Constitution Unit Test Eighth Amendment Excessive fines cannot be imposed. Excessive bail cannot be required. 1. Which sentence completes this diagram? A. People cannot be forced to be witnesses against themselves. B. Cruel and unusual punishment cannot be inflicted. C. Warrants cannot be issued unless probable cause is established. D. A defendant cannot be denied a speedy and public trial. 2. Which argument would a Federalist make to support ratification of the Constitution? A. The Constitution will enable states to nullify laws that are harmful to citizens. B. A strong federal government will be more stable than a loose confederation of states. C. The Constitution will allow states to establish banks to stabilize the national economy. D. A republican system of government will better represent large states.
Passing laws to aid a religious institution Requiring individuals to attend religious services Punishing individuals for their religious beliefs Levying taxes to support religious institutions 3. Which amendment prohibits federal and state governments from carrying out these actions? A B C The First Amendment The Second Amendment The Fifth Amendment D The Tenth Amendment In the... republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself. Federalist No. 51 4. What assurance did this argument give to those who opposed ratifying the Constitution? A B C The amendment process would allow state governments to nullify federal law. Making the federal government superior to state governments would ensure greater stability. The rights of citizens would be better protected by having both federal and state levels of government. D Giving greater power to the federal government would allow it to assist states in times of crisis. 5. How did the provisions of the Northwest Ordinance affect U.S. expansion? A B C By funding a transportation network in uninhabited regions By establishing a process for territories to govern themselves By promoting the growth of southern plantation economies D By creating a national bank to loan money to land investors
6. Why were southern delegates to the Constitutional Convention willing to accept the Three-Fifths Compromise? A. It increased the political influence of the South. B. It allowed indentured servants in the South to become citizens. C. It decreased the federal tax on property in the South. D. It allowed the South to expand its industrial output. 7. Why was it difficult for Congress to fulfill its duties under the Articles of Confederation? A. Any congressional action required executive approval. B. Congress lacked the power to declare war. C. Most congressional decisions required the approval of at least nine states. D. Congress lacked the power to regulate foreign trade. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION Did not grant a federal power to tax or regulate commerce Did not establish a common currency Did not establish an executive or judicial branch 8. What does this list suggest about the drafters of the Articles of Confederation? A. They did not want a judicial system based upon that of Great Britain. B. They feared that a strong central government would abuse its power. C. They were uncertain that democracy would continue to be the best type of government. D. They did not think that state governments could provide for the general welfare.
The? established a government..., outlined the process for admitting a new state to the Union, and guaranteed that newly created states would be equal to the original thirteen states. Considered one of the most important legislative acts of the Confederation Congress, the? also protected civil liberties and outlawed slavery in the new territories. Primary Documents in American History, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov (accessed May 2, 2014) 9. Which document completes this excerpt? A B C Declaration of Independence Treaty of Ghent Northwest Ordinance D Louisiana Purchase Treaty One Way to Amend the U.S. Constitution Proposal Proposal by a (1) vote in both houses of Congress. Ratification Ratification by three-fourths of the (2). 10. Which numbered pair correctly replaces (1) and (2) in this table? A. (1) three-fourths (2) eligible voters B. (1) two-thirds (2) Electoral College C. (1) three-fourths (2) Supreme Court D. (1) two-thirds (2) state legislatures
Bills of rights... are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. 11. Those who agreed with this point of view were known as: A. Loyalists B. Minutemen C. Federalists D. Patriots Representation in the U.S. Senate Equal number of seats for all states Representation in the U.S. House of Representatives Number of seats based on state population 12. Why was this congressional structure created by the framers of the Constitution? A B C To follow the plan outlined in the Articles of Confederation To reach a compromise between large and small states To reach a compromise between slave states and non-slave states D To implement the outcome of a popular vote
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. U.S. Constitution, Tenth Amendment 13. What was the purpose of this amendment? A to encourage citizens to monitor the federal government B to prevent conflicts between state and local governments C to limit the authority of the federal government D to increase the participation of citizens in state government 14. Which law would be considered unconstitutional on the basis of First Amendment guarantees? A. A ban on the publication of classified information by government employees B. A requirement that church employees pay income tax C. A requirement that churches get a permit before building a new chapel D. A prohibition on electing religious leaders to government office 15. What is the significance of the Philadelphia Convention of 1787? A. The Constitution was written at this convention. B. America declared its independence at this convention. C. The First Continental Congress occurred at this convention. D. The Articles of Confederation was written at this convention. 16. In 1787 James Madison and other Federalists supported a written plan for a new government. This plan-- A. created a parliamentary government. B. called for stricter interpretation of the law. C. made changing Jaws virtually impossible. D. called for a stronger national government.
