The US Constitution:
revision exercises
FOTOLIA
Rowena Hammal
The US Constitution: revision exercises
How to use these revision exercises
You can use these revision exercises to check your knowledge of the US Constitution.
•
There are five sections to work through and the correct answers are given on the
slides immediately following each section.
•
The number of marks available for each section is written in brackets after the
title. Award yourself one mark for each correct answer. There are a total of 50
marks available.
•
Keep score as you complete each section and then add up your total score at the
end to find out which US president you most resemble.
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Overview
(9 marks)
Answer the following questions:
1.How many states are there in the USA?
2. The US has a system of government whereby there are national laws but also
individual state laws. What is the name of this system?
Fill in the gaps below:
3. The nature of the US Constitution allows a balance between states’ ______ and
strong central _________.
4. The US executive is the _____________, the US legislature is the ____________
(composed of the ___________ and the ________________), and the US judiciary
is headed by the _________________.
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Answers: overview
1. How many states are there in the USA?
50 (and Washington, DC, which is a federal district).
2. The US has a system of government whereby there are national laws but also
individual state laws. What is the name of this system?
Federal system.
3. The nature of the US Constitution allows a balance between states’ rights and
strong central government.
4. The US executive is the president, the US legislature is the Congress (composed
of the Senate and the House of Representatives), and the US judiciary is headed
by the Supreme Court.
The US Constitution: revision exercises
History of the US Constitution
(9 marks)
Answer the following multiple-choice questions:
1.How many British colonies were there before the War of Independence?
•9
•11
•13
2. What was the issue that triggered the War of Independence?
•Taxation without representation
•Taxation without compensation
•Taxation without adjustment for inflation
3. Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
•George Washington
•Thomas Jefferson
•Abraham Lincoln
Continued on the next slide…
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Fill in the gaps below:
4. In 1787 the __________________________ wrote the Constitution at the
Philadelphia Convention. The document was a _________ that balanced the rights
of small states with the demands of states with large populations.
5. The arrangements for each house of Congress were different. In the
____________, states were represented equally, with ____ seats per state.
6. In the ______________, states were represented according to the size of their
___________, with some states receiving more seats than others.
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Answers: history of the US Constitution
1. How many British colonies were there before the War of Independence?
•
13
2. What was the issue that triggered the War of Independence?
•
Taxation without representation
3. Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
•
Thomas Jefferson
Continued on the next slide…
The US Constitution: revision exercises
4. In 1787 the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution at the Philadelphia
Convention. The document was a compromise that balanced the rights of small
states with the demands of states with large populations.
5. The arrangements for each house of Congress were different. In the Senate,
states were represented equally, with two seats per state.
6. In the House of Representatives, states were represented according to the size of
their populations, with some states receiving more seats than others.
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Key principles
(8 marks)
Match up each of the terms on the left to the correct description on the right.
Sovereign
Elected representatives make decisions on the people’s behalf.
Codified
Each branch of federal government has powers to constrain the
other two, e.g. the president can veto legislation from Congress.
Limited
government
Separation of
powers
Checks and
balances
The powers of the government are restricted in order to protect the
rights of individual citizens and states.
The Constitution is the ultimate source of authority.
The Constitution relies upon the consent of the people to be
governed — in return, government has an obligation to govern
fairly and well on their behalf.
Social contract
Government is shared between the federal government and the
states, with each responsible for different things.
Representativ
e government
The Constitution is a written and self-contained document.
Federalism
The three branches of the federal government are discrete from
each other. No one can be in more than one branch at the same
time (exception: vice president is president of the Senate).
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Answers: key principles
Sovereign
The Constitution is the ultimate source of authority.
Codified
The Constitution is a written and self-contained document.
Limited
government
The powers of the government are restricted in order to protect
the rights of individual citizens and states.
Separation of
powers
The three branches of the federal government are discrete from
each other. No one can be in more than one branch at the same
time (exception: vice president is president of the Senate).
Checks and
balances
Each branch of federal government has powers to constrain the
other two, e.g. the president can veto legislation from Congress.
Social contract
The Constitution relies upon the consent of the people to be
governed — in return, government has an obligation to govern
fairly and well on their behalf.
Representativ
e government
Federalism
Elected representatives make decisions on the people’s behalf.
Government is shared between the federal government and the
states, with each responsible for different things.
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Constitutional amendments
(17 marks)
Fill in the gaps for these important amendments to the Constitution:
The Constitution is designed to be difficult to amend. In order for Congress to
propose an amendment, a ___________ majority is needed in both houses, and
____________ of the state legislatures must ratify it. These types of majorities are
known as ________-majorities because they are greater than a simple majority of
50%+1.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called the _______________ and
contain fundamental constitutional rights. These include the 1st Amendment which
is the right to freedom of ________, the 2nd Amendment which is the right to bear
________, the 4th Amendment which protects citizens against unreasonable _____,
the 5th Amendment which gives rights to people accused of a ______, the 8th
Amendment which prohibits cruel and unusual ______________, and the 10th
Amendment which specifies the powers reserved for the _______ and the people.
Continued on the next slide…
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Answer the following questions:
1.How many amendments to the Constitution are there?
