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U.S. Constitution Quiz 2025

Total questions: 46

Worksheet time: 47mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the U.S Constitution?

a)

A set of rules that explains the Northwest Ordinance

b)

A document that says how the U.S government operates

c)

A document that says all men are created equal

d)

Is a document that says how mayors and governors should act.

2.
The introduction to the U.S. Constitution, which lists the goals of the document, is better known as the _________________.
a)
Preface
b)
Prologue
c)
Preamble
d)
Bill of Rights
3.

In which year did delegates meet in Philadelphia to replace the Articles of Confederation and draft the U.S. Constitution?

a)
1776
b)
1787
c)
1802
d)
1865
4.

Which Virginian, who would later become our 4th President, was the primary author of the U.S. Constitution?

a)
George Washington
b)
Thomas Jefferson
c)
James Madison
d)
James Monroe
5.

Which house of the bicameral Congress, is based on equal representation ( hint: 2 per state ) and was supported by the New Jersey Plan in the "Great Compromise"?

a)
House of Representatives
b)
Senate
c)
Judicial Branch
d)
Executive Branch
6.

Government system where the Federal Government and the State Governments share the power to govern its citizens ( hint: 10th Amendment ).

a)

Federalism

b)

Free Enterprise

c)

Bicameral

d)

Republicanism

7.
Anti-Federalists wanted a Bill of Rights added to the constitution to help protect __________________.
a)
Individual Rights
b)
State Rights
c)
Slavery
d)
The Articles of Confederation
8.

The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution are referred to as...

a)

The Bill of Rights

b)

The Articles of the Constitution

c)

The Separation of Powers

d)

Checks and Balances

9.

The power to write and pass laws is reserved in which of the 3 Branches?

a)

Legislative

b)

Judicial

c)

Executive

10.

The power to carry out and enforce laws, and creates the office of the President of the United States is established in which of the 3 branches?

a)

Bicameral

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

d)

Executive

11.

The power to interpret the Constitution and settle legal disputes is established in which of the 3 Branches?

a)

Congress

b)

Executive

c)

Legislative

d)

Judicial

12.

This term refers to the two houses of Congress: The House of Representatives and The Senate.

a)

Amendment

b)

Bicameral

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Popular Sovereignty

13.

This term refers to the system to ensure one branch doesn't get too much power.

a)

Amendment

b)

Bicameral

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Popular Sovereignty

14.

The Senate and the House of Representatives (who make the laws) are all members of?

a)

The Preamble

b)

Congress

c)

The Executive Branch

d)

Supreme Court

15.

The first form of government in the U.S. , which gave more power to the states and had a weak central government was called the ..... ?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

Articles of Confederation

c)

Northwest Ordinance

d)

The U.S. Constitution

16.

Official changes to the Constitution are called:

a)

Articles

b)

Bills

c)

Legislature

d)

Amendments

17.

What was the purpose of the authors who wrote the Federalists Papers?

a)

To ratify (approve) the Articles of Confederation

b)

For the 3/5ths Compromise

c)

To decrease slavery in the south

d)

To (ratify) approve the U.S. Constitution

18.

Who has the power to declare war?

a)

The President

b)

Congress

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

The Joint Chief of Staff

19.

This group of policymakers felt that the states should have more power than the federal government?

a)

Thomas Paine

b)

Federalists

c)

Anti-Federalists

d)

House of Representatives

20.

Based on the picture, what agreement was created to determine how states would be represented in Congress?

a)

3/5 Compromise

b)

The Northwest Ordinance

c)

the Great Compromise

d)

the Treaty of Paris 1783

21.

Which of the following is a role that the President fills?

a)

Commander-in-Chief of the military

b)

Leader of the Senate

c)

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

d)

Speaker of the House

22.

Why did the Anti-Federalists demand that a bill of rights be added to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

To strengthen the authority of the federal government.

b)

To improve the organization of the judiciary.

c)

To give each state an equal amount of power.

d)

To protect individual freedoms from the federal government.

23.

What is required to add a new amendment to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

Executive Branch approval

b)

2/3 vote of both houses of Congress

c)

ratified by the legislatures or conventions in 3/4's of the states

d)

2/3's Supreme Court approval

e)

passing the Bill of Rights

24.

With which of the following arguments would the authors of The Federalist Papers most likely have agreed?

a)

A bill of rights should be included in the Constitution before it is ratified.

b)

Having a stronger central government will make the country more stable and prosperous.

c)

The Three-Fifths Compromise will result in fair and equal representation.

d)

Universal suffrage should be constitutionally guaranteed.

