Quiz on the Constitutional Convention

Why did people meet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in September of 1787?

• to write a new constitution for the United States

• to make changes to the Articles of Confederation

• to amend the US Constitution by adding a bill of rights

• to declare the American colonies independent of Great Britain

When the Founders met to revise the Articles of Confederation, what did they decide to do?

• add amendments

• write a new constitution

• keep the Articles the same way

Why was it necessary for the United States Constitution to correct the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and collect taxes from the states?

• The government had no way to enforce its laws.

• The government needed funding to buy more land.

• The government had no way to pay its debts.

• The government needed funding for interstate commerce.

Which of these ideas in the US Constitution corrects a weakness of the Articles of Confederation and demonstrates an important part of the framework of the Constitution?

• providing a definition of states' rights

• limiting the powers of the executive branch

• creating three branches of government

• establishing an amendment process

Look at the Venn Diagram. Which document are they describing?

• Articles of Confederation

• Bill of Rights

• Declaration of Independence

• Stamp Act

By 1787 in the United States, states were taxing goods from other states and printing their own money, Congress was weak and had no strong leaders, and the federal government could not force the states to follow national laws. This led to

• each state adopting the Declaration of Independence.

• the federal government amending the Constitution to include a Bill of Rights.

• replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution.

• amending the Articles of Confederation to strengthen the federal government.

Look at the outline. Which of the following would make the BEST title for this outline?

• Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• Grievances in the Declaration of Independence

• Reasons Why a Bill of Rights Was Necessary

• Denied Congressional Powers Under the Constitution

Look at the diagram. What is the BEST title for this diagram?

• The Amendment Process

• Checks and Balances

• Federalism in Action

• Judicial Review

Why were the principles of checks and balances and separation of powers incorporated into the Constitution?

• to ensure that the federal government is more powerful than state governments

• to empower citizens by giving them a voice in matters of government

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

• to provide the federal government with the power to protect its citizens

Why does the government have checks and balances?

• to make the government run better

• to make sure the nation works together

• to allow authorities to fill different roles in the government

• to prevent one person or group from gaining too much power