Creating a Constitution - Fill-in-the Blank Study Guide


Creating a Constitution – Fill‑in‑the‑Blank Study Guide

Standard Focus: Creating a Constitution
Estimated Time: 40–45 minutes
Directions: Use the Resource Page to complete each section. All answers can be found directly in the reading. Write neatly and use academic vocabulary.

Part I: The Commerce Clause (5–7 minutes)

  1. The Commerce Clause allows the national government to regulate trade among______ ___the _______ ____states______.

  2. The Commerce Clause also gives Congress the power to regulate trade with _____foreign_____ _____countries_____.

  3. Congress may also regulate trade with ______Native American____ _____tribes_____.

  4. The Commerce Clause is found in Article 1_, Section 8_ of the United States Constitution.

  5. The branch of government given the power to regulate interstate commerce is ____congress______.

Part II: From the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution (8–10 minutes)

Complete the passage using the correct terms.

According to the ____commerce______ ____clause______ in the United States Constitution, _____congress_____ has the power to regulate trade among the states. In 1787, states sent representatives to Philadelphia to revise the _____Articles_____ ____of______ ____Confederation______. However, once the representatives arrived, they realized the Articles could not be saved. Instead, they agreed to create an entirely new system of government, resulting in the ____United______ _____States_____ ____Constitution______.

Part III: The Great Compromise and the Three‑Fifths Compromise (8–10 minutes)

  1. The ____Great______ _____Comprimise_____ created a two‑house Congress.

  2. The ___Senate_______ would contain two representatives from every state.

  3. The _____House of Representatives_____ would have representation based on state population.

  4. ___Southern_______ states wanted enslaved people counted toward representation.

  5. _____Northern_____ states did not want enslaved people counted.

  6. The compromise reached was called the _____Three_____ ____Fifths______ _____Compromise_____.

  7. This compromise stated that _____three_____ out of every ____five______ enslaved people would be counted for representation.

  8. Enslaved people were not considered ___citizens_______ and were not allowed to ____vote______.

Part IV: Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation (5–7 minutes)

  1. Under the Articles of Confederation, the _____states_____ held more power than the national government.

  2. Americans distrusted a strong ____central______ _____government_____ due to their experience with British rule.

  3. One major problem for merchants was the lack of a ____uniform______ ____currency______.

  4. European nations were able to place _____trade_____ ______berriers____ against American trade.

Part V: Founding Fathers and Government Philosophy (5–7 minutes)

  1. The Founding Fathers believed government should balance competing _____factions_____ while still giving ultimate authority to the _____people_____.

  2. This belief influenced the system of _____checks_____ and _____balances_____ built into the Constitution.

Part VI: Checks, Balances, and Limits on Power (5–7 minutes)

  1. The power to remove a public official from office is called _____impeachment_____.

  2. The President appoints ____federal______ ____judges______ with Senate approval.

  3. The Constitution prevents states from _____declaring_____ _____war_____ or _____forming_____ ____alliances______.

  4. States are allowed to conduct ____elections______.

Part VII: Principles of the Constitution (5–7 minutes)

Match each description with the correct principle.

  1. The power of courts to determine if a law is constitutional: _____Judicial_____ ____Review______

  2. The belief that government power comes from the people: _____popular_____ _____Sovereignty_____

  3. A government limited by written laws: ____limited______ ___government_______

  4. The idea that government is restricted by law and not individual rulers: _____limited_____ ____government______

  5. The requirement that government follow fair rules and procedures: ____due______ ____process______

Part VIII: Federalists vs. Anti‑Federalists (5–7 minutes)

  1. Those who favored a strong national government were called ____Federalists______.

  2. Those who feared a strong central government were called ___Anti-Federalists_______.

  3. Federalists believed a Bill of Rights was ____unnecessary______ because the Constitution already limited government power.

  4. Anti‑Federalists believed states would ____lose______ _____power_____ under the new Constitution.

Resource Page: Creating a Constitution

The Commerce Clause

The Commerce Clause is found in Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution. It gives Congress the power to regulate trade among the states, with foreign nations, and with Native American tribes. This clause was important because it prevented states from creating trade barriers against one another and helped create a unified national economy.

The Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation were the first national government of the United States. They created a weak central government because Americans feared repeating the abuses they experienced under British rule. Under the Articles, states had more power than the national government, Congress could not tax, and there was no uniform currency. These weaknesses caused economic problems and trade conflicts.

The Constitutional Convention

In 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. They soon realized the Articles could not be fixed. Instead, they created an entirely new document: the United States Constitution. This document created a stronger national government while still protecting state power.

The Great Compromise

The Great Compromise created a bicameral (two‑house) Congress. The Senate gives each state two representatives, while the House of Representatives is based on population. This compromise balanced the interests of large and small states.

The Three‑Fifths Compromise

Southern states wanted enslaved people counted toward representation, while Northern states opposed this. The Three‑Fifths Compromise stated that three out of every five enslaved people would be counted for representation. Enslaved people were not citizens and had no voting rights.

Federalists and Anti‑Federalists

Federalists supported the Constitution and favored a strong national government. They believed checks and balances prevented tyranny. Anti‑Federalists opposed ratification, feared central authority, and demanded a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.

Constitutional Principles

  • Popular Sovereignty: Power comes from the people

  • Limited Government: Government is restricted by law

  • Judicial Review: Courts can declare laws unconstitutional

  • Due Process: Government must follow fair legal procedures

  • Checks and Balances: Each branch limits the power of the others

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights protects individual freedoms such as religion, speech, fair trials, and protection from unreasonable searches. These amendments reflect the principle of limited government by restricting what the government can do.

Teacher Answer Key (Not for Students)

Part I: The Commerce Clause

  1. among the states

  2. foreign countries

  3. Native American tribes

  4. Article I, Section 8

  5. Congress

Part II: From the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution

Commerce Clause; Congress; Articles of Confederation; United States Constitution

Part III: The Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise

  1. Great Compromise

  2. Senate

  3. House of Representatives

  4. Southern

  5. Northern

  6. Three-Fifths Compromise

  7. three; five

  8. citizens; vote

Part IV: Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

  1. states

  2. central government

  3. uniform currency

  4. trade barriers

Part V: Founding Fathers and Government Philosophy

  1. factions; people

  2. checks; balances

Part VI: Checks, Balances, and Limits on Power

  1. impeachment

  2. federal judges

  3. declaring war; forming alliances

  4. elections

Part VII: Principles of the Constitution

  1. Judicial Review

  2. Popular Sovereignty

  3. Limited Government

  4. Limited Government

  5. Due Process

Part VIII: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

  1. Federalists

  2. Anti-Federalists

  3. unnecessary

  4. lose power