GED Social Studies : GED Social Studies

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Social Studies

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Departments And Processes

New York Times Headline, July 18, 1940: ROOSEVELT WINS THIRD TERM!

Which Amendment was passed (in large part) in response to this momentous event?

Possible Answers:

21st Amendment

22nd Amendment

19th Amendment

20th Amendment

Correct answer:

22nd Amendment

Explanation:

The 22nd Amendment limited the number of terms to which a President could be elected to 2. That said, it’s still possible for a President to be President for slightly less than 10 years. We’ll use names to make it easier. Billary Clownton and McDonald Grump are elected President and Vice President respectively. Clownton suffers an embarrassing political debacle halfway through her term, and is impeached and removed from office. Grump becomes President, and serves the remainder of Clownton’s term (a little less than two years). Grump goes on to be elected for two terms (8 years). Grump has been in office for (almost) 10 years, but only elected to 8. Pretty cool stuff!

Example Question #10 : Constitutional Amendments

In the event that a sitting President dies, resigns, is incapacitated, or impeached and convicted, who replaces him?

Possible Answers:

The oldest senator

The Secretary of State

The Speaker of the House

The Vice President

Correct answer:

The Vice President

Explanation:

The 25th Amendment formally sets Presidential succession, and in doing so, makes the VP the official President in the event of a death, resignation, or impeachment. Although that sounds a little goofy, it’s important mainly for somewhat attenuated legal reasons, the majority of which are beyond the scope of your course. Put simply, the 25th Amendment removed any confusion about whether the VP (in the event she needed to step up to the Presidency) was simply the “acting” President, or was actually the president.

Example Question #171 : Ged Social Studies

At least how old must you be to vote?

Possible Answers:

21 years old

18 years old

20 years old

None of the above are correct

Correct answer:

18 years old

Explanation:

The correct answer is 18 years old. The 26th Amendment forced the states to set their voting age no higher than 18. The states are free, however, to lower their voting age to (presumably) whatever they want. Remember: the states control who gets the franchise (bounded, obviously, by voting amendments).

Example Question #172 : Ged Social Studies

Which of these executive departments was created first? 

Possible Answers:

The Department of Transportation

The Department of Homeland Security

The Department of the Treasury

The Department of Education

The Department of Justice

Correct answer:

The Department of the Treasury

Explanation:

The Department of Treasury has existed from the very beginning of United States political history under the Constitution (1789). The Department of Justice was created in 1870, Transportation in 1967, Education in 1979, Homeland Security in 2002. 

Example Question #173 : Ged Social Studies

Which of these executive departments is responsible for advising the President on foreign policy? 

Possible Answers:

The Department of the Interior

The Department of Commerce

The Department of Labor

The State Department

The Department of Defense

Correct answer:

The State Department

Explanation:

The State Department is responsible for advising the President on foreign policy, as well as negotiating foreign treaties and engaging in diplomatic practices. 

Example Question #1 : Bill Of Rights

Which of these tenets was not part of the English Bill of Rights?

Possible Answers:

The right to petition the Monarch without fear of punishment

The guarantee of free speech in parliament

Limits on the power of the Crown

The protection from forced quartering of soldiers in the homes of private citizens

Regular elections in parliament

Correct answer:

The protection from forced quartering of soldiers in the homes of private citizens

Explanation:

The English Bill of Rights was signed in 1689, shortly after King William ascended to the throne during the Glorious Revolution. It’s primary intention was to ensure that the King could no longer act without impunity and to ensure the continued liberty and supremacy of the English Parliament. Among its basic tenets were placing limits on the power of the English royalty, the right to petition the Monarch without fear of punishment, the promise of regular elections in parliament, and the guarantee of freedom of speech in parliament. The English Bill of Rights is considered to be the forebear of the later American Bill of Rights. One right that is not included in the English Bill of Rights, but is included in the American, is the protection from the forced quarter of soldiers in the homes of private citizens. This was included in the American Bill of Rights in response to the British colonial policy of quartering soldiers in American houses during and after the French-Indian Wars.

Example Question #174 : Ged Social Studies

Which Amendment to the Constitution is related to “the right to remain silent”?

Possible Answers:

The Sixth Amendment

The Seventh Amendment

The Ninth Amendment

The Eighth Amendment

The Fifth Amendment

Correct answer:

The Fifth Amendment

Explanation:

The right to remain silent effectively states that every accused individual has the right not to speak if they choose to do so. This is related to the Fifth Amendment which says that a defendant cannot be forced to be a witness against themselves. 

Example Question #3 : Bill Of Rights

The right to a public trial is guaranteed in which Amendment to the Constitution?

Possible Answers:

The Eighth Amendment

The Seventh Amendment

The Fifth Amendment

The Sixth Amendment

The Ninth Amendment

Correct answer:

The Sixth Amendment

Explanation:

The right to a "speedy and public trial" is guaranteed in the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution. All American citizens have the right to a public trial in order to prevent any corruption or miscarriage of justice that might occur behind closed doors.

Example Question #175 : Ged Social Studies

Jim Crow Laws were designed to __________.

Possible Answers:

support the war effort during the Korean War

enforce segregation

prevent female suffrage

suppress criticism of the government

prevent the spread of slavery

Correct answer:

enforce segregation

Explanation:

Jim Crow Laws were enforced in the South during the decades after the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves. Jim Crow Laws were designed to further segregation in the United States.

Example Question #176 : Ged Social Studies

Margaret Sanger is best known for her efforts to __________.

Possible Answers:

encourage support for birth-control for women

prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol

establish universal free and public education

overturn prohibition

extend suffrage rights to women

Correct answer:

encourage support for birth-control for women

Explanation:

Margaret Sanger was an American activist in the early twentieth century. She believed passionately that giving women the ability to control when and if they got pregnant would do a great deal to advance the autonomy of women in society. Throughout her life, Sanger was an active supporter of allowing women to legally use birth-control.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors