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Constitution

Total questions: 115

Worksheet time: 58mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
The Articles of Confederation was the first national ____________ in America.
a)
Letter to the king
b)
System of government
c)
Declaration of war
d)
Collection of banks
2.

The freedoms of speech and press are guaranteed by the ___ amendment

a)

1st

b)

2nd

c)

3rd

d)

4th

3.
Which government had power under the Articles of Confederation?
a)
states
b)
British
c)
national
d)
France
4.
What kind of national (central) government did the Articles of Confederation create?
a)
Weak
b)
Powerful
c)
Non-existent
d)
Confusing
5.

What are the Bill of Rights?

a)

The introduction to the Constitution & why it was written

b)

The main part / chapters of the Constitution

c)

Changes to the Constitution

d)

The first 10 amendments that guarantee personal rights

6.
Congress could tax the states and citizens under the Articles of Confederation - true or false?
a)
True
b)
False
7.
What title did the Articles of Confederation give the nation's chief executive leader?
a)
President
b)
Prime Minister
c)
King
d)
It didn't have a chief executive
8.
To amend the Articles of Confederation, how many states had to agree?
a)
7.0
b)
10.0
c)
All 13
d)
They couldn't amend it
9.
Which of these was NOT a problem with the Articles of Confederation?
a)
Congress could not collect taxes
b)
Congress could not force states to follow laws
c)
No court system created
d)
President had too much power
10.
What document would later be created to replace the Articles of Confederation?
a)
The Declaration of Independence
b)
The Gettysburg Address
c)
The Constitution
d)
The Bill of Rights
11.

Why were farmers in Massachusetts so upset in 1786 and 1787?

a)

The US was getting ready to go to war with France and they'd have to be soldiers again

b)

The national government kept raising taxes on farmers to pay off the war debt

c)

They were losing their farms because they could not afford the taxes on them

d)

No one would buy their crops because they were over priced

12.

Who was Daniel Shays?

a)

A former American Revolution soldier and a farmer who was worried about losing his farm, so he started a rebellion

b)

A tax collector from Massachusetts who had to go and collect money from the poor

c)

He was the Governor of Massachusetts at the time of a huge rebellion by farmers

13.

What did Shays' rebellion reveal about the Articles of Confederation?

a)

That it was too similar to the British system

b)

That it was too weak to succeed

c)

That it was strong and resilient

d)

That it was a successful model of government

14.

In the fall of 1787, because of Shays' Rebellion, what did government leaders do?

a)

They decided Massachusetts couldn't be a state anymore

b)

They allowed all the states to become independent countries

c)

They met in Philadelphia to fix the Articles of Confederation

d)

They switched to a French model of government

15.

What did Shays' Rebellion help Americans realize they needed?

a)

A strong federal government

b)

A stronger militia

c)

A common currency

d)

The ability to sign peace treaties

16.

The most important thing to remember about Shaye's Rebellion is........

a)

That it showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for revision of the current government.

b)

It showed the weaknesses of the Constitution and how the Articles of Confederation would be more effective.

c)

One man can not rule them all and that the Articles of Confederation would be a more representative government.

17.

Cruel and unusual punishment cannot be inflicted according to the ___ amendment

a)

5th

b)

6th

c)

7th

d)

8th

18.

What did the Northwest Ordinance say about slavery?

a)

Slavery was outlawed

b)

Slavery was never mentioned

c)

Only white males could own slaves

d)

Slaves were guaranteed the right to vote

19.

What is an ordinance?

a)

The leader of a monarchy

b)

A rule, law or decree

c)

A democratic vote

d)

Another word for territory

20.

Under what governing document was the Northwest Ordinance created?

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

The Articles of Confederation

c)

The Ohio State Constitution

d)

The United States Constitution

21.

What was the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance?

a)

to control Indians in the Northwest Territory

b)

to set a path to statehood and establish rights for settlers

c)

to convince more colonists to fight for independence

d)

to give states a process for collecting taxes

22.

A state like Georgia would get the same number of votes in the legislature as Pennsylvania, regardless of either state's population in the

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

23.

The US government is divided into:

a)

one branch

b)

two branches

c)

three branches

d)

four branches

24.

A state like New York with a large population would get more votes in the legislature under which plan?

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

25.

A plan that suggested multiple weak executives

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

26.

A plan that suggested one chief executive that could run the federal government

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

27.

