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US Constitution

Total questions: 32

Worksheet time: 1hrs 4mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following quotes best reflects a major concern that many leaders had with the Articles of Confederation?

a)

It takes tool long to get bills of legislation to pass since they have to go through two houses of government.

b)

The more populous states have more power because they are given a larger number of votes.

c)

Without an executive we lack the necessary leadership to make decisions for the country

d)

The central government is granted too much power because they have the ability to tax the states.

2.

?????

*Congress didn't have the power to tax the individual states

*Each state could issue its own form of paper money

*Lack of a central executive


What would be the best heading for the table above?

a)

Effects of the US Constitution

b)

Causes of the American Revolution

c)

Advantages of the Union during the Civil War

d)

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

3.

"in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic" - Mayflower Compact, 1620


From the information above it can best be concluded that the Mayflower Compact -

a)

allowed the colonists to outlaw slavery in the new country

b)

influenced the idea of self-government in the US Constitution

c)

convinced Parliament to pass strict laws to control the colonies

d)

was considered an act of treason against the British crown

4.

One of the most significant impacts of the Magna Carta on the US system of government was the idea that -

a)

the power of the government needs to be limited

b)

tyrannical governments were acceptable to citizens

c)

the executive branch needed to have the most power

d)

all taxes were considered to be against the law

5.

The Federalist Papers were articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison to convince people that the new government wouldn't encroach upon the rights of the citizens or the states and it stated that -

a)

the federal government would supersede the states

b)

the judicial branch should be the dominant power

c)

the states and central government would share power

d)

the executive branch needed to include religious leaders

6.

Which of the following quotes best reflects a significant strength of the framework of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

"It has kept the central government from gaining too much power and becoming tyrannical"

b)

"The central government had to ask the states for funds because it couldn't impose taxes"

c)

"We don't have to worry about a national currency because we lack the gold to mint into coins"

d)

"It takes too long to approve items because we have to have 9 of the 13 states agree to it"

7.

Strengths of the Articles of Confederation

*had the ability to declare war and make peace with other nations

*had the ability to create a postal system

*? ? ?


Which of the following would best complete the table above?

a)

given the ability to impose taxes on the new states

b)

granted the power to raise an army and a navy

c)

states with large populations had more votes

d)

central executive leader could make his own laws

8.

The Articles of Confederation was the first attempt at a new form of the government for the colonies and although it had many weaknesses, one of its major strengths was that---

a)

it allowed Congress to impose taxes on the colonies

b)

it called for the election of an executive to control the Congress

c)

it prevented the new government from becoming too powerful

d)

it established the first national court system for the colonies

9.

--For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses

-Declaration of Independence


Which addition to the U.S. Constitution best reflects theis grievance?

a)

In all suits st common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of a trial by jury shall be preserved.

b)

The accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial...in the district wherein the crime shall have been committed.

c)

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the states respectively.

d)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

10.

In 1776, when the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, one of the grievances listed against the Ling was that, "He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures." A few short years later when they were creating the Bill of Rights this grievance was addressed with the--

a)

2nd Amendment

b)

4th Amendment

c)

3rd Amendment

d)

6th Amendment

11.

--For imposing taxes on us without our Consent

--Declaration of Independence


Which provision of the U.S. Constitution best reflects this grievance?

a)

"All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives."

b)

"The Senate shall be composed of two Senators from each state."

c)

"The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States."

d)

"The House shall choose their Speaker and have sole Power of Impeachment ."

12.

One of the many grievances listed by the colonists against the King in the Declaration of Independence was the King, "depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury."One way in which the colonists attempted to remedy this was by the--

a)

2nd Amendment

b)

4th Amendment

c)

6th Amendment

d)

8th Amendment

13.

Which of the following best explains how the U.S. Constitution best reflects the principle of Federalism?

a)

The tenth amendment allows for the states and the federal government to share governmental powers.

b)

The Federalist papers convinced the states and citizens to ratify the new Constitution.

c)

No soldiers can be quartered in any private residence without the consent of the owner.

d)

Congress cannot make a law that restricts the establishment or worship of a religion.

14.

Article 1

Legislative Branch-Congress makes the laws

Article 2

Executive Branch-President enforces the laws

Article 3

Legislative Branch-Supreme interprets the laws


Which of the following principles is represented by the information above?

a)

Checks and Balances

b)

Popular Sovereignty

c)

Limited Government

d)

Separation of Powers

15.

