1.6 The Preamble Review Questions

This diagram shows the purpose of government according to the Preamble of the Constitution.

The government of the United States....

____________ for its powers and exists to _____________

Which phrases complete the diagram?

• depends on the people; serve the people

• depends on the law; maintain the law

• depends on liberty; maintain those liberties

• depends on legislators; serve legislators

The opening of the Preamble (“We the People of the United States…”) suggests that the power of this government is derived from which of the selections listed below?

• Congress

• Divine Right of Kings

• Consent of the Citizens

• Oligarchy

Which of the following was a major goal of the framers of the Constitution as stated in the Preamble?

• Establish independence from Great Britain

• Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

• Expand the United States to the Pacific Ocean

• Bind together the states less closely

Which of the following most closely reveals the Founders’ ideas about the source of government power?

• “We the People”

• “A more perfect union”

• “This Constitution”

• “Our Posterity”

What does the phrase “to ourselves and our Posterity” suggest about the Founding Fathers’ goals?

• They wanted to create a lasting government that future Americans would benefit from.

• They were willing to sacrifice their liberty for the benefit of their children.

• They aimed to create a strong government, independent of the will of the people.

• They wanted to create a social contract that future Americans could not break.

According to the Preamble of the Constitution, which of the following are basic purposes of government?

• provide services, provide laws, and guarantee freedoms

• establish justice, ensure tranquility, provide for common defense, and promote welfare

• ensure life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness

• collect taxes, print money, establish a military, and regulate commerce

Which goal of the Preamble would be demonstrated by increasing funding to the Armed Services?

• “We the People”

• “In order to form a more perfect union”

• “insure domestic tranquility”

• “Provide for the Common Defense”

This goal describes the goal of keeping things peaceful inside America:

• “Promote the general welfare”

• “Establish justice”

• “Insure domestic tranquility”

• “Secure the blessings of liberty”