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WorksheetsThe US Constitution
Total questions: 13
Worksheet time: 6mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
A system of checks and balances was built into the Constitution to prevent...
a)
states from passing laws that duplicate federal laws
b)
individual states from deciding to leave the Union.
c)
any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
d)
the federal government from spending more money than it collects in taxes.
2.
What was the main purpose of the Federalist papers?
a)
to encourage the federal government to grant rights to the people
b)
to persuade people to support a strong federal government
c)
to describe the roles of different branches of the federal government
d)
to defend the federal government against accusations of corruption
3.
Which is the BEST description of federalism?
a)
a government in which a Supreme Court is the highest level of the judicial branch
b)
a government with rules and laws that are spelled out by a constitution
c)
a system in which power is shared between a central government and state governments
d)
a type of government in which there are two legislative bodies of different sizes
4.
Shays' Rebellion helped point out weaknesses in which of the following documents?
a)
the Constitution
b)
the Federalist Papers
c)
the Articles of Confederation
d)
the Declaration of Independence
5.
The term separation of powers in the U.S. government refers to separate powers given to
a)
the president and the Cabinet.
b)
the Senate and the House of Representatives
c)
the federal, state, and local levels.
d)
the executive, legislative, and judicial branches
6.
Which group did Alexander Hamilton believe was best suited to control the government?
a)
wealthy people
b)
older people
c)
farmers
d)
scientists
7.
Which newspaper headline BEST illustrates the concept of checks and balances?
a)
“Congress Overrides President’s Veto”
b)
“Governors Look for Help in New Federal Budget”
c)
“Secretary of State Addresses United Nations”
d)
“Local Man to Be Tried in State and Federal Courts”
8.
Which of the following BEST illustrates the Constitutional principle of federalism?
a)
division of powers between the national and state governments
b)
separation of powers between the Senate and the House of Representatives
c)
existence of a strong Executive branch
d)
appointment of federal judges by the President
9.
Which BEST describes the Three-Fifths Compromise?
a)
Enslaved persons were entitled to only three-fifths of a vote in national elections.
b)
When determining a state’s population, an enslaved person counted as three-fifths of a free person.
c)
Three-fifths of the members of the House of Representatives were from states that allowed slavery.
d)
Three-fifths of Southern states were permitted to count enslaved people as part of their population.
10.
What was a MAJOR difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution?
a)
The power of individual states was greater under the Constitution.
b)
The powers of the federal government were increased under the Articles of Confederation.
c)
More freedoms were given to women, blacks, and Native Americans under the Constitution.
d)
The powers of the federal government were increased under the Constitution.
11.
After both houses of Congress pass a bill, what must happen before it becomes a law?
a)
The Supreme Court must approve the bill.
b)
The President must sign the bill.
c)
The Secretary of State has to approve the bill
d)
Public hearings must be held to consider the bill.
12.
Which was a provision of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?
a)
Native Americans would be granted voting rights as citizens.
b)
The Northwest Territory would havethe same representation in Congress as a state
c)
Land speculators would be prohibited from making a profit.
d)
Slavery would be prohibited north of the Ohio River
13.
During the Constitutional Convention, the Great Compromise was proposed MAINLY to settle a disagreement between which two groups?
a)
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
b)
large states and small states
c)
slave states and free states
d)
slave states and free states
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