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Chapter 9 - Constitution PRACTICE

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The U.S. Constitution it has changed with time - because of this it is often called_____________

a)

A. a 'living document'

b)

B. the Supreme Law of the Land

c)

C. WRONG - it hasn't changed!

d)

D. the Bill of Rights

2.

First words of the Constitution...

a)

A. "Four score and seven years ago"

b)

B. "We the People..."

c)

C. "In the Course Human Events..."

d)

D. "I was a ghost, I was alone
In the dark"

e)

E. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"

3.

What is the primary work of Congress?

a)

A. to argue for their political party

b)

B. to debate whether laws are constitutional

c)

C. to determine who will be the candidate for president

d)

D. to be the chief executives of the states they represent

e)

E. to make laws for the country

4.

What is the final step before a national bill becomes a law?

a)

A. It is signed by the president.

b)

B. It is voted on by the citizens.

c)

C. It is passed by the Supreme Court.

d)

D. It is approved by the state legislators

e)

E. the Senate votes for it

5.

Why does each state have two senators?

a)

A. to balance the rights of large and small states

b)

B. so the Senate does not become overcrowded

c)

C. to assure there are enough people to pass the laws

d)

D. so that one can take over if the other is unavailable

e)

E. WRONG! the number of Senators is based on the Population of the state

6.

What is the purpose of the system of checks and balances?

a)

A. to list the responsibilities of elected officials

b)

B. to make it difficult to amend the Constitution

c)

C. so the President has unyielding power

d)

D. to share power between state and national governments

e)

E. to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

7.

All of these are duties of the executive branch except

a)

A. negotiating treaties.

b)

B. carrying out the laws.

c)

C. proposing new taxes.

d)

D. nominating federal judges.

e)

E. choosing a cabinet

8.

Why does the Constitution establish the principle of majority rule?

a)

A. so decisions are based on what the president wants

b)

B. so decisions represent what most of the people want

c)

C. so decisions are made only when more than half of the people vote

d)

D. so decisions are made when most of the members of Congress are present

9.

Which of these describes the responsibility of the judicial branch?

a)

A. to put laws into effect

b)

B. to resolve disputes under the law

c)

C. to veto decisions of the Supreme Court

d)

D. to propose bills needed to achieve justice

10.

What name is given to the Supreme Court’s power to declare a law unconstitutional?

a)

A. federalism

b)

B. veto power

c)

C. impeachment

d)

D. judicial review

11.

The U.S. population can directly participate in government in all of these ways except through

a)

A. passing laws.

b)

B. joining interest groups.

c)

C. participating in elections.

d)

D. belonging to political parties.

12.

Which of these powers is shared by state and national governments?

a)

A. raising taxes

b)

B. declaring war

c)

C. printing money

d)

D. negotiating treaties

13.

Which of these refers to the sharing of power between national and state governments?

a)

A. bicameral

b)

B. federalism

c)

C. commerce

d)

D. nationalism

14.

A (an) ________________ to the Constitution can be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures.

a)

A. article

b)

B. preamble

c)

C. amendment

d)

D. epilogue

15.

Which of these can propose an amendment to the Constitution?

a)

A. Congress

b)

B. governors

c)

C. presidents

d)

D. Supreme Court

16.

The number of representatives each state has in the House depends on

a)

A. how big the state is

b)

B. the population of the state

c)

C. when the state was admitted

d)

D. how rich the state is

17.

The Electoral College was established by the Founders because

a)

A. they wanted to keep the common people from making a mistake

b)

B. they wanted a longer election period

c)

C. they wanted to confuse the people

d)

D. none of the above

18.

There are _______ judges on the Supreme Court.

a)

A. seven

b)

B. nine

c)

C. eleven

d)

D. fifteen

19.

The Legislative Branch checks on the Executive Branch by

a)

A. using the veto

b)

B. reducing the President’s salary

c)

C. declaring laws unconstitutional

d)

D. passing laws over a veto by a 2/3 vote

20.

Who appoints justices to the Supreme Court?

a)

A. the President

b)

B. the Chief Justice

c)

C. the Senate

d)

D. the Vice President

21.

The system of Checks and Balances was established to

a)

A. Protect the people’s freedom of expression.

b)

B. Control government spending.

c)

C. Prevent branches of government from abusing power.

d)

D. Protect states’ rights.

22.

Who appoints Cabinet members?

a)

A. The President

b)

B. The Supreme Court

c)

C. The House

d)

D. The states

23.

How long is the length of term of a member of the House of Representatives?

a)

A. 2

b)

B. 4

c)

C. 6

d)

D. 8

24.

The Constitution forbids states to

a)

A. tax

b)

B. make laws

c)

C. coin money

d)

D. keep a militia

25.

The Amendment which gave women the right to vote is the

a)

A. 19th

b)

B. 13th

c)

C. 22nd

d)

D. 26th

26.

Label the following items on the illustration of the checks and balances of the branches of the federal government

27.

Overiding a veto, is a check the ​ (a)   Branch has over the ​ (b)   Branch

Choose from the below words
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
NSA
Olive
State Level
28.

Match the following checks and balances of the US government

a)

Veto Laws

1.

Executive over Legislative

b)

Laws unconstitutional

2.

Judicial over Legislative

c)

Impeach the President or Judge

3.

Legislative over Executive and/or Judicial

d)

Calling a congressional special session

4.

Executive over Legislative

e)

Approve Federal Judges

5.

Legislative over Judicial

29.

One way the Judicial Branch checks the power of the Legislative Branch is ​ (a)   .

Choose from the below words
by vetoing bills
by approving treaties
by impeaching the President
by declaring laws unconstitutional
30.

Why did Congress pass the War Powers Resolution?

a)

Congress wanted to expand its power to provide funding to the military.

b)

Congress wanted to limit the president's power to send US troops into armed conflicts.

c)

Congress wanted to regain control over its treaty-making powers.

d)

Congress wanted to give the president the power to make battlefield decisions.

31.

Which is a "check" the president has over the judicial branch?

a)

deciding the meaning of a law

b)

making a treaty with another country

c)

nominating a Supreme Court justice

d)

rejecting a law passed by Congress

32.

An example of Congress checking the President is what?

a)

overriding a veto by 2/3

b)

saying laws are illegal

c)

vetoing bills

33.

Which is an example of the President checking Congress?

a)

Picking a judge

b)

Questioning Laws

c)

Vetoing (saying no) bills

34.

An example of the Supreme Court checking the President is what?

a)

Vetoing bills

b)

Approving judges

c)

Saying presidential acts are unconstitutional/ illegal

35.
How does the President “check” Congress? 
a)
clemency
b)
pardon
c)
veto
d)
reprieve