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U.S. Constitution Pre/Post

Total questions: 100

Worksheet time: 50mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The criticism at the time of ratification was that the Constitution did not guarantee the protection of individual rights. How was this solved?

a)

Adding the process of admendments

b)

Weakening the powers of the national government

c)

Adding a Bill of Rights

d)

Requiring the states to adopt a bill of rights for their own constitutions.

2.

In what city did the Constitutional Convention meet?

a)

Philadelphia

b)

Annapolis

c)

New York

d)

Boston

3.

The war in which the colonies won their independence was called

a)

French and Indian War

b)

Revolutionary War

c)

Civil War

d)

Boston Tea Party

4.

What document did the Constitution replace?

a)

Articles of Confederation

b)

Magna Carta

c)

Mayflower Compact

d)

Bill of Rights

5.

Which compromise is referred to as the Great Compromise?

a)

2 house legislature established

b)

Counted slaves as 3/5 of a person

c)

Established the 3 branches of government

d)

Established a President

6.

The Constitution needed the approval of how many states before it could go into effect?

a)

7

b)

5

c)

9

d)

13

7.

Power in the U.S. government is divided among

a)

2 branches

b)

3 branches

c)

2 houses

d)

3 houses

8.

How is representation in the House of Representatives determined?

a)

By the population of the state

b)

Each state has the same amount

c)

Governor of the state uses a special formula

d)

Each state's legislature detemines the number

9.

Which government body has the right to draw up impeachment charges?

a)

Senate

b)

Supreme Court

c)

House of Representatives

d)

Electoral College

10.

What is the officer called who presides over the House of Representatives?

a)

President

b)

President pro tempore

c)

Speaker

d)

Chairman

11.

The House of Representatives and the Senate together are called?

a)

Supreme Court

b)

Congress

c)

Cabinet

d)

Electoral College

12.

How long is the term of office for a Senator?

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

Life

13.

How long is the term of office for a U.S. Representative?

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

Life

14.

What is the total number of U.S. Senators?

a)

435

b)

453

c)

100

d)

50

15.

Who is the presiding officer of the Senate?

a)

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

b)

The Speaker of the House

c)

The President

d)

The Vice President

16.

The section of the Constitution that give Congress the power to pass all laws that are "necessary and proper" to fulfill its duties is called the

a)

Elastic Clause

b)

Preamble

c)

Bill of Rights

d)

Judicial Review

17.

What are unlisted powers but deemed necessary called?

a)

implied powers

b)

reserved powers

c)

enumerated powers

d)

federalism

18.

Who is in line to take over the Presidency after the Vice President?

a)

president pro tempore

b)

Speaker of the House

c)

Attorney General

d)

Secretary of State

19.

How long is the term of a Supreme Court justice?

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

life

20.

The title of the President when associated with the military is

a)

Chief Executive

b)

Commander in Chief

c)

Chief of Military

d)

Chief Legislator

21.

Who presides over the impeachment trial of a President?

a)

Vice President

b)

Chief Justice

c)

Speaker of the House

d)

Attorney General

22.

What is the minimum age to be elected President?

a)

25 years old

b)

30 years old

c)

35 years old

d)

40 years old

23.

When does the President take the oath of office?

a)

January 3

b)

January 20

c)

1st Tuesday in November

d)

1st Monday in January

24.

Which one of the following is not a type of federal court?

a)

Supreme Court

b)

Court of Appeals

c)

District Court

d)

Divorce Court

25.

The President of the U.S. does not have the power to

a)

declare war

b)

negotiate treaties

c)

appoint Cabinet members

d)

veto bills

26.

How long is the term if the President and Vice President?

a)

2 years

b)

4 years

c)

6 years

d)

life

27.

If a person is found guilty at an impeachment trial what happens or may happen?

a)

removed from office

b)

may be brought before other courts

c)

banned from holding public offices

d)

all answers are possibilities

28.

What is the highest court in the United States?

a)

U.S. District Court

b)

Appellate Court

c)

People's Court

d)

Supreme Court

29.

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as

a)

the Bill of Rights

b)

the Preamble

c)

the Articles

d)

Freedom Rights

30.

Currently, how many amendments are part of the U.S. Constitution?

a)

10

b)

15

c)

27

d)

50

31.

Which one of the following is NOT protected by the 1st amendment?

a)

freedom of religion

b)

freedom of speech

c)

freedom of the press

d)

freedom for the pursuit of happiness

32.

Amendment 5 guarantees that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime if found not guilty the first time. This is called. . .

a)

extradition

b)

double jeopardy

c)

treason

d)

slander

33.

What does quartering of troops mean?

a)

Putting forts or arsenals in only a few states

b)

Placing soldiers on public lands in the states

c)

Placing soldier in private homes

d)

Housing soldiers in areas where citizens may meet

34.

