1965 Alabama Literacy Test
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. Person opposed to swearing in an oath may say,
instead:
(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. Communisn was 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 case 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 case 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?
______________________________
Answers to Alabama Literacy Test
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