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Unit 1 Assessment Questions

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How did the Magna Carta influence the U.S. Constitution?

a)

It gave monarchs the right to override laws.

b)

It introduced the idea of limited government and rule of law.

c)

It required citizens to obey royal commands without question.

d)

It established a national religion to unify the people.

2.

Which of the following quotes is found in the Virginia Declaration of Rights?

a)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...

b)

No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship...

c)

That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent right...

3.

Which of the following best explains a key difference between the amendment process for the U.S. Constitution and the Virginia Constitution?

a)

The U.S. Constitution requires a national referendum, while Virginia’s requires a state convention.

b)

The U.S. Constitution requires approval by Congress and the states, while Virginia’s requires approval by the General Assembly and voters.

c)

The U.S. Constitution allows amendment through executive orders, while Virginia’s does not.

d)

The Virginia Constitution requires federal approval, while the U.S. Constitution does not.

4.

Why is the amendment process for the U.S. Constitution intentionally more difficult than that of the Virginia Constitution?

a)

To ensure that only the Supreme Court can propose amendments.

b)

To prevent states from gaining too much power over federal law.

c)

To prevent the national government from becoming tyrannical and place limits on its powers.

d)

To allow for rapid changes in response to public opinion.

5.

Which of the following events is the last step in amending the Constitution?

a)

The Amendment has been ratified and is now the law of the land.

b)

Amendment is ratified by 3/4ths of the states.

c)

Amendment is proposed by a 2/3 vote of each house of Congress.

6.

Which of the following best reflects the principle of federalism in the amendment process?

a)

The president can veto constitutional amendments.

b)

States have no role in the amendment process.

c)

Both national and state government participate in amending the U.S. Constitution.

d)

Only the Supreme Court can interpret amendments.

7.

When citizens of a state elect a new senator to represent them in Congress, they are showing what fundamental principle?

a)

Federalism

b)

Republicanism

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Limited Government

8.

Popular sovereignty is the principle that –

a)

government powers are restricted by law.

b)

power comes from the people

c)

each branch of government can check the power of the others.

d)

citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them.

9.

The principle of federalism gives governmental power to –

a)

county and local governments

b)

a strong confederate government

c)

federal/national and state governments

d)

a powerful international government

10.

The principle of checks and balances is different from the principle of separation of powers because –

a)

checks and balances refer to the government’s budget, not the different branches that separation of powers refers to

b)

checks and balances is the principle that state governments can check federal governments and separation of powers is the principle that state governments are different from the national government

c)

checks and balances refer to the idea that power comes from the people and separation of powers refers to the idea that government is divided into 3 branches

d)

checks and balances refers to the actual interactions between the different branches of government and separation of powers refers to the idea that there are different branches of government

11.

Limited government can be seen when –

a)

the power of government is split up between three different branches

b)

the government limits the rights of its citizens

c)

the government is limited by the Constitution or other laws and policies

d)

the government is divided between national and state governments

12.

According to the Preamble, the authority of the federal government comes from the –

a)

electoral college

b)

states

c)

people

d)

President

13.

The Preamble lists the ___ of the United States Constitution.

a)

grievances

b)

unalienable rights

c)

purpose

d)

weaknesses

14.

The first three words of the preamble, "We the people..." established the principle of –

a)

popular sovereignty

b)

separation of powers

c)

checks and balances

d)

natural law

15.

Which of the following statements are true of the Preamble?

a)

It is the introduction to the United States Constitution.

b)

It is the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution

c)

It lists the purpose and goals of the U.S. Constitution

d)

It starts with the words, “We the people...”

e)

It mentions fundamental rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

16.

Which of the following allow average people to have a say in government?

a)

Democracy

b)

Popular sovereignty

c)

Separation of powers

d)

Republicanism

17.

Everyone is supposed to follow the same laws. The idea comes from the Magna Carta. What is the name for this?

a)

Rule of Law

b)

Separation of Powers

c)

Popular Sovereignty

d)

Federalism

18.

At the Constitutional Convention, the framers argued over how much power to give to the states. They debated the Virginia plan, which would assign representation by population, and the New Jersey plan, which would assign representation (a)   .

19.

The Anti-Federalists felt that the Constitution created a government that was too powerful and did not protect people’s rights. This led to the addition of the ________ to the Constitution.

a)

Preamble

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Bill of Rights

d)

Magna Carta

20.

The document that stated the colonists grievances against the King of Great Britain was the:

a)

Charters of the VA Company of London.

b)

Declaration of Independence.

c)

Virginia Declaration of Rights.

d)

Articles of Confederation

21.

The document that served as the first form of national government for the independent states was the:

a)

Articles of Confederation.

b)

Declaration of Independence.

c)

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

d)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London.

22.

The document that gave the colonists the same rights as Englishmen was the:

a)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London.

b)

Declaration of Independence.

c)

Virginia Declaration of Rights.

d)

Articles of Confederation.

23.

The document that was used as a model for the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution was the

a)

Declaration of Independence.

b)

Virginia Declaration of Rights.

c)

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

d)

Magna Carta.

24.

Which document gave most of the power to the individual states, and left a weak central government?

a)

Articles of Confederation

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Magna Carta

d)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

25.

What statement is an example of limited government?

a)

By choosing officeholders, people rule themselves.

b)

The government cannot sentence a person to jail without providing them a fair trial.

c)

The legislative branch makes laws.

d)

All citizens will face consequences if they do not fulfill their civic duties.