The United States Constitution Test
2012-2013
Student Name (First and Last): ___________________________________
History Period _________
December 1, 2012
Mrs. Salter
Union Hill School
Grass Valley, California
8th Grade
8th Grade Constitution Test
Tier 1 Score: _____ / 100
Tier 2 Score: _____ / 50
Tier 3 Score: _____ / 50
Extra credit: ________________
Final score: ____________ / 200
Grade: _____
1
8th Grade Constitution Test
Tier 1 Questions
To pass the Constitution Test, you must complete Tier 1
questions with a score of 70 or higher. The highest score
possible for passing only Tier 1 of the test is 79% C+.
Page 2
8th Grade Constitution Test
Write the most famous and important statement contained in the Declaration of
Independence. (5 points)
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Write the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States. (5 points)
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8th Grade Constitution Test
Multiple Choice: Choose the word or phrase that will make each statement
correct. Write the letter in the blank provided.
_____ 11. Which plan favored the large states at the Constitutional Convention?
a. North Carolina
b. Virginia
c. Connecticut
_____ 12. Which plan favored the small states at the Convention?
a. Rhode Island b. New York
c. New Jersey d. Connecticut
_____ 13. Which state’s plan was finally accepted at the Convention?
a. Connecticut b. California
c. Virginia d. Delaware
_____ 14. In early pre-Revolutionary times, how did England treat the colonies?
a. Very controlling b. Paid little attention
c. Only cared about religion
_____ 15. The Articles of Confederation provided
a. strong central government b. strong states’ rights
c. tax money
_____ 24. A Supreme Court justice may be removed by
a. the President b. another justice
c. impeachment
_____ 26. Which of the following provides for the freedom of religion?
a. The Preamble b. the Bill of Rights
c. legal precedent
_____ 27. Who has the job of advising the President?
a. his wife
b. Congress
c. Mrs. Salter
_____ 28. Congress must meet at least
a. once a week b. once a month
_____ 35. Congress can
a. declare war
d. the Cabinet
c. once a year d. odd-numbered years
b. pass laws c. coin money
d. all of the above
_____ 36. Which of the following is an unalienable right of the Declaration?
a. life
b. education
c. happiness
d. freedom
_____ 37. An ex post facto law is
a. a law for postmen and factory workers
b. a law making something a crime after the act has been committed
c. a law requiring prime factorization of a large number
Page 4
8th Grade Constitution Test
Write in the following amendments to the Constitution:
38. Amendment I: _______________________________________________________
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39. Amendment II: ______________________________________________________
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40. Amendment III: ______________________________________________________
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41. Amendment IV: ______________________________________________________
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42. Amendment V: ______________________________________________________
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43. Amendment VI: ______________________________________________________
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44. Amendment VII: _____________________________________________________
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45. Amendment VIII: ____________________________________________________
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46. Amendment IX: ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
47. Amendment X: ______________________________________________________
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Page 5
8th Grade Constitution Test
Judicial Branch:
The main duty of the judicial branch is to
a. enforce laws
b. interpret laws
c. make laws
118-120. Name the three types of federal courts in the judicial system in increasing
order of importance (from least important to most important):
118. _______________________________________
119. _______________________________________
120. _______________________________________
178. The Chief Justice is _________________________________________________.
In the United States flag:
106. Red represents __________________________________.
107. White represents __________________________________.
108. Blue represents _________________________________.
109. The thirteen stripes represent __________________________________________.
110. The fifty stars represent ______________________________________________.
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Page 6
8th Grade Constitution Test
Legislative Branch:
