The Constitution

What was the major shortcoming of the Articles of Confederation?

• The national government was too weak

• the people did not elect national leaders

• The were not taxed without representation

• The President was too much like a king

Which event in 1787 caused many leaders in the United States to call for a Constitutional Convention?

• The election of George Washington as President

• The mutiny of Revolutionary soldiers

• The signing of the Treaty of Paris

• The outbreak of Shay's rebellion

Under the federal system developed in 1787, what in the United States would be the supreme law of the land?

• The Supreme Court

• The Constitution

• The Bill of Rights

• The Articles of Confederation

"The delegates at the Constitutional Convention had to compromise over the issue of state representation in Congress."

What does the word compromise mean in the sentence above?

• To give up some of what you want in order to reach an agreement

• To issue a formal group statement

• To force one side in a conflict to agree to what you want

• To call an important meeting

Under the Three-Fiths Compromise, which group in the United States was not totally included in each state's population count for representation in Congress?

• Men who did not own property

• Indentured servants

• Slaves

• Women

What is the purpose of the Constitution according to its Preamble?

• To create a fairer form of government

• To declare independence from Britain

• To list the rights of the people

• To establish laws for elections

What is the main job of the legislative branch of the federal government?

• To carry out laws

• To decide if laws follow the Constitution

• To make laws

• To enforce laws set up by the Constitution

"According to the Constitution, Congress has the power to impeach a President for failing to faithfully execute the laws."

What does the word impeach mean in the sentence above?

• To imprison

• To accuse of crimes

• To override a veto

• To remove from office

What is the purpose of the Bill of Rights?

• To protect the rights of the people

• To make sure all people have the right to vote

• To create a system of checks and balances in government

• To outline the powers of each branch of the federal government

Why did early leaders of the United States decide to change the Articles of Confederation?