Civics Essay Study Guide
Chapter 3
1. Explain the situation of the Articles of Confederation and the Confederation Congress.
What powers did it have? What were its weaknesses?
2. Define the Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance. Why were they significant?
3. What was the situation that led to a need for the Articles to be revised? What event was the
most significant in pointing to a need for a stronger central government?
4. Analyze the Philadelphia Convention. Include what the environment of the Convention was
like, the goals of the Convention, and how the Convention was regulated.
5. Compare and contrast the ideas of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. How did these two
parties contribute to the development of the Constitution?
6. Choose 3 of the 4 compromises made during the Convention and explain the details and
significance of each one.
7. Identify 3 reasons given for the Constitution in the Preamble. Explain how each fits with the
4 functions of government from Chapter 1.
8. Explain how an amendment is added to the Constitution.
9. Define three types of powers in the Constitution. Give an example of each.
10. Explain how 3 of the following terms are included in the Constitution: popular sovereignty,
rule of law, limited government, separation of powers, and checks & balances.
11. List the Articles of the Constitution and what each one deals with.
Chapter 4
12. Choose several of the amendments and reflect on how those amendments relate to the
experiences of the colonies with the British government.
13. What are civil liberties? Explain how the 1st amendment protects our civil liberties.
14. What are civil rights? What are some key features of the Civil Rights movement?
15. What are some of ways our 1st amendment rights are limited?
16. Identify and explain 3 of the following concepts from the 5th amendment: Due Process,
Indictment, Eminent Domain, ‘Self-Incrimination’, Double Jeopardy.
17. Analyze the Civil War amendments. How effective were they?