Constitution Study Guide
Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1. The Intolerable Acts prompted the colonists to take this action against Britain.
a. an embargo
c. a tax
b. an increased revenue
d. sanctions
2. According to the Articles of Confederation, this power was granted Congress.
a. to regulate trade
c. to amend the Articles of Confederation
b. to enforce laws
d. to levy taxes
3. The Articles of Confederation went into effect in 1781 after all thirteen states
a. ceded them.
c. inspected them.
b. ratified them.
d. legalized them.
4. Trade among the states was known as
a. interstate commerce.
c. legislative trade.
b. extralegal trade.
d. anarchy.
5. The compromise made by the Founders on this issue left a terrible burden for future generations.
a. western territories
c. slavery
b. interstate commerce
d. anarchy
6. The Magna Carta was important because it
a. was America's first legislature.
c. established a limited government.
b. separated church and state.
d. gave power to the colonies.
7. This began as a struggle over lands in western Pennsylvania and Ohio.
a. British and Indian War
c. Northwest Ordinance
b. Intolerable Acts
d. French and Indian War
8. This led to the Boston Tea Party.
a. Committees of Correspondence
c. Intolerable Acts
b. Britain's increased tax revenue
d. Coercive Acts
9. Federalists were concerned that without a strong national government this would triumph.
a. anarchy
c. embargoes
b. extralegal trade
d. socialism
10. Antifederalists believed this was needed.
a. anarchy
c. Bill of Rights
b. interstate commerce
d. strong national government
____ 11.
Choose the answer that completes the chart, identifying the class that Parliament’s House of Lords
represented.
a. property owners
c. aristocracy
b. merchants
d. artisans
____ 12.
There were five Southern Colonies. Study the map to determine the colony that lies the farthest south.
a. South Carolina
c. Georgia
b. North Carolina
d. New York
____ 13.
The four Middle Colonies included Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and
a. Connecticut.
c. Maryland.
b. Philadelphia.
d. Delaware.
____ 14.
According to the map, which country most recently gained its independence?
a. South Africa
c. Ukraine
b. Vietnam
d. Cuba
____ 15. News of the Revolutionary War and the colonists’ hard-fought independence spread throughout the world.
According to the map, which country was the first to follow in the colonists’ footsteps?
a. Mexico
c. Libya
b. France
d. Chile
____ 16.
The Declaration of Independence was divided into three sections. What was the subject of the second, or
middle section?
a. complaints against Charles I
c. justification for Boston Tea Party
b. choosing a democratic leader
d. complaints against George III
“The general government ought . . . to possess the means of preserving the peace and tranquility of the union.
. . . The encroachments of some states, on the rights of others, and of all on those of the confederacy, and are
incontestible [cannot be denied] proofs of the weakness and imperfection of that system.”
—William Davie, 1787
____ 17.
In this quote, William Davie, a legislator from North Carolina, is expressing his opinion of the
a. Declaration of Independence.
c. Northwest Ordinance.
b. Articles of Confederation.
d. U.S. Constitution.
____ 18.
Choose the best answer to complete the cause-and-effect chart, which chronicles events leading up to the
Constitutional Convention of 1787.
a. slave revolt
b. Shays’s Rebellion
c. fighting between North Carolina and South Carolina over tariffs
d. Congress enacts Northwest Ordinance
____ 19.
The Framers agreed that the national government should be divided into three branches. Choose the answer
that completes the chart, identifying the branches of the national government.
a. presidential
c. federal
b. executive
d. administrative
____ 20.
Which state was the last to ratify the Constitution?
a. Rhode Island
c. Massachusetts
b. North Carolina
d. Maryland
____ 21. Which state originally voted against the ratification of the Constitution?
a. South Carolina
c. New Hampshire
b. Virginia
d. North Carolina
____ 22.
Which symbol is used to represent the colonists in this cartoon?
a. man in background
c. rider
b. bucking horse
d. whip
____ 23.
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____ 33.
How many years passed from the end of the French and Indian War to the beginning of the Revolutionary
War?
a. 6 years
c. 9 years
b. 12 years
d. 17 years
The Townshend Acts placed import taxes on paint, glass, lead, and
a. coffee.
c. copper.
b. salt.
d. tea.
The Constitution is based on the concept of
a. expressed powers.
c. popular sovereignty.
b. judicial activism.
d. jurisdiction.
