Constitution Review Guide
1. Who was the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights?
2. What is the significance of the Virginia statute for religious freedom?
3. What fundamental concept of democracy protects the rights of the few from the oppression of
the majority?
4. What are the fundamental principles of government in the Constitution?
5. This form of government divides the power between the national and state governments:
6. This branch of government was established by Article I of the Constitution:
7. What process did the framers of the Constitution provide so that the document would remain
responsive to the needs of a changing nation?
8. This court case gave the judicial branch the power to decide when a law or an act of the other
branches is “unconstitutional” by introducing Judicial Review:
9. How can a new amendment be proposed?
10. How can a new amendment be ratified?
11. What freedoms are guaranteed to Americans by the 1st amendment?
12. What right is guaranteed by the 2nd amendment?
13. Which amendment prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment”?
14. Which amendment ensures the right to a speedy and public trial?
15. Which amendment reserves all rights not already delegated or prohibited, to the states?
16. List and describe the powers of the three branches of government. Describe the separation of
powers and the checks and balances that the framers wrote into the Constitution. Be thorough
and specific.
17. List and describe the six fundamental concepts of democracy. Explain how these concepts are
included in the Constitution. Be thorough and specific.