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8th Grade Constitution Test

Quiz yourself by thinking what should be in each of the black spaces below before clicking on it to display the answer.
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Question
Answer
where was a convention held?   Philadelphia  
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when did the convention began?   1787  
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who was the chairman of the convention?   George Washington  
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why are the powers of government separated into three branches of government?   to prevent abuses of power  
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list the three branches of government   executive, legislative, judicial  
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what are checks and balances?   powers each branch has over other branches to protect against abuses of power. Designed to balance the powers of government  
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what is federalism?   a system dividing powers between a central authority and smaller state and local governments  
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who is known as the father of the Constitution?   James Madison  
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what part of the Constitution list the six goals for purposes of the Constitution? List the six.   preamble, 1. in order to form a more perfect union 2. Establish justice 3. Insure domestic tranquility 4. Provide for the common defense 5. Promote the general welfare 6. Secure the blessings of liberty  
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what part of the Constitution states that the people of the United States are the authority for the Constitution? What three specific words are used?   preamble, we the people  
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who has the power to make laws?   legislative branch  
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name the two houses of Congress   House of Representatives, Senate  
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who presides over the Senate?   the vice president  
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who has the power to try those who have been impeached and remove them from office?   Senate  
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who has the power to introduce a bill to raise taxes?   House of Representatives  
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who has the power to raise or lower taxes?   Congress  
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who governs the District of Columbia?   Congress  
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who has the power to enforce or carry out laws?   the executive branch, the president  
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who is the head of the executive branch?   Pres.  
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who becomes president if the president cannot carry out his duties?   VP  
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who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces?   Pres.  
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who has the power to pardon criminals?   the president  
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where does judicial power reside?   Supreme Court  
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who can declare a law unconstitutional?   Supreme Court  
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how are new states added to the union?   by Congress  
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what are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called? When were they passed?   Bill of Rights, 1791  
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after a bill passes both houses of Congress, who must sign it?   the president  
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how many amendments have there been to the Constitution?   27  
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who has the power to declare war?   Congress  
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how many states are needed to ratify the Constitution for it to become law?   9/13  
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who has the power to make treaties and appointments?   the president  
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what is the term used to describe the president's top advisors?   cabinet  
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what is the supreme law of the United States?   Constitution  
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who has the power to coin money, borrow money, and regulate the Postal Service?   Congress  
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who has the power to order an immediate attack on another country if our security is threatened?   the president  
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how many articles are there in the Constitution?   seven  
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which branch of government interprets or judges the laws?   judicial  
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list two ways amendments to the Constitution can be proposed   1. 2/3 vote of each house in Congress 2. Request of 2/3 of state legislators  
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how many presidents have been impeached? How many have been removed from office?   two, none  
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what was the purpose of the constitutional convention?   for the sole and express purpose to revising the articles of Confederation  
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who presides over the House of Representatives?   speaker of the house  
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how many members must be present in the House of Representatives or Senate to hold a vote?   a quorum, a simple majority. 218 in-house, 51 senators  
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who has the power to impeach a high public official, including the president?   house of Representatives  
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how can Congress override a presidential veto?   by a 2/3 vote in both houses  
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who becomes vice president if the vice president can't carry out his duties?   president appoints and Congress approves  
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who becomes president is the president and the vice president are unable to carry out their duties?   speaker of the house  
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what is the main job of the Supreme Court?   interpret laws and uphold the Constitution  
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what did some states feel was lacking in the Constitution?   Bill of Rights  
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How do citizens know what goes on each day in Congress?   Congressional record  
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how does somebody get to be on the president's cabinet?   president appoints and Senate confirms  
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who has the power to set wages and give raises to members of the government, including Congress?   Congress  
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if there is a tie vote in the Senate? Who votes to break the tie?   VP  
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name at least five positions on the president's cabinet   1. Secretary of State 2. Defense 3. Education 4. Treasury 5. Atty. Gen.  
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name one way the executive branch checks the judicial branch   appoints judges  
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name two ways the legislative branch checks the executive branch   1. impeach and remove 2. Override vetoes  
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describe how a bill can become a law with out a presidential veto   passed both houses of Congress by majority vote, then signed by Pres.  
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list 18 powers reserved to Congress   1taxation2Borrowing3Commerce4Naturalization/bankruptcy5coins/measures6Counterfeiting7USPS8Copyrights/patents9Crts10Piracy11Declaring war12Army13Navy14Military regs15Militia16militia regs National Guard17national capital18 nec. laws/elastic clause  
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what did the great compromise provide for?   A bicameral, to house, legislature with one house based on population and one house based on equal representation  
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what is a quorum?   a majority, over half of the total number possible. This is the minimum number necessary to conduct official business.  
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what do patents and copyrights protect?   inventions and authors' words  
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what is the elastic clause? What is the official name of this clause? What number clause is it listed under in the powers delegated to Congress?   Congress can stretch its powers as the needs of the country change. Necessary laws. Clause 18.  
