Common Assessment 3 Practice Test

At the Constitutional Convention (1787), the Great Compromise resolved the issue of congressional representation by

• limiting the terms of elected lawmakers

• providing for direct election of senators

• creating a two-house legislature

• including the electoral college

The Bill of Rights were added to the Constitution to

• make changes in the election process

• remove portions of the original Constitution

• protect individual freedoms from governmental power

• increase the power of the legislative branch

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, conflicts between states with large populations and states with small populations resulted in the creation of

• the offices of president and vice president

• the three branches of government

• a federal court system

• a bicameral (two-house) legislature

When census numbers show changes in a state’s total population, what is likely to be affected in the state?

• boundary lines

• number of counties

• representation in the United States House of Representatives

• number of senators in the United States Senate

To win support for ratification of the United States Constitution, Federalists agreed to

• give up western land claims

• restrict the importation of slaves

• add a bill of rights to the document

• grant voting rights to all adult white males

New Congress to Have Two Houses

Slaves to Count as Three-Fifths of a Person

No Tax on Goods Sent out of the Country

Which conclusion about the Constitutional Convention is best supported by the headlines?

• The President and Congress would have equal powers.

• The Framers of the Constitution were able to compromise on important issues.

• States that were small in area lost power in the new Constitution.

• States with large populations controlled the outcome of the Convention.

The Constitution of the United States was considered an improvement over the Articles of Confederation because the Constitution changed the

• status of slavery

• civil rights of minorities

• number of Americans eligible to vote

• balance of power between national and state governments

Debate over Ratification of the United States Constitution

Speaker A: “Our liberty depends on guaranteed individual rights. Citizens with these rights will be able to make decisions for the good of the whole nation.”

Speaker B: “I admire your optimism; however, only a well-educated group of elected officials should be trusted to make decisions for the good of all.”

Speaker A: “We must not allow the rule of a few privileged officials to overpower the will of average citizens.”

Speaker B: “A strong central government, composed of elected officials, will be acting in the best interests of all citizens.”

Speaker A: “I fear you are ignoring the needs of the people. There must be a guarantee that the freedoms of citizens will not be trampled over by a strong national government.”

In this debate between Speaker A and Speaker B, Speaker A would most likely agree that the leaders of the nation should

• establish a monarchy

• add a bill of rights to the Constitution

• increase the power of the federal government

• limit the right to vote to property owners

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 wrote a new constitution because

• the Revolutionary War was over

• the Articles of Confederation were about to expire

• they wanted to increase the power of the states

• they believed that a stronger central government was necessary

Delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 agreed to the Three-Fifths Compromise as a way to

• limit the power of the president

• provide legal rights for women

• settle differences over representation in Congress

• establish term lengths for senators