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US Constitution Test Review

Total questions: 100

Worksheet time: 50mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The “Father of the U.S. Constitution” is

a)

James Madison

b)

George Washington

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

Alexander Hamilton

2.

The U.S. Constitution was written in

a)

1776

b)

1780

c)

1787

d)

1791

3.

What is the main idea of the Preamble?

a)

to explain the reason behind the break with England

b)

to establish the relationship of the branches of government

c)

to set limits of the authority of the federal government

d)

to state the purpose and goals of the U.S. Constitution

4.

The idea that the powers of government should be divided between and given to different branches is called

a)

separation of powers

b)

checks and balances

c)

popular sovereignty

d)

judicial review

5.

The system of government in which power is divided between the central government and several states governments is called

a)

separation of powers

b)

check and balances

c)

judicial review

d)

federalism

6.

When the power of one branch of government is watched by or restrained by another branch of government it is known as

a)

separation of powers

b)

checks and balances

c)

federalism

d)

judicial review

7.

The principle that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away is known as

a)

popular sovereignty

b)

limited government

c)

judicial review

d)

federalism

8.

The principle of government that gives the Supreme Court the power to determine if laws are constitutional or not constitutional.

a)

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Checks and balances

c)

Judicial review

d)

Limited government

9.

The idea of ______ is that a government cannot run without the consent of the people. In other words, the power of the government is in the hands of the people.

a)

Popular sovereignty

b)

Limited government

c)

Separation of powers

d)

Judicial review

10.

The United States government is divided into

a)

three branches

b)

four branches

c)

seven branches

d)

twenty-seven branches

11.

Article I

a)

Relations amongst the states

b)

Legislative Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

d)

Executive Branch

12.

Article II

a)

Relations amongst the states

b)

Legislative Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

d)

Executive Branch

13.

Article III

a)

Relations amongst the states

b)

Legislative Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

d)

Executive Branch

14.

Article IV

a)

Relations amongst the states

b)

Legislative Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

d)

Executive Branch

15.

Article V

a)

Ratification of the Constitution

b)

Amendments

c)

Supremacy, Oaths, Debts

16.

Article VI

a)

Ratification of the Constitution

b)

Amendments

c)

Supremacy, Oaths, Debts

17.

Article VII

a)

Ratification of the Constitution

b)

Amendments

c)

Supremacy, Oaths, Debts

18.

Bicameral means

a)

Legislative

b)

one house chamber

c)

two house chamber

d)

elected by the people

19.

The branch of the government that makes the laws is called the

a)

Legislative Branch

b)

Executive Branch

c)

Judicial branch

d)

Federal branch

20.

What is the main body of the Legislative Branch?

a)

Supreme Court

b)

Congress

c)

President

d)

Cabinet

21.

How many members are there in the House of Representatives?

a)

100

b)

270

c)

435

d)

538

22.

How many members are there in the Senate?

a)

100

b)

270

c)

435

d)

538

23.

The official count of the U.S. population taken every ten years is called the

a)

quota

b)

censure

c)

census

d)

population control

24.

How is the number for state representation determined in the House of Representatives?

a)

by poulation

b)

equal representation

c)

by appointment

d)

by the state legislatures

25.

According to the U.S. Constitution, which of the following is NOT true regarding a member of the U.S. House of Representatives?

a)

Must be a registered voter

b)

Must be at least 25 years old

c)

Must be a U.S. citizen for 7 years

d)

Is elected for a two year term

26.

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives is the

a)

President

b)

Vice President

c)

President pro tempore

d)

Speaker of the House

27.

The President of the Senate is the

a)

President

b)

Vice President

c)

President pro tempore

d)

Speaker of the House

28.

According to the U.S. Constitution, a U.S. senator must be all of the following EXCEPT

a)

30 years old

b)

Live in the state they represent

c)

Natural born citizen

d)

US Citizen for 9 years

29.

The responsibility of trying an impeached official lies with the

a)

House of Representatives

b)

Senate

c)

Supreme Court

d)

State Legislatures

30.

