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WorksheetsLouisiana State Government and the 1812 Constitution
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
Which statement best describes the purpose of Louisiana’s first constitution?
To give equal power to all citizens
To establish a state government patterned after the U.S. Constitution
To guarantee civil rights to freedmen, and enslaved African Americans
To create an independent nation under a Supreme government
The Louisiana Constitution of 1812 most reflected which value?
Equality for all people except for Native Americans
Direct democracy and Republicanism
Political control by wealthy landowners
Women’s suffrage and equality for all
Why has Louisiana rewritten its constitution more times than most other states?
Poor record-keeping by elite wealthy merchants
Political, social, and economic change over time
Federal law requires a rewrite of state constitutions every 25 years
Population growth forced new boundaries among states
The Preamble to Louisiana’s current constitution emphasizes:
Religious unity above all, without government influence
State independence from the U.S. if the government becomes too powerful
Individual rights, equality, and public welfare
Military strength and defense of the military
How is the Louisiana Preamble similar to the U.S. Preamble?
Both describe the importance of wealth and freedom
Both begin with “We the People,” showing power comes from citizens
Both remove religion from government and add the ten commandments
Both list the rights of the states over the nation and the 14th Amendment
Which feature makes Louisiana’s executive branch different from the federal executive branch?
It includes a Louisiana Supreme Court and lower courts
The governor can serve unlimited terms as long as he exhibits good behavior
Several top officials are elected separately rather than appointed
The governor is chosen by the state legislature
Which responsibility belongs to Louisiana’s state government rather than the federal government?
Declaring war and funding the military
Issuing driver’s licenses and marriage certificates
Printing money
Negotiating treaties with foreign nations and other states
What is the main function of Louisiana’s legislative branch?
Enforcing laws and granting pardons
Making and passing laws
Interpreting laws
Electing judges
Which best explains why Louisiana adopted a new constitution in 1868?
To limit banks and business's power in government
To extend equal rights and voting to formerly enslaved people
To strengthen slavery and segregation
To move the state capital from New Orleans to Baton Rouge
How did the 1898 constitution change Louisiana’s government?
Created more school funding with federal mandates
Established women’s voting rights and equal protection under the 14th Amendment
Took away voting rights from African Americans
Limited the power of the governor and lieutenant governor
Which statement best describes the impact of the 1974 constitution?
It modernized government and protected against discrimination
It divided Louisiana into new territories, and created parishes
It strengthened segregation laws and added more Jim Crow laws to oppress African Americans
It abolished the state legislature and created a House of Representatives and a Senate on the state level
What is one purpose of the Louisiana Supreme Court?
Approving budgets and raising tax revenue
Passing laws and repealing law that failed
Interpreting state laws and the state constitution
Writing executive orders and granting pardons
Why is the 1868 constitution often considered one of Louisiana’s most progressive?
It guaranteed equality before the law and created integrated schools
It gave property rights to women but excluded Native Americans
It banned education for formerly enslaved people
It limited state taxes to include only wealthy merchants and politicians
The 1898 constitution’s poll taxes and literacy tests were designed to:
Encourage civic participation and give people a voice
Prevent African Americans from voting for Republican candidates
Simplify the voting process for all citizens of the United States
Increase voter registration to minority populations in rural areas
The 1921 constitution was criticized because:
It was too short and did not include individual rights of citizens
It abolished the governor’s powers over the legislative branch
It became cluttered with hundreds of amendments
It banned state taxes for the wealthy elite business owners
What change made by the 1974 constitution reduced corruption and inefficiency?
Repealing term limits to only one term
Eliminating the court system on the state level
Reducing 250 state departments to 25
Removing the lieutenant governor by impeachment
Which example shows federalism in action within Louisiana?
State police and FEMA working together during a hurricane
Congress passing a local school budget to pay for school buses
The governor declaring a national holiday
Parishes printing U.S. currency with the permission of the Federal Reserve
Louisiana’s elections use an “open primary” system where:
Only one political party appears on the ballot to ensure fairness
All candidates, regardless of party, run on the same ballot
Federal and state ballots are combined to include both political parties
Candidates are chosen by the governor and approved by state senate
What is one major similarity between the Louisiana and U.S. constitutions?
Both allow the president to veto state laws
Both divide power among three branches
Both guarantee voting rights only to landowners
Both eliminate the judicial branch
What does the frequency of Louisiana’s constitutional changes reveal about its history?
Citizens dislike government
Louisiana has always resisted change
The state’s social and political values have evolved over time
The U.S. forced Louisiana to rewrite them