In our Congress today, the fact that there are two Senators from each state comes from the...

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

28.

In our Congress today, representation in the House of Representatives is based on ideas in

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

29.

Uni-cameral legislature

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

30.

Which group of people supported the Constitution the way it was originally written?

a)

Founding Fathers

b)

Federalists

c)

The King

d)

Antifederalists

31.

Bicameral legislature

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

32.

The plan with proportional representation in the legislature

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

33.

The plan that created a strong judicial branch

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

34.

What is popular sovereignty?

a)

The federal and state governments share power

b)

The government's power comes from the permission of the people

c)

The government is divided into 3 branches

d)

Each branch of government has jobs to make sure other branches don't become too powerful

35.

The plan that gave all states an equal number of votes in the legislature.

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

36.

The plan that gave states with larger populations more people in the legislature.

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

37.

The plan that created a government that would have been more similar to the Articles of Confederation

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

38.

The plan large states favored

a)

Virginia Plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

39.

The plan small states favored

a)

Virginia plan

b)

New Jersey Plan

40.
The Great Compromise was a compromise between--
a)
Mass. Plan and New Jersey Plan
b)
Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
c)
Virginia Plan and New York Plan
d)
Virginia Plan and Delaware Plan
41.

To accuse an official of the executive or judicial branches of some wrong doing or misuse of power is:

a)

to appeal

b)

to execute

c)

to impeach

d)

to judge

42.
What kind of congress did the Great Compromise establish?
a)
1 House that controls everything
b)
2 Houses that have no power
c)
2 Houses that both vote on laws
d)
2 Houses that take turns being in charge
43.

The 5th Amendment protects us from double jeopardy, which is:

a)

being tried twice for the same crime

b)

being asked to pay two kinds of taxes

c)

being jailed twice for the same crime

d)

being tried for two crimes at the same time

44.
The 3/5 Compromise settled the argument of--
a)
Representation in the Senate
b)
How slaves should be counted for representation
c)
How states should be represented
d)
Borders of states
45.

A __________ is a form of government in which people elect representatives.

a)

legislature

b)

militia

c)

republic

46.
Congress is made up of two houses, which one is based on population?
a)
House of Burgesses
b)
Senate
c)
House of Representatives
d)
Continental Congress
47.
Congress is made up of two houses, which one has equal representation of 2 representatives per state?
a)
House of Burgesses
b)
Senate
c)
House of Representatives
d)
Continental Congress
48.
Before the 3/5 Compromise, Southern states wanted slaves to count for--
a)
Taxes
b)
Population
49.
The Great Compromise and the 3/5 Compromise were both resolved by the Delegates of the--
a)
House of Burgesses
b)
Continental Congress
c)
Parliament
d)
Constitutional Convention
50.
How many slaves were counted for representation and taxation?
a)
Every slave was counted.
b)
Out of 4 slaves, only 3 were counted.
c)
Out of 100 slaves, only 3 were counted.
d)
Out of 5 slaves, only 3 were counted.
51.

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay were....

a)

Federalists

b)

Anti-Federalists

52.

What is federalism?

a)

The federal and state governments share power

b)

The government's power comes from the permission of the people

c)

The government is divided into 3 branches

d)

Each branch of government has jobs to make sure other branches don't become too powerful

53.

Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were...

a)

Federalist

b)

Anti-Federalists

54.

An Anti Federalist believed...

a)

There should be a weak central government

b)

There should be a powerful central government

55.

Americans have unnamed rights guaranteed by the:

a)

2nd Amendment

b)

6th Amendment

c)

7th Amendment

d)

9th Amendment

56.

Why did the Anti-Federalists demand a Bill of Rights?

a)

they wanted to keep the government small

b)

they wanted a provision for Taco Tuesday

c)

they wanted to keep the government big and strong

d)

they wanted to make sure individual states rights were protected

57.

The right to bear arms is guaranteed by the ___ amendement

a)

1st

b)

2nd

c)

3rd

d)

4th

58.

They thought the Constitution gave the national government too much power.

a)

federalist

b)

antifederalist

59.

What is separation of powers?

a)

The federal and state governments share power

b)

The government's power comes from the permission of the people

c)

The government is divided into 3 branches

d)

Each branch of government has jobs to make sure other branches don't become too powerful

60.

