2024 Constitution Study Guide FORM A 

1) How is the Constitution organized? 

A. into parts called articles 

B. into sentences called sections 

C. into columns called delegations 

D. into paragraphs called statements 

2) Why did the delegates start the Preamble to the Constitution with the words “We, the people”? 

A. to record that all the citizens wrote the Constitution 

B. to state that government power comes from the people 

C. to declare that the people were separating from Great Britain 

D. to provide an introduction that would interest readers 

3) Why does each state have two senators? 

A. to balance the rights of large and small states 

B. so the Senate does not become overcrowded 

C. to assure there are enough people to pass the laws 

D. so that one can take over if the other is unavailable 

4) What is the primary work of Congress? 

A. to be the chief executives of the states they represent 

B. to debate whether laws are constitutional 

C. to determine who will be the candidate for president 

D. to make laws for the country 

5) What is the final step before a national bill becomes a law? 

A. It is passed by the Supreme Court. 

B. It is voted on by the citizens. 

C. It is signed by the president. 

D. It is approved by the state legislators 

6) All of these are duties of the executive branch except 

A. negotiating treaties. 

B. carrying out the laws. 

C. proposing new taxes. 

D. nominating federal judges. 

7) Which of these describes the responsibility of the judicial branch? A. to put laws into effect 

B. to resolve disputes under the law 

C. to veto decisions of the Supreme Court 

D. to propose bills needed to achieve justice

8) What name is given to the Supreme Court’s power to declare a law unconstitutional? A. federalism 

B. veto power 

C. impeachment 

D. judicial review 

9) What is the purpose of the system of checks and balances? 

A. to list the responsibilities of elected officials 

B. to make it difficult to amend the Constitution 

C. to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful 

D. to share power between state and national governments 

10) An amendment to the Constitution can be ratified by three-fourths of the A. Senate. 

B. citizens. 

C. state legislatures. 

D. Supreme Court justices. 

11) Which of these can propose an amendment to the Constitution? 

A. Congress 

B. governors 

C. presidents 

D. Supreme Court 

12) Which of these refers to the sharing of power between national and state governments? A. bicameral 

B. federalism 

C. commerce 

D. nationalism 

13) All federal and state officers must swear an oath to 

A. obey the president 

B. protect and defend the Constitution 

C. publish their tax returns 

D. tell the truth always 

14) Why does the Constitution establish the principle of majority rule? 

A. so decisions are based on what the president wants 

B. so decisions represent what most of the people want 

C. so decisions are made only when more than half of the people vote 

D. so decisions are made when most of the members of Congress are present 

15) The U.S. population can directly participate in government in all of these ways EXCEPT through A. passing laws. 

B. joining interest groups. 

C. participating in elections. 

D. belonging to political parties.

16) How many terms can a person now serve as president? 

A. 1 term 

B. 2 terms 

C. 3 terms 

D. 4 terms 

17) How does the president balance the power of Congress? 

A. The president can veto bills passed by Congress. 

B. The president appoints members of Congress. 

C. Congress has no power. 

D. The president makes all the decisions alone. 

18) How does the Supreme Court prevent the president and Congress from abusing their power? A. The Supreme Court cannot prevent the president from abusing power. 

B. The Supreme Court can reject laws and treaties that are unconstitutional. 

C. The Supreme Court gets to vote also. 

D. The Supreme Court always asks Judge Judy. 

19) How does Congress check the power of the president? 

A. The Congress approves presidential appointments. 

B. Congress may override the president's veto. 

C. Congress may impeach the president. 

D. All of the above 

20) How many amendments have been added to the Constitution? 

A. 10 

B. 21 

C. 27 

D. 41 

21) How many U.S. Senators come from each state? 

A. 1 

B. 2 

C. 3 

D. 4 

22) What day is the President inaugurated on? 

A. March 20th 

B. January 20th 

C. January 3rd 

D. March 3rd 

23) Presidential elections are held on __________. 

A. the first Monday after the first Tuesday in November 

B. the second Monday in November 

C. the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 

D. the first Tuesday in November

24) How long is one term for Senators? 

A. 4 years 

B. 6 years 

C. 2 years 

D. 9 years 

25) How long is one term for Representatives in the House? 

A. 4 years 

B. 6 years 

C. 2 years 

D. 9 years 

26) What is the primary purpose of the Executive Branch? 

A. to make laws 

B. to enforce laws 

C. to interpret laws 

27) How old must a person be to run for President? 

A. 25 

B. 30 

C. 35 

D. 40 

28) How is the President elected? 

A. through the Electoral College 

B. through the popular vote 

C. through State Legislatures 

D. through every citizen in the U.S. 

29) What is the main purpose of the Judicial Branch? 

A. to make laws 

B. to review laws 

C. to enforce laws 

30) How many Supreme Court Justices are there currently? 

A. 5 

B. 7 

C. 9 

D. 11 

31) How long do Supreme Court Justices serve? 

A. for life 

B. 2 years 

C. 4 years 

D. 6 years

32) Who chooses Supreme Court Justices? 

