Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that
best completes the statement or answers the question.
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 Introduction
In its original form, the
U.S. Constitution contained only about five thousand words. Today, even after the addition of
twenty-seven amendments, it contains only about seven thousand words. Compared with virtually all
state constitutions and with the constitutions of other nations, the U.S. Constitution is brief and
to the point. The founders of this nation did not attempt to spell out in detail exactly how the
government should operate. Rather, they gave us a general framework for governing the nation. The
Constitution has endured for more than two hundred years, and it has been copied in one form or
another by numerous nations. In the words of Henry Clay (1777-1852), a nineteenth-century U.S.
senator:
The Constitution ... was made not merely for the generation that then existed,
but for posterity-unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity.
Clay recognized,
along with others, that the framers of the Constitution knew that this nation would constantly
change. So they made the document general enough for each of the many generations that would follow
to interpret it according to the needs and values of the times. This is why our Constitution is often
called a living, breathing document, created by people with a vision. The Constitution consists of
three major parts: a preamble, seven articles, and twenty-seven amendments.
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1.
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The U.S. Constitution is
a. | wordy | c. | precise and to the point | b. | rambling and
theoretical | d. | abstract |
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2.
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The passage above suggests that the Constitution has lasted a long time because
it is....
a. | fixed and unchanging | c. | easy to read | b. | flexible | d. | old |
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3.
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Henry Clay believed the Constitution was written for
a. | the people of yesterday and today | c. | the future rather than the
past | b. | the original thirteen colonies | d. | the youth of the
world |
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Preamble
A preamble is an introductory statement. Such a statement at the
beginning of a document generally explains the reasons and intentions behind what follows it. Hence,
the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution sets forth the general purposes of American government.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
The Preamble lists the major goals for
which American government should strive. Rather than being law itself, as is the rest of the
Constitution, it explains what the founders hoped the new government would accomplish. It shows that
they wanted our government to provide law, order, and stability for this new country. They also
wanted the government to serve the citizens while at the same time ensuring the liberty of each
individual.
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4.
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What is the purpose of the preamble to the constitution?
a. | shows the purpose of the constitution | c. | is a declaration of
war | b. | shows the complaints against the king of England | d. | all of these |
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5.
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For whom did the constitution secure the Blessings of Liberty
a. | The Founding Fathers | c. | The colonial people and their future families | b. | The people of the
world | d. | all of
these |
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The Articles
There are seven articles in the Constitution, identified
by the Roman numerals I through VII. The first three articles establish the structure and explain the
functions of the three branches of government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
Article I outlines the legislative powers given to
Congress and describes how laws should be made.
Article II, in a similar
manner, tells how the executive branch-the presidency-is empowered to carry out the laws
passed by Congress. It also tells how the president is elected. Article III establishes the judicial
branch of the federal government.
Article III states that there shall be one
Supreme Court and gives Congress the power to create lower courts. It also defines what kinds
of cases the courts can hear.
The relations among states are outlined in Article
IV, which describes how state governments and the federal government are linked together.
The amendment process, or how to change the Constitution, is described in Article
V
Article VI makes the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties of the
United States the "supreme law of the land." This part of Article VI is called the
supremacy clause. The supremacy clause means that all U.S. citizens, as well as state and local
governments, grant ultimate authority to federal laws, treaties, and the Constitution.
Finally, Article VII indicates that the Constitution was to go into effect after nine
states ratified it.
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6.
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How many articles are there in the constitution?
a. | three | c. | seven | b. | six | d. | twenty seven |
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7.
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Which article explains how the Supreme Court will be organized?
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8.
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Which article explains the power of the presidency?
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9.
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Which article says the laws will be made by congress?
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10.
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Which article makes the Constitution superior to the states and state
constitutions.
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11.
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The Constitution establishes the Supreme Court but leaves the formation of the
lower U.S. Courts to the states
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12.
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What branch of government is responsible for carrying out the laws passed by
Congress?
a. | legislative | c. | judicial | b. | executive | d. | senate |
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13.
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California wants to require trucks from Mexico to have smog certificates. The
U.S. government says that California has no power to make such a requirement. Which article of the
Constitution applies here?
a. | article I | c. | article IV | b. | article II | d. | article VI |
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14.
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In the 1970’s the Equal Rights Amendment for Women was proposed by
Congress but failed to get the required number of states to ratify the proposed change to the
Constitution. What Article is involved here?
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Amendments (changes to the constitution.)
The third part of the Constitution
consists of twenty-seven amendments-formal changes to the basic document. The first ten amendments,
known as the Bill of Rights, were added in 1791. The remaining seventeen amendments have been added
since then. The last one, the Twenty-seventh Amendment, was added in 1992. Later in this chapter, we
examine the amendments in more detail, as well as how the amendment process actually works. First
though, we look at the major principles of government embodied in the U.S. Constitution.
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15.
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What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called?
a. | the Colonial Amendments | c. | the Bill of
Rights | b. | the Bill of Particulars | d. | the 4 Freedoms |
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16.
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How many amendments have been made to the Constitution since it was
written?
a. | ten | c. | twenty seven | b. | twenty four | d. | seven |
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17.
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The Constitution is divided into three parts. Which item below is Not
one of the parts.
a. | Articles | c. | Declaration of War | b. | Preamble | d. | Amendments |
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18.
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The Constitution outlines three branches of government. Which below is
not one of the branches.
a. | legislative | c. | judicial | b. | executive | d. | states |
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Matching
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a. | checks and balances | e. | Senate | b. | elastic clause | f. | Preamble | c. | enumerated
powers | g. | implied
powers | d. | Congress | h. | House of Representatives |
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19.
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Lower house of the national legislature. Based on population of states
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20.
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Provisions of the Constitution that keep one branch of the government from
controlling the other two branches
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21.
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Introduction to the Constitution
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22.
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Clause in the constitution that allows Congress to pass laws necessary to carry
out its enumerated powers.
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23.
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Powers specifically granted in the Constitution
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24.
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National Legislature
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25.
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Upper house of the national legislature. Every state gets two members
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26.
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Powers not specifically stated in the Constitution
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