2.Which amendment is often cited by defendants in trials who refuse to answer
questions (known as ‘taking the ____’)?
3.Which amendment is used by campaigners to justify the abolition of capital
punishment?
4.Which amendment is beloved by the National Rifle Association (NRA)?
5.The 13th, 14th and 15th amendments were all ratified after the Civil War. What was
their purpose?
6.The 21st Amendment of 1933 repealed the 18th Amendment of 1919. What failed
experiment did this end?
7.Why might women be encouraged by the 19th Amendment but disheartened by
the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)?
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Answers: constitutional amendments
The Constitution is designed to be difficult to amend. In order for Congress to
propose an amendment, a two-thirds majority is needed in both houses, and threequarters of the state legislatures must ratify it. These types of majorities are known
as super-majorities because they are greater than a simple majority of 50%+1.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights and contain
fundamental constitutional rights. These include the 1st Amendment which is the
right to freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly, the 2nd Amendment which
is the right to bear arms, the 4th Amendment which protects citizens against
unreasonable seizures and searches, the 5th Amendment which gives rights to
people accused of a crime, the 8th Amendment which prohibits cruel and unusual
punishments, and the 10th Amendment which specifies the powers reserved for the
states and the people.
Continued on the next slide…
The US Constitution: revision exercises
1. How many amendments to the Constitution are there? 27
2. Which amendment is often cited by defendants in trials who refuse to answer
questions (known as ‘taking the ____’)? 5th
3. Which amendment is used by campaigners to justify the abolition of capital
punishment? 8th
4. Which amendment is beloved by the National Rifle Association (NRA)? 2nd
5. The 13th, 14th and 15th amendments were all ratified after the Civil War. What
was their purpose? To abolish slavery and confer rights upon ex-slaves
6. The 21st Amendment of 1933 repealed the 18th Amendment of 1919. What failed
experiment did this end? The prohibition of alcohol
7. Why might women be encouraged by the 19th Amendment but disheartened by
the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)? The 19th enfranchised women. The ERA was
passed by Congress in 1972 but failed to be ratified by two-thirds of states by its
1982 deadline, so was not adopted
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Federalism (7 marks)
Match up the phases of federalism on the left to the correct description on the right.
Dual federalism
(1780s–1930s)
States are allowed more choice over how they spend federal
money, through the use of block grants.
14th Amendment
Federal government may charge income tax.
(1868)
Affordable Care Act made health insurance compulsory,
regardless of state laws.
16th Amendment
(1913)
Co-operative
federalism
(1930s–60s)
New federalism
(1970s onwards)
George W. Bush
(2001–09)
Barack Obama
(2009–)
Greater role for federal government, first through the New
Deal and later through categorical grants.
States have to ensure citizens have equal protection under the
law — this provided the legal basis for the ending of
segregation in the South.
Massive increase in federal spending to fund wars, counterterrorism and education.
Federal government and state had different functions. In order
to protect states’ rights, federal government had a limited role.
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Answers: federalism
Dual federalism
(1780s–1930s)
14th Amendment
(1868)
16th Amendment
(1913)
Co-operative federalism
(1930s–60s)
New federalism
(1970s onwards)
George W. Bush
(2001–09)
Barack Obama
(2009–)
Federal government and state had different functions. In
order to protect states’ rights, federal government had a
limited role.
States have to ensure citizens have equal protection under
the law — this provided the legal basis for the ending of
segregation in the South.
Federal government may charge income tax.
Greater role for federal government, first through the New
Deal and later through categorical grants.
States are allowed more choice over how they spend
federal money, through the use of block grants.
Massive increase in federal spending to fund wars,
counter-terrorism and education.
Affordable Care Act made health insurance compulsory,
regardless of state laws.
The US Constitution: revision exercises
Which president are you?
Add up your total score to find out which US president you most resemble.
41–50 George Washington. The ‘father of the nation’who won the War of
Independence and presided over the newly founded USA, earning himself a
special place in the history books. Clearly revision is proceeding well and you
are headed for greatness. Keep going!
31–40 Barack Obama. The jury is still out on this president. Obama promised
change and a new kind of politics but his tenure has been hampered by
partisanship and a struggling economy. Like him, you have the potential to
succeed but you’ve got a lot more work to do. Yes, you can!
Continued on the next slide…
The US Constitution: revision exercises
21–30 Jimmy Carter. The likeable peanut farmer from Georgia was widely
perceived as well-meaning but ineffective, and was refused a second term
by the electorate. Time to hit the books to ensure that you don’t suffer a
similarly frustrating fate. Get cracking!
11–20 Herbert Hoover. Hoover presided over the Wall Street Crash and the
Great Depression, and was kicked out of office by voters after just one
term. Your exam result could be equally depressing if you don’t improve
your knowledge base. It’s time to emulate Franklin D. Roosevelt and
make a New Deal with your revision!
0–10
William Henry Harrison. Sadly this president died of pneumonia in
1841, after only 32 days in office. Your exam could be less successful
than Harrison’s presidency unless you do some revision. Don’t make
excuses — start learning now!