25.

Held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, what was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

a)

To rewrite the Declaration of Independence

b)

To create a stronger central government

c)

To write the Treaty of Paris

d)

To create a government to give more power to the states

26.

Which part of the bicameral Legislative Branch has representation based on a states population?

a)
Senate
b)
Judicial
c)
House of 
Representatives
d)
House of Congress
27.
How were slaves counted as part of the population when deciding the number of representatives for a state?
a)
All slaves were counted.
b)
Three-fifths of the number of slaves was added to the population.
c)
Slaves were not counted at all.
d)
Slaves were allowed to vote and be elected to represent each state.
28.
Anti-Federalists preferred a strong ____________ government.
a)

Federal

b)
State
c)
Central
d)
Republican
29.

What constitutional principle is being represented in the picture?

a)
Federalism
b)
Separation of Powers
c)
Checks and Balances
d)
Limited Government
30.

The principle outlined in this diagram is the ​ (a)   and its purpose is to ​ (b)  

Choose from the below words
system of checks & balances
make sure no one branch would be too powerful.
federalism
separation of powers
to divide the state and federal governments
31.

One of the few positive accomplishments of the national government under the Articles of Confederation (which gave the nation a method for new territories to become states), was the ?

a)

The signing of the Declaration of Independence

b)

The Proclamation of 1763

c)

The Northwest Ordinance

d)

The ratification of the Treaty of Paris 1763

32.

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union..."

Which democratic principle of the U.S system of government is reflected in this excerpt from the Preamble?

a)

federalism

b)

popular sovereignty

c)

separation of powers

d)

individual rights

33.

Which of the following was a result of the Great Compromise?

a)

A supreme court

b)

An electoral college

c)

A bicameral legislature

d)

An amendment process

34.

Match the following

a)

The authority of a state is created and sustained by consent of the people.

1.

Popular Sovereignty

b)

Government power is restricted by law, usually in a written constitution.

2.

Limited Government

c)

Government is divided into branches, each with separate and independent powers.

3.

Separation of Powers

d)

A system established by the Constitution that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful.

4.

Checks and Balances

e)

Power and responsibility are divided between a federal government and local or state governments.

5.

Federalism

35.

What amendment aligns with the principle of Federalism (shared powers between the gov't and the states)?

a)
5th
b)
10th
c)
1st
d)
8th
36.

The 1st amendment protects which of the following?

a)

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

b)

Freedom of religion, speech, press assembly and petition.

c)

Right to trial by jury.

d)

No quartering of soldiers.

37.

The 2nd amendment protects which of the following rights?

a)

Right to keep and bear arms.

b)

Rights of accused persons (speedy and public trial).

c)

Powers reserved to the states.

d)

Other rights of the people.

38.

The 3rd amendment protects which of the following rights?

a)

Right of a trial by jury.

b)

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

c)

No quartering of soldiers.

d)

Right to keep and bear arms.

39.

The 4th amendment protects which of the following rights?

a)

Powers reserved to the states.

b)

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

c)

Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.

d)

Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, and double jeopardy.

40.

The 5th amendment protects which of the following rights?

a)

Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, and double jeopardy.

b)

Rights of accused persons (speedy and public trial).

c)

Other rights of the people.

d)

Right to keep and bear arms.

41.

The 6th amendment protects which of the following rights?

a)

No quartering of soldiers.

b)

Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, and double jeopardy.

c)

Powers reserved to the states.

d)

Rights of accused persons (speedy and public trial).

42.

The 8th amendment protects which of the following rights?

a)

No quartering of soldiers.

b)

Powers reserved to the states.

c)

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

d)

Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.

43.

What is Double Jeopardy?

a)

An order from a judge that authorizes police to search and seize property

b)

Giving testimony that can be used against you in a court case

c)

The concept that the government must follow clear rules and act reasonably as it carries out the laws

d)

Putting a person on trial more than once for the same crime

44.

Which Headline describes an event that established guidelines for the admission of new states to the Union?

a)

A. Northwest Ordinance Passed

b)

B. Treaty of Paris Ratified

c)

Bill of Right Ratified

d)

D. Alien & Sedition Acts

45.

Define "civic responsibility."

a)

vetoing unfair laws

b)

appointment of high level officials

c)

being involved in things that are good for the community

d)

becoming wealthy

46.

Who has the power to veto (cancel) bills that were passed by Congress?

a)

Congress

b)

The President

c)

The Supreme Court