Testlet 246: Foundations of democracy and civic participation 20
A Georgian renewing her driver's license is offered the chance to register to vote at the same counter. Which federal law requires states to offer this?U.S. Department of Justice, "About the National Voter Registration Act". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0002
A head of government is elected apart from the legislature, which cannot dismiss her during her term except in extraordinary cases. Which system of government is this?Wikipedia, "Presidential system". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0001
A labor union sets up and runs a political committee that asks only people associated with the union for contributions. What does the Federal Election Commission call it?Federal Election Commission, "Political Action Committees (PACs)". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0002
A teachers' association meets legislators, runs advertisements and urges its members to write to Congress about a school funding bill, but it runs no candidates. What is it acting as?Wikipedia, "Advocacy group". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0002
Show all 50 questions (46 more)
Testlet 246: Foundations of democracy and civic participation, continued
A voter who is registered with no party takes part in a party's presidential primary, as her state's rules allow. Which kind of primary does her state hold?USAGov, "Presidential primaries and caucuses". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0002
The English Bill of Rights of 1689 declared that "excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." Which amendment echoes it?The Avalon Project, Yale Law School, "English Bill of Rights 1689". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0001
In 1627 Charles I imposed forced loans, jailed those who refused to pay without trial, and then made private citizens house and feed soldiers. Which document of 1628 answered these acts?Wikipedia, "Petition of Right". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0001
In one country a few wealthy families choose every minister and judge, and no election can remove them. Which form of government is this?Wikipedia, "Oligarchy". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0001
In which structure of power may the central government create or abolish regional units, which hold only the powers it chooses to delegate?Wikipedia, "Unitary state". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0001
Madison opens Federalist No. 10 by praising one tendency of a well-constructed Union above its other advantages. Which tendency?The Avalon Project, Yale Law School, "The Federalist Papers: No. 10". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0001
Magna Carta promised that no freeman would be imprisoned "except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land." Which American guarantee does the National Archives trace to that promise?U.S. National Archives, "Magna Carta". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0001
Most states give all of their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the state. Which two states divide their electors by another method?USAGov, "Electoral College". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0002
Night after night, news outlets lead with stories on water quality, and polls soon show that voters rank it a top problem. Which effect of the media does this show?Wikipedia, "Agenda-setting theory". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0002
To protest government policy, a man burns an American flag outside a city hall and is arrested. How did the Supreme Court rule in Texas v. Johnson (1989)?United States Courts, "Supreme Court Landmarks". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0002
The U.S. Constitution places lawmaking, enforcing and judging in three branches. Which writer is the principal source of that theory?Wikipedia, "Montesquieu". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0001
Under John Locke's Second Treatise, what may the people do when a government rules without their consent?Wikipedia, "Two Treatises of Government". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0001
What did Article XIII of the Articles of Confederation require before any change to the Articles could take effect?U.S. National Archives, "Articles of Confederation (1777)". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0001
Where does the U.S. Constitution set out the role of political parties?Wikipedia, "Political parties in the United States". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0002
Which duty falls on nearly every man aged 18 through 25 who lives in the United States, citizen or immigrant?Selective Service System, "Who Needs to Register". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0002
Which person meets the federal courts' legal qualifications for jury service?United States Courts, "Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 246, objective 0002
Testlet 247: The Constitution and functions of government 30
A defendant declines to take the stand at her own criminal trial. Which amendment protects that choice?U.S. National Archives, "The Bill of Rights: A Transcription". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
A federal court strikes down an act of Congress as contrary to the Constitution. Which decision established this power of judicial review?United States Courts, "Supreme Court Landmarks". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
A Georgia county wants to pay for a new library and parks with an optional 1% sales tax that its residents approve in a referendum. What is this financing method called?Wikipedia, "Special-purpose local-option sales tax". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
A jury thinks it more likely than not that a defendant committed a crime, but a reasonable doubt remains. What verdict does the standard of proof call for?United States Courts, "Criminal Cases" and "Civil Cases". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
A lawyer argues that a right exists although the Constitution does not list it. Which amendment says that naming certain rights does not deny or disparage others retained by the people?U.S. National Archives, "The Bill of Rights: A Transcription". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
A man charged with a felony in state court cannot pay for a lawyer and is told to defend himself. Which decision requires the state to provide one?United States Courts, "Supreme Court Landmarks". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
A President is elected in 2028 and again in 2032. Under the Twenty-Second Amendment, may that President be elected in 2036?U.S. National Archives, "The Constitution: Amendments 11-27". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
A senator wants to be the first to introduce a bill that raises a new federal tax. What does Article I, Section 7 say?U.S. National Archives, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, what is the most important function of the Georgia General Assembly?New Georgia Encyclopedia, "Georgia General Assembly". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
Athens–Clarke County and Augusta–Richmond County are examples of which kind of local government in Georgia?Wikipedia, "Local government in Georgia (U.S. state)". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
Before surgery a President sends the leaders of both houses of Congress a written declaration that he is unable to discharge the duties of his office. Under the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, who discharges them until he declares otherwise?U.S. National Archives, "The Constitution: Amendments 11-27". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
By the route in Article V that begins in Congress, how is an amendment proposed and ratified?U.S. National Archives, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
