Constitution of the United States of America Self-Test

A comprehensive set of flashcards based on a self-test on the Constitution of the United States, covering major concepts, amendments, and the structure of government.

1. When was the Constitution officially ratified?
   a. July 4, 1776
   b. March 4, 1789
   c. January 24, 1791
   d. May 1, 1803

b

2. How many states were needed before the Constitution could take effect?

a. all thirteen

b. a simple majority

c. nine of the thirteen

d. at least three of the largest

c

3. What is the main idea of the Preamble?
   a. to state the purpose of the Constitution
   b. to set limits on the authority of the federal government
   c. to establish the relationship of the branches of government
   d. to explain the reasoning behind the break with England

a

4. Which of the following is NOT one of the branches of government?
   a. judicial
   b. executive
   c. legislative
   d. military

d

5. Which of the following belongs to Congress? (There is more than one correct answer.) *1pt each
   a. Supreme Court
   b. House of Representatives
   c. Senate
   d. President

b and c

6. How is the membership of the House of Representatives determined?
   a. by the apportioned population of the states
   b. by two representatives from each state
   c. by the governors of states according to a formula established by Congress
   d. by the legislature of each state

a

7. Which of the following is NOT necessary to be elected to the House of Representatives?
   a. be a citizen of the United States
   b. be at least thirty-five years old
   c. live in the state he or she represents
   d. live in the United States at least seven years

b

8. How long is the term of office for a representative?
   a. two years
   b. four years
   c. six years
   d. for life

a

9. The officer who presides over the House of Representatives is called the \_.
   a. President
   b. president pro tempore
   c. speaker
   d. chairman

c

10. How is representation in the Senate determined?
    a. by the apportioned population of the states
    b. by two representatives from each state
    c. by the state governors according to a formula established by Congress
    d. by number determined by the legislature of each state

b

11. Which of the following are qualifications needed to be a senator? (There is more than one correct answer.) *1pt each
    a. must be at least 30 years of age
    b. must have been a citizen for at least 9 years
    c. must live in the state he or she represents
    d. must have previously served in the House of Representatives

a, b, and c

12. How long is the term of office for a senator?
    a. two years
    b. four years
    c. six years
    d. for life

c

13. The officer who presides over the Senate when the Vice-President in not in attendance is called the \_.
    a. President
    b. president pro tempore
    c. speaker
    d. chairman

b

14. The \_ has the sole power to impeach.
    a. Senate
    b. Supreme Court
    c. House of Representatives
    d. electoral college

c

15. After an office-holder is impeached, the \_ has the sole power to try the case.
    a. Senate
    b. Supreme Court
    c. House of Representatives
    d. electoral college

a

16. The debates, laws, and other information about what goes on in the legislative branch is reported in \_.
    a. the local newspaper
    b. The Legislative Forum
    c. the docket of the Supreme Court
    d. The Congressional Record

d

17. The Constitution says that the Congress must meet \_.
    a. at least once every two years
    b. at least once each year
    c. for a total of six months, every other year
    d. only whenever they have legislation waiting to become law

b

18. A bill may be proposed by\_. (There is more than one correct answer.) *1pt each
    a. A member of the House of Representatives
    b. A member of the Senate
    c. The President or Vice-President
    d. A justice of the Supreme Court

a and b

19. The executive branch's power to refuse to sign a bill into law is called \_.
    a. right of refusal
    b. legislative bargaining
    c. presidential review
    d. presidential veto

d

20. If both houses of Congress wish to have a bill become law, but each has changed the original, the bill must go to \_.
    a. the President
    b. a conference committee
    c. the Supreme Court
    d. the sub-committee where it originated

b

21. All of the following are expressed powers of the Congress except the power \_.
    a. to tax
    b. to borrow money
    c. to coin money
    d. to declare laws unconstitutional

d

22. Another term for \"implied powers\" is \_.
    a. elastic
    b. expressed
    c. absolute
    d. stated

a

23. What powers are forbidden to Congress? (There is more than one correct answer.) *1pt each
    a. to tax articles exported from a state
    b. to grant titles of nobility
    c. to pass ex post facto laws
    d. to make bills of attainder

a, b, c, and d

24. Article II deals with \_.
    a. the executive branch
    b. the judicial branch
    c. the legislative branch
    d. the rights of an individual

