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SOL CE 2 - Individual Practice

Total questions: 42

Worksheet time: 37mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Which fundamental principle of constitutional government holds that the people are the source for all governmental power?
a)
consent of the governed
b)
limited government
c)
representative government
d)
rule of law
2.
In which key document that led to the U.S. Constitution will you find your unalienable rights?
a)
Articles of Confederation
b)
Declaration of Independence
c)
Virginia Declaration of Rights
d)
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
3.
Which key document that led to the U.S. Constitution served as the model for the Bill of Rights?
a)
Articles of Confederation
b)
charters of the Virginia Company of London
c)
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
d)
Virginia Declaration of Rights
4.
Which key document that led to the U.S. Constitution established the first attempt at government in the United States of America?
a)
Articles of Confederation
b)
charters of the Virginia Company of London
c)
Declaration of Independence
d)
Virginia Declaration of Rights
5.

Which fundamental political principle is exemplified in the quotation below?


"...The right of the people to feel secure (safe) in their houses against unreasonable search and seizures may not be violated ( by the government)..."

a)

consent of the government

b)

rule of law

c)

limited government

d)

representative government

6.

The mayor of Charlottesville was arrested for stealing money from local government is an example of -

a)

limited government

b)

rule of law

c)

representative government

d)

consent of the governed

7.

Which phrase from the U.S. Constitution best represents the fundamental political principle consent of the governed?

a)

"We the people"

b)

"Ensure domestic tranquility

c)

"Do ordain and establish"

d)

"Power herein granted"

8.

Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Taxes were too high

b)

The President had too much power

c)

The states were given no power

d)

The central government had no power to tax

9.

Which goal of the Constitution is fulfilled when the Governors of Virginia and West Virginia work together to solve common problems?

a)

promote the general welfare

b)

Form a more perfect union

c)

Establish justice

d)

Provide for the common defense

10.

What is the purpose of the Preamble of the US Constitution?

a)

It stated freedom of religious beliefs

b)

It revealed why the colonies wanted their independence

c)

It explained why the Constitution was written

d)

It lists the grievances against the King of England

11.

The US spends millions of dollars on the military each year. Which goal of the Preamble does this describe?

a)

Provide for the common defense

b)

Ensure domestic tranquility

c)

Promote the general welfare

d)

Secure the blessings of liberty

12.

The Preamble begins with "We the people," thereby establishing that the power of government comes from the -

a)

Constitution

b)

President

c)

Constitution

d)

Citizens

13.

How are the states involved in the amendment process?

a)

Ratify amendments

b)

Propose amendments

c)

Change amendments

d)

Declare amendments unconstitutional

14.

Which of the following applies only to amending the Virginia Constitution?

a)

The legislature proposes the amendment

b)

Virginia voters ratify the amendment

c)

A Constitutional convention ratifies the amendment

d)

A special committee proposes the amendment

15.
Which founding document gave the people in the colony of Virginia the same rights as Englishmen? 
a)
Virginia Declaration of Rights 
b)
Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom 
c)
Charters of the Virginia Company of London 
d)
Mayflower Compact 
16.

In which document would you find a long list of grievances against King George, and the phrase "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"?

a)

The Bill of Rights

b)

The Constitution

c)

The Federalist Papers

d)

The Declaration of Independence

17.

Which document established the separation of church and state (the government) and helped make part of the First Amendment ?

a)

Virginia Declaration of Rights

b)

Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom

c)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

d)

Mayflower Compact

18.

Which document said that everyone including the king was subject to the law, and gave Englishmen basic rights and freedoms?

a)

the Declaration of Independence

b)

the US Constitution

c)

the Magna Carta

d)

the Charters of the VA Company of London

19.

Fill in the chart:

US Constitution Amendment Process:

_____ proposes an amendment -> _____ approves it

a)

Congress, the states

b)

General Assembly, the states

c)

Congress, the voters

d)

General Assembly, the voters

20.

Public schools, hospitals, and fire departments are examples of what purpose of government?

a)

Ensure domestic tranquility

b)

Secure the blessings of liberty

c)

Promote the general welfare

d)

Form a more perfect union

21.

Which is true for the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Established a federal structure of government

b)

Major powers resided with individual states

c)

Affirmed individual worth and dignity of all people

d)

Stated grievances against the King of Great Britain

22.

Which basic principle allows each branch of government to restrict the power of the other branches so that no one branch can do everything?

a)

Federalism

b)

Consent of the governed

c)

Limited government

d)

Democracy

23.