_____ The main duty of the legislative branch is to
a. enforce laws
b. interpret laws
c. make laws
_____ The legislative branch consists of one “body” known as
a. Parliament
b. Congress
c. the Cabinet
_____ The Senate has _____ members.
a. 2
b. 435
c. 100
_____ 19. The House of Representatives is presided over by the
a. President Pro Tempore
b. Vice President
c. Speaker
_____ The head of the Senate is the
a. President
b. Vice President of the United States
c. both
128. A Senator must be at least ____________ years old.
129. A Senator must be a citizen for _____________________.
130. A Senator must also ________________________________________.
131. A Representative must be at least _______________ years old.
132. A Representative must be a citizen for __________________________.
133. A Representative must also ____________________________________________.
169. The Speaker of the House is ___________________________________________.
176. One California Senator is _____________________________________________.
177. The other California Senator is _________________________________________.
122. There are _________________ (number) members in the House of Representatives.
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Page 7
8th Grade Constitution Test
Executive Branch:
The head official of the executive branch is the _________________________________.
The main duty of the executive branch is to
a. enforce laws
b. interpret laws
c. make laws
The President is also __________________ of the Armed Forces.
a.
The vice president is also
a.
The President of the United States is _________________________________________.
The Vice President of the United States is _____________________________________.
The governor of California is _______________________________________________.
134. The President must be at least ________________ years old.
135. The President must live in the United States for _________________________.
136. The President and Vice President must also be
_________________________________________________.
For 182-186, name the titles (positions) of the people who would fill a vacancy in the
presidency in order of succession (who comes next):
182. _______________________________________________________
183. _______________________________________________________
184. _______________________________________________________
185. _______________________________________________________
186. Other ___________________________________________________
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Page 8
8th Grade Constitution Test
True or False: Clearly mark with a T or an F. Questionable letters will be
marked incorrect.
_____ 71. The final authority on the meaning of the Constitution is the Supreme Court.
_____ 73. The Bill of Rights contains 27 amendments.
_____ 74. Congress can rule laws unconstitutional.
_____ 75. United States Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President.
_____ 77. The Preamble is the first section of the Constitution.
_____ 78. Betsy Ross created the United States’ flag.
_____ 80. The highest court in the land is the District Court.
_____ 86. Federal judges must have a law degree.
_____ 87. The President has to decide whether or not a law is constitutional.
_____ 88. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.
_____ 98. Federal justices have twelve-year terms.
_____ 101. All bills start in Congress.
_____ 102. The Preamble lists goals for the new Constitution
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Page 9
8th Grade Constitution Test
Fill in the Blanks: The following questions are to be answered by filling in
the blanks. Write in the best word or words that make each statement true.
123. The first part of the Constitution is called the ____________________________.
124. The Constitution has _______________ (number) articles.
125. The Constitution has _______________ (number) amendments.
126. Patrick Henry famously stated during the Revolutionary Period,
“________________________________________________________________.”
127. Where were Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine during the Constitutional
Convention?
_________________________________________________________________
137. The presiding officer of the Senate is the _________________________________.
139. The ________________________________ is the supreme law of the land.
140. To prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, there is a system of
__________________________________________________________________.
144. Before going to the President, a bill must be passed by ______________________.
148. The first ten amendments are known as the _______________________________.
151. The President may serve a total of ___________ full terms.
154. A proposed law is called a ____________________________.
155. The ________________________ explains the purpose of the Constitution.
156. The Supreme Court has one ___________________________________ (position).
157. The Supreme Court also has __________________ (number) Associate Justices.
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Page 10
8th Grade Constitution Test
Tier 2 Questions
To earn a B on the Constitution Test, you must complete
Tier 2 questions with a score of 40 or higher in addition to
passing Tier 1 with a score of 80 or higher. The highest
score possible for passing Tiers 1 and 2 is 89% B+.