This section of the Constitution states why it was written.
a. Amendments
c. Preamble
b. Bill of Rights
d. Articles
Article I of the Constitution created the voice of the people in the
a. executive branch.
c. Senate.
b. Supreme Court.
d. House of Representatives.
Under Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Supreme Court demonstrated
a. judicial restraint.
c. judicial activism.
b. a balanced budget.
d. prior restraint.
False speech intended to hurt another is
a. slander.
c. prior restraint.
b. libel.
d. due process of law.
The Framers provided this section of the Constitution so that it will grow with a changing nation.
a. Bill of Rights
c. Preamble
b. Articles
d. Amendments
To protect liberty and specify its powers, the Framers gave Congress
a. expressed powers.
c. executive powers.
b. judicial reviews.
d. judicial restraint.
The Founders created a Constitution that could be adapted for the future through
a. prior restraint.
c. Constitutional ratification.
b. Constitutional amendment.
d. judicial restraint.
A proposed amendment can be ratified by two-thirds vote of each house or by a
a. Congressional petition.
c. presidential order.
b. Supreme Court rule.
d. national convention.
____ 34.
____ 35.
Which document granted all of the rights and freedoms listed in the chart?
a. Magna Carta
c. Bill of Rights
b. English Bill of Rights
d. Virginia Declaration of Rights
Which principle grants the president the authority to appoint federal judges?
a. judicial review
c. Federalism
b. separation of powers
d. checks and balances
____ 36. If the Supreme Court rules a law unconstitutional, under which principle would the Court be exercising its
authority?
a. judicial review
c. separation of powers
b. checks and balances
d. Federalism
____ 37.
To whom does the system of checks and balances give the authority to confirm judges?
a. President
c. Congress
b. Courts
d. Senate
____ 38. Under the system of checks and balances, the Courts have the power to
a. create lower federal courts.
b. pass laws creating executive agencies.
c. declare presidential actions unconstitutional.
d. all of the above.
____ 39.
Which principle of the Constitution is featured in the cartoon?
a. popular sovereignty
c. checks and balances
b. judicial review
d. limited government
____ 40.
Which courts try the types of cases listed in the diagram?
a. state courts
c. federal courts
b. circuit courts
d. municipal courts
____ 41.
Complete the graphic organizer, identifying the factors that determine the jurisdiction of the federal courts.
a. venue
c. monetary factor
b. legislation affected
d. parties involved
“Congress cannot delegate legislative power to the President to exercise an unfettered discretion to make
whatever laws he thinks may be needed or advisable for the rehabilitation and expansion of trade or
industry.”
—Charles Evans Hughes, 1935
____ 42.
Which principle of the Constitution enables the Supreme Court to strike down legislation?
a. judicial review
c. separation of powers
b. Federalism
d. popular sovereignty
____ 43.
Complete the graphic organizer, identifying the other president who faced impeachment charges.
a. John F. Kennedy
c. Lyndon B. Johnson
b. Gerald Ford
d. Richard M. Nixon
____ 44.
Choose the answer that best defines the type of agreement illustrated in the graphic organizer.
a. treaty
c. foreign policy
b. international agreement
d. executive agreement
____ 45.
Which amendment addressed the salaries of the members of Congress?
a. 27
c. 26
b. 23
d. 25
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____ 53.
Which amendment abolished the poll tax?
a. 24th
c. 13th
b. 21st
d. 16th
The United States Congress, which is made up of two houses, is a
a. constitutional legislature.
c. reform legislature.
b. bi-session legislature.
d. bicameral legislature.
This is NOT a qualification for election to the Senate.
a. at least 30 years old
c. married for 5 years
b. legal resident of state of election
d. a citizen for 9 years
The standing committees of each house are controlled by
a. the minority party.
c. the majority leader.
b. the minority leader.
d. the majority party.
This group specializes in a subcategory of its standing committee's responsibility.
a. subcommittee
c. select committee
b. conference committee
d. joint committee
These committees act as study groups for the House and Senate.
a. select committees
c. joint committees
b. conference committees
d. standing committees
Some lawmakers believe this group has too much power.
a. administrative assistants
c. select committee members
b. congressional staffers
d. Library of Congress staffers
The budget-making work of Congress is coordinated by the
a. Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
b. Government Printing Office (GPO).
c. General Accounting Office (GAO).
d. Library of Congress.
