Constitution Test 2025

What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

States had too much power over the national government

Which event demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a new government?

Shays' Rebellion

Which idea addressed the issue of representation at the Constitutional Convention concerning individuals who are enslaved?

Three-Fifths Compromise

Under the Great Compromise, how was each house of Congress determined?

one house based on population and the other house with equal representation for each state

Where was the Consitutional Convention held?

Philadelphia

What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

It was meant to revise, not abolish, the Articles of Confederation

What was one of the most pressing issues at the Constitutional Convention?

Balancing state and federal power

What does the Preamble of the Constitution explain?

the purpose of the Constitution

What is the main function of the legislative branch?

make the laws

How long is the length of a term of office for members of the U.S. House of Representatives?

two years

Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?

Speaker of the House (currently Mike Johnson)

According to the Constitution, how is the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives determined?

based on the state's population

According to the Constitution, what are the three requirements for a Representative?

live in that state, 25 years old, and a citizen for seven years

What is the purpose of taking a census every ten years?

Count who is living in an area to redistribute representation in House of Representatives and to determine number of electors in Electoral College

What does it mean to impeach a federal official?

formally accuse an official of wrongdoing.

Who holds the responsibility for trying an impeached official? (They act as the jury after charges are officially brought)

Senate

How many senators does each state have?

two

Who is the presiding officer of the Senate?

The Vice President (Currently JD Vance)

How long is a term of office for senators?

six years

According to the Constitution, what are the three requirements for a Senator?

live in that state, 30 years old, and a citizen for nine years

What are the two requirements for a bill to become a law?

pass by a majority vote in both the House and the Senate and be signed by the president

What is an exclusive power of the House of Representatives?

To generate revenue (tax) bills, bring the charges in impeachment, decide the president in case of electoral college tie

What is an exclusive power of the Senate?

To approve or reject treaties, approve presidential appointments, act as jury in impeachment trials.

Which power is given to both houses of Congress?

Declaring war

How has the elastic clause affected the actions of the federal government?

It has made it possible for the government to meet changing needs without amending the Constitution.

What is the main function of the executive branch?

enforce the laws

How many years is a presidential term?

four years

According to the Constitution, what are two requirement for the President of the United States?

35 years old and a natural-born citizen

What technically elects the President of the United States?

the Electoral College

Who has the power to declare war?

Congress- Both the house and the senate together

Who has the power to make treaties?

President

Who has the power to appoint Supreme Court justices?

President

Who has the power to to veto Congressional bills?

President

Why did he writers of the Constitution established the electoral college system?

They distrusted the ordinary voter's ability to make a wise and informed choice. Most individuals did not have the right to vote

How is the number of electoral votes of each state determined?

the number of senators plus the number of representatives a state has in Congress

Who serves as the Commander and Chief of the Armed Services?

President

Who delivers the State of the Union address?

President

Who meets and greets heads of state of foreign nations?

President

What is the main function of the judicial branch?

interpret the laws (judicial power and Judicial review)

How long does a Supreme Court or federal judge serve once they are appointed?

until they die, retire, or choose to resign

How many justices are there on the Supreme Court?

nine

What is judicial review?

the right of the Supreme Court to determine if laws and presidential actions are constitutional

How can the Constitution be amended?

if the change is approved by a two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress and three-fourths of the states

Why was the system of checks and balances was designed?

to prevent the dominance of one branch of government over the other two

What phrase describes how the powers of government should be divided among different branches of government or both?

separation of powers

Is establishing a uniform currency a national government or state government power or both?

national government power

Is regulating trade between states a national government or state government power or both?

national government power

Is providing for the national defense a national government or state government power or both?

national government power

Is issuing licenses and transportation laws a national government or state government power or both?

state government power

Is making treaties with foreign governments a national government or state government power or both?

national government power

Is supervising local education a national government or state government power or both?

state government power

Is regulating trade within the state a national government or state government power or both?

state government power

Is conducting elections a national government or state government power or both?

state government power

Is making and enforcing laws a national government power, a state government power or both?

Both

Is establishing courts a national government power, a state government power or both?

Both

Is passing taxes a national government power, a state government power or both?

Both

Is controling foreign affairs a national government power, a state government power or both?

national government power

What was the significance of adding the Bill of Rights in 1791?

it protected the rights and liberties of American citizens

What is protected under the first amendment?

freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom to petition, freedom of assembly

What does it mean when an accused person declares he or she is "Taking the Fifth"?

they refuse to testify against themselves

What does "due process of law" refer to?

The steps that the government must take before it deprives a person of life, liberty, or property.

What requirements are covered under your due process of law rights?

you are given a fair trial, you are read your rights when you are arrested, and you are physically brought before a court to hear the charges against you.

Is it a violation of due process of law rights if you are brought to trial twice for the same crime?

yes

Is it a violation of due process of law rights if you are read your rights before you are formally accused?

no

Is it a violation of due process of law rights if the government appoints a lawyer for you if you cannot afford one?

no

Is it a violation of due process of law rights if a police officer searches your home or person without a warrant?

yes

What is the phrase that refers to the right of an accused person to be brought before a court for the purposes of determining whether their imprisonment is lawful?

habeas corpus

How many times has the Constitution been amended?

27

Is there is a federal Flag Code which instructs people about the proper uses and functions of the American flag?

yes

What is the proper way to dispose of a worn American flag?

burn it

Should the American flag should always be flown at the same level as state and other flags?

no

How many branches of government does the Illinois Constitution provides for?

three

How many branches of government does the federal government provide for?

three

Does the governor of Illinois have exactly the same powers over his or her state that the president has over the federal government?

no- Can't declare war, coin money, etc. Is the head of executive branch of state, can sign laws, etc.

Articles of Confederation

The document that created the first central government for the United States. It was very weak and was not effective in leading the new nation. Was replaced by the Constitution in 1787.

Republic

A government in which citizens rule through elected representatives

Northwest ordinance of 1787

Established a method for new territories to become states. Outlawed slavery in the Northwest Territories.

Federalism

Federalism is a compromise meant to eliminate the central government or the states having too much power over the people. In a federal system, power is shared by the national and state governments.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted a slave as three fifths of a person when counting state population by census.

James Madison

The father of the constitution

Great Compromise

Created a two-house Congress to satisfy both small and big states

Impeach

To formally charge a public official with misconduct in office.

Delegated/Enumerated Powers

powers the Constitution grants or delegates to the national government

Reserved Powers

powers that the Constitution says belong strictly to the states

Electoral College

Representatives of each state who cast the final ballots that actually elect a president. The number is determined by the number of Representatives in the state PLUS the number of Senators. Total 538 votes.

Amend

To change in a formal way

Congress

Another name for the Legislative Branch--combined House of Representatives and Senate.

checks and balances

A system by which each branch of government limits power of other branches

Census

An official count of the population every 10 years to accurately distribute representatives.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Veto

To reject

Electors

The members of the electoral college who are chosen by the political parties to cast the actual votes for president.

Ratify

to vote approval of

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments of the Constitution

Federalist

Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government.

Antifederalist

a person who opposed ratification of the new Constitution because they favored States' rights over a strong central government.

elastic clause

Congress has the authority to do whatever is necessary and proper to carry out its job.

habeas corpus

Literally means, "Bring the body". Constitutional guarantee that no one can be held in prison without charges being filed.

Supremacy clause

The Constitution is the supreme law of the land-if there is a conflict between a federal law and a state law the federal law is supreme.

Concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.