Name: ANSWER KEY

Period: __________

Date: __________

US History US Constitution Practice Exam

Multiple Choice: Read each question and their corresponding answers carefully and completely. Choose the answer that best fits the question.

1. The Founding Fathers made sure the Constitution had checks and balances because they feared a. Unrestricted immigration b. The concentration of political power c. Foreign spies in the government d. The Senates ability to be swayed by public opinion

2. Which branch of Congress acts as a jury during impeachment? (Who holds the trials) a. Senate b. House c. Both d. Neither

3. The elastic clause (Article 1 Section 8 Clause 18) of the Constitution allowed for the a. Creation of a National Bank b. Appropriation of money c. Impeachment of the President d. Amendments to the Constitution

4. In order to override a presidential veto, each house of Congress must have a _____ vote. a. Majority b. 2/3 c. 4/5 d. 3/4

5. War may only be declared by the a. Secretary of State b. President c. Supreme Court d. Congress

6. The President is elected if he/she a. Wins a majority of the popular vote b. Wins the vote of a majority of the states c. Wins a majority of the Electoral Votes d. Wins approval of the Supreme Court

7. The Pocket Veto occurs when a. The president signs a bill, making it a law b. The Speaker of the house refuses to allow a bill to be debated c. The Congress passes a bill over the President veto d. The President does not sign a bill and 10 days later Congress is out of session

8. The number of Presidential Electors a state gets is equal to its number of a. US Representatives b. Senators c. US Representatives and Senators d. Congressional Districts

9. The major duty of the Judicial branch is to a. Enforce b. Interpret the laws c. Make the laws d. Advise and counsel the President

10. The power of Judicial Review is a. The power of the Supreme Court to remove a member of Congress b. The power to declare laws of Congress and Presidential actions unconstitutional c. The power of the Supreme Court to hear a case decided by an inferior court d. The power of the President to veto a Supreme Court Decision

11. The Constitution explicitly promised that every State in the Union will have a. A retirement system b. A republican (representative) form of government c. A supreme court judge from their state d. A right to make any law they want

12. Which statement is the most accurate about amendments to the Constitution? a. They have the same weight as the original Articles of the Constitution b. Amendments are easy to add to the Constitution c. Amendments are unable to change the original Constitution d. Amendments must be approved by the Supreme Court

13. The supremacy clause of the Constitution provides a. The ability of the Supreme Court to rule an amendment unconstitutional b. The process States given themselves c. A state law is invalid when it directly conflicts with a federal law d. The Amendment process to the Constitution

14. Which two stages in the situation below seem to be violations of the Sixth Amendment? A man is arrested. (1) The police hold him for several days before informing him of the charges against him. (2) The Government provides him an attorney who makes plans for the trial. (3) At the trial, various witnesses are called to testify against the man. (4) However, his attorney is not allowed to ask questions of the witnesses against him. The main is found guilty of the crime. a. 1 & 2 b. 1 & 4 c. 2 & 4 d. 3 &4

15. What do the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-Sixth Amendments all have in common? a. They define the rights of all citizens b. They give voting rights to a group that previously were not guaranteed c. They repeal a previous amendment d. They all address issues with the Executive Branch

Identifications: Please complete THREE (3) out of five (5) options given. Briefly define the term, and address why its important using specific evidence. Prove you know the term. Answers should be written in compete sentences and about a paragraph in length.

- Bill of Rights - Bicameral - Double Jeopardy

- Checks and Balances - The Tenth Amendment

Write your answers in the space provided below. You may use the back of this page if you run out of room.

- Bill of Rights - Introduced by James Madison - First 10 Amendments - Guarantee Personal Freedoms - Limits the governments powers - Ratified in 1791 - Checks and Balances - Prevents one branch from becoming too powerful - Separation of Powers - Legislative - Executive - Judicial - Bicameral - Latin, bi (two) and camera (chamber), meaning two chambers - House of Representatives is chosen based on state population (435 members) - Senate has two per state (100 members) - The Tenth Amendment - All powers not given to the Federal Government or prohibited by the Constitution go to the states Allows states to act as the feel fit as long as it is not prohibited by the Federal Government

- Double Jeopardy - You cannot be tried twice for the same crime - Part of the Fifth Amendment

- Protects you from: - Prosecution after acquittal - Multiple punishment, including prosecution after conviction - Prosecution after mistrial Short Answers: Answers should be written in compete sentences and about a paragraph in length. You may use the back of this page if you run out of room. 16. In your opinion, which Amendment is the most important and why? Give specific reasons the amendment you have chosen is so significant.

- Students that use complete sentences to fully support their argument, using
evidence from the amendments, will be awarded full points.

- Students who use do not adequately support their argument with evidence from
the amendments will be awarded 1.5 points.

- Students who do not attempt to use evidence to support their argument will be
given 0 points.

17. Analyze the picture below. What Amendments specifically apply to the image? Briefly defend your reasoning.

- Students that use complete sentences to fully support their argument, using
evidence from the amendments and picture, will be awarded full points.

- Students who use do not adequately support their argument with evidence from
the amendments and picture will be awarded 1.5 points.

- Students who do not attempt to use evidence to support their argument will be
given 0 points.