Grade 7 - Civics and Economics · American Constitutional Government
Virginia SOL CE.3
Virginia SOL CE.3 is part of the American Constitutional Government strand in Grade 7 - Civics and Economics (History). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students analyze how constitutional government functions at the state level. Below is what CE.3 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice CE.3 for the Virginia SOL test.
What SOL CE.3 means
Analyze how constitutional government functions at the state level.
Practice Grade 7 - Civics and Economics SOL questions
Free Grade 7 - Civics and Economics questions from official Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests — good practice while you work on CE.3 and the rest of the course. Pick an answer to check it instantly, or open “Show answer” to review.
1. Mrs. Jones announces that she is running for mayor in an upcoming election. One way for Mrs. Jones to gain this office is to be elected by —
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Answer: D — registered voters of the city
2. The Virginia court system is organized by levels: • General District Court (first level) • Circuit Court (second level) • Court of Appeals (third level) • Supreme Court of Virginia (fourth level) Which level would a teenager go to for misdemeanor charges?
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Answer: F — General District Court
3. Which action by the Governor of Virginia is an example of maintaining public safety?
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Answer: B — Sending Virginia’s National Guard to help after a disaster
4. A news headline reads: “State Supreme Court Rules Against City Restrictions on Public Meetings Said to Be Unconstitutional.” Which legal process does this headline describe?
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Answer: H — Judicial review
→ Take the full free Grade 7 - Civics and Economics SOL practice test
Skills you’ll practice for CE.3
- Describe the structure and powers of state government (three branches).
- Explain the state lawmaking process.
- Describe the roles and powers of the state executive branch and regulatory boards.
- Explain the relationship between state and national governments in the federal system, referencing Federalist No. 10 and Federalist No. 51.
- Explain the principle of separation of powers and checks and balances at the state level.
Key concepts covered by CE.3
- state government
- three branches
- governor
- state legislature
- state courts
- state legislation
- bill to law
- state assembly
- state senate
- governor's role
- state executive branch
- regulatory boards
- state agencies
- administrative powers
- federalism
- Federalist No. 10
- Federalist No. 51
- state-federal relations
- Madisonian democracy
- state separation of powers
- state checks and balances
- constitutional safeguards
- power distribution
How to study and practice SOL CE.3
Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether CE.3 is already solid, then work each skill above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see our Virginia SOL practice tests guide and how to study for the SOL test.
→ Take the free Grade 7 - Civics and Economics SOL practice test
Related Grade 7 - Civics and Economics standards in American Constitutional Government
- CE.1 — Explain the foundations of American constitutional democracy.
- CE.2 — Analyze how American constitutional government functions at the national level.
- CE.4 — Analyze American constitutional government at the local level.
- CE.5 — Explain the judicial systems established by the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions.
Frequently asked questions about SOL CE.3
What is Virginia SOL CE.3?
SOL CE.3 is a Grade 7 - Civics and Economics Standard of Learning in the American Constitutional Government strand. It expects students to analyze how constitutional government functions at the state level.
What skills does SOL CE.3 cover?
SOL CE.3 is assessed on 5 skills: describe the structure and powers of state government (three branches); explain the state lawmaking process; describe the roles and powers of the state executive branch and regulatory boards; explain the relationship between state and national governments in the federal system, referencing Federalist No. 10 and Federalist No. 51; explain the principle of separation of powers and checks and balances at the state level.
What strand of Grade 7 - Civics and Economics is SOL CE.3 in?
SOL CE.3 belongs to the American Constitutional Government reporting strand of the Grade 7 - Civics and Economics Virginia Standards of Learning.
How do I study and practice for SOL CE.3?
Start with a diagnostic to see whether CE.3 is already solid, then work the 5 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.