Page 11
8th Grade Constitution Test
_____ 30. Congress may overrule the President’s veto by
a. a majority vote
b. two-thirds vote
c. three-fifths vote
_____ 31. A restriction stated in the Constitution prohibits states from
a. establishing a government
b. coining money
c. taxing citizens
_____ 33. Under the Constitution, states are not guaranteed
a. the right to establish treaties
b. national protection
c. a republican form of government
_____ 34. The Attorney General deals with
a. military secrets
b. enforcement of laws
c. law schools
_____ 18. All bills pertaining to revenue (money) must originate in
a. Treasury Department b. Senate
c. House of Representatives
_____ 20. Amendments may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of
a. Congress
b. Senate
c. House
d. people
_____ 21. A representative’s term of office is
a. two years
b. four years
c. six years
d. life
_____ A Senator’s term of office is
a. two years
b. four years
c. six years
d. life
141. All treaties must be approved by the ___________________________________.
142. The President may be removed from office through _________________________.
143. The President is also _________________________________________________
(title) of the armed forces.
121. The salary of a member of Congress is __________________________________.
179. California has _________________ (number) representatives.
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Page 12
8th Grade Constitution Test
Match the correct letter with the number of the amendment.
_____ 48. 13th
A. Repealed the 18th Amendment
_____ 49. 14th
B. Income tax amendment
_____ 50. 15th
C. Abolished slavery
_____ 51. 16th
D. Person cannot be prevented from
voting because of race, creed, or
color
_____ 52. 18th
F. 18 year olds allowed to vote
_____ 53. 19th
G. Prohibition
_____ 54. 21st
H. Right to vote for women
_____ 55. 22nd
I. Limits President’s terms to two
_____ 56. 26th
J. All persons born or naturalized in
the United States have full rights
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8th Grade Constitution Test
Situation: A revenue bill starts the process to become a law. Fill in the steps along
its path.
57. The bill is introduced to the _____________________________________________.
58. From there, it is given a number and sent directly to a ________________________.
59. After amending/rewriting/etc., the bill returns to the
_________________ _____________________ for a vote.
60. If passed, the bill then goes to the ________________________________________.
61. Again, its first stop is a ________________________________________________.
62. Next, it will return to the ____________________ __________________________
for a vote.
63. If passed with no changes, the bill continues to the __________________________.
64. At this point, there are a few choices. The bill can be _________________ (passed)
65. …or it can be __________________________ (not passed).
66. If the bill is not passed, it returns to _______________________________.
67. In this situation, a _________ (fraction) vote is required for the bill to become a law.
68. In a special situation, if nothing is done to the bill and Congress is still in session
after ten days, the bill is automatically _____________________________.
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8th Grade Constitution Test
True/False
_____ 69. The Senate and the House cannot adjourn without the consent of the other.
_____ 70. The Constitution outlines requirements for political parties.
_____ 76. John Hancock attended the Constitutional Convention.
_____ 82. The original purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to write a
Constitution.
_____ 83. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution after it was ratified.
_____ 84. Impeachment means a federal official has committed a crime.
_____ 85. The original Constitution abolished slavery.
_____ 89. Andrew Johnson was the only President ever to resign.
_____ 91. The flag should be flown from sunrise to sunset.
_____ 92. The Supreme Court hears all court cases.
_____ 97. The President chooses who will become the next president.
_____ 99. The Articles of Confederation were the first U.S. government.
_____ 100. Habeas corpus means, “You shall have the body.”
_____ 72. The latest Cabinet position is the Secretary of Agriculture.
_____ 103. One advisor to the President is the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
_____ 104. The legislative branch can declare a law unconstitutional.
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8th Grade Constitution Test
Tier 3 Questions
To earn an A on the Constitution Test, you must complete
Tier 1 with a score of 90 or higher and Tiers 2 and 3 with a
score of 45 or higher. Good luck!
Page 16
8th Grade Constitution Test
Matching: Match the Cabinet Department with its job description.
_____ 190. Department of Education
_____ 191. Department of Interior
_____ 192. Department of Agriculture
_____ 193. Department of Justice
_____ 194. Department of the Treasury
_____ 195. Department of Homeland
Security
_____ 196. Department of Defense
_____ 197. Department of State
_____ 198. Department of Housing and
Urban Development
_____ 199. Department of
Transportation
_____ 200. Department of Veterans
Affairs
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Page 17
A. Manages federal education
programs
B. Issues passports, runs foreign
affairs
C. Deals with issues like air travel
and automobiles.