The responsibility of bringing charges of impeachment lies with the

a)

House of Representatives

b)

Senate

c)

Supreme Court

d)

State Legislatures

31.

The power to ratify treaties and presidential appointments lies with

a)

the House of Representatives

b)

the Senate

c)

the Supreme Court

d)

the state legislatures

32.

Which of the following is NOT an expressed power of Congress?

a)

to levy taxes

b)

to regulate interstate commerce

c)

to coin money

d)

to declare laws unconstitutional

33.

When the Constitution was first ratified, how were U.S. Senators elected? (The 17th Amendment changed this).

a)

By a vote of state legislatures

b)

By a vote of the people

c)

By election from the House of Representatives

d)

By appointment of the president

34.

Lines for congressional districts are drawn by

a)

The House of Reps

b)

the Senate

c)

The State Legislatures

d)

The President

35.

When political lines are drawn to the advantage of the party in power it is known as

a)

Filibustering

b)

Franking

c)

Malapportionment

d)

Gerrymandering

36.

A law changing the penalty for a crime, applied after a person has been convicted of the crime is a(n)

a)

Bill of attainder

b)

Ex post facto

c)

Writ of habeas corpus

d)

Injunction

37.

The Constitution does not allow any bills of attainder to be passed - bills of attainder are

a)

Bills which would allow Congress to attain any of the rights of the people without a trial

b)

Bills which allow the president to attain any of the rights of the people without a trial

c)

Bills which allow the judiciary to attain any of the rights of the people without a trial

d)

Bills which allow the forfeiture of rights/property without trial

38.

The writ of habeas corpus prevents

a)

Property being confiscated without compensation

b)

People being declared guilty without the benefit of a trial

c)

People being punished for actions done legally in the past

d)

People being held in prison indefinitely without being accused of a crime

39.

In the Senate, members can delay the vote on a bill by speaking for an indefinite amount of time. What is this process called?

a)

Gerrymandering

b)

Filibustering

c)

Franking

d)

Quorum Call

40.

In the Senate, a filibuster may be choked off (or stopped) by a vote using which technique?

a)

the cloture rule

b)

a quorom call

c)

the unanimous consent rule

d)

senatorial courtesy

41.

Any powers that the Constitution does not grant to the National Government and does not, at the same time, deny to the States are called

a)

expressed powers

b)

implied powers

c)

inherent powers

d)

reserved powers

42.

Measures brought before the House of Representatives or Senate BEFORE they become a law are called

a)

Junkets

b)

Bills

c)

Franking privileges

d)

Rules

43.

The Elastic Clause

a)

allows Congress to borrow money on the credit of the United States

b)

allows Congress to make laws that are necessary in carrying out its expressed powers

c)

allows Congress to fix the standards of weights and measures

d)

allows Congress to issue patents and copyrights

44.

Bill gets sent to the President to be signed/vetoed

a)

Step 1 of how a bill becomes a law

b)

Step 2 of how a bill becomes a law

c)

Step 3 of how a bill becomes a law

d)

Step 4 of how a bill becomes a law

e)

Step 5 of how a bill becomes a law

45.

Bill gets sent to House/Senate committees for further research.

a)

Step 1 of how a bill becomes a law

b)

Step 2 of how a bill becomes a law

c)

Step 3 of how a bill becomes a law

d)

Step 4 of how a bill becomes a law

e)

Step 5 of how a bill becomes a law

46.

Bill gets sent to the other house, is sent to committees again, then is passed with a majority vote in the second house.

a)

Step 1 of how a bill becomes a law

b)

Step 2 of how a bill becomes a law

c)

Step 3 of how a bill becomes a law

d)

Step 4 of how a bill becomes a law

e)

Step 5 of how a bill becomes a law

47.

Representative/Senator introduces bill.

a)

Step 1 of how a bill becomes a law

b)

Step 2 of how a bill becomes a law

c)

Step 3 of how a bill becomes a law

d)

Step 4 of how a bill becomes a law

e)

Step 5 of how a bill becomes a law

48.

