FREE FCLE Practice Test 2025 Official Study Guide [PDF]

Last Updated on November 2, 2024

FCLE Practice Test 2025 with Free Study Guide [UPDATED] Prepare for the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) with our updated 2024 practice test and study guide. Try our free online review questions and answers to enhance your understanding and test-taking skills.

In addition, you can download the FCLE practice test and study guide in a printable PDF format for convenient offline study. Use these resources to ensure you are well-prepared for the FCLE and increase your chances of success.

The Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) is a computer-based assessment that measures students’ civic literacy knowledge. In 2021, legislation was passed that requires all students enrolled in a U.S. Government course in high school to take the assessment.

FCLE Practice Test 2025

The purpose of the FCLE Practice Test with Study Guide is to orient faculty and students to the types of questions on the Florida Civic Literacy Examination. The sample questions and answers are not intended to demonstrate the length of the actual test; however, each of the four outcomes assessed on the FCLE Practice Test is represented in the same proportion on the sample test as on the actual test (approximately 25% each).

1. Understanding the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights
2. Founding Documents
3. Landmark Decisions
4. Principles of Democracy

• Civic Literacy Exam Practice Test 2023
• Florida Civic Literacy Exam Practice Test Answers 1
• Florida Civic Literacy Exam Practice Test Answers 2
• Florida Civic Literacy Exam Practice Test Answers 3

NOTE: Student performance on the sample test should not be used as a predictor of performance on the actual test, and the sample test is not intended to guide classroom instruction.

Practice Questions for the Florida Civic Literacy Exam

1. Understanding the Preamble: Use the excerpt below from the Preamble of the Constitution to answer the question that follows: “We the People of the United States, to form a 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, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

Which of the following goals mentioned in the Preamble emphasizes the importance of a peaceful society?

A. Establish Justice
B. Insure domestic Tranquility
C. Provide for the common defence
D. Promote the general Welfare

2. Exploring the Necessary and Proper Clause: Use the excerpt below, from the Necessary and Proper Clause, to answer the question that follows: “The Congress shall have Power … To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

Which principle is established by the Necessary and Proper Clause?

A. Separation of powers
B. Federal supremacy
C. Implied powers
D. Judicial review

3. Executive Branch Powers: Use the excerpt below, from Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, to answer the following question: “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows…” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

Which concept is demonstrated by the President’s term of office as outlined in the Constitution?

A. Popular sovereignty
B. Limited government
C. Checks and balances
D. Rule of law

4. Supremacy Clause Significance: Use the excerpt below, from the Supremacy Clause, to answer the question that follows: “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

What is the primary purpose of the Supremacy Clause?

A. To give states equal power with the federal government
B. To establish the Constitution as the highest form of law
C. To allow states to nullify federal laws
D. To give the President supreme power over the states

5. First Amendment Freedoms: Use the excerpt below, from the First Amendment, to answer the question that follows: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

Which right is explicitly protected by the First Amendment?

A. Right to a speedy trial
B. Right to bear arms
C. Freedom of speech
D. Protection against self-incrimination

6. Fourth Amendment Protections: Use the excerpt below, from the Fourth Amendment, to answer the question that follows: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

What protection is provided by the Fourth Amendment?

A. Protection against double jeopardy
B. Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures
C. Right to bear arms
D. Right to a public trial

7. Congressional Powers: Use the excerpt below, from Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, to answer the question that follows: “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States…” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

What power is granted to Congress by this section of the Constitution?

A. Power to interpret laws
B. Power to enforce laws
C. Power to levy taxes
D. Power to declare laws unconstitutional

8. Sixth Amendment Rights: Use the excerpt below, from the Sixth Amendment, to answer the question that follows: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed…” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

Which right is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment?

A. Right to bear arms
B. Right to a speedy and public trial
C. Protection against self-incrimination
D. Freedom of speech

9. Tenth Amendment Principles: Use the excerpt below, from the Tenth Amendment, to answer the question that follows: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

What principle is illustrated by the Tenth Amendment?

A. Federal supremacy
B. States’ rights
C. Judicial review
D. Popular sovereignty

10. Amending the Constitution: Use the excerpt below from Article V of the Constitution to answer the question that follows: “The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments…” Source: National Archives and Records Administration

What process is described in Article V of the Constitution?

A. Ratification of the Constitution
B. Amendment process
C. Impeachment process
D. Presidential election process

FCLE Exam

Undergraduate students must complete the State of Florida’s Civic Literacy requirement before receiving their bachelor’s degree. Depending on when a student first enters a Florida public college or university. The test includes 80 multiple-choice and four sections with 20 questions in each section (American Democracy, United States Constitution, Founding Documents, and Landmark Impact on Law and Society).

A 60 % is needed to pass the exam, which equals 48 correct questions out of 80 total questions. The FCLE is untimed and takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. Retesting requires a 30-day waiting period.

Exam Content

American Democracy (20 questions): Understanding the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.

U.S. Constitution (20 questions): Understanding the United States Constitution and its application.

Founding Documents (20 questions): Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government.

Landmark Impact on Law & Society (20 questions): Understand the impact of landmark Supreme Court cases, legislation, and executive actions on law and society.

Content Details

Competency One:

• Understanding the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government Students should be able to identify, explain, interpret, and apply the principles and practices of American democracy and the republican form of government.

Competency Two:

• Understanding of the United States Constitution and its application Students should be able to identify its articles, amendments, and structures. This includes the Constitution’s principles and how they apply to various aspects of government and life.

Competency Three:

• Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government. Students should be able to recall, identify, and explain documents from the founding era (1776-1791). They should also be able to identify the influences of earlier documents on the founding of the United States and conceptions of government within a provided context. Most documents are covered by the state K-12 civics and U.S. government benchmarks.

Competency Four:

• Understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, legislation, and executive actions and their impact on law and society Students should be able to recall, identify, and explain landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases, legislation, and executive actions and their impact on law and society. Most landmark cases, legislation, and executive actions are drawn from Florida’s K-12 civics, U.S. government, and U.S. history course content.

• Landmark cases that students should know, as identified primarily in the Florida K-12 civics, U.S. government, or U.S. history benchmarks, involve the expansion or restriction of civil rights and liberties, the power of the federal government (including the various and specific powers and authority of the different branches), and how the U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Be sure to consider the impact of selective incorporation (a principle students should know for Competency Two) within the context of federalism, as well as sources and types of law. Most cases will have appeared in the 7th grade civics, 9-12th grade U.S. government, or 8th grade and 9th-12th grade U.S. history course content.

Scoring

You will know if you have passed the exam within 15 to 30 minutes of completing it. If the exam was taken at a DSC testing location, test results will appear within your Falcon Self-Service portal within 24 hours.

FCLE Study Guide

CPALMS is introduced as one place to access supplemental resources, but it is not intended to be an exhaustive source. CPALMS is an online toolbox of information, vetted resources, and interactive tools that help educators effectively implement teaching standards. It is the State of Florida’s official source for standards information and course descriptions. Links have been provided to the CPALMS resources where they are available. In some instances, additional hyperlinks from the National Archives, United States government and Florida government websites, and www.oyez.org have been included.

• Download Guide https://www.fldoe.org/SuppGuideFCLE.pdf
• Sample Test: https://www.fldoe.org/FCLESampleItem.pdf
• Civic Test: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/2020test