Powers Denied to Congress Under the Articles of Confederation Taxation Tariffs Trade regulation 17. Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was denied the above-listed powers because the -- A. courts were responsible for regulating business activity. B. citizens lacked interest in business matters. C. courts were given absolute authority. D. citizens feared a strong central government. 18. How many branches of federal government were specified under the Articles of Confederation, the laws adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777 to govern the United States? A. three- legislative, judicial, and executive B. two -legislative and executive only C. one -legislative only D. one -executive only 19. This information was included in a slide-show presentation to a high school history class. Strengths Ability to declare war Ability to make treaties Authority to operate post offices Which document was the focus of this presentation? A. The Mayflower Compact c. The Virginia Declaration of Rights B. The Articles of Confederation d. The Declaration of Independence
20. What was the outcome of the Articles of Confederation? A. It was a failure and was eventually replaced by the Constitution. B. It was a success and became the basis for American government. C. It established the Confederate States of America. D. It became the model for governments in Europe. 21. After the end of the Revolutionary War, states were eager to expand into newly available territory.the states of New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia argued over competing claims west of the Appalachian Mountains. This conflict was addressed by the -- A. Albany Plan of Union c. Northwest Ordinance B. Mayflower Compact d. Declaration of Independence 22. The Northwest Ordinance established guidelines for the orderly expansion of the United States by instituting a-- A. method to purchase territory from foreign powers. B. procedure for military takeovers of existing countries. C. process through which states could be added to the Union. D. compromise line that prohibited slavery in the West. 23. Shays Rebellion of 1786 was significant because it-- A. showed that English still had influence after the American Revolution. B. convinced many Americans of the need for a stronger national government. C. revealed the increased threat from rebellious Native American Indians. D. endangered the lives of many recent immigrants.
24. The Constitution attempted to achieve a certain balance. What were the two ideas it tried to balance? A. The rights of slaves on the one hand, and the needs of southern slave owners on the other. B. The rights of property holders on the one hand, and the power of the government on the other. C. The rights of the individual on the one hand, and the power of the government on the other. D. The power of the majority on the one hand, and the needs of the government on the other. 25. The Great Compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention resulted in the - A. formation of the Supreme Court. B. creation of a bicameral legislature. C. development of a two-party system. D. ban on the importation of enslaved Africans. 26. Disagreement at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 over the Virginia and New Jersey plans was resolved by a compromise that -- A. guaranteed continuation of the slave trade for at least twenty more years. B. limited the power of the federal government to wage war. C. provided for construction of a new national capital in the south. D. created a Congress made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. 27. The conflict over representation in Congress was addressed at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 by-- A. creating a two-house legislature. B. limiting the terms of lawmakers to four years. C. giving Congress implied powers. D. ending the importation of enslaved persons.
Name: ID: A 28. Proposals for Congressional Representation Virginia Plan? / / New Jersey Plan Equal representation for each state Great Compromise Which idea best completes this diagram? A. Representation by presidential appointment B. Representation based on a state's date of admission C. Representation with term limits D. Representation based on a state's population 29. Which plan of government offered at the Philadelphia Convention would small states probably support? A. The Virginia plan because it said that representation in congress would be based on a states' population. B. The New Jersey plan because it said that there should be two houses of Congress. C. The Virginia plan because larger states would have more power in Congress. D. The New Jersey plan because it allowed each state equal representation in Congress.