"The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the states ....and they shall have all the legislative Powers."

-United States Constitution


The above excerpt from the U.S. Constitution reflects the principle of --

a)

Despotism

b)

Federalism

c)

Republicanism

d)

Mercantilism

16.

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed or deny or disparage others retained by the people."


The above excerpt from the U.S. Constitution reflects the principle of --

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Limited Government

c)

Republicanism

d)

Popular Soveriegnty

17.

The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states...and they shall have all the legislative powers - US Constitution


The above excerpt from the US Constitution reflects the principle of -

a)

Despotism

b)

Federalism

c)

Republicanism

d)

Mercantilism

18.

"We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility..." - US Constitution


The excerpt above reflects the principle of -

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Federalism

c)

Popular Sovereignty

d)

Limited Government

19.

The above image best reflects the principle of -

a)

separation of powers

b)

federalism

c)

popular sovereignty

d)

checks and balance

20.

The above image reflects the constitutional principle of -

a)

Individual rights

b)

checks and balances

c)

federalism

d)

popular sovereignty

21.

The US Constitution was meant to be a living document that could be changed. Which of the following is one of the ways that and amendment to the Constitution can be proposed?

a)

by three-fourths vote of all state legislatures

b)

by two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress

c)

by two-thirds vote of all state legislatures

d)

by three-fourths vote of special state conventions

22.

Which of the following quotes best describes how a proposed amendment to the US Constitution is ratified?

a)

It will only take a two-thirds vote in Congress to get it approved

b)

The challenge is to get three-fourths of Congress to agree to the proposal

c)

two-thirds of the state conventions must agree to the amendment

d)

now we need three-fourths of state legislature to vote for passage

23.

Which of the following best explains why Congress has made twenty-seven amendments to the US Constitution?

a)

Each president was allowed to make at least one change to the document

b)

to reflect the changing needs and values in society and government

c)

they have to response to the rulings made by the Supreme Court

d)

Congress has to make changes based on the incoming tax revenue

24.

"The long awaited day has come at last, the great battle has been fought and won, my people have broken the bonds of captivity and have gained back the lives to which they were given by the great Creator."


The quote above describes the impact of the -

a)

15th amendment

b)

12th amendment

c)

14th amendment

d)

13th amendment

25.

The above image represents the image of which of the following?

a)

15th amendment

b)

Emancipation proclamation

c)

14th amendment

d)

Dred Scott decision

26.

During the late 18th century the Federalists and Anti-Federalists groups argued over the ratification of the US Constitution and one of the major issues they disagreed about was the -

a)

ablity to tax imported goods

b)

strength of the federal government

c)

suffrage rights of all men and women

d)

abolition of the system of slavery

27.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ll men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights..." - Declaration of Independence 1776


The excerpt from the Declaration of Independence refers to rights that -

a)

are guaranteed to all people

b)

are limited under the law

c)

can be earned through hard work

d)

"are guaranteed to property owners

28.

John Locke's philosophy of natural rights mentioned that all people have the right to life, liberty, and property. Thomas Jefferson used this example when he described the -

a)

first amendment rights

b)

women's rights

c)

rights of citizens

d)

unalienable rights

29.

Which of the quotes below is describing a right guaranteed in the sixth amendment?

a)

"I received something in the mail about jury duty on Monday."

b)

"I'm trying to join the protest today on the steps of the capitol building."

c)

"A police officer wanted to search my house today, but I told him to come back with a warrant."

d)

"I am definitely against capital punishment, death by lethal injection is cruel."

30.

Which amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and excessive surveillance?

a)

3rd amendment

b)

4th amendment

c)

5th amendment

d)

6th amendment

31.

George Mason and other Anti-Federalists argued in favor of the first ten amendments being added to the constitution in order to -

a)

grant more authority to the judicial branch and lower courts

b)

allow for factories to obtain cheap labor through immigration

c)

protect rights of the people from abuses by the government

d)

permit the new nation to trade freely with all other nations

32.

Which of the following amendments guarantees people other basic rights that are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution?

a)

ninth amendment

b)

first amendment

c)

tenth amendment

d)

third amendment