The Federalist Papers were a series of newspaper articles published in 1787 to 1788 to win support for the

a)

construction of an interstate canal system

b)

ratification of the United States Constitution

c)

right of the colonies to rebel against Great Britain

d)

right of a state to succeed from the Union

61.

Which Article of the Constitution sets up the Legislative Branch and is the longest part of the entire document?

a)

Article 1

b)

Article 2

c)

Article 3

d)

Article 4

62.

Who would say: The President created by the Constitution is really just a king.

a)

federalist

b)

antifederalist

63.

What was the antifederalists' greatest concern about ratifying the United States Constitution?

a)

lack of a bill of rights

b)

lack of a federal court system

c)

lack of legislative veto power

d)

lack of a strong military

64.

Who would say: I believe that laws should come from a strong national government.

a)

Federalist

b)

Anti-Federalist

65.

The document signed by the British King in 1215 that limited the King's power was the -

a)

Magna Carta

b)

English Bill of Rights

c)

Mayflower Compact

d)

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

66.

Citizens in Britain were guaranteed certain freedoms that were listed in the -

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Mayflower Compact

c)

English Bill of Rights

d)

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

67.

What British philosopher believed that the government existed to protect the natural rights people had, such as life, liberty and property.

a)

John Locke

b)

Benjamin Franklin

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

Montesquieu

68.

Who was a French philosopher that believed the power of the government should be divided into three parts so that the power was limited

a)

John Locke

b)

George Washington

c)

Montesquieu

d)

Samuel Adams

69.

The agreement over the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan was settled when both sides agreed to the ___________, which created a bi-cameral congress.

a)

3/5th Compromise

b)

Great Compromise

c)

Anti-Federalist

d)

Declaration of Independence

70.

____ are rights that you are born with and cannot be taken away without due process.

a)

1776

b)

grievance

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

unalienable rights

71.

The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was

a)

1776

b)

grievance

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

unalienable rights

72.

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, ____

a)

1776

b)

1607

c)

2022

d)

1639

73.

Article 6

a)

makes the Constitution the supreme law of the land

b)

describes how the Constitution can be ratified

c)

describes how the Constitution can be amended

d)

tells how the states should treat one another

74.

A bill of rights is unnecessary because the powers of government are limited by the Constitution.

a)

Federalists

b)

Anti-Federalists

75.

The new nation would be so large and diverse that people would not be able to agree on their common welfare.

a)

Federalist

b)

Anti-Federalist

76.

What is checks & balances?

a)

The federal and state governments share power

b)

The government's power comes from the permission of the people

c)

The government is divided into 3 branches

d)

Each branch of government has jobs to make sure other branches don't become too powerful

77.

Which group of people did not support the Constitution the way it was originally written?

a)

Founding Fathers

b)

Federalists

c)

The King

d)

Antifederalists

78.

What is the Preamble to the Constitution?

a)

The introduction to the Constitution & why it was written

b)

The main part / chapters of the Constitution

c)

Changes to the Constitution

d)

The first 10 amendments that guarantee personal rights

79.

What are the Articles of the Constitution?

a)

The introduction to the Constitution & why it was written

b)

The main part / chapters of the Constitution

c)

Changes to the Constitution

d)

The first 10 amendments that guarantee personal rights

80.

What do you call a change or an addition to the Consitution?

a)

Preamble

b)

Amendment

c)

Edit

d)

Articles

81.

What does the Judicial Branch do?

a)

Creates laws

b)

Makes sure laws are followed

c)

Determines what laws mean

d)

Edits the laws

82.

What does the Executive Branch do?

a)

Creates laws

b)

Makes sure laws are followed

c)

Determines what laws mean

d)

Edits the laws

83.

What does the Legislative Branch do?

a)

Creates laws

b)

Makes sure laws are followed

c)

Determines what laws mean

d)

Edits the laws

84.

Who leads the Executive Branch?

a)

The Senate & the House of Representatives

b)

The President, Vice President & the Cabinet

c)

The Supreme Court justices

d)

The governors of all the states

85.

Who leads the Judicial Branch?

a)

The Senate & the House of Representatives

b)

The President, Vice President & the Cabinet

c)

The Supreme Court justices

d)

The governors of all the states

86.

