WorksheetsConstitution Proficiency Test
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 50mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
The Declaration of Independence was written in order to
a)
explain to the world the reasons for the colonies taking such a drastic step
b)
demonstrate the new government's power
c)
explain the philosophy of democracy
d)
formally declare war on England
2.
The man who wrote the final version of the Declaration of Independence was
a)
John Adams
b)
Benjamin Franklin
c)
Thomas Jefferson
d)
Roger Sherman
3.
The Declaration of Independence was officially signed on which date?
a)
July 8, 1776
b)
July 4, 1776
c)
June 4, 1876
d)
July 28, 1976
4.
Which of the following is not one of the basic human rights as stated in the Declaration of Independence?
a)
All men are created equal
b)
All men have the right to life
c)
All men have the right to liberty
d)
All men have the right to vote
5.
According to the Declaration, governments are created
a)
to protect the rights of men
b)
to protect the country from invasion
c)
for the happiness of men
d)
to show that people can control themselves
6.
According to the Declaration, what is the source of a government's power?
a)
The army
b)
The people
c)
Money
d)
Smart thinking
7.
According to the Declaration, when a government abuses its power, the people have a right and a duty to
a)
replace it with a new government that will better protect people's rights
b)
leave the country
c)
accept that government until it gets better
d)
ask England to come back and take over
8.
Who was the ruler of the thirteen colonies in America when the Declaration of Independence was written?
a)
Louis the XIII of FRance
b)
Louis the XVI of England
c)
George the III of England
d)
Queen Victoria of England
9.
The Articles of Confederation was this country's plan of of government during
a)
The Revolutionary War
b)
World War I
c)
The War of 1812
d)
King George's time in office
10.
Under the Articles of Confederation, when a state didn't accept a law passed by Congress it
a)
passed a new law
b)
obeyed it anyway
c)
sent a Lobbyist to Washington to get it changed
d)
ignored it
11.
The main reason the government under the Articles of Confederation failed was
a)
states wouldn't give any of their important powers to the central government
b)
it didn't have enough money to go on
c)
the British won the Revolutionary War
d)
it was a bad idea to begin with
12.
How many years after the Articles of Confederation was the Constitutional Convention held?
a)
6
b)
10
c)
50
d)
100
13.
In which city was the Constitutional Convention held?
a)
New York City
b)
Chicago
c)
Philadelphia
d)
Boston
14.
Once the delegates at the special convention began work, they quickly realized that they had
a)
to go home and take care of their own business
b)
no reason to be there
c)
to start over and write an entirely new plan that would replace the Articles of Confederation
d)
come to the wrong city
15.
The system of government in which the power is divided between the states and the central government is called
a)
the Federal system
b)
the Republican system
c)
the Free system
d)
the Confederation system
16.
The first major decision at the Constitutional Convention was to establish three branches of government. Which of the following is not one of those branches?
a)
Legislative
b)
Economic
c)
Executive
d)
Judicial
17.
"The Great Compromise" created
a)
a two-house legislature
b)
a standing army for the new nation
c)
the office of the president
d)
many problems that continue to exist today
18.
How did the new constitution "check and balance the powers" of the central government?
a)
it watched the President very closely
b)
it gave it no power
c)
it gave all the power to the states
d)
it had each of the three branches of government be accountable to the other two
19.
The power to propose laws that govern the people of the U.S. is give to
a)
President
b)
Congress
c)
the Supreme Cournt
d)
None of the above
20.
The upper house of Congress is called
a)
the House of Representatives
b)
the Senate
c)
the Legislature
d)
the Supreme Court
21.
The lower house of Congress is called
a)
the House of Representatives
b)
the Senate
c)
the Legislature
d)
the Supreme court
22.
To become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, one must be how old?
a)
25
b)
35
c)
40
d)
45
23.
The number of representatives each state is allowed in the U.S House of Representatives is determined by
a)
how many can get elected
b)
how many square miles are in the state
c)
the population of that state
d)
the year in which the persons are elected
24.