30. This political cartoon illustrates an issue discussed during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The issue was over what? a. Immigration c. State boundaries b. Branches of government d. Representation in Congress Slaves should count when determining a state's population and Its number of representatives. Slavery Slaves should count in deciding a state's share of federal taxes. 31 How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention settle the issue described above? A. Three-Fifths Compromise B. Mason-Dixon line C. Virginia Plan D. New Jersey Plan
32. Building support for the ratification of the United States Constitution was the purpose of- - a. Magna Carta c. Federalist Papers. b. Albany Pan of Union. d. Mayflower Compact 33. In 1787 many of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution because of its failure to -- a. reduce states' rights. b. eliminate slavery. c. include a bill of rights. d. establish a foreign-trade policy. 34. A major reason the Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution was because the Constitution -- A. created a national bank. B. lacked a provision for a federal court system. C. failed to provide for the direct election of members of the House of Representatives. D. changed the balance of power between the state and national governments. 35. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, George Mason argued -- A. against increased power for the national government. B. for the dissolution of states governments. C. against the passage of a bill of rights. D. for the creation of a strong executive branch. 36. Why did some people oppose ratification of the Constitution? A. They believed that it did not provide enough guarantees of individual rights. B. They believed that it did not create a strong enough national government. C. They believed that it did not solve the problems created by the Articles of Confederation. D. They wanted more power to go to the Executive. 37. Which excerpt from the U.S. Constitution best illustrates the principle of popular sovereignty? A. "Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members..." B. "The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the people of the several States..." C. "The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore..." D. "The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof." 7
That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people... -Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776 38. It can be concluded form the excerpt above that in Virginia the citizens-- A. are required to serve in the military. B. must uphold the separation of church and state. C. must perform jury duty once a year. D. is the source of the government's authority? 39. The U.S. Constitution maintains a republican system of government through the -- A. creation of a presidential cabinet. B. impeachment of the president. C. appointment of federal judges to life terms. D. election of representatives who make laws. 40. By setting up a government of elected representatives, the Constitution created a system of government called. A. federalism B. checks and balances C. republicanism D. capitalism
41. These words from the Preamble of the Constitution reflect the principle of _ "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice insure domestic tranquility...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America..." a. individual rights b. republicanism c. checks and balances d. popular sovereignty 42. The people will elect officeholders. Officeholders will make laws. Officeholders will conduct government on behalf of the people. What would be the best title for the diagram shown above? A. Constitutional Monarchy in the United States B. The importance of the Divine Right of Kings C. A plan for Representative Government D. The policy of Mercantilism 43. Protecting basic individual rights in the Bill of Rights helped to ensure ----------- a. separation of powers c. a strong central government b. limited government d. rights reserved to the states 44. This document was a model for the individual liberties written in the Constitution? a. Magna Carta b. English Bill of Rights c. Anti-Federalists Writings d. Federalist Papers
45. System of Federalism Delegated Powers Maintain a navy and navy Declare war Coin money Regulate trade between states and with foreign nations Make all laws necessary for carrying out delegated powers Concurrent Powers Enforce. Laws Establish Courts Borrow Money Build Roads Collect Taxes Reserved Powers Conduct elections Establish schools Regulate businesses within a state Establish local governments Regulate marriages Assume other powers not given to-the national government or denied to the states Federalism is best defined as a principle of government that -- a. divides power between the central government and state governments. b. includes a system of checks and balances. c. allows the states to nullify national laws. d. places the most power in the hands of the legislative branch. 46. The Constitution limits the power of the national (federal) government. What historical document influenced the framers to limit the power of those in authority? a. Mayflower Compact b. English Bill of Rights c. Magna Carta d. Federalist Papers
47. The Constitution sets up for a strong central government with separated powers and a system of checks and balances. Based on this statement, the Constitution was influenced by which historical document? a. Federalist Papers b. Mayflower Compact c. English Bill of Rights d. Anti-Federalists Writings 48. Taxation without representation. How was the above statement addressed in the U.S. Constitution? A. All states have representation in Congress which sets taxes. B. Congress has power to override Presidential veto. C. The House of Representatives has the power to impeach the president. D. The Senate oversees the appointment of Supreme court justices. 49. The King has absolute power. How was the above statement addressed in the U.S. Constitution? A. Congress has equal representation in the Senate. B. The Judicial Branch interprets and applies the laws C. Congress has power to override Presidential Veto D. The House of Representatives is based on state population. BERWYN, Pennsylvania: A new mosque recently opened in this...suburb of Philadelphia... [The] leaders...did not seek publicity for the happy occasion, only continued peace with their neighbors: A Jewish synagogue next door and Baptist church across the street. -Kathy Matheson, Associated Press, September 10, 2010 50. This event best demonstrates which feature of the American way of life? A. The First Amendment guarantees personal freedoms. B. The Declaration of Independence asserts the principle of popular sovereignty. C. The U.S. Constitution establishes the structure of the federal government. D. The Fifth Amendment protects the rights of the accused.
51. The Quartering Act forced colonists to house troops. How was this addressed in the U.S. Constitution? a. 1st Amendment c. 3rd Amendment b. 4th Amendment d. 5th Amendment Unreasonable searches and seizures are illegal. Search warrants may not be issued without probable cause. The place to be searched and the people or items to be seized must be described in a warrant. 52. Which amendment provides for the protections described in this list. a. First Amendment b. Fourth Amendment c. Fifth Amendment d. Tenth Amendment 53. For what purpose did the framers of the Constitution make provisions for amending the Constitution? A. To give the people more say in government. B. People believed that it did not offer adequate protection of individual rights. C. So that future generations could adjust to changing times and to maintain a "living document". D. So people could express themselves through voting and free participation in government. 54. Guarantee of a Freedom from speedy trial unreasonable? search and seizure Which right best completes the diagram? A. The right to bear arms B. Freedom to speak without fear of punishment C. Protection from cruel and unusual punishment D. Freedom of the press to report on court proceedings