2025 Constitutional Compromises Quiz

Which of these best describes the three-fifths compromise?

• An agreement regarding population count and representation in Congress.

• An agreement regarding the structure of Congress.

• An agreement regarding the continued use of the Atlantic Slave Trade in the United States.

Answer explanation

The three-fifths compromise was an agreement that determined how slaves would be counted for population and representation in Congress, allowing states to count three-fifths of their slave population.

A system of government by the whole population or all eligible members of a state.

• Democracy

• Monarchy

• Oligarchy

• Republic

Answer explanation

A democracy is a system of government where the whole population or all eligible members participate in decision-making, distinguishing it from monarchy (rule by a king/queen), oligarchy (rule by a few), and republic (representative government).

A form of government in which the people hold power, but elect representatives to exercise that power.

• Democracy

• Monarchy

• Oligarchy

• Republic

Answer explanation

A republic is a form of government where the people hold power and elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, distinguishing it from direct democracy where citizens vote on all issues.

What is the best term to describe the U.S. Government?

• Monarchy

• Direct democracy

• Oligarchy

• Democratic republic

Answer explanation

The U.S. Government is best described as a democratic republic, where representatives are elected to make decisions on behalf of the citizens, combining elements of democracy and republicanism.

Which of these would complete the diagram?

• Alien and Sedition Acts

• Constitutional Convention

• Magna Carta

• Declaration of Independence

Answer explanation

The Constitutional Convention was a pivotal event in U.S. history where the Constitution was drafted, making it the most relevant choice to complete the diagram, as it directly relates to the formation of the government.

How was the conflict between large and small states resolved?

• Three branches of the national government were formed.

• A federal court system was established.

• The House of Representatives and Senate were created.

• A cabinet was formed to advise the President.

Answer explanation

The conflict between large and small states was resolved by creating the House of Representatives, which favored large states, and the Senate, which ensured equal representation for small states, balancing their interests.

How did the creation of a 2 house legislature help resolve a disagreement at the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

• It established a faster process for passing national laws.

• It gave small and large states each an advantage in one house of the legislature.

• It gave both poor as well as wealthy citizens a role in enacting laws.

• It permitted African Americans and women a voice in government.

Answer explanation

The creation of a 2 house legislature resolved the disagreement by ensuring that both small and large states had representation. In the Senate, each state has equal representation, while in the House, representation is based on population.

Which plan called for equal representation of the states regardless of population?

• Virginia Plan

• Fugitive Slave Act

• Great Compromise

• New Jersey Plan

Answer explanation

The Virginia Plan proposed a system of representation based on population, while the Great Compromise established equal representation for states in the Senate. Thus, the correct answer is the Great Compromise.

One of the major issues debated at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia was -

• proposing a new strategy to proceed with the abolition of slavery

• creating a plan for representation of both large and small states

• whether or not to remain neutral in the French Revolution

• if Missouri should be allowed to join the country as a free state

Answer explanation

One of the key debates at the Constitutional Convention was about representation, leading to the Great Compromise, which balanced the interests of large and small states in Congress.

Northern and Southern delegates vehemently argued on how slaves should be counted as population for representation purposes, the result of this debate was the -

• Three-fifths compromise

• Great Compromise

• Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

• Missouri Compromise

Answer explanation

The debate over how to count slaves for representation led to the Three-fifths Compromise, which determined that each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person for legislative representation.