WorksheetsU.S. History Regents Review: U.S. Constitution
Total questions: 28
Worksheet time: 28mins
In his pamphlet Common Sense, Thomas Paine urged American colonists to
establish their own nation
pay their colonial taxes
obey the laws of Parliament
form an alliance with France
…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...
— Thomas Jefferson
The purpose of this statement was to
urge support for the Albany Plan of Union
provide justification for declaring independence
criticize the Articles of Confederation
advocate obedience to Great Britain
Which two key principles of government are included in the Declaration of Independence?
majority rule and minority rights
universal suffrage and judicial independence
direct democracy and equality for women
consent of the governed and natural rights
The Boston Tea Party was a demonstration of the opposition of colonial merchants to
a high tax on tea
taxation without representation
the British East India Company monopoly
all of the above
Critics of the Articles of Confederation argued that it
imposed unfair taxes on the states
used a draft to raise a national army
provided a strong system of federal courts
placed too much power in the hands of the states
What principle of government is found both in the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the United States?
The right to vote must be guaranteed to all Americans
Supreme court justices should be elected by the people
Governing power should be divided between different levels of government
States have the right to secede from the union
Shay’s Rebellion (1786) became a concern for many national leaders because it
indicated there would be future conflicts over the spread of slavery
exposed fundamental weaknesses in government under the Articles of Confederation
exposed the need for federal government regulation of interstate commerce
showed the frontier settlements were vulnerable to raids by Native American Indians
Anti Federalists opposed ratification of the United States Constitution until they were assured that
a bill of rights would be added to the original document to protect citizens from a tyrannical Federal government
their supporters would receive a fair share of federal government jobs
the president was given increased powers
senators would be elected directly by the people
What is the most democratic feature of the original Constitution of the United States?
role given to the electoral college in presidential elections
appointment of ambassadors by the president
direct election of the members of the House of Representatives
lifetime appointments for Supreme Court justices
Which of the following choices would be the best topic of an outline with the following headings?
Outline Topic: _____________________________
I. A bicameral legislature is created in which states have equal representation in the Senate, but representation in the House depends on population.
II. An enslaved person is counted as three-fifths of one person for purposes of both representation and taxation.
grievances included in the Declaration of Independence
provisions found in the Articles of Confederation
compromises reached at the Constitutional Convention
amendments included in the Bill of Rights
Which protection in the Bill of Rights is most directly related to the 1735 trial of John Peter Zenger?
freedom of the press
right to bear arms
ban on unreasonable searches
freedom from double jeopardy
Federalism is best defined as a principle of government that
divides power between the central government and state governments
includes a system of checks and balances
places the most power in the hands of the legislative branch
all of the above
Which set of events related to early America is in the correct chronological order?
inauguration of George Washington → passage of Stamp Act → Battle of Saratoga → French and Indian War
Battle of Saratoga → French and Indian War →passage of Stamp Act → inauguration of George Washington
French and Indian War → passage of Stamp Act → Battle of Saratoga → inauguration of George Washington
passage of Stamp Act → French and Indian War → inauguration of George Washington → Battle of Saratoga
One immediate result of Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan was the
removal of the tax on exports
creation of a national bank
adoption of free trade
establishment of an income tax
“…Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate [connect] ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes [changes] of her politics or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities [antagonisms]…"
— President George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
According to the passage, President Washington believed that the United States should
seek financial aid from European nations
end all existing European friendship / alliances
avoid involvement in the political disputes of Europe
discontinue commercial relations with Europe
The Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison (1803) strengthened the power of the judicial branch by
denying states the right to secede from the Union
providing the president the power to declare war
ruling that Congress has the right to create new territories
granting federal courts the power to declare laws unconstitutional
The outcome of the Whiskey Rebellion (1794) strengthened the authority of the
national government
state governors
territorial legislatures
local police
Which action is an example of the system of checks and balances?
An individual pays both a state and a federal income tax
New York State requires at least 180 school days per year
The House of Representatives votes to expel one of its members
The Senate approves a president’s nominee to the Supreme Court
The United States Constitution grants the Senate the power to
impeach governors
issue pardons
appoint ambassadors
approve treaties
President George Washington set a precedent for all future presidents by
appointing a career soldier to be Secretary of War
choosing the best lawyer in the nation to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
campaigning actively for the office
creating a cabinet of advisors
At the Constitutional Convention (1787), which issue was resolved by the great compromise?
method of electing the president
power of Congress to tax exports
Regulation of interstate commerce
representation of states in Congress
Which two groups debated the ratification of the new Constitution?
loyalists and revolutionaries
Federalists and Antifederalists
Democratic Party and Whig Party
executive branch and judicial branch
Under the Articles of Confederation, the National government had which of the following powers?
I. The power to collect taxes
II. The power to negotiate treaties
III. The power to supercede state law
I only
II only
I & II only
I, II, and III
One way the original Constitution of the United States addressed the issue of congressional representation was by
not counting women as part of a state’s population for representation
counting three-fifths of the enslaved population when determining representation
setting a four-year term of office for all members of Congress
giving every state the same number of representatives in the House
To what expedient [method], then, shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the Constitution? The only answer that can be given is, that as all these exterior provisions are found to be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places. . . .
— The Federalist No. 51, 1788
Which principle of the United States Constitution is most directly described in this passage?
states rights
checks and balances
the elastic clause
concurrent power
Most of the amendments to the United States Constitution have dealt with
expanding the powers of the presidency
setting immigration restrictions
strengthening the authority of state governments
guaranteeing civil and political rights
Which statement is a fact rather than an opinion?
The power of judicial review was established by a Supreme Court decision.
Supreme Court Justices should have a mandatory retirement age.
The Supreme Court achieved its greatest accomplishments under the leadership of Chief Justice John Marshall.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade is its most controversial decision.
An example of the unwritten constitution is the
impeachment process
two-house legislature
presidential veto power
formation of political parties
