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Module 2: Week 2
Quiz: The Constitution
29 out of 30
1. During the ratification process, which group favored decentralization to preserve
liberty from an overpowering central government?
a. Antifederalists
2. What was one primary feature of most early state constitutions?
a. A detailed bill of rights
3. Which of the following was true of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
a. Most were members of the upper class, and a majority came from professional
backgrounds.
4. Under the separation of powers, the U.S. system keeps power among the branches
balanced by enabling one branch to counter the actions of another by the use of which
of the following?
a. Checks and balances
5. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was brought about by which of the following?
a. The failure of the Articles of Confederation
6. Shays's Rebellion plays an important role in American history for which of the
following reasons?
a. It made obvious the weaknesses of the government under the Articles of
Confederation.
7. A constitutional amendment can be ratified in which of the following ways?
a. A two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, followed by a positive vote in the
legislatures of three-fourths of the states
8. The goal of the Framers of the U.S. Constitution was to create what type of system?
a. A republic based on a system of representation
9. The president of the United States is selected by which of the following?
a. The Electoral College
10. How many special state conventions had to ratify the U.S. Constitution before it took
effect?
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a. Nine
11. The Declaration of Independence was necessary for which of the following reasons?
a. To establish the legitimacy of the new nation in the eyes of foreign governments
and the colonists
12. Which of the following is the term for the fundamental law undergirding the structure
of the government?
a. Constitution
13. The Virginia Plan included which of the following?
a. It called for a bicameral legislature.
14. Which of the following is true with regard to the Great Compromise?
a. It proposed a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate.
15. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" are the first
words of which of the following documents?
a. The Declaration of Independence
16. The Declaration of Independence listed grievances against which person for
violations against political liberties?
a. King George III
17. Which group was entirely excluded from the ratification of the Constitution?
a. Women
18. The Articles of Confederation did which of the following?
a. Allowed the states to retain most of their power
19. What was true for amendments under the Articles of Confederation?
a. They had to be supported by all thirteen states.
20. How did Pennsylvania’s government, which was considered <radically democratic,=
differ from other state governments?
a. It had no governor.
21. Which of the following is a key difference between the Virginia Plan and the
present-day American government?
a. In the Virginia Plan, the president was not elected by the people.
22. The Bill of Rights limits the power of which of the following?
a. The government over the rights and liberties of individuals
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23. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson's statement that "all men are
created equal" is similar to which of the following theorist's belief that government is
based on the "consent of the governed"?
a. John Locke
24. Under the Articles of Confederation, who headed Congress?
a. A presiding officer selected from among its members
25. The scope and authority of power that Congress was granted under the Articles of
Confederation can best be described as which of the following?
a. Narrow
26. States were granted extra representation based on the number of slaves they held
under which of the following?
a. The three-fifths compromise
27. Originally, the Constitutional Convention's purpose was to do which of the following?
a. Revise the Articles of Confederation
28. The fundamental weakness of the Articles of Confederation was which of the
following?
a. The inability of Congress to raise funds
29. The selection of senators by state legislatures was intended to serve as a check on
which of the following?
a. Popular will
30. In 1776, what was one important reason that colonists regarded independence as
desirable?
a. They no longer had confidence that the British government would protect their
liberties.
