HIS US CONSTITUTION TEST

Name:

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

New states may be admitted to the Union if approved by

a.	Congress	c.	the Supreme Court.
b.	the president	d.	three-quarters of the state legislatures

If the president neither signs nor returns a bill to Congress during the time allowed, that bill

a.	is vetoed	c.	goes to the state legislatures for consideration
b.	must be signed by the vice-president to become law	d.	becomes law

A member of Congress cannot be held legally responsible for

a.	statements made in speeches or debates in either house	c.	failure to pay taxes
b.	any crimes committed while in office.	d.	treason

Since the adoption of the Constitution, the number of presidents impeached is

a.	two	c.	four
b.	three	d.	one

The framers of the Constitution set out to do all of the following except

a.	create appropriate structures	c.	establish legitimacy
b.	create a capitalist government	d.	allow for change

The Constitution requires that state governments

a.	have two houses, like the federal government	c.	reflect the two-party system
b.	have a chief executive elected by popular vote	d.	represent the people who reside in the states

The Constitution can be amended if the change is approved by a two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress and

a.	three-fourths of the states	c.	two-thirds of the states
b.	the president	d.	a majority of voters in a national vote

The president is elected to a term of

a.	four years	c.	two years
b.	six years	d.	eight years

Searches are prohibited if they are

a.	not speedy	c.	unreasonable
b.	on private property

10.

The "supreme law of the land" is

a.	the Articles of Confederacy.	c.	the Preamble
b.	the Bill of Rights	d.	the Constitution

11.

A person must be a U.S. citizen by birth to hold the office of

a.	president	c.	chief justice of the Supreme Court
b.	No federal official is required to be a citizen by birth	d.	speaker of the House

12.

The last group to whom the Constitution granted the right to vote was

a.	African-American men	c.	eighteen-year-olds
b.	Native American men	d.	women

13.

It is illegal to deny someone the right to vote based on his or her failure to

a.	register	c.	become a citizen
b.	pay a tax

14.

A Constitutional amendment was necessary before Congress could impose a tax on

a.	imports	c.	income
b.	property

15.

In order for the Senate or House to vote on a bill, how many members must be present?

a.	all	c.	at least one-half
b.	two-thirds	d.	more than one-half

16.

What is the minimum age for a member of the House of Representatives?

a.	25	c.	30
b.	35	d.	20

17.

The framers established six-year terms for senators in order to

a.	limit the amount of money spent on elections.	c.	create stability in the government
b.	correspond with the terms of presidents	d.	ensure that the House of Representatives held the most power

18.

Someone charged with a crime who flees to another state must be returned to the original state by the state he or she has gone to if

a.	the crime was a felony	c.	a federal court judge issues such an order
b.	the governor of the original state requests it	d.	the crime was a federal crime

19.

How many amendments have been passed and then repealed?

a.	three	c.	two
b.	one

20.

Each of the following is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights except the right to

a.	be tried publicly	c.	vote
b.	assemble	d.	voice an opinion.

21.

The qualifications for a U.S. senator or representative require all of the following except that he or she

a.	live in the state he or she represents.	c.	be at least a certain age
b.	be a U.S. citizen	d.	belong to a registered political party

22.

The vice-president of the United States also serves as

a.	"commander-in-chief."	c.	president of the Senate
b.	speaker of the house	d.	a member of the cabinet

23.

Amendment 15, first amendment to deal with voting rights, made it illegal to deny the right to vote based on

a.	gender	c.	age
b.	race, color, or previous condition of servitude

24.

Overriding a presidential veto of a bill requires

a.	a three-fourths vote by both houses of Congress	c.	a unanimous vote by both houses of Congress
b.	a majority vote by one house and a two-thirds vote by the other	d.	a two-thirds vote by both houses of Congress.

25.

The three main branches of the U.S. government are

a.	the House of Representatives, Senate, and Supreme Court	c.	state, local, and federal
b.	the president, Senate, and Supreme Court	d.	executive, legislative, and judiciary

26.