A U.S. Citizen may not be held or arrested without evidence of a crime being committed? This statement best relates to what principle of the U.S. government?

a)

Rule of Law

b)

Judicial Review

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Limited Government

24.

Every November individuals from all over the country participate in local, state, and national elections. This process is an example of what principle in action?

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Due Process

c)

Direct Democracy

d)

Representative Democracy

25.

The U.S. Constitution begins with the words "We the People" establishing the idea that power comes from us not the government itself or those we choose to lead. What principle best explains this?

a)

Rule of Law

b)

Federalism

c)

Consent of the Governed

d)

Lobbying

26.

"New York Supervisor Melinda Wormuth was arrested today on allegations that she accepted cash payments for lobbying in support of MMA." This headline best provides an example of what principle of government?

a)

Reserved Powers

b)

Representative Government

c)

Democracy

d)

Rule of Law

27.

Democracy means rule by the...

a)

Chosen

b)

Appointed

c)

Government

d)

People

28.

In 1215 King John I signed the Magna Carta. This important document established what idea in government structure for the first time?

a)

Virginia would officially be a colony of England.

b)

The people would be served by only public officials.

c)

The king would be subject to the same set of laws as his subjects.

d)

Power in the government would be passed to the people.

29.

The Articles of Confederation failed as a form of government for the United States. Which issue was most responsible for this failure?

a)

The U.S. Congress did not have the authority to pass laws.

b)

The states received too little power to govern themselves.

c)

The people rejected the idea of independence from Great Britain.

d)

The national government was too weak to enforce its laws and did not have the power to collect taxes to fund military and other programs.

30.

"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." Which founding document did this quote originate from?

a)

U.S. Constitution

b)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

31.

The colonists who chose to travel to the New World were granted the same rights they had as English citizens through what document written by King James I in 1606? This led to the founding of Jamestown.

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

32.

The Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason in 1775, served what important purpose in U.S. history?

a)

Established a structure of government for the United States.

b)

Explained the need for independence due to the violation of rights by King John of England.

c)

Served as a model for the U.S. Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution.

d)

Established Virginia as a state within the United States and no longer just a colony.

33.

The U.S. Constitution accomplished all of the following things EXCEPT?

a)

Formed the first form of government for the United States.

b)

Provides the structure of the U.S. government today.

c)

Protected the freedoms of speech, press, petition, assembly, and religion.

d)

Established majority rule while protecting the rights of the minority.

34.

The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom had importance to the formation of the U.S. Constitution because it...

a)

Established Christianity as the national religion for the United States.

b)

Denied rights to Protestant reformers who wanted to break away from the Catholic church.

c)

Protected the choice of what faith to worship and separated the church from state.

d)

Gave religion a part in decision-making for the government of the United States.

35.

What do we call the introduction to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

Preamble

b)

Articles

c)

Paraphrase

d)

Statute

36.

The Preamble is important because it...

a)

Describes the structure of the U.S. government.

b)

Outlines the freedoms and protections individuals have.

c)

Establishes independence from Great Britain.

d)

Sets out the purposes of the government and reasons for writing the Constitution.

37.

Which purpose of the U.S. government stated in the Preamble most relates to the weaknesses of the Articles of the Confederation?

a)

Form a more perfect union.

b)

Establish justice.

c)

Promote the general welfare.

d)

Secure the blessings of liberty and prosperity.

38.

The federal court system best meets what purpose stated in the Preamble to the Constitution?

a)

Form a more perfect union.

b)

Establish justice.

c)

Promote the general welfare.

d)

Provide for common defense.

39.

The first three words of the Preamble establish that the power of the U.S. government comes from where?

a)

Laws

b)

President

c)

Congress

d)

The people

40.

There have been how many amendments made to the U.S. Constitution so far?

a)

10

b)

27

c)

50

d)

Hundreds

41.

Choose the two steps of the amendment process for the U.S. Constitution.

a)

Proposed by a 2/3 vote of both houses of the U.S. Congress.

b)

Ratified by a 3/4 vote of all state legislatures.

c)

Proposed by an action of the President of the United States.

d)

Ratified by a majority decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.

e)

Ratified by a vote of the registered voters of the United States.

42.

How is an amendment to the Virginia Constitution ratified?

a)

A vote of the registered voters of Virginia.

b)

It is signed into law by the Governor.

c)

A majority decision of the Virginia Supreme Court.

d)

A meeting of Virginia's mayors.