In 1910, the number of representatives allowed in the U.S House of Representatives was frozen at
a)
50
b)
235
c)
435
d)
555
25.
To become a member of the U.S Senate, one must be how old?
a)
25
b)
30
c)
35
d)
40
26.
Who presides over all meetings of the U.S Senate and votes only when there is a tie
a)
the President
b)
the Vice-President
c)
the Senate Majority Leader
d)
the Speaker of the House
27.
To impeach is to
a)
kick out of office
b)
hit with a peach
c)
formally accuse a high official of wrong doing
d)
accept a new member
28.
Which of the following has the power to impeach
a)
the President
b)
the Senate
c)
the House of Reperesentatives
d)
the Voters
29.
Which of the following has the power to conduct the trial of a person who has been impeached?
a)
the President
b)
the Senate
c)
the House of Reperesentatives
d)
the Supreme Court
30.
When is the National Election held?
a)
every November 7
b)
the Monday after the second Tuesday in consecutive decades
c)
the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in all even numbered years
d)
November 3, 1987
31.
Which of the following may stop a bill from becoming a law by the use of the veto?
a)
the President
b)
the Senate
c)
the House of Representatives
d)
the Supreme Court
32.
Which of the following must sign a bill in order for it to become law?
a)
the President
b)
the Senate
c)
the House of Representatives
d)
All of the Above
33.
Which of the following are express powers of Congress
a)
collect taxes
b)
provide for an adequate defense of the country
c)
borrow money
d)
All of the above
34.
The person most responsible for enforcing the law is
a)
the President
b)
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
c)
the Attorney General of the United States
d)
the Chief of Police
35.
How long is the term of office of the President of the United States
a)
2 years
b)
4 years
c)
6 years
d)
8 years
36.
To become President of the U.S., one must be how old?
a)
25
b)
30
c)
35
d)
40
37.
In the event of a vacancy occurring in the presidency, who would become president?
a)
the Speaker of the House of Representatives
b)
the winner of a special election
c)
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
d)
the Vice-President
38.
The duties of the President include
a)
Head of State
b)
Chief Executive
c)
Commander in Chief
d)
All of the above
39.
The official group appointed to assist the President is called
a)
the cabinet
b)
the workforce
c)
the friends
d)
the entourage
40.
The main purpose of the U.S Court system is
a)
to try criminals
b)
make laws
c)
to decide how to settle issues when two parties are opposed to each other
d)
to punish wrongdoers
41.
The main purpose of the U.S. Supreme Court is
a)
to interpret our laws
b)
to try criminals
c)
to punish wrongdoers
d)
to make laws
42.
According to the Constitution, a person accused of a crime has a right to
a)
confess
b)
leave the country
c)
a trial by jury
d)
free legal counsel
43.
The power of a court to hear a case for the first time and pass judgement on that case is called
a)
original jurisdiction
b)
the judges' power
c)
appellate jurisdiction
d)
law
44.
The power of a court to review a case that has already been hear in a lower court is called
a)
original jurisdiction
b)
the judges' power
c)
appellate jurisdicition
d)
law
45.
How does a person become a federal judge?
a)
election
b)
job interview
c)
appointment by the Congress
d)
appointment by the President
46.
What is the term of office for a federal judge?
a)
life
b)
2 years
c)
10 years
d)
5 years
47.
How many judges are there on the U.S. Supreme Court?
a)
3
b)
9
c)
5
d)
7
48.
The members of the U.S. Supreme Court are officially called
a)
judge
b)
lawmakers
c)
Sir or Madam
d)
Justices
49.
The decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court became firm by
a)
a simple 5-4 majority vote
b)
a two-thirds vote
c)
the Chief Justice making the decision
d)
the President agreeing to the decision
50.
What was the name give to the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
a)
Bill of Rights
b)
Preamble
c)
Rights Amendments
d)
Articles of Confederation
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