Name __________________________________________________ Date ______________________________
Assessment: The Constitution: A More Perfect Union
Mastering the Content
Circle the letter next to the best answer.
1. Why is the U.S. Constitution called a “living document”?
A. It has changed with time.
B. It is rewritten by each president.
C. It has remained the same over the years.
D. It is signed each year by members of Congress.
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. What is the primary work of Congress?
A. to make laws for the country
B. to debate whether laws are constitutional
C. to determine who will be the candidate for president
D. to be the chief executives of the states they represent
4. What is the final step before a national bill becomes a law?
A. It is signed by the president.
B. It is voted on by the citizens.
C. It is passed by the Supreme Court.
D. It is approved by the state legislators
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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.
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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.
12. Which of these powers is shared by state and national governments?
A. raising taxes
B. declaring war
C. printing money
D. negotiating treaties
13. Which of these refers to the sharing of power between national and state governments?
A. bicameral
B. federalism
C. commerce
D. nationalism
14. An amendment to the Constitution can be ratified by three-fourths of the
A. Senate.
B. citizens.
C. state legislatures.
D. Supreme Court justices.
15. Which of these can propose an amendment to the Constitution?
A. Congress
B. governors
C. presidents
D. Supreme Court
16. All of these are advantages to having states share a common market except that
A. it creates a single national economy.
B. trade outside of the country is prohibited.
C. a large business can be located in several states.
D. goods and resources can move more easily across the country.
Applying Social Studies Skills
Use the diagram and your knowledge of history to answer thses questions.
17. How does the president balance the power of Congress?
18. How does the Supreme Court prevent the president and Congress from abusing their power?
19. How does Congress check the power of the president?
Exploring the Essential Question: How has the Constitution created "a more perfect Union"?
Follow the directions to complete the item below.
20. Read the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. In a two-paragraph essay, explain how the Constitution has met
two of the five underlined goals above in your life or in the life of someone you know. Include details that
show your understanding of the goals of the Constitution as outlined in the Preamble and how the
Constitution has affected your life. Also make sure to convey your ideas clearly, using standard English.