____ 54. This is NOT a qualification for election to the House of Representatives.
a. at least 25 years old
c. a citizen for 7 years
b. a degree in law
d. legal resident of state of election
____ 55. People in districts represented in Congress are called
a. a census.
c. a quorum.
b. constituents.
d. a caucus.
____ 56. The president of the Senate is the
a. majority leader.
c. vice president.
b. minority leader.
d. Speaker.
____ 57. A filibuster can be stopped when three-fifths of the Senate votes for
a. a quorum.
c. censure.
b. a census.
d. cloture.
____ 58. The power to write the rules in Congress is controlled by the
a. vice president.
c. majority party.
b. minority party.
d. Speaker.
____ 59. This is a House subcommittee.
a. Appropriations
c. Veterans' Affairs
b. Human Resources
d. Rules
____ 60. This government office is responsible for the Statistical Abstract of the United States.
a. Government Printing Office (GPO)
b. Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
c. Library of Congress
d. General Accounting Office (GAO)
____ 61.
Choose the answer that best completes the chart, identifying the houses of the legislature.
a. Supreme Court
c. Speaker of the House
b. Congress
d. Senate
____ 62.
Which state has the most seats in the House of Representatives?
a. California
c. Pennsylvania
b. Michigan
d. Texas
____ 63. How many states lost seats in the House of Representatives after the 2000 redistricting?
a. 11
c. 9
b. 10
d. 12
____ 64.
The 1st and this district appear to have been redrawn—note their unnatural shapes—for congressional
redistricting.
a. 6th
c. 11th
b. 8th
d. 12th
____ 65.
During which time period did Democrats have the greatest hold on the Senate?
a. 1965–1967
c. 1921–1923
b. 2003–2005
d. 1937–1939
____ 66.
The Constitution states three requirements for Senate eligibility. Choose the answer that best completes the
chart.
a. at least 25 years old
c. at least 45 years old
b. at least 18 years old
d. at least 30 years old
“Automatic annual adjustments to congressional salaries meet both the language and the spirit of the 27th
Amendment. . . . One way to maintain high-quality government is to provide our elected officials with a living
wage that automatically changes to reflect changed economic conditions.”
— Judge Stanley Sporkin, 1992
____ 67.
Judge Stanley Sporkin’s decision references the 27th Amendment, which
a. enables a sitting Congress to avoid paying taxes.
b. denies Congress pay raises.
c. limits the percentage of Congress’s pay increases to 20 percent.
d. prohibits a sitting Congress from giving itself a pay increase.
____ 68.
Which national legislature has the most members?
a. United States
c. Mexico
b. Japan
d. United Kingdom
____ 69.
Which committee works to adapt House and Senate versions of bills?
a. Standing
c. Conference
b. Select
d. Joint
____ 70. Which committee serves as a study group?
a. Conference
c. Select
b. Joint
d. Standing
____ 71.
Which temporary congressional committee works to resolve the issues listed in the graphic organizer?
a. Conference
c. Standing
b. Joint
d. Select
____ 72.
Which personal staff member holds these responsibilities?
a. caseworker
c. administrative assistant
b. congressional secretary
d. legislative assistant
“As the door of the “Senators Only” elevator opened, their bosses would pour out. . . . If they did not know
what they were voting on (votes occurred frequently throughout the day, and it was hard to keep track), . . .
they would glance to the side to see if someone were waiting. A staffer might wave and run up for a huddled
conference behind a pillar; or if the senator were in a hurry . . . he [or she] might simply expect a quick
thumbs-up or thumbs-down gesture.”
—Mark Bisnow, 1990
____ 73.
Which congressional staff member is Bisnow describing?
a. administrative assistant
c. legislative assistant
b. caseworker
d. committee staff member
“The Rules Committee is an agent of the leadership. It is what distinguishes us from the Senate, where the
rules deliberately favor those who would delay. The rules of the House . . . permit a majority to work its will
on legislation rather than allow it to be bottled up and stymied.”
—Speaker Jim Wright, 1987
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____ 79.
To what government body does the author of the passage belong?
a. the House Rules Committee
c. Supreme Court
b. the Senate
d. Attorney General’s Office
Following the vice president, the next in succession for the presidency is the
a. Speaker of the House.
c. president pro tempore of the Senate.
b. House whip.
d. majority leader of the Senate.
