United States Constitution Quiz

What effect did the Three-Fifths Compromise have on the southern states?

• It helped increase the number of slaves traded.

• It limited the number of states that allowed slavery.

• It gave those states more representation in Congress.

• It gave the South the power to outvote the North.

Which of the following grievances included in the Declaration of Independence was addressed in the Bill of Rights?

• "For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent...."

• "For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever."

• "For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments...."

• "For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury...."

Which of the following groups gained greater political rights when amendments were added to the Constitution?

• Hispanic Americans

• Asian Americans

• African Americans

• American Indians

Why is James Madison considered to be the "Father of the Constitution"?

• He developed the Great Compromise.

• He wrote the Anti-Federalist Papers, protecting the rights of the states.

• His ideas about democratic government influenced the writing of the Constitution.

• He wrote the Declaration of Independence.

How does the Constitution reflect the principle of popular sovereignty?

• by limiting the amount of power of the government

• by implementing safeguards against the abuse of power

• by placing protections on the civil rights of the nation's citizens

• by allowing the people to choose their representatives

How did the Federalist Papers generate support for ratifying the Constitution?

• by explaining how the national government would weaken the states

• by explaining how the government would not function without the Constitution

• by explaining how the Constitution would require a bill of rights

• by explaining how the Constitution would protect states' rights

Which statement reflects the ideas from the Magna Carta that influenced the writing of the U.S. Constitution?

• People have the right to bear arms and not to be imprisoned without being charged.

• People have the right to give their general consent to any new taxes.

• People have the right to remove elected officials if they abuse their power.

• People have the right to a trial by jury and to own private property.

How does Chief Justice Marshall's opinion reflect the role of the judicial branch in government?

“It is emphatically the province and duty of the Judicial Department to say what the law is. Those who apply the rule to particular cases must, of necessity, expound [explain] and interpret that rule. If two laws conflict with each other, the Courts must decide on the operation of each. So, if a law be in opposition to the Constitution, if both the law and the Constitution apply to a particular case, so that the Court must either decide that case conformably [corresponds] to the law, disregarding the Constitution, or conformably to the Constitution, disregarding the law, the Court must determine which of these conflicting rules governs the case. . .”

• His opinion gives power to the judicial branch to declare two opposing laws as equally constitutional on their own merits.

• His opinion confirms that the branch should disregard laws in order to strictly follow the content of the Constitution.

• His opinion maintains that the judicial branch shall confer with the other branches in its interpretation of the laws.

• His opinion demonstrates the need for the judicial branch to decide how laws are applied on a case-by-case basis.

Why did the Great Compromise establish a two-house legislature?

• to allow for population growth

• to prevent unconstitutional laws

• to provide checks and balances

• to fairly represent all states

What prompted the call to rewrite the Articles of Confederation?

• Limitations on the central government led to an economic downturn.

• The nation's westward expansion made it necessary to modify the document.

• Americans wanted to win independence by unifying the nation.

• The country needed a national court system to deal with uprising colonists.