U.S. Constitution Review

According to America’s Constitution: A Biography, what was the purpose of the series of Federalist essays written by “Publius” (Madison, Hamilton, and Jay)?

• The Federalist argued in favor of ratifying the Constitution.

• The Federalist argued in favor of voting rights for all American adults.

• The Federalist argued in favor of retaining the Articles of Confederation.

• The Federalist argued in favor of adding a bill of rights to the Constitution.

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According to America’s Constitution: A Biography, ratifying the Constitution was a multistep process. What had to happen for the Constitution to take effect? Choose two options.

• The Federalist essays had to be published.

• The Articles of Confederation had to be approved.

• The states had to set eligibility rules for their voters.

• Nine of the states had to vote in favor of ratification.

• The Bill of Rights had to be added to the Constitution

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According to America’s Constitution: A Biography, what was most noteworthy and unusual about the process of ratifying the Constitution?

• The great majority of citizens had a limited understanding of the process.

• Voting restrictions were relaxed to allow a greater number of citizens to take part.

• The debates among the Constitution’s authors were held in secret, behind closed doors.

• Both supporters of and challengers to the Constitution tried to persuade citizens to vote their way.

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According to America’s Constitution: A Biography, which best describes the vote on ratification among the various states?

• Ratification passed easily in every state, with unanimous, enthusiastic support.

• Ratification passed easily in about half the states but by narrow margins in the rest.

• Ratification passed easily in the southern states but was defeated in the northern states.

• Ratification passed easily in the large states but by narrow margins in the small ones.

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Which of the following is the best example of a conclave?

• Friends meet at a train station before boarding the train together.

• Students gather in groups to practice for a debate competition.

• Colleagues meet in the conference room for a policy discussion.

• Tourists gather outside a museum waiting to take a guided tour.

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What is the most likely meaning of eminent in the following sentence?

Due to his brilliant grasp of strategy and his success in leading the French army to several major victories, Napoleon quickly became the most eminent military leader of his era.

• respected, admired

• noble, aristocratic

• fortunate, wealthy

• sneaky, clever

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If a family vacation is planned in a populist manner, which of the following must be true? Base your answer on the meaning of populist.

• Each person gets an equal say in the vacation planning.

• Each person contributes money toward the vacation fund.

• One person decides where the family will go on the vacation.

• One person takes responsibility for planning vacation activities.

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America’s Constitution: A Biography quotes from the Preamble to the Constitution: “We the People of the United States, … do ordain and establish this Constitution….” Which of the following best describes the special importance of the Preamble?

• The Preamble emphasizes that the government will be a representative republic.

• The Preamble emphasizes that the citizens have decided how they will be ruled.

• The Preamble emphasizes that all the citizens are equal under the law.

• The Preamble emphasizes the universal belief in individual liberty.

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Read this excerpt from America’s Constitution: A Biography.

Virtually no arch-loyalist went on to become a particularly noteworthy political leader in independent America. By contrast, many who would vigorously oppose the Constitution in 1787–88 … moved on to illustrious post-ratification careers.

Based on this excerpt, which is the most reasonable inference to draw about the success of early American political leaders?

• Early American political leaders could disagree with one another and still be professionally successful.

• Early American political leaders encouraged voters to engage in fierce political debate.

• Early American political leaders often disagreed and had trouble reaching universal agreement.

• Early American political leaders who engaged in vigorous political debate were unsuccessful.

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In America’s Constitution: A Biography, the author states the following.

As Benjamin Franklin and other Americans had achieved famous advances in the natural sciences—in Franklin’s case, the invention of bifocals, the lightning rod, and the Franklin stove—so with the Constitution America could boast a breakthrough in political science.

Why does the author refer to the Constitution as a “breakthrough in political science”?

• Ordinary people were being asked to think about, and vote on, the law that would affect them and generations to come.

• Ordinary people were being asked to make judicial decisions that would affect their friends and neighbors.

• Ordinary people were being asked to express their thoughts and feelings about the law, even though they had no power to affect it.

• Ordinary people were being asked to acknowledge the superior intelligence of lawmakers who were making the decisions that would affect them.

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