US Constitution

Whose actions would NOT be protected by the First Amendment?

• Judith complains about the president.

• Marco tells a crowd to set fire to a building.

• Tammy says negative things about a new movie.

• Samuel makes up an excuse to get out of chores.

How does the Constitution show that the Founding Fathers were afraid of strong national governments?

• 
  It gives the president control of the army.

• 
  It created a federal system of government.

• It gives Congress the power to coin money.

The United States has a federal government. What does this mean?

• that people give the government its power to make laws

• that power is divided between the national and state governments

• that the people have natural rights that the government must protect

Stephen and his family visited Washington, DC. While there, they visited the White House. A man was standing by himself outside the White House fence holding a sign protesting the president's decisions. Stephen did not like this because he liked the president. Which right, protected by the First Amendment, was the man with the sign practicing.

• 
  freedom of speech

• freedom from unusual punishment

• freedom of the press

Why did many people support adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution?

• 
  They thought that the state governments were too strong unders the Constitution.

• Living under the rule of the British King made them afraid of strong national governments.

• They thought that the national government was too weak under the Constitution.

Why did the Framers of the Constitution add the Bill of Rights?

• to make it easier to pass new laws

• to protect the natural rights of the people

• to make the national government stronger

How was the form of government that James Madison supported at the Constitutional Convention different from the US government under the Articles of Confederation?

• Madison thought that the state governments should be stronger.

• Madison thought that the national government should be stronger.

• Madison thought that all power should be given to the executive branch.

Which statement about the government of the United States is correct?

• In the United States, government leaders do not have to follow the laws.

• 
  Citizens in the United States are allowed to vote on all new national laws

• In the United States, the government does not protect the rights of the people

• Citizens in the United States choose other people to represent them in government.

Why did the Framers of the Constitution divide government powers between different branches and levels of government?

• to provide checks and balances

• to limit the political power of citizens

• 
  to create a strong federal government

• to help the president control the government

What was the initial goal of the convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in September of 1787?

• 
  to write a new constitution for the United States

• to make changes to the Articles of Confederation

• 
  to amend the US Constitution by adding a bill of rights