NAEP Civics Grade 8 - Question List

6. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.The Declaration of Independence was written to

7. Over recent years the National Rifle Association (NRA) has played an important role in politics. It has a large number of members, whose voting strength tends to impress legislators. It holds regular meetings with members of Congress and federal bureaucrats. It gives campaign contributions to candidates who oppose gun control and spends money directly to oppose gun control supporters.The meetings with legislators and bureaucrats described in the passage are known as

8. When two [people] come into [the Supreme] Court, one may say: "an act of Congress means this." The other may say it means the opposite. We [the Court] then say it means one of the two or something else in between. In that way we are making the law, aren't we? - Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Some people are troubled by the role of the Court described by Chief Justice Warren. Which argument could they effectively use against it?

9. Who is primarily responsible for carrying out United States foreign policy?

10. Which would most likely be true in a totalitarian system?