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who officially elects a president and vice president?   electoral college  
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how long a term of office to Justices serve on the Supreme Court?   life  
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how does somebody get on the Supreme Court?   appointed by the president, approved by Senate  
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how many Supreme Court justices does it take to declare a law unconstitutional?   a simple majority, five out of the nine justices  
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name three ways there can be a vacancy on the Supreme Court   death, impeach and remove, or resign  
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list two ways amendments to the Constitution can be ratified   three fourths of the state legislatures or three fourths a special state conventions  
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what is the state of the union address?   a report or speech given by the president to Congress and the public concerning the status of the nation and suggestions for the up coming year  
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does state law or federal law have the final power?   federal law  
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who wrote a series of essays called the Federalist papers? Why did they write them?   Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. To support the ratification of the Constitution  
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what is a veto? Who has the authority to veto a bill passed by Congress?   preventing a bill from becoming law. President  
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name one way the judicial branch "checks" the legislative branch and the executive branch   can declare laws unconstitutional  
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name one way the executive branch "checks" the legislative branch   Pres. can veto bills or sign them into law  
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name one way the legislative branch "checks" the judicial branch   impeach and remove judges or approve judges appointed by the president  
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describe how a bill can become a law with a presidential veto   repass both houses of Congress by two thirds vote  
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how long of a term does a member of the House of Representatives serve?   two years  
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what are the three requirements to be a representative?   age 25, citizen for seven years, officially live in the state  
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how many representatives are there in the House of Representatives?   435  
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how long is termed as a senator serve?   six years  
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what are the three requirements to be a senator?   age 30, citizen for nine years, officially live in the state  
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how many senators are elected from each state? How many total do we have?   two from each state, 100 total senators  
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what is naturalization? Who determines what must be done in order to be naturalized?   the process by which a person can become a citizen. Congress  
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what are the three requirements to be president?   age 35, natural born citizen, live in the country for 14 years  
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how long is the term of office of the president?   4 years  
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how many terms can president serve? when was this added to the Constitution?   2terms, 22nd amendment  
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how old must a citizen be to vote? Which amendment change this? When was this amendment passed?   18 years old, amendment 26, 1971  
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when is election day?   Congressional elections are held on even numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November  
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what does the third amendment guarantee?   No soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner  
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what does the Fifth Amendment guarantee?   No one can be forced to say anything that would help convict him or herself of a crime. Rights of the accused.  
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What does the seventh amendment guarantee?   Trial by jury in civil cases involving $20 or more  
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what amendment abolished slavery? When was it passed?   13th amendment, 1865  
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what amendment prohibits discrimination concerning the right to vote? When was it passed?   15th amendment, 1870  
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which amendment gave American women the right to vote? When was it passed?   19th amendment, 1920  
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what is prohibition? When was it repealed? How long did that. The prohibition last   banned alcohol, 1933, 14 years  
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which amendment gives a person the right to call reluctant witnesses and to question or cross-examine, witnesses who testified against them?   Sixth amendment, right to a fair trial  
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name the five rights guaranteed by the First Amendment   freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition  
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which amendment gives citizens the right to own a weapon?   Second Amendment, right to bear arms  
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which amendment gives you the right to remain silent if questioned by authorities?   Fifth Amendment, rights of the accused  
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which amendment guarantees that a warrant is required to search your house or property if you don't give consent?   Fourth amendment, rights against unreasonable search and seizure  
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what is double jeopardy? What amendment protects citizens from this?   Being tried twice for the same crime. Fifth Amendment.  
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Which amendment gives citizens the right to a lawyer even if they can't afford one?   sixth amendment, right to a fair trial  
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what is bail?   Bill is money that the accused leaves with the court as a guarantee that he or she will appear for trial.  
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Which amendment prohibits a judge from ordering and criminals hands cut off?   Eighth amendment, no cruel or unusual punishment  
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which amendment allows states to make their own laws if not prohibited by the Constitution?   10th amendments, rights reserved to the states  
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which amendment guarantees a citizens right to do something if there isn't a law against it, it doesn't interfere with somebody else's rights, and it is not a specific right listed in the Bill of Rights?   Ninth amendment, rights reserved to the people  
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why must the police officer have probable cause to search somebody?   Fourth amendment, right against unreasonable search and seizure  
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what part of the Bill of Rights is a issue concerning school dress codes in uniforms?   First Amendment  
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Which plan favored small states?   New Jersey Plan  
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Which plan favored larger states?   Virginia Plan  
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what is habeas corpus? When can it be suspended? Where is it listed in the Constitution?   charge a person in jail with a particular crime or let the person go within 72 hours. Can be suspended in the cases of rebellion or invasion. Article 1 section 9, clause 2, Powers denied to Congress  
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what is ex post facto law? Where is it listed in the Constitution?   a law that make something illegal that was not illegal at the time it was done. Article 1, section 9, clause 3, Powers denied to Congress  
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what two factors determine treason?   where a crime is defined as carrying on war against the US or helping enemies of the US  
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what kind of tax is prohibited by amendment? When was this past?   poll tax 1964  
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what kind of tax is allowed by amendment? When was this past   income tax 1913  
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what is a poll tax? When did it become illegal?   pay a tax to register to vote. Illegal in 1964  
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