Bill is passed in the original house it is presented in

a)

Step 1 of how a bill becomes a law

b)

Step 2 of how a bill becomes a law

c)

Step 3 of how a bill becomes a law

d)

Step 4 of how a bill becomes a law

e)

Step 5 of how a bill becomes a law

49.

The President shows disapproval of a bill by

a)

Vetoing it

b)

Signing it

c)

Ratifying it

d)

Amending it

50.

Congress can override the President’s veto by

a)

waiting ten days

b)

a majority vote in both houses of Congress

c)

a 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress

d)

a 3/4 vote in both houses of Congress

51.

The branch of government that enforces the law is the

a)

Legislative Branch

b)

Executive Branch

c)

Judicial Branch

d)

Local Branch

52.

Which of the following officers are all part of the executive branch?

a)

President, Vice-President, Chief Justice

b)

Vice-President, President pro tempore, and President of the Senate

c)

Chief Justice, Speaker, President of the Senate

d)

President, Vice-President, Cabinet officials

53.

Who is the head of the Executive Branch?

a)

The Cabinet

b)

The Chief Justice

c)

The President

d)

The Vice President

54.

Who officially nominates judges and Cabinet members?

a)

President

b)

House of Representatives

c)

Senate

d)

Supreme Court

55.

According to the U.S. Constitution, the President must be at least

a)

25 years old

b)

30 years old

c)

35 years old

d)

40 years old

56.

The President is elected for a term of

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

10 years

57.

The Constitution now limits the number of times the same person can be elected to the presidency to

a)

One term

b)

Two terms

c)

Three terms

d)

Four terms

58.

Who officially elects the President of the United States?

a)

The people

b)

The state legislatures

c)

Congress

d)

The Electoral College

59.

How many members are in the Electoral College?

a)

100

b)

270

c)

435

d)

538

60.

If the presidential vote in the electoral colleges results in a tie,

a)

a run off election is held in the electoral college

b)

a run off election is held in the state legislatures

c)

the Senate votes to decide the President

d)

the House of Reps votes to decide the President

61.

When no one is holding the office of Vice-President, the President:

a)

appoints someone to the job

b)

arranges for a special election

c)

allows the Speaker of the House fill in on the job

d)

does nothing

62.

If the President is unable to serve, the Vice-President takes his place. Who is the next federal official in line for the presidency after the Vice-President?

a)

Secretary of State

b)

President pro tempore

c)

The First Lady

d)

Speaker of the House

63.

The President’s power to declare forgiveness and freedom from punishment to an individual is called

a)

Veto

b)

Pardon

c)

Commutation

d)

Amnesty

64.

When President Bush urged Congress to pass the PATRIOT ACT, he worked in his role as

a)

Chief of State

b)

Commander-in-chief

c)

Chief Legislator

d)

Chief Administrator

65.

When a president orders a Marine detachment to serve as part of an international peacekeeping force in the Middle East, he is acting in his role as the nation’s

a)

Chief Legislator

b)

Commander-in-chief

c)

Chief Citizen

d)

Chief Diplomat

66.

What branch of government interprets the law?

a)

Legislative

b)

Executive

c)

Judicial

d)

Federal

67.

The idea that everyone is guaranteed the right to a fair and public trial corresponds to what concept?

a)

Separate but equal

b)

Separation of powers

c)

Checks and balances

d)

Due Process

68.

Why are federal judges appointed for life?

a)

To ensure that Supreme Court justices are always the oldest in the federal judiciary.

b)

To ensure the independence of the federal courts.

c)

To ensure that Article III of the Constitution is violated.

d)

To ensure that justices may not retire.

69.

The right of the Supreme Court to hear cases being appealed from a lower court is called

a)

Original Jurisdiction

b)

Appellate Jurisdiction

c)

Judicial Review

d)

Extradition

70.

All of the following are powers of the Supreme Court EXCEPT

a)

declaring laws unconstitutional

b)

overturning previous court decision

c)

hearing cases from lower federal courts

d)

impeaching federal officials

71.

The highest judicial body in the land is the

a)

US Supreme Court

b)

US Court of Criminal Apeals

c)

Homeland Security

d)

Missouri Supreme Court

72.