A person cannot serve as a member of a state legislature or hold federal office unless he or she

a.	is approved by the Congress	c.	belongs to an established church
b.	is elected by popular vote	d.	swears an oath of loyalty to the Constitution

27.

The right to a speedy and public trial is meant to protect the rights of

a.	society	c.	the accused
b.	witnesses

28.

Congress cannot pass a law that would punish an action that

a.	was legal when it occurred	c.	is practiced by a majority of U.S. citizens
b.	occurs as part of interstate trade activities	d.	occurs beyond U.S. borders

29.

The Senate must approve of the president's choice for each of the following offices except that of

a.	an ambassador to a foreign country	c.	the secretary of state
b.	the vice-president	d.	a justice of the Supreme Court

30.

For Congress to override a presidential veto of a bill,

a.	one house must pass the bill by a three-fourths majority	c.	one house must pass the bill by a two-thirds majority
b.	each house must pass the bill by a two-thirds majority	d.	each house must pass the bill by a three-fourths majority

31.

If Congress passes a bill and sends it to the president two weeks before a scheduled adjournment, and the president neither signs nor returns it, that bill

a.	has been vetoed	c.	must be resubmitted during the next session of Congress
b.	goes to the state legislatures for consideration	d.	becomes law

32.

Private property cannot be taken by the government without

a.	permission	c.	a jury trial.
b.	payment

33.

The police cannot get a search warrant unless they have

a.	the homeowner's permission	c.	an arrest warrant
b.	the suspect's confession	d.	a good reason to believe evidence may be found

34.

Under what conditions may a state engage in war with a foreign nation?

a.	only when delay would be dangerous	c.	when the federal government does not have a treaty with that nation
b.	under no conditions	d.	when the Congress refuses to declare war

35.

The Preamble to the Constitution

a.	assigns powers to various branches of government	c.	lists citizens' rights
b.	describes the three branches of government	d.	establishes legitimacy

36.

New states may be admitted to the United States only if they are approved by

a.	Congress	c.	the president
b.	two-thirds of the Senate.	d.	three-fourths of the state legislatures

37.

The president must have been a U.S. citizen

a.	for a minimum of ten years	c.	since birth
b.	for a minimum of twenty-five years	d.	since the age of eighteen

38.

The Supreme Court's power to judge the constitutionality of a law

a.	is enumerated in the Bill of Rights	c.	can be overridden by a vote of three-fourths of the states
b.	was made explicit in the case Marbury v. Madison	d.	is itself unconstitutional

39.

In order to become the law of the land, the Constitution had to be ratified by

a.	nine states	c.	all thirteen states
b.	seven states	d.	eleven states

40.

The person who serves as the president of the Senate is also

a.	a member elected by the Senate	c.	the chief justice of the Supreme Court
b.	the Senate majority leader	d.	the vice-president of the United States

41.

The president of the Senate votes

a.	on every bill	c.	only when the Senate vote is tied
b.	only on tax bills	d.	only when requested to by the Senate

42.

In the Constitution, the "supreme law of the land" is defined as being

a.	the Constitution itself	c.	the will of the people
b.	acts passed by Congress	d.	Supreme Court decisions

43.

A person cannot be forced to testify

a.	for a grand jury	c.	against himself or herself
b.	more than once

44.

The Twenty-fourth Amendment makes it illegal to deny any citizen the right to vote based on his or her failure to pay

a.	a fine.	c.	a fee of fifty dollars
b.	child support	d.	a poll tax

45.

A member of the House of Representatives is elected to a term of

a.	one year	c.	two years
b.	six years	d.	four years

46.

A U.S. senator serves for a term of

a.	eight years.	c.	two years
b.	six years	d.	four years

47.

Each of the following is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights except the right to

a.	publish unpopular views	c.	petition the government
b.	join a union	d.	be tried by a jury

48.

Under no circumstances can any person hold the office of president for more than

a.	twelve years	c.	eight years
b.	four years

49.

Congress is forbidden to establish a

a.	press	c.	religion
b.	militia