The United States Constitution

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Questions 1 to 20: Select the best answer to each question. Note that a question and its answers may be split across a page
break, so be sure that you have seen the entire question and all the answers before choosing an answer.
1. What was the main purpose of the Thirteenth Amendment?
A. It overturned the Three-Fifths Compromise.
B. It guaranteed the right to vote regardless of race.
C. It gave women the right to vote.
D. It abolished slavery.
2. In 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia. They came from all of the 13 states except
A. New Jersey.
B. South Carolina.
C. Rhode Island.
D. Pennsylvania.
3. The purpose of the Constitution is presented in the
A. Articles.
B. Preamble.
C. Bill of Rights.
D. Amendments.
4. Shays' Rebellion encouraged national leaders to
A. seek alternatives to the Articles of Confederation.
B. repeal the Bill of Rights.
C. change the Declaration of Independence.
D. repeal the Stamp Act.
5. The man who served as president of the Constitutional Convention was
A. Thomas Jefferson.
B. George Washington.
C. James Madison.
D. Alexander Hamilton.
6. Although it seemed quite important in 1788, Amendment _______, barring the quartering of soldiers in
private homes, is outdated today.
A. II
B. III
C. IV
D. V
7. Senator Jon Tester of Montana was reelected in 2012. If he decides to run again when his current term
expires, in what year will the election occur?
A. 2020
B. 2014
C. 2016
D. 2018
8. In 1900, how were members of the United States Senate chosen?
A. They were appointed by the governor of their state.
B. They were elected by the House of Representatives.
C. They were appointed by their state legislatures.
D. They were elected by the people.
9. The Preamble to the Constitution does not specify providing for
A. common defense.
B. economic equity.
C. justice.
D. domestic tranquility.
10. Which one of the following statements is accurate for the Articles of Confederation?
A. There was no president.
B. There was only one central court.
C. Interstate commerce could be regulated.
D. Each state could veto a presidential decision.
11. Choose the statement from the following choices that best describes the separation of powers.
A. Powers and duties of the United States government are decided by a system of direct democracy.
B. Powers and duties of the United States government are chosen entirely by the President of the United States.
C. Powers and duties of the United States government are divided among two branches of government.
D. Powers and duties of the United States government are divided among three branches of government.
12. John Quincy has been a citizen of the United States for 8 years. He is 27 years old. If John decides to
run for Congress, what are his options?
A. He can run for the House, but not the Senate.
B. He can run for the Senate, but not the House.
C. He can't run for the House or the Senate for at least one more year.
D. He won't ever be qualified to run for the Senate.
13. An agreement to count slaves as three-fifths of a person was related to
A. the number of Senators each state would have.
B. the denial of African Americans the right to vote.
C. the creation of an upper and a lower house in Congress.
D. the way in which population would be counted in each state.
14. Supporters of the New Jersey Plan
A. rejected the idea of three branches of government.
B. called for a legislature in which each state had one vote.
C. supported a bicameral legislature.
D. required that Senators be selected by a House of Representatives.
15. Under Article _______ of the Constitution, the laws of Congress and all treaties are the law of the land.
A. IV
B. VI
C. VII
D. III
16. The New Jersey plan called for
A. the abolition of slavery.
B. a strong president.
C. abandoning the Articles of Confederation.
D. equal representation for all states in the Congress.
17. When you buy a U.S. government savings bond, you're doing so under the power given to Congress to
A. regulate commerce.
B. levy taxes.
C. borrow money.
D. print and coin money.
18. The idea that people within a state can and should determine the laws within that state is referred to as
A. popular sovereignty.
B. abolitionism.
C. state sovereignty.
D. federalism.
19. In 1786, Virginians called a convention in Annapolis to discuss problems with the
A. Declaration of Independence.
B. Bill of Rights.
C. Articles of Confederation.
D. Constitution.
End of exam
20. Which part of the Constitution establishes the legislative branch of the government?
A. Article I
B. The Bill of Rights
C. Amendment I
D. Article II