The current Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court is

a)

John Roberts

b)

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

c)

William Rehnquist

d)

Nancy Pelosi

73.

The Chief Justice is appointed for a term of:

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

Life

74.

The legal practice of one state returning a fugitive to another State is known as

a)

Extradition

b)

Double Jeopardy

c)

Bona Fide Residency

d)

Citizenship

75.

The only crime defined in the Constitution is

a)

Tax evasion

b)

Counterfeit

c)

Bribery

d)

Treason

76.

If you have a valid Missouri license, it is valid in all fifty states. This statement is true because of which clause?

a)

Extradition clause

b)

Necessary and Proper Clause

c)

Full Faith and Credit Clause

d)

Supremacy Clause

77.

Which of the following must grant permission for a new state to enter the Union?

a)

President

b)

Congress

c)

Supreme Court

d)

People

78.

How many amendments to the United States Constitution have been ratified?

a)

10

b)

26

c)

27

d)

33

79.

Which of the following ways can an amendment be proposed?

a)

by 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress

b)

by 1/3 vote of the State Legislatures

c)

by ¾ vote of both houses of Congress

d)

by the President of the United States

80.

After an amendment is passed through congress, what is the next step to become ratified?

a)

By a 2/3 vote of the state legislatures.

b)

By a 3/4 vote of the state legislatures.

c)

By a 3/4 vote of the Senate.

d)

By a 2/3 vote of the Congress.

81.

What does the Supremacy Clause do?

a)

Makes the federal law the supreme law of the land

b)

Tells how the states should treat one another

c)

Describes how the Constitution to be ratified

d)

Allows the state laws to overpower national laws

82.

The Constitution of the United States had to be ratified by _____ to go into effect.

a)

9 states

b)

11 states

c)

13 states

d)

50 states

83.

The U.S. Constitution birthday is celebrated every year on ___________________.

a)

March 4

b)

July 4

c)

September 17

d)

December 15

84.

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution

a)

forbid slavery and other forms of involuntary servitude

b)

are often called the Civil War Amendments

c)

went into effect the same day as the original Constitution

d)

are often called the Bill of Rights

85.

Which of the following concepts is NOT true concerning the current U.S. Constitution?

a)

Congress is responsible for making law

b)

Every state has two senators

c)

Every state has at least two representatives

d)

Senators are elected by the people

86.

Right to bear arms

a)

1st

b)

2nd

c)

3rd

d)

4th

e)

5th

87.

Freedom of speech, assembly, petition, religion, and press

a)

1st

b)

2nd

c)

3rd

d)

4th

e)

5th

88.

No quartering troops in a time of peace

a)

1st

b)

2nd

c)

3rd

d)

4th

e)

5th

89.

No self-incrimination, rights of the accused, double jeopardy

a)

1st

b)

2nd

c)

3rd

d)

4th

e)

5th

90.

No searches/seizures without probable cause of warrants

a)

1st

b)

2nd

c)

3rd

d)

4th

e)

5th

91.

Women's right to vote

a)

6th

b)

7th

c)

8th

d)

19th

e)

21st

92.

Repeals prohibition

a)

6th

b)

7th

c)

8th

d)

19th

e)

21st

93.

Right to a fair/speedy trial

a)

6th

b)

7th

c)

8th

d)

19th

e)

21st

94.

Right to a trial by jury in civil cases

a)

6th

b)

7th

c)

8th

d)

19th

e)

21st

95.

No cruel/unusual punishment

a)

6th

b)

7th

c)

8th

d)

19th

e)

21st

96.

Limits a president to 2 terms

a)

13th

b)

14th

c)

15th

d)

22nd

e)

26th

97.

Abolition of slavery

a)

13th

b)

14th

c)

15th

d)

22nd

e)

26th

98.

18 year olds can vote

a)

13th

b)

14th

c)

15th

d)

22nd

e)

26th

99.

Defines citizenship. Former slaves are now citizens

a)

13th

b)

14th

c)

15th

d)

22nd

e)

26th

100.

African American males are allowed to vote

a)

13th

b)

14th

c)

15th

d)

22nd

e)

26th