Bill of Rights – Are you a Legal Scholar?
1. Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
2. Select one of the following: The Bill of Rights is
a) An introduction to the original Constitution
b) Any bill involving personal rights passed by Congress
c) The first Ten Amendments
3. The Bill of Rights originated with the Constitution. True or False?
4. The Third Amendment sets limits on quartering soldiers in persons' homes. Why was the
amendment included?
5. Why did many of the framers of the Constitution feel that the first Ten Amendments to the
Constitution should not actually be called a Bill of Rights?
6. All our rights are listed in the Constitution. True or False?
7. According to the Bill of Rights, what happens to the "other powers" not listed in the Bill of
Rights?
8. What was the last state to ratify the Bill of Rights?
9. In addition to listing certain rights, what policy was established by the manner in which the Bill of
Rights was added?
10. Under the Sixth Amendment all citizens accused of a serious crime are guaranteed the right to
a) Privacy
b) Bail
c) Counsel
11. Which amendment in the Bill of Rights forbids the government from compelling a person from
testifying against him/herself?
12. A student who has religious objections to saying the Pledge of Allegiance does not have to say it.
True or False?
13. If a citizen has his house taken away from him without a court hearing, it would be a denial of:
a) Right to a trial
b) Due process
c) States' rights
14. Which amendment in the Bill of Rights abolished slavery?
15. Under the first amendment you have the right to practice the r- - - - - - - of your choice. You can
give s - - - - - es (even critical) of the government without the threat of imprisonment. You can try
to have a law changed by getting other people to sign a p - - - - - - -.
16. Part of the First Amendment prohibits Congress from making any laws "respecting an
establishment of religion." What does this mean?
17. Which amendment protects us against censorship?
18. A teacher can be fired for refusing to sign an oath that he/she is not a Communist or a member
of a subversive organization. True or False?
19. On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a march of 200,000 people in Washington,
DC. This was called a "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom." Which amendment in the
Bill of Rights gave Dr. King and his followers the right to march in the nation's capital?
20. What rights would you have if the police wanted to search your house?
21. Did the Bill of Rights guarantee women the right to vote?
22. In a criminal trial, the accused person must prove his or her innocence. True or False?
23. The Bill of Rights guarantees every citizen's right to which of the following?
a) A job
b) Free public education
c) To preach revolution
24. Which amendment in the Bill of Rights permits unpopular organizations the right to conduct
demonstrations, parades, and marches?
25. In what European Country did the idea for citizens' rights first appear?
26. What was the name of the famous European document that actually did promise rights
to the people?
27. What Virginian is credited with writing the Virginia Bill of Rights that was used as a model
for the United States Bill of Rights?
28. Why was North Carolina the 12th of the 13th original states to ratify the Constitution rather
than one of the first?
29. In the last few years what dramatic event happened in connection with North Carolina's original
copy of the Bill of Rights?
30. The First Ten Amendments are called the Bill of Rights. How many total amendments have been
added to our Constitution?
The majority of this quiz was created by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Answers:
1. Several states refused to ratify the Constitution without the guarantee that these rights would be
added.
2. C
3. False: Eight of the 13 original states had Bills of Rights in their state charters or constitutions.
4. British troops were quartered in persons' homes without their consent during the Revolution.
5. Many thought that enumerating rights would lead future officers of the government to believe
those were the only rights citizens had.
6. False
7. The Tenth Amendment states that the "other powers" are given to the states and the people.
8. Connecticut, on April 19, 1939, in a memorial ceremony since they had not ratified it back in
1791. Massachusetts and Georgia also ratified it a memorial ceremony in 1939 for the same
reason.
9. It established the fact that the Constitution could be amended and peaceably changed.
10. C
11. The Fifth Amendment
12. True
13. B
14. Nome: The Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery was ratified in 1865.
15. Religion, speeches, petition
16. The government cannot make special preferences for one or all religions. The clause creates a
division of church and state.
17. The First Amendment
18. False
19. The First Amendment
20. The Fourth Amendment protects people from having their homes searched or seized without
a warrant.
21. No: the Nineteenth Amendment gave women the vote.
22. False: You are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
23.C
24.The First Amendment guarantees the right to peacefully assemble.
25. England
26. The Magna Carta
27. George Mason
28. North Carolina's Ratification Convention was led by Wylie Jones and his supporters who favored
a Bill of Rights. George Washington wrote a letter which convinced a later convention that there
would be a Bill of Rights. The twelfth star on the flag belongs to NC. The last state to ratify the
Constitution was Rhode Island.
29. North Carolina's original copy, stolen during the Civil War, was returned to the state.
30. 27
Score:
26-30 You are a legal scholar.
21-26 You are a law student.
16-21 You listened sometimes in school.
0-15 Go directly to the library!