 

A. Everyone must obey the law. 
B. Leaders must obey the law. 
C. Laws must be based on logic and fairness.
D. Government must obey the law. 



52. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Which of the following is not in a Constitutional Amendment?

A. Any citizen over 18 can vote. 
B. A citizen of any race can vote. 
C. People who committed certain serious crimes cannot vote.
D. Women can vote, not just men.


53. What is the primary duty of Congress? 

A. To monitor the budget 
B. To create and pass laws 
C. To nominate judges for the federal court 
D. To run the country on a daily basis


54.  Pick the best sources of information on candidates:

A. Newspapers, online blogs
B. Past voting records, NPAT statements
C. Friends who take in a lot of political news, candidate literature.
D. Any video or visual source, where you can see and hear the candidate speak and get a gut reaction.


55. Which of the following is the best definition of political advocacy?

A. Getting a lawyer when you are in legal trouble.
B. Having someone support your cause: “be your advocate.”
C. Actions that influence decision-makers to choose the legislation or programs that you favor
D. Protesting the government’s actions



56. What does it mean to impeach a president?

A.  It means that a President was voted out of office by the Senate.

B.  It means that a President and vice-president are both voted out of office.

C. It means that a President is indicted  (forced to face a trial before the Senate)

D.  It means that a President has been found guilty of serious crimes by the Senate in which the Senate acts as a jury.

57. The minimum age for voters is:

A.  18
B.  21
C.  Depends on the state you're in
D. 19


58. Voter registration forms cannot usually be found at: 

A. at post offices, because they are federal and forms are different in each state.
B. online (just search on “voter registration forms.”)
C. various state agencies
D. at county voter registration offices


59. What happens when two parties disagree as to the interpretation of a federal law?

A. The Senate votes and decides the correct interpretation.

B. The Senate and House meet in a joint session and vote on the correct interpretation.

C. One of many joint committees of the Senate and the House vote, since there are too many disputes for the whole Senate and House to decide each one.

D. The dispute is brought before federal district court. If it is not resolved, it goes to an appellate court, and if it is still not resolved, the Supreme Court. 



60. Once again, who does every federal worker and government official work for? (Who is the employer of the Federal government?)

A. Depends on the branch of government they’re in.
B. The President of the United States
C. Every citizen of voting age
D. We the People of the United States



61. What is a PAC (Political Action Committee)?

A. a lobbying group (one that influences legislators)
B. the policy management committee of the Senate
C. a candidate’s election team (his/her supporters)
D. an organization set up to raise money to support or defeat a candidate.


62. If the President vetoes certain legislation, what is Congress most likely to do to pass it if Congress thinks the legislation is extremely important?

A. Ask the Supreme Court to vote to override the President.
B. Rewrite the bill and pass it as an Amendment to the Constitution
C. Override the President by having 60% of each house vote in favor of the bill.
D. Override the President by having two-thirds of each house vote in favor of the bill.

63. Which of the following is false? 

A.  The US Supreme Court can overrule the decisions of any court in the country.

B.   The US Supreme Court can make a ruling that changes how the Constitution is interpreted. 

C.   The US Supreme Court can hear a case against the President of the United States .

D.  The US Supreme Court cannot overrule some of the decisions of state courts.

64. Same as above, but people take four months instead of two months to invite and begin to support two friends or acquaintances? – How long would it take to have to renew the American electorate?

A. 10 years
B. 25 years
C. 5 years
D. 50 years



65. In general (not counting the Rules committee step in the House) what is the sequence events for a bill to become legislation? 

A. A bill is introduced either into the House or the Senate; it is assigned a bill number; it is assigned to a committee which studies it; if the committee votes in favor it is put on the calendar for debate and then a vote by the whole chamber; if passed it is then sent to the other chamber; it again gets a bill number, again goes through committee which must support it and send it to the whole chamber for a vote. If both chambers pass it, it goes to the President who either signs it or vetoes it. 

B. Same as A, except that after both chambers pass it, and before it reaches the President, a conference committee made up of members from both chambers resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

C. Same as A except that if both chambers have passed the bill by more than two-thirds, the President cannot veto it, it automatically becomes law.

D. Same as B except that if both chambers have passed the bill by more than two-thirds, the President cannot veto it, it automatically becomes law.



66. How can a citizen like yourself legally influence the political process of the creation of new laws?

A. You can propose legislation to any legislator (on any level—local, state or national.) In other words, you can even write all or part of the legislation yourself.

B. You can send emails, or make phone calls to elected officials asking them to vote in favor or against any legislation.

C. If a bill passes the Senate and the House, you can write the President asking him or her to veto it or support it.

D. All of the above.


67. What is the definition of soft money in politics?

A. Money in stocks, since they can go up and down.

B. Money donated to a political party.

C. Money donated to a political candidate or PAC.

D. Money that can’t be legally given to a candidate or to a PAC because it exceeds the legal limit. So it is donated to national and state political parties who spend the money on activities that help the candidates.

68. Adding amendments to the Constitution require two steps: proposing and ratifying.  How are new amendments to the Constitution proposed?

A.  A bill must be passed by 2/3s of both the Senate and the House

B.  A Constitutional Convention must be called by at least 2/3s of the State Legislatures (34 states).  At the Convention one or more proposals can be introduced and voted on.

C.  Either A or B.

D.  A bill must be passed by 3/4s of both the Senate and the House.

69. Adding amendments to the Constitution require two steps: proposing and ratifying.  How are new amendments to the Constitution ratified?

A.  By a vote of 3/4s of State Legislatures.

B.  At a constitutional convention, if 3/4ths of the states support the amendment.

C.   By  3/4ths of American voters

D.   Either A or B.