Name Date
Vocabulary Match the definitions with the correct terms.
Definitions / Termsa.dividing the government so that each branch balances
the powers of the others
b.government in which citizens have power to make
political decisions
c.a law
d.ways that each branch of government limits the power
of the other branches
e.an addition / 1ordinance
2amendment
3democracy
4separation of
powers
5checks and
balances
Definitions / Terms
a.the document that first held the states together as a
union
b.to approve
c.refusal to sign a law
d.an introduction
e.the first ten amendments to the Constitution / 6Preamble
7Articles of
Confederation
8Bill of Rights
9veto
10ratify
Key Concepts Choose the letter of the correct answer.
11.What was one difference between the Articles of Confederation and theConstitution?
AUnder the Articles of Confederation, the government had only one branch.
BUnder the Articles of Confederation, the federal government was strong.
CUnder the Constitution, all states had to approve laws.
DUnder the Constitution, the government could not pass laws to collect taxes.
12.What problem did war debts pose for the new nation?
FThe American people did not want to repay the debts.
GThe American people did not believe that the country owed money.
HThe government could not collect taxes to repay the debts.
IThe government could not get good terms for repaying the debts.
Use the map below to answer the next two questions.
13.What was one effect of the ordinance that organized the territory shown in the map?
AIt created good relations with the Native Americans.
BIt stopped slavery from spreading northward.
CIt limited settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.
DIt made French our national language.
14.What natural feature formed the western boundary of the territory shown on the map?
Fthe Appalachian Mountains
Gthe Pacific Ocean
Hthe Ohio River
Ithe Mississippi River
15.The fact that the new nation had no national currency reflected
Athe inability of the 13 states to agree about money.
Bthe inflation that made money nearly worthless.
Cthe weak central government of the new nation.
Dthe inability of the nation to trade with other nations.
16.What caused Shays’ Rebellion?
AThe federal government taxed the income farmers earned.
BOne state raised taxes that people paid on their property.
CThe federal government jailed people who could not pay their taxes.
DOne state refused to pay the taxes it owed the federal government.
17.What was one result of Shays’ Rebellion?
Fcalls for a stronger central government
Gdefeat of the new nation’s army
Hnew taxes imposed on farmers
Icreation of state militias
18.Why was the Constitutional Convention called?
ADelegates needed to choose a president.
BDelegates wanted to name a chief justice.
CThe country needed a stronger central government.
DThe country was on the brink of another war.
19.Why did smaller states favor the New Jersey Plan?
FIt gave all states the same number of representatives.
GIt called for the legislature to choose the executive branch.
HIt called for a legislature with two houses.
IIt called for the legislature to choose the judicial branch.
20.What was the MOST important way that the new government described in the
Constitution prevented any one person or group from becoming too powerful?
AThe government had a two-part legislature.
BThe government had three branches with checks on each other’s powers.
CThe Constitution divided power between two executives.
DThe Constitution provided voting rights to everyone.
21.Which of the following can ONLY state governments do?
Fcollect taxes
Gset up courts
Hmake laws about international trade
Iissue licenses
22.What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
Fto decide whether a king should lead the government
Gto form a stronger government by revising the Articles of Confederation
Hto get delegates to sign the new Constitution
Ito name a leader for the country’s army
23.What did the Three-Fifths Compromise do?
FIt included three-fifths of the enslaved people in population counts.
GIt required three-fifths of the states to ratify a law.
HIt put three-fifths of the Articles of Confederation into the Constitution.
IIt gave small states three-fifths as many representatives as large states.
24.Read the quote below before answering the question that follows.
By issuing this warning, the speaker of the passage above reveals that he or she is a
Asupporter of a strong central government
Bsupporter of George Washington as the first president
Csupporter of the Declaration of Independence
Dsupporter of the Articles of Confederation
25.Why did states with large populations favor the Virginia Plan?
AIt had the legislature choose judges.
BIt had the legislature choose the executive.
CIt based representation on population.
DIt based representation on land area.
26.Which of the following can ONLY the national government do?
Fcollect taxes
Gprint money
Hmanage elections
Iset up courts
27.Read the following statement: “A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against
every government on earth.”
Which politician MOST likely said these words?
AThomas Jefferson
BJames Madison
CJohn Jay
DAlexander Hamilton
28.Why did the process of states ratifying the Constitution slow after five states
had ratified it?
FSouthern states were not happy with the Three-Fifths Compromise.
GMany states wanted the Constitution to have a Bill of Rights.
HNorthern states would not agree to allow slavery in the nation.
IMany states did not want the country to have an executive branch.
29.Why did some states hesitate to ratify the Constitution?
AThey thought it needed a Bill of Rights.
BThey did not want to be part of the new country.
CThey wanted to abolish slavery.
DThey were hoping for a better document.
30.Use this passage from the Bill of Rights to answer the next question.
The Amendment above was a victory for
Fthose who wanted a strong central government.
Gthose who supported James Madison’s views.
HAnti-Federalists.
INationalists.
31.Which group gained the right to vote in 1920?
AAfrican American men
B18-year-olds
Cwomen
DNative Americans
32.Which of the following is a civic responsibility?
Afree speech
Bvoting
Cdue process
Dassembling
33.Read the list below before answering the next question.
rule of law
judicial review
popular sovereignty
What is the BEST title for the list?
FElements of Democracy in the United States
GThe Declaration of Independence’s Guarantees
HWays of Ensuring Domestic Tranquility
IReasons for Expanding Voting Rights
34.Why is the rule of law an important principle?
FIt protects citizens from the government’s misuse of power.
GIt says courts can overturn laws.
HIt says Americans work for a common good.
IIt gives the Executive Branch power over the other two branches of government.
35.When the Supreme Court says a law is unconstitutional, it is
Aexercising its check on the power of the legislature.
Boverstepping its authority.
Cdepriving the president of his role.
Dcreating new laws.
36.How does the Constitution limit the power of the military?
FIt forbids citizens from owning weapons.
GIt calls for a military draft.
HIt limits who can join the military.
IIt divides up control of the armed forces.
37.When the president sends the National Guard to an area that has experienced a flood,
which purpose of the government is being fulfilled?
Aforming a more perfect union
Bestablishing justice
Censuring domestic tranquility
Dproviding for the common defense
38.When the Constitution was written, which citizens had the right to vote?
Afree African American males
Bwhite married females
Cwhite male property owners
Dmarried African American women
39.Social Security is an example of a government program that
Fpromotes the general welfare.
Gensures domestic tranquility.
Hprovides for the common defense.
Isecures liberty.
40.Which branch of the military is MOST likely to patrol the coastline?
AArmy
BAir Force
CCoast Guard
DMarines
41-43.Use the graphic below to answer the next two questions.
Each arrow on the graphic shows that a branch of government can check the power of the
branch to which the arrow is pointing. Explain how each branch where an arrow starts can check
the power of the branch at the other end of the arrow.
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Building Our Country