What must police have in order to forcibly search your house or personal belongings?

a)

subpoena

b)

search warrant

c)

writ of habeas corpus

d)

indictment

35.

How can you be forced to appear as a witness in court?

a)

by a subpoena

b)

by a warrant

c)

by extradition

d)

by an indictment

36.

What happens if you cannot afford a lawyer?

a)

too bad

b)

you will have to represent yourself in court

c)

one will be provided for you

d)

you must make payments to the court

37.

What country did we fight against for our independence?

a)

Great Britain

b)

France

c)

Spain

d)

Canada

38.

Where is one of the places fighting first took place between the Americans and the British?

a)

Washington, D.C.

b)

Philadelphia

c)

Annapolis

d)

Lexington

39.

What was the title of the pamphlet that influenced many people in favor of complete independence?

a)

Continental Press

b)

Independence Nonsense

c)

Common Sense

d)

Revolutionary Times

40.

What was the 3/5 Compromise?

a)

3 of every 5 "other persons" would be counted for taxation and representation

b)

3/5 of the states were needed to ratify the Constitution

c)

3/5 of the population determines the number of representatives

d)

To be President you need 3/5 of the Electoral College votes

41.

Congress is divided into

a)

2 branches

b)

3 branches

c)

2 houses

d)

3 houses

42.

Which of the following is not one of the branches of government

a)

Judicial

b)

Executive

c)

Legislative

d)

Military

43.

Which one of the following is NOT an unalienable right mentioned in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Life

b)

Pursuit of Happiness

c)

Education

d)

Liberty

44.

Supporters of the Constitution were known as

a)

Patriots

b)

Federalists

c)

Rebels

d)

Minutemen

45.

Which of the following is not included in the Preamble?

a)

to form a more perfect union

b)

to promote the pursuit of happiness

c)

to provide for the common defense

d)

to establish justice

46.

The Preamble begins with

a)

When in the course of human events. . .

b)

We the citizens need to form . . .

c)

As the people of the United States . . .

d)

We the people of the United States . . .

47.

What was the name of the 2 plans proposed to help establish the Congress?

a)

New York & Rhode Island Plan

b)

New Jersey & Virginia Plan

c)

Georgia & Delaware Plan

d)

Massachusetts & Carolina Plan

48.

How often is a census taken?

a)

Every 5 years

b)

Every 2 years

c)

Every 10 years

d)

Every presidential election

49.

During an election, what fraction of Senators can be re-elected or newly elected?

a)

Two-thirds

b)

One-third

c)

Three-fifths

d)

Majority

50.

How is the number of Senator's in the Senate determined?

a)

By each state's population

b)

Each state's legislature determines the number

c)

Each state is allowed 2

d)

There is a special formula to determine each state's number of Senators

51.

Which government body acts as the jury during an impeachment trial?

a)

Senate

b)

Supreme Court

c)

House of Representatives

d)

Electoral College

52.

What is it called when the President refuses to sign a bill into law?

a)

Right of Refusal

b)

Veto

c)

Presidential Review

d)

Legislative Bargaining

53.

What is the officer called who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is not in attendance?

a)

President

b)

Speaker

c)

President pro tempore

d)

Chairman

54.

What is the total number of members in the House of Representatives?

a)

435

b)

453

c)

100

d)

50

55.

If the Electoral College cannot determine a Presidential winner, whom does the decision go to?

a)

Supreme Court

b)

House of Representatives

c)

Congress

d)

Senate

56.

What is the name given to the process by which court interpret the meaning of the Constitution?

a)

Constitutional Review

b)

Writ of certiorari

c)

Judicial Review

d)

Checks and Balances

57.

Who actually elects the President?

a)

the Electoral College

b)

the majority of the citizens who vote

c)

the legislatures of the various states

d)

the majority of the House and Senate

58.

Who presides over the Supreme Court?

a)

Chief Justice

b)

the President

c)

Attorney General

d)

Judge Judy

59.

What powers are set aside for the states and people called?

a)

implied powers

b)

reserved powers

c)

enumerated powers

d)

federalism

60.

What vote is necessary to find an official guilty at an impeachment trial?

a)

majority

b)

unanimous

c)

one-third

d)

two-thirds

61.

The main job of the President is

a)

to direct the actions of congressional committees

b)

to interpret the Constitution

c)

to make laws

d)

to enforce the laws

62.

The supreme law of the land is

a)

a state's constitution

b)

a law passed by Congress

c)

a U.S. treaty

d)

the U.S. Constitution

63.

Of the following, which one contains offices that are ALL parts of the executive branch

a)

President, Vice President, Chief Justice

b)

President, Attorney General, Speaker of the House

c)

President pro tempore, Speaker of the House, Secretary of State

d)

President, Vice President, Cabinet

64.

