Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Foundational Documents

Total questions: 40

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which basic principle of government is represented by this statement?

a)

Consent of the governed

b)

Rule of law

c)

Federalism

d)

Representative government

2.

What is the form of government where the citizens rule?

a)

Monarchy

b)

Rule of Law

c)

Democracy

d)

Dictatorship

3.

Which basic principle states that the government is very powerful but it cannot do all things?

a)

Limited government

b)

Rule of Law

c)

Democracy

d)

Consent of the governed

4.

Which term best fits in the box labeled with the number 3?

a)

Democracy

b)

Rule of law

c)

Limited government

d)

Representative government

5.

Which term best fits in the box labeled with the number 4?

a)

Democracy

b)

Consent of the governed

c)

Representative government

d)

Rule of law

6.

Which basic principle states that the people who run the government must also obey the laws of the government?

a)

Federalism

b)

Rule of law

c)

Consent of the governed

d)

Limited government

7.

Which term best fits in the box labeled with the number 5?

a)

Representative government

b)

Democracy

c)

Limited government

d)

Rule of law

8.

The congressman from your district is caught driving while under the influence of alcohol. He is arrested and goes to court. This is an example of what basic principle?

a)

Consent of the governed

b)

Democracy

c)

Rule of law

d)

Limited government

9.

This quote from the Gettysburg Address best defines which principle of American

constitutional government?

a)

Limited government

b)

Democratic government

c)

Separation of powers

d)

Rule of law

10.

Which statement is an example of the principle of rule of law?

a)

A city council member is found guilty of speeding.

b)

A crime suspect is informed of his constitutional rights.

c)

A state senator is reelected to her second term.

d)

A citizen is shown how to register to vote.

11.

During the colonial era, when the colonists elected members to the House of

Burgesses they provided for the following:

a)

Rule of law

b)

Representative government

c)

Natural rights

d)

Limited government

12.

Which document would best complete the graphic?

a)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

b)

Articles of Confederation

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

United States Constitution

13.

Which statement would best fit into the Declaration of Independence?

a)

We believe it is our right to end an unfair government.

b)

We will take ownership of the native's lands.

c)

We should be allowed to travel freely between the states.

d)

We will support the decisions made by the King of England.

14.

Which phrase did Thomas Jefferson later use in the Declaration of Independence to

describe certain inherent natural rights?

a)

Establish justice

b)

Unalienable rights

c)

Insure domestic tranquility

d)

Consent of the governed

15.

A constitution is a document that sets up —

a)

a colony

b)

the structure of government

c)

a corporation

d)

the structure of a school

16.

Which document set forth the basic freedom of religious beliefs and opinions?

a)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

b)

New York Statute for Religious Freedom

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

17.

Complete the figure.

a)

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

d)

Articles of Confederation

18.

Study the diagram. Which of the following descriptions best fits in the box labeled with the number 3?

a)

Rights of Englishmen guaranteed to colonists

b)

Stated grievances against the king of Great Britain

c)

Served as a model for the Bill of Rights

d)

Established the first form of national government for the independent states

19.

Which phrase would best complete the table?

a)

Major powers resided with individual states

b)

Stated grievances against the King of Great Britain

c)

Established a federal structure of government

d)

Affirmed individual worth and dignity of all people

20.

According to the excerpt, which action would best represent the American people altering their government?

a)

Impeaching any official the people do not like

b)

Electing new leaders to better represent the people

c)

Forming a militia to overthrow the government

d)

Moving to a new country with a better government

21.

Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Benjamin Franklin

b)

George Mason

c)

John Adams

d)

Thomas Jefferson

22.

Which early American document completes the graphic?

a)

The U.S. Constitution

b)

The Articles of Confederation

c)

The Declaration of Independence

d)

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

23.

What document served as a model for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution?

a)

Articles of Confederation

b)

United States Constitution

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

24.

The same Continental Congress that declared the United States an independent nation also drew up a government in the 1780’s. If the people were to read this document today, they would be able to recognize that Americans living in the 1780’s distrusted a strong central government. This plan of government was called which of the following?

a)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

b)

United States Constitution

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

25.

Which fundamental principle does "We the People" establish?

a)

consent of the governed

b)

representative government

c)

rule of law

d)

limited government

26.

• Provided for a weak national government

• Gave Congress no power to tax or regulate commerce among the states

• Provided for no common currency

• Gave each state one vote regardless of size


The list above resulted in the writing of what document?

a)

United States Constitution

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

d)

Articles of Confederation

27.

What do you call a change to the Constitution?

a)

Preamble

b)

Amendment

c)

Introduction

d)

Articles

28.

Where can the Bill of Rights be found in the Constitution?

a)

First 10 amendments

b)

Articles

c)

Introduction

d)

Preamble

29.

This is an excerpt from the —

a)

U.S. Constitution

b)

Virginia Statute of Religious Beliefs

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

30.

Which statement is true concerning early American documents?

a)

The Articles of Confederation led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the charters of the Virginia Company of London.

b)

The Constitution was influenced by earlier documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.

c)

The Bill of Rights of the Constitution served as a model for the

Virginia Declaration of Rights.

d)

The Declaration of Independence was modeled after the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.

31.

Which document served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution?

a)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

d)

Articles of Confederation

32.

According to the Declaration of Independence, what can citizens do if a government abuses its power?

a)

Assemble to peacefully protest

b)

Petition Congress

c)

Petition the President

d)

Replace the government

33.

The Bill of Rights contains a solid foundation for liberty in America. The U.S. Constitution did not originally have a Bill of Rights. Which document served as a model for the Bill of Rights that was later added to the Constitution?

a)

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

b)

The Magna Carta

c)

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

d)

The Declaration of Independence

34.

Which early American document completes the graphic?

a)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

b)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

c)

Articles of Confederation

d)

Declaration of Independence

35.

Which famous American document is being addressed in this political cartoon?

a)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

b)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

36.

The ideas in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom are included in which Amendment of the Constitution of the United States?

a)

2nd

b)

14th

c)

5th

d)

1st

37.

Which document affirmed the unalienable rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"?

a)

The Articles of Confederation

b)

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

c)

The Declaration of Independence

d)

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

38.

This document created a weak central government which led to the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America-

a)

The Articles of Confederation

b)

The Declaration of Independence

c)

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

d)

The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom

39.

The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government which led to the writing of which document?

a)

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

b)

Constitution

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

40.

The Declaration of Independence accomplished all of the following EXCEPT

a)

established the first form of national government

b)

affirmed "certain unalienable rights"

c)

stated grievances against the King of Great Britain

d)

declared the colonies independent