Who leads the Legislative Branch?

a)

The Senate & the House of Representatives

b)

The President, Vice President & the Cabinet

c)

The Supreme Court justices

d)

The governors of all the states

87.

judicial review

a)

the power of the Supreme Court to decide whether laws made by the other branches are unconstitutional

b)

the power of the Supreme Court to overturn Constitutional amendments

c)

the power of the Supreme Court to remove an elected official from office

d)

the power of the Supreme Court to overturn laws made by state governments

88.

the idea that the government’s authority comes from the people

a)

popular sovereignty

b)

majority rule

c)

federalism

d)

populism

89.

elastic clause

a)

states that the Supreme Court can be flexible when interpreting the Constitution

b)

states that Congress can be flexible when considering laws it makes limiting states

c)

states that Congress can make laws limiting the powers of other branches

d)

states that Congress can make any law necessary for carrying out its duties

90.

President of the Constitutional Convention

a)

James Madison

b)

Ben Franklin

c)

George Washington

d)

Thomas Jefferson

91.

James Madison

a)

President of the Constitutional Convention

b)

"Father of the Constitution"

c)

founder of the Federalist Party

d)

leader of the resistance to the new Constitution

92.

electoral college

a)

a university established by the constitutional convention to educate political candidates

b)

group of electors, chosen by state governors, that votes for president

c)

name given to delegates to the Constitutional Convention

d)

group of electors, chosen by each state based on population, that votes for president

93.

ratify

a)

to formally approve a plan or an agreement

b)

to edit a legal document based on the Constitution

c)

to protest the adoption of a new

Constitution

d)

to come to agreement with a person in opposition

94.

a country governed by elected representatives

a)

theocracy

b)

nation-state

c)

commonwealth

d)

republic

95.

The Constitution was written in...

a)

1776

b)

1786

c)

1787

d)

1789

96.

The 1st plan of government

a)

Articles of Confederation

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Treaty of Paris

d)

Mount Vernon

97.

The Constitution was written at a convention held in...

a)

Annapolis

b)

Boston

c)

Philadelphia

d)

New York

98.

According to the Constitution, a U.S. representative must be at least:

a)

25 yrs old and a citizen for 7 years

b)

30 yrs old and a citizen for 9 years

c)

35 yrs old and a natural born citizen

d)

no requirements

99.

According to the Constitution, a U.S. senator must be at least:

a)

25 yrs old and a citizen for 7 years

b)

30 yrs old and a citizen for 9 years

c)

35 yrs old and a natural born citizen

d)

no requirements

100.

According to the Constitution, a U.S. president must be at least:

a)

25 yrs old and a citizen for 7 years

b)

30 yrs old and a citizen for 9 years

c)

35 yrs old and a natural born citizen

d)

no requirements

101.

A US senator is elected to a term of ___ years

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

life

102.

A US representative is elected to a term of ___ years

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

life

103.

The President is elected to a term of ___ years

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

life

104.

A federal judge is elected to a term of ___ years

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

life

105.

The presiding officer in the House of Representatives is

a)

the President

b)

the Vice President

c)

the Speaker

d)

the Chief Justice

106.

The president of the Senate is

a)

the President

b)

the Vice President

c)

the Speaker

107.

The responsibility for impeaching a government official lies with:

a)

Senate

b)

Supreme Court

c)

House of Representatives

d)

President

108.

The responsibility for trying an impeached official lies with the

a)

Senate

b)

Supreme Court

c)

House of Representatives

d)

President

109.

Congress can override the President's veto by

a)

waiting 10 days

b)

2/3's vote in both houses of Congress

c)

appealing to the Supreme Court

d)

a majority vote in both houses of Congress

110.

The President shows disapproval of a bill by ____ it.

a)

vetoing

b)

signing

c)

ratifying

d)

amending

111.

The President is elected by:

a)

state legislatures

b)

Electoral College

c)

people

d)

Senate

112.

The right of the Supreme Court to declare a law of Congress unconstitutional is called the power of:

a)

original jurisdiction

b)

appellate jurisdiction

c)

judicial review

d)

judicial power

113.

The 4th amendment of the Constitution states that property cannot be searched without:

a)

a license

b)

a lawyer present

c)

a police officer present

d)

a search warrant

114.

Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the:

a)

1st Amendment

b)

2nd Amendment

c)

3rd Amendment

d)

9th Amendment

115.

__________ is defined as the right to vote.

a)

veto

b)

suffrage

c)

indictment

d)

pardon