D. Oversees the National Park
System and natural resources
E. Enforces laws of the United
States in federal courts
F. Responsible for coining and
printing of money; also enforces
money laws
G. Carries out the operations of
armed forces
H. Seeks solutions to problems
involving life in the cities
I. Assists former military personnel
in a number of ways
J. Newest department; combination
of many agencies and workers
K. Promotes legislation to help
farmers and aids with their
problem
8th Grade Constitution Test
161. The section of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to make laws that
carry out the “spirit” of the Constitution is the _____________________________.
170. The Senate Majority Leader is _________________________________________.
171. The Senate Minority Leader is _________________________________________.
172. The President Pro Tempore is __________________________________________.
173. The House Majority Leader is _________________________________________.
174. The House Minority Leader is _________________________________________.
147. Article 4 of the Constitution is _________________________________________.
List the five major classes of Presidential duties:
162. _______________________________________________
163. _______________________________________________
164. _______________________________________________
165. _______________________________________________
166. _______________________________________________
145. Congress may not pass a _____________________________________________,
an act passed by a legislature to punish a person or group without a trial.
146-147. The number of electors a state has is equal to its ________________________
plus its ___________________________________________________________.
149. Reprieves and pardons for offenses are granted by the ______________________.
150. _____________________________ means “to bring to trial or charge.”
187. The two presidents who have been impeached are ___________________________
and _________________________________________.
188-189. Name the two other terms used to describe the national government in
Washington, D.C. (What else do we call it?)
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8th Grade Constitution Test
________________________________ and _______________________________
180. There are _______________ (number) total votes in the Electoral College.
181. A candidate must receive ____________ (number) votes to win in the Electoral
College.
138. If the head of the Senate is absent, the leader next in line to run the session
is the _____________________________________________________________.
152. The current majority party in the Senate is ________________________________.
153. The current majority party in the House is ________________________________.
_____ 17. An amendment to the Constitution must be ratified by _____ of the states.
a. two-thirds
b. all
c. one-half d. three-fourths
_____ 22. If no candidate receives a majority of votes in the Electoral College, the
president is elected by
a. State Governors
b. Senate
c. House of Representatives
true/false
_____ 105. Allowing the judicial branch to interpret the Constitution makes it weak.
_____ 81. Members of Congress cannot be arrested on federal holidays.
_____ 93. Thomas Jefferson is known as the “Father of the Constitution.”
_____ 94. Federal justices must be natural born citizens.
_____ 95. Representatives are the only federal officials elected by the entire nation.
_____ 96. A vacancy in the Senate is temporarily filled by a candidate selected by that
state’s governor.
_____ 79. There are ten Federal cabinet positions listed in the Constitution.
_____ 90. Teenage boys were given the vote before women.
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8th Grade Constitution Test
Extra Credit
(You’ve made it! You’re almost there!)
1. George Washington’s Cabinet had four departments; list three:
____________________
____________________
____________________
2. How long was it before the names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence
were made public? ____________________________
3. In what city was the Constitutional Convention held? _________________________
4. How old was Benjamin Franklin at the Convention?
_______________________
5. “A more perfect union” means better than the _______________________________.
6. The authors of the Federalist Papers were __________________________________,
_______________________________, and __________________.
7. The Elastic Clause is found in Article _____ Section _____ Clause _____.
8. List the most recent five presidents in order (include the current president).
_____________________, _____________________, _____________________,
_____________________, and _____________________
9. The Supreme Court case overturning the “separate but equal” decision was
____________________________ vs. ___________________________________
10. The only president to resign was _________________________________________.
11. Powers not actually expressed in the Constitution are called ___________________.
12. In the oath of office, the President swears to “______________________________,
___________________, and ____________________” the Constitution.
13. Who can declare war? _________________________________________________
14-15. Write the Pledge of Allegiance (2 points): _______________________________
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