1
U.S. Constitution Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
What is the Constitution? Answer: -Organizing
document and framework for public life in the U.S.
-Supreme law of the U.S.
-Symbol, artifact, set of meanings
What 6 things does the Constitution do? Answer: -
Provides new framework for national government
-Grants, defines, and assigns power and responsibilities
(most importantly provides limits on power )
-Protects individual rights from government
encroachment
-Protects states from centralized power
-Stands as the supreme law
Pretest - Stuvia US
,2
-Balances: granting enough power to govern, but not
enough to oppress and rights of the community vs.
rights of the individual
What are the central principles of the Constitution?
Answer: 1. Recognize inherent rights
2. Recognize democratic principles
3. Limit government powers
4. Separate and balance powers in the central
government
5. Create a Federation of States (Federalism)
6. Judicial Review
7. Confirm civilian supremacy
8. Define and secure individual rights
Why do we need a constitution? Answer: Communal
life needs organization--there will always be a
Pretest - Stuvia US
,3
government. Therefore, the government needs a
framework and controls and limits on its power.
Where did the Constitutional Convention take place?
Answer: Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA
Summer 1787
What were the primary issues of the Constitutional
Convention? Answer: Primary issues:
-What is to be the relationship between states and the
central government?
-What is the relationship of the central government's
branches to one another?
-Who should participate in decision making? How will
they be represented?
-What rights and responsibilities shall citizens have?
-How will officials be selected and removed?
-How much power should be given to the new gov?
Pretest - Stuvia US
, 4
Special points of contention:
-Representation in congress
-Slavery
-Elections, voting and democracy
-Rights of citizens
What were the "Battleground states" during the
ratification of the new Constitution? Answer: New
York, Massachusetts, Virginia
When were the Articles of Confederation ratified?
Answer: They were finished in 1777, but not ratified
until 1781 because of a territorial dispute with
Maryland
How did the Articles of Confederation set up the
government? Answer: Under the authority of the
Articles, the states created a national Congress
comprised of annually elected delegates from all
Pretest - Stuvia US
U.S. Constitution Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
What is the Constitution? Answer: -Organizing
document and framework for public life in the U.S.
-Supreme law of the U.S.
-Symbol, artifact, set of meanings
What 6 things does the Constitution do? Answer: -
Provides new framework for national government
-Grants, defines, and assigns power and responsibilities
(most importantly provides limits on power )
-Protects individual rights from government
encroachment
-Protects states from centralized power
-Stands as the supreme law
Pretest - Stuvia US
,2
-Balances: granting enough power to govern, but not
enough to oppress and rights of the community vs.
rights of the individual
What are the central principles of the Constitution?
Answer: 1. Recognize inherent rights
2. Recognize democratic principles
3. Limit government powers
4. Separate and balance powers in the central
government
5. Create a Federation of States (Federalism)
6. Judicial Review
7. Confirm civilian supremacy
8. Define and secure individual rights
Why do we need a constitution? Answer: Communal
life needs organization--there will always be a
Pretest - Stuvia US
,3
government. Therefore, the government needs a
framework and controls and limits on its power.
Where did the Constitutional Convention take place?
Answer: Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA
Summer 1787
What were the primary issues of the Constitutional
Convention? Answer: Primary issues:
-What is to be the relationship between states and the
central government?
-What is the relationship of the central government's
branches to one another?
-Who should participate in decision making? How will
they be represented?
-What rights and responsibilities shall citizens have?
-How will officials be selected and removed?
-How much power should be given to the new gov?
Pretest - Stuvia US
, 4
Special points of contention:
-Representation in congress
-Slavery
-Elections, voting and democracy
-Rights of citizens
What were the "Battleground states" during the
ratification of the new Constitution? Answer: New
York, Massachusetts, Virginia
When were the Articles of Confederation ratified?
Answer: They were finished in 1777, but not ratified
until 1781 because of a territorial dispute with
Maryland
How did the Articles of Confederation set up the
government? Answer: Under the authority of the
Articles, the states created a national Congress
comprised of annually elected delegates from all
Pretest - Stuvia US
