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US Government

Total questions: 27

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The first plan of government for the United States was called the:

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

Articles of Incorporation

c)

Constitution

d)

Articles of Confederation

2.

To handle problems in our first plan of government ________________________________ was needed.

a)

more taxes from Britain

b)

a balance between the large and small states

c)

a stronger national government

d)

a king and parliament to make laws

3.

The result of the Constitutional Convention was that the delegates _______________________________.

a)

appointed George Washington as Commander in Chief

b)

devised a plan for making the states into individual countries

c)

changed the old plan of government so states had even more power

d)

created a federal government outlined in the Constitution

4.

Power in the new government, under the Constitution, was to be divided among which groups?

a)

. executive, judicial, and confederate

b)

legislative, executive and confederate

c)

judicial, legislative, and federal

d)

executive, legislative, and judicial

5.

In order to ensure the new branches did not abuse their powers, a system of _______________ was put into place.

a)

vetoes

b)

checks and balances

c)

roadblocks

d)

checks and blocks

6.

Who runs the legislative branch in our national government and what are they responsible for?

a)

President runs the branch and is in charge of enforcing the laws.

b)

Supreme Court runs the branch and they make the laws

c)

House of Representatives runs the branch and interpret the laws

d)

Congress runs the branch and makes the laws of our nation

7.

What branch of the government is the Supreme Court in charge of?

a)

Judicial

b)

legislative

c)

Executive

d)

Constitution

8.

In order to write the Constitution for our nation, the delegates from each state had to _________________________ with each other.

a)

compliment

b)

compromise

c)

committee

d)

checks and balances

9.

In the late 1700’s, a group of delegates gathered together to create an effective government for our country. What was this meeting called and where was it held?

a)

Constitutional Committee, Boston, Massachusetts

b)

Continental Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

c)

Committees of Correspondence, Washington D.C

d)

Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

10.

The Great Compromise made states with larger populations and those with smaller populations happy. Why were both groups satisfied with this compromise?

a)

It decided that there would be two houses of Congress and both houses would have equal representatives from each state.

b)

It decided that there would be two houses in Congress with equal representation in Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives.

c)

It decided that the southern states would outlaw slavery.

d)

It decided that the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan needed to be fixed.

11.

The delegates debated if slaves would be counted for the purposes of population to determine how many representatives would be in the House of Representatives. What did the delegates decide to do?

a)

Each slave would be counted as 1 person to determine representation.

b)

Slaves would not be counted at all for population because they weren’t citizens.

c)

Slaves in the southern states would be counted, but those in the large states would not.

d)

Slaves would be counted as 3/5ths of a person to determine population.

12.

What does the Constitution do?

a)

It declared our independence from England.

b)

It explains the governments of the states.

c)

It sets up the national government.

d)

It is the notes from the Constitutional Convention.

13.

The Constitution sets up a system of “checks and balances.” Why did the founding fathers include this system in our national government?

a)

So the government budget is checked regularly and stays balanced.

b)

So that one branch of the government doesn’t become too powerful.

c)

Because they were afraid of giving the states too much power.

d)

Because this was a compromise between the big and small states.

14.

The Congress approves appointments of the Supreme Court Judges. What can the Supreme Court do to “check” the legislative branch?

a)

They can sue the Congress.

b)

They can veto any new laws.

c)

They can declare a law unconstitutional.

d)

They can quit their jobs.

15.

After the Revolutionary War many people were afraid of a strong national government. However, many people believed that we needed to be united. Alexander Hamilton believed in a united, strong federal government. What was he called because of his views?

a)

Anti-Federalist

b)

Democrat

c)

Federalist

d)

Patriot

16.

What is the Bill of Rights?

a)

That is just another name for the Constitution.

b)

It is a separate document that explains the rights of the delegates.

c)

. It is the first ten amendments to the Constitution that explains our individual freedoms.

d)

It explains the rights that the government can take away.

17.

What are the two major political parties and what major issue did they disagree on?

a)

Federalist and Anti-Federalist, disagreed on whether the state or federal gov. should be more powerful

b)

Democrats and Republicans, disagreed about which branch should be the strongest

c)

. Jeffersons and Hamiltons, disagreed about who should be president

d)

Congress and Senate, disagreed about how to make laws

18.

What was the name of the act that stated runaway slaves must be returned to their rightful owners?

a)

Three-Fifths Act

b)

Fugitive Slave Act

c)

Dred Scott Act

d)

Slave Trade Act

19.

The Articles of Confederation had ______ branch (es) of government, but the Constitution created _______ branch (es) of government.

a)

2,4

b)

0,1

c)

1,3

d)

3,1

20.

The Federalists wanted ________________ to have control and a ____________ National Government.

a)

Businessmen & the rich, strong

b)

Farmers & the common man, weak

c)

Businessmen & the rich, weak

d)

Farmers &the common man, strong

21.

What groups were not included as our new government stated “all men are created equal” and were entitled to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”?

a)

Farmers, Native Americans and the French

b)

Women, children and blacksmiths

c)

Slaves, women and Native Americans

d)

Indentured servants, women and plantation owners

22.

Which is not an individual freedom protected in the Bill of Rights?

a)

Freedom of speech

b)

Freedom to move to a new state

c)

Freedom to believe in any religion you want to

d)

Freedom to own a gun and protect yourself

23.

What can the President, head of the Executive Branch, do to “check” the Congress, head of the Legislative Branch?

a)

Appoint a new member to Congress

b)

Vote a bill into a law

c)

Choose a new Supreme Court

d)

Veto a bill

24.

I was the Secretary of the Treasury and started our nation on a firm financial footing.

a)

John Marshall

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

John Adams

d)

Alexander Hamilton

e)

James Madison

25.

I was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence and 3rd President of the U.S.

a)

John Marshall

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

John Adams

d)

Alexander Hamilton

e)

James Madison

26.

I was the first Vice President of the United States and married to Abigail.

a)

John Marshall

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

John Adams

d)

Alexander Hamilton

e)

James Madison

27.

My leadership as a Chief Justice of the US helped strengthen the role of the Supreme Court in our national government.

a)

John Marshall

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

John Adams

d)

Alexander Hamilton

e)

James Madison