The 50 States Quiz

When did Alaska and Hawaii become the last two states admitted to the United States?

• 1776

• 1865

• 1959

• 1980

What is a Commonwealth?

• A region controlled by the U.S. government

• A political unit that rules itself but is united with the United States

• A territory

• A state

What does a preamble in a state constitution list?

• The state's goals and purposes

• The duties of the three branches of government

• Qualifications for election offices

• Changes made to the state constitution

What are the four principles followed by both the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions?

• Popular sovereignty, separation of powers, check and balance, and limited government

• Federalism, judicial review, equal protection, and due process

• Freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly

• Right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable searches, right to a fair trial, and no cruel and unusual punishment

What are shared powers in the United States?

• Powers of both federal and state government

• Powers held by state governments only

• Powers held by the federal government only

• Powers held by the judicial branch

What makes up about 25 percent of the total money a state needs to operate?

• Personal Income Taxes

• Sales tax on gasoline and clothing

• Federal grants

• Maintaining highways and bridges

What is the largest part of a state's budget?

• Public education

• Healthcare

• Law enforcement

• Social services

How many houses do most state legislatures have?

• One

• Two

• Three

• Four

What are voting districts?

• Regions controlled by the U.S. government

• Political units that rule themselves but are united with the United States

• Regions where people live and vote for government leaders

• Regions controlled by state governments only

How does a bill become a law in the states?

• By executive order

• By a majority vote in the state legislature

• By a vote of the people

• By approval from the Supreme Court