The Electoral College was established because

a)

the founding fathers wanted to keep the common people from making a mistake.

b)

the founding fathers wanted a longer election period

c)

the founding fathers wanted to confuse the American people.q

d)

the founding fathers wanted to make sure their candidate was elected.

65.

How is the number of electors for each state determined?

a)

Same as the number of senators a state has

b)

Same as the number of Representatives a state has

c)

Same as the number of people in a state

d)

Same as the number of Senators plus Representatives a state has

66.

Number of terms a president may serve

a)

2

b)

3

c)

4

d)

5

67.

What is bail?

a)

Money put up to get out of jail and guarantee the accused will show up for trial

b)

Any crime in which life in prison or the death penalty is possible

c)

a very serious crime

d)

A jail term

68.

What does suffrage mean?

a)

women's rights

b)

the right to vote

c)

a payment required to vote

d)

the right of the government to take your land

69.

What does lame duck mean?

a)

a newly elected official

b)

an officeholder who has been re-elected

c)

an injured bird

d)

an officeholder who has failed to be re-elected but whose term is not yet over.

70.

What is a poll tax?

a)

money paid to cross certain bridges

b)

taxes paid by Polish people

c)

taxes paid to drive a car

d)

a tax paid to be able to vote

71.

How can changes to the Constitution be made?

a)

by adding laws

b)

by adding amendments

c)

by adding Articles

d)

the Constitution cannot be changed

72.

Who presents the national budget?

a)

Congress

b)

Speaker of the House

c)

President

d)

both President and Congress

73.

Who presided over the Constitutional Convention's meetings?

a)

James Madison

b)

George Washington

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

Ben Franklin

74.

Who is considered to be the Father of the Constitution?

a)

George Washington

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

James Madison

d)

Alexander Hamilton

75.

Who is credited as being the author of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Thomas Paine

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

James Madison

d)

Nicholas Cage

76.

Which branch interprets the laws?

a)

Judicial

b)

Legislative

c)

Military

d)

Executive

77.

Which branch makes the laws?

a)

Judicial

b)

Legislative

c)

Military

d)

Executive

78.

Which branch carries out or enforces the laws?

a)

Judicial

b)

Legislative

c)

Military

d)

Executive

79.

When does the President of the Senate get to vote?

a)

Always

b)

Never

c)

In case of a tie

d)

When there isn't enoug people

80.

Which one of the following is not a power of Congress?

a)

to declare war

b)

to tax

c)

to establish post offices

d)

to set up school systems

81.

What happens if a Senate seat becomes vacant during a term?

a)

nothing, the seat remains vacant

b)

the governor of the state calls for a special election

c)

the governor of the state make a temporary appointment until next election

d)

the president appoints someone to fill the seat

82.

What vote is necessary for Congress to override a President's veto?

a)

majority vote

b)

one-third

c)

two-thirds

d)

unanimous

83.

Once a bill has been given to the President, how long does he/she have to consider it?

a)

10 calendar days

b)

10 working days

c)

one month

d)

unlimited time

84.

A special interest group that meet with and seek to influence lawmakers are known as

a)

Class

b)

Lobby

c)

Posse

d)

Entourage

85.

Maximum number of years a person may serve as President?

a)

4

b)

8

c)

10

d)

life

86.

Number of Supreme Court justices

a)

3

b)

5

c)

9

d)

11

87.

Cabinet position that handles foreign affairs

a)

Secretary of State

b)

Secretary of Homeland Defense

c)

Secretary of Defense

d)

Secretary of Human Services

88.

Cabinet position that handles war plans

a)

Attorney General

b)

Secretary of Homeland Defense

c)

Secretary of Defense

d)

Secretary of the Military

89.

Cabinet position that is over the Secret Service

a)

Attorney General

b)

Secretary of Human Services

c)

Secretary of Labor

d)

Secretary of Homeland Security

90.

Cabinet position that is the Chief Legal Officer

a)

Attorney General

b)

Secretary of Human Services

c)

Secretary of Defense

d)

Secretary of Homeland Security

91.

The Bill of Rights were written as part of the original Constitution

a)

True

b)

False

92.

People who live in the District of Columbia do not get to vote in national elections since they are not a state.

a)

True

b)

False

93.

Before the 12th amendment, whoever received the most votes was President and whoever received the second highest vote total was Vice President.

a)

True

b)

False

94.

Which amendment abolished slavery?

a)

13

b)

14

c)

15

d)

19

95.

Which amendment established an income tax?

a)

14

b)

15

c)

16

d)

26

96.

Which amendment says there is freedom of religion, press, assembly and petition?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

5

97.

Which amendment granted women the right to vote?

a)

15

b)

18

c)

19

d)

21

98.

Which amendment was the prohibition of alcoholic beverages?

a)

16

b)

18

c)

19

d)

21

99.

Which amendment gives us the right to bear arms

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

5

100.

Which amendment repealed prohibition?

a)

13

b)

16

c)

18

d)

21