Unit 4: U.S. Constitution

The "Three-fifths Compromise" was included in the U.S. Constitution in order to resolve a conflict over the . . .

• counting of enslaved persons for purposes of taxation and representation

• number of votes needed to approve a treaty in the Senate

• number of states needed to ratify a proposed amendment

• reimbursement of plantation owners for runaway slaves

Which question at the Constitutional Convention was resolved by the "Great Compromise"?

• What formula should be used for Congressional representation?

• How should the President be elected?

• Who should control commerce and trade?

• What should be the structure of the federal court system?

Which statement describes a characteristic of the national government established by the U.S. Constitution?

• The powers of the government were limited.

• The Supreme Court had the authority to create lower courts.

• The President had exclusive control over all government activities.

• The states kept the most governmental powers.

The purpose of the amending process in the U.S. Constitution was to . . .

• allow the Constitution to adjust for changing times

• balance power between the state and the national governments

• prevent any one branch of the government from becoming too powerful

• protect the liberties of indivduals from the abuses of government power

The principle of federalism deals with the division of power between the . . .

• President and Congress

• Senate and House of Representatives

• national and state governments

• three branches of federal government

What was a key argument used by the Federalists for ratification of the U.S. Constitution?

• It prohibited the power of the federal government to wage war.

• It provided for construction of a new capital in the South.

• It allowed the slave trade to continue for at least twenty more years.

• It had features that prevented the abuse of government power.

Which historic document was written in support of ratification of the U.S. Constitution?

• Magna Carta

• Mayflower Compact

• Declaration of Independence

• The Federalist Papers

Why did the framers of the Constitution create three separate branches of the national government?

• to insure that the legislative branch was bicameral

• to maje sure all laws were approved by the Supreme Court

• to maje sure that the President was superior to the legislature

• to prevent any one branch of government from gaining too much power

Which action is an example of the system of checks and balances?

• Texas requires at least 180 school days per year.

• An individual pays both state and federal income tax.

• The House of Reprepesentatives votes to expel one of its members.

• The Senate approves the President's nomination to the Supreme Court.

What is the purpose of the checks and balances system in the U.S. Constitution?

• to expand the President's treaty-making powers

• to divide power between the federal and state governments

• to prevent any one branch of the government from becoming too powerful

• to allow each branch of the government to veto those laws it objects to