A. State Legislatures 

B. the people 

C. the President 

D. Congress 

33) Which of the following is an eligibility requirement for the office of President? A. Be at least 55 years of age 

B. Have a college degree 

C. Be a natural-born citizen of the United States 

D. Have military leadership experience 

34) Which is a responsibility of the U.S. Supreme Court? 

A. to review laws 

B. to appoint justices 

C. to propose new tax laws 

D. to create treaties 

35) This branch of government makes and writes the Laws. 

A. Judicial Branch 

B. Executive Branch 

C. Legislative Branch 

D. Military Branch 

36) The framers of the Constitution created this method of balancing power by allowing each branch the ability to check the other branches, in an attempt to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. 

A. Mark and Measure 

B. de facto Power 

C. Check and Balances 

D. Separations of legislation 

37) It is the idea that the government's authority comes from the people. 

A. Separation of powers 

B. Consent of the governed 

C. Checks and Balances 

D. ex post facto 

38) The branch of government that makes sure the laws are carried out. 

A. Legislative Branch 

B. Executive Branch 

C. Judicial Branch 

D. Military Branch

39) The branch of government described in Article I of the Constitution. 

A. Legislative Branch 

B. Executive Branch 

C. Judicial Branch 

D. Supreme Court 

40) What can the Congress do regarding the military? 

A. declare war against other nations 

B. raise an army and a navy and provide the funds to pay for both 

C. call up the militia to carry out federal laws, put down rebellions, and defend against invasion 

D. all of the above 

41) Which of the following is a shared power between the State and Federal Government A. coin money 

B. collect taxes 

C. create schools 

D. set up a postal system 

42) A bill is a _____________________________________. 

A. system of checks and balances 

B. framework of government 

C. compromise 

D. proposed law 

43) Which word means to formally accuse an official of a crime related to official duties? A. impeach 

B. veto 

C. ratify 

D. checks and balances 

44) A change to the Constitution is called a(n) 

A. law 

B. bill 

C. amendment 

D. compromise 

45) Which word means to reject a proposed law or bill? 

A. impeach 

B. ratify 

C. deny 

D. veto 

46) The right to own guns is guaranteed in which Amendment? 

A. 1st 

B. 2nd 

C. 4th 

D. 5th 

47) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall be issued but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. 

A. 1st 

B. 2nd 

C. 4th 

D. 5th 

48) No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation. 

A. 1st 

B. 2nd 

C. 4th 

D. 5th 

49) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. A. 1st 

B. 2nd 

C. 4th 

D. 5th 

50) If you are tried for a crime and found not guilty you cannot be tried again. This is guaranteed in which Amendment? 

A. 1st 

B. 2nd 

C. 4th 

D. 5th 

51) This Amendment abolished slavery. 

A. 13th 

B. 14th 

C. 18th 

D. 19th 

52) This Amendment gave women the right to vote. 

A. 13th 

B. 14th 

C. 18th 

D. 19th

53) This Amendment prohibited the manufacturing or sale of alcohol in the United States. A. 21st 

B. 20th 

C. 19th 

D. 18th 

54) If the president is unable to finish out the term, who takes over the job?. A. Speaker of the House 

B. Vice President 

C. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 

D. The press secretary 

55) If the president and the vice president are both unable to finish out their terms, who takes over the job? 

A. Speaker of the House 

B. Attorney General 

C. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 

D. The press secretary 

56) The 14th Amendment was used to strike down “separate but equal” laws because these laws violated ________________________________. 

A. The Equal Rights Amendment 

B. the equal protection clause 

C. the universal access statute 

D. The Universal Rights Act 

57) The branch of government is described in Article II of the Constitution. 

A. Legislative Branch 

B. Executive Branch 

C. Judicial Branch 

D. Supreme Court 

58) The branch of government is described in Article III of the Constitution. 

A. Legislative Branch 

B. Executive Branch 

C. Judicial Branch 

D. Supreme Court 

59) The Constitution was written in the year _____________. 

A. 1778 

B. 1792 

C. 1787 

D. 1782 

60) When a president is impeached it means he/she __________________. 

A. is exonerated 

B. is found not guilty 

C. is removed from office 

D. can be held over for a trial 

61) The first 10 Amendments of the Constitution are known as _____________. A. the Preamble 

B. the Magna Carta 

C. the Bill of Rights 

D. the Pentetuch 

62) The Supreme Court has upheld the idea that free speech also includes symbolic representations of ideas like burning the American Flag. 

A. true 

B. false 

C. only in the case of the flag 

D. there have been no such cases 

63) In the Dred Scott case, the Supreme Court decided_________________. 

A. all African slaves were citizens 

B. fall African slaves were free 

C. all African slaves were not citizens 

D. all African slaves were property 

64) In the Plessy v. Ferguson case, the Supreme Court decided_________________. A. separate facilities for African Americans was Constitutional 

B. separate facilities for African Americans was NOT Constitutional 

C. separation of black and white students was Constitutional 

D. separation of black and white students was NOT Constitutional 

65) In the Loving v. Virginia case, the Supreme Court decided_________________. A. gay marriage was legal 

B. preventing interracial marriage was NOT Constitutional 

C. birth parents have no rights if a child is given up for adoption 

D. parent rights are granted to any midwife or nurse