This African American won the support of many delegates at the 1988 Democratic Convention.
a. Margaret Chase Smith
c. Jesse Jackson
b. Colin Powell
d. Geraldine Ferraro
A president cannot exceed this number of years in office.
a. 6 years
c. 4 years
b. 10 years
d. 8 years
This group is chosen by the president for their experience in selected areas.
a. Electoral College
c. cabinet
b. press corps
d. chief of political parties
This is the largest agency of the Executive Office of the President.
a. Office of Management and Budget
c. Council of Economic Advisers
b. Congressional Budget Office
d. National Security Council
____ 80. The Reorganization Act of 1939 created the
a. National Security Council.
c. Executive Office of the President.
b. Economic Report of the President.
d. National Economic Council.
____ 81. Commander of the national armed forces is the
a. president.
c. vice president.
b. State of the Union general.
d. attorney general.
____ 82. This address is given by the president to Congress.
a. White House address
c. State of the Union message
b. president pro tempore message
d. Presidential confirmation address
____ 83. This person administers the presidential oath of office.
a. Speaker of the House
c. chief justice
b. outgoing president
d. vice president
____ 84. President Clinton's inner circle did NOT include this adviser.
a. press secretary
c. National Security Council adviser
b. chief of staff
d. White House council
____ 85.
According to the chart, which of these individuals served the longest in the executive office?
a. Thomas Jefferson
c. Harry S Truman
b. Richard M. Nixon
d. George Bush
____ 86. All of the following served two terms as president EXCEPT:
a. Theodore Roosevelt
c. John Adams
b. Richard M. Nixon
d. Harry S Truman
“The presidency of the United States carries with it a responsibility so personal as to be without parallel. . . .
No one can make decisions for him. . . . Even those closest to him . . . never know all the reasons why he does
certain things and why he comes to certain conclusions. To be President of the United States is to be lonely,
very lonely at times of great decisions.”
____ 87.
Identify which president made these remarks on the loneliness of being the commander-in-chief.
a. Abraham Lincoln
c. Franklin D. Roosevelt
b. George Washington
d. Harry S Truman
____ 88.
Choose the answer that best completes the flow chart, identifying the amendment that was created in reaction
to Kennedy’s assassination.
a. Twenty-fifth
c. Twenty-first
b. Twenty-third
d. Eighteenth
____ 89.
Choose the answer that best completes the chart, identifying the amendment created in response to this
situation.
a. Eighteenth
c. Twenty-fifth
b. Fifth
d. Twelfth
____ 90.
How many weeks pass between the time Congress counts the electoral votes and inauguration?
a. 2
c. 10
b. 3
d. 4
____ 91.
In the 2000 election, Bush won the electoral vote by
a. 1%.
c. 5%.
b. 3%.
d. 7%.
____ 92.
Bush won all of the following states’ electoral votes EXCEPT:
a. Texas
c. Ohio
b. Nevada
d. Pennsylvania
____ 93.
Kerry received all of the following states’ electoral votes EXCEPT:
a. Pennsylvania
c. Vermont
b. California
d. Ohio
“I have gathered you together to hear what I have written down. I do not wish your advice about the main
matter. That I have determined for myself.”
—Abraham Lincoln, 1862
____ 94.
What document—referenced in the quote—did Lincoln bring his cabinet together to read before he made it
public?
a. Gettysburg Address
c. State of the Union
b. Bill of Rights
d. Emancipation Proclamation
____ 95.
Choose the answer that best completes the chart, identifying the inner cabinet.
a. Secretary of Labor
c. Secretary of Education
b. Secretary of Agriculture
d. Secretary of Defense
____ 96.
Which president had the least number of executive employees?
a. George Bush
c. Truman
b. Ford
d. Roosevelt
____ 97.
Complete the chart, identifying the third most influential agency within the EOP.
a. Office of Management and Budget
c. Office of Environmental Policy
b. Homeland Security Council
d. Domestic Policy Council
____ 98.
Study the graphic. Which method does the United States use to elect its president?
a. direct election
b. chosen by representatives of the people
c. nominated by people, chosen by legislature
d. elected by legislature
____ 99. The purpose of the Bill of Rights is to protect rights of individual liberty and
a. the rights of states.
b. the rights of persons accused of crimes.
c. the rights of the federal government.
d. the rights of legislators.
____ 100. How did the Twenty-first Amendment affect the Eighteenth Amendment?
a. changed its venue
c. repealed it
b. supported it
d. ratified it