Citizens gather a set number of signatures to put a proposed law on the ballot for the voters to decide. Which device of direct democracy is this?Wikipedia, "Initiatives and referendums in the United States". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
Congress passes a bill and adjourns two days after presenting it to the President, who takes no action on it at all. What becomes of the bill?U.S. National Archives, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
Federal judges are appointed and hold office during good behavior. How do justices reach the Supreme Court of Georgia?Constitution of the State of Georgia, Article VI, Section VII, Paragraph I (Georgia Secretary of State). Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
The First Amendment begins "Congress shall make no law." Why does it also limit a city council today?Wikipedia, "Incorporation of the Bill of Rights". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
How does the National Archives describe an executive order?U.S. National Archives, Office of the Federal Register, "FAQ's About Executive Orders". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
In 1871 a state refuses to let a man vote because he was once enslaved. Which Reconstruction Amendment does the state violate?U.S. National Archives, "The Constitution: Amendments 11-27". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
In 1960 a state charges a fee before a citizen may vote for U.S. senator. Which later amendment forbids this in federal elections?U.S. National Archives, "The Constitution: Amendments 11-27". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
Issuing marriage licenses and running public schools are not powers the Constitution delegates to Congress or forbids to the states. Under the Tenth Amendment, where do such powers lie?U.S. National Archives, "The Bill of Rights: A Transcription". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
May a state tax a bank that Congress has chartered? What did the Supreme Court decide when Maryland tried it, in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?United States Courts, "Supreme Court Landmarks". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
The President signs an international agreement and does not send it to the Senate for advice and consent. What is such an agreement called?United States Senate, "About Treaties". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
Senators are using extended debate to block a vote on a bill. Under the rule adopted in 1975, how many votes does cloture need to end the debate?United States Senate, "About Filibusters and Cloture". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
Under the home rule paragraph of the Georgia Constitution, what may the governing authority of a county do?Constitution of the State of Georgia, Article IX, Section II, Paragraph I (Georgia Secretary of State). Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
Under the War Powers Resolution, how long may armed forces remain in military action without a congressional authorization or a declaration of war?Wikipedia, "War Powers Resolution". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
Voters in Georgia may remove an elected official before the term ends through a recall. What must a Georgia recall petition show that many states do not ask for?Wikipedia, "Recall election". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
What did the Twelfth Amendment change about how presidential electors vote?U.S. National Archives, "The Constitution: Amendments 11-27". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
Which doctrine, upheld in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), did Brown v. Board of Education (1954) reject for public schools?United States Courts, "Supreme Court Landmarks". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
Which Georgia trial court has general jurisdiction and exclusive jurisdiction over trials in felony cases?New Georgia Encyclopedia, "Judicial Branch". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0002
Which statement gives the constitutional roles in an impeachment?U.S. National Archives, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription". Written to GACE Political Science (738) testlet 247, objective 0001
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the objectives of the GACE Political Science (6–12) assessment, test code 738, as its Assessment Design and Framework prints them on the GACE website of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and Evaluation Systems, Pearson (https://www.gace.es.pearson.com/studyguide/framework/738 and https://www.gace.es.pearson.com/test/738, read 2026-10-15): two testlets, 100 selected-response questions (246 Foundations of Democracy and Civic Participation, 40 questions, 60 minutes; 247 The Constitution and Functions of Government, 60 questions, 75 minutes), each testlet with two objectives of 50%. This bank holds 20 and 30. Every fact was read on 2026-10-15 on the page named under its question: the National Archives transcripts of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the later amendments and the Articles of Confederation, and its pages on Magna Carta and executive orders; the Avalon Project texts of the English Bill of Rights and The Federalist No. 10; the U.S. Courts, the U.S. Senate, USAGov, the Federal Election Commission, the Department of Justice and the Selective Service System; the Constitution of the State of Georgia as printed by the Georgia Secretary of State (the edition marked Revised March 2019, read in the Internet Archive copy of that file); the New Georgia Encyclopedia; and Wikipedia articles. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.
How it works
This GACE Political Science practice test asks 50 questions of our own on Political Science (6–12), test 738, the Georgia content assessment for teachers of political science in grades 6–12. It is unofficial and not affiliated with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission or Pearson.
Read the full guide
The two testlets
Foundations of Democracy and Civic Participation (246) has about 40 of the 100 questions, in 60 minutes. The Constitution and Functions of Government (247) has about 60, in 75 minutes. Each has two objectives worth half. This bank holds 20 and 30.
Georgia on the test
Both objectives of testlet 247 name the United States and Georgia. Seven questions here are on Georgia: the recall, county home rule, consolidated city-counties, elected judges, the superior court, the SPLOST and the General Assembly's budget.
Clock
A timed run gives 68 minutes for the 50 questions, half the real length at the real pace. The GACE page for Political Science lists no reference materials.
Testlet 247 carries about 60% of the score, so the Constitution, its amendments and the three branches deserve the larger share of study time.
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the GACE Political Science test?
100 selected-response questions in two testlets, 40 and 60. The two clocks add up to 2 hours 15 minutes, and each testing session adds 15 minutes for a tutorial and a nondisclosure agreement.
What is a passing score on the GACE Political Science test?
A cumulative score of at least 220, together with the floor, a minimum required score, on each testlet. A number right on this page cannot be turned into that score, so no pass or fail is shown.
Is there a GACE Political Science study guide?
Yes. The GACE website has a study guide for Political Science (6–12), test 738, with the assessment framework, test-taking strategies and sample questions. These questions are written to its objectives, and none is taken or reworded from its samples.
Can you take the two GACE Political Science testlets separately?
Yes. The assessment page says that in a single testing session you may register to take one or both testlets, and each testlet has its own clock.