a

25. The executive branch is made up of \_. (There is more than one correct answer.) *1pt each
    a. President
    b. Vice-President
    c. chief justice
    d. cabinet officers

a, b, and d

26. The main job of the President is \_.
    a. to enforce the laws of the United States
    b. to interpret the Constitution
    c. to initiate legislation
    d. to direct the actions of the standing congressional committees

a

27. The President is elected by \_.
    a. the electoral college
    b. a direct vote of the citizens
    c. the legislatures of the various states
    d. the majority of the House of Representatives & Senate

a

28. How long is the term of the President and Vice-President?
    a. two years
    b. four years
    c. six years
    d. eight years

b

29. If the President is unable to serve, the Vice-President takes his place. After the Vice-President, the next federal official in line for the presidency is \_.
    a. the secretary of state
    b. the secretary of defense
    c. the president pro tempore of the Senate
    d. the speaker of the House of Representatives

d

30. All of the following are powers of the President EXCEPT \_.
    a. declaring war
    b. granting reprieves and pardons
    c. executing the laws
    d. presenting a state of the Union address each year

a

31. Who of the following is a member of the President's cabinet?
    a. speaker of the House
    b. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
    c. president pro tempore of the Senate
    d. secretary of state

d

32. How are cabinet officers chosen?
    a. by the President alone
    b. by the President, with consent of the House
    c. by the President, with consent of the Senate
    d. by the President, with consent of the chief justice

c

33. Article III deals with \_.
    a. the executive branch
    b. the judicial branch
    c. the legislative branch
    d. the rights of an individual

b

34. How many justices -including the chief justice- are on the Supreme Court?
    a. five
    b. seven
    c. nine
    d. eleven

c

35. How long does a justice of the Supreme Court remain a member of the Court?
    a. two years
    b. four years
    c. six years
    d. for life

d

36. What two things could happen for someone accused of treason to be convicted? (Must mark both) *1pt each
    a. Two witnesses to the treason must testify against the person.
    b. The Supreme Court must declare the person guilty.
    c. The Congress must impeach and convict the person.
    d. The accused person could confess to the act of treason.

a and d

37. New states can be admitted to the union only with the permission of \_.
    a. the President
    b. the Congress
    c. the Supreme Court
    d. two-thirds approval of the state legislatures

b

38. How can an amendment to the Constitution be proposed? (There is more than one correct answer.) *1pt each
    a. by the President, with majority approval of the cabinet
    b. by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress
    c. by a convention called by two-thirds of the states
    d. by the agreement of a majority of the justices of the Supreme Court

b and c

39. How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights?
    a. the first six
    b. 1-5 and 9-12
    c. the first ten
    d. the first eight, plus 13 and 21

c

40. Which amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition?
    a. first
    b. fifth
    c. ninth
    d. none of these

a

41. Quartering troops is restricted in the Constitution. Quartering troops means \_.
    a. putting forts or arsenals in only 25% of states
    b. placing soldiers on the public lands of states
    c. placing soldiers in private homes
    d. housing soldiers in areas where civilians may otherwise meet

c

42. A court order allowing an individual or his property to be searched or seized is called a \_.
    a. treaty of understanding
    b. warrant
    c. executive privilege
    d. writ of habeas corpus

b

43. Any powers not specifically denied to the states or given to Congress are called \_.
    a. limited
    b. implied
    c. reserved
    d. assured

c

Matching: Write the number of the amendment in the blank next to the statement that best represents the amendment.

44. right to bear arms

2

45. rights of citizens

14

46. eighteen-year-old vote

26

47. freedom of speech

1

48. abolition of slavery

13

49. right of women to vote

19

50. income tax

16

51. quartering of troops

3

52. bail and punishment

8

53. suits against states

11

54. abolition of poll tax

24

55. search and seizure

4

56. speedy and fair trial

6

57. civil suits

7

58. repeal of prohibition

21

59. rights of an accused person

5

60. election of the President and VP

12

61. limit on presidential terms

22

62. presidential disability and succession

25

63. powers reserved to the states

10

64. prohibition of alcoholic beverages

18

65. \"lame duck\" amendment

20

66. direct election of senators

17

67. powers reserved to the people

9

68. right of Washington, D.C., to vote in presidential elections

23

69. restraint of congressional salaries

27

70. right of U.S. citizens to vote cannot be denied or restricted based on their "race, color, or previous condition of servitude

15