16 Questions
What is the supreme law of the United States since 1789?
The Constitution of the United States
How many original articles did the Constitution include?
7
What is the doctrine embodied in the first three articles of the Constitution?
Separation of Powers
What was the main difference between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?
The Virginia Plan had proportional representation, while the New Jersey Plan had equal representation for all states.
What is the purpose of Article IV, Article V, and Article VI of the Constitution?
To describe the relationship between the federal government and state governments
Where did the Constitutional Convention assemble in 1787?
Philadelphia
What was the result of the vote on the New Jersey Plan on June 19, 1787?
It was rejected with three states voting in favor.
How many original states did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
1
What was the main issue dividing the Northern and Southern states during the Constitutional Convention?
Slavery and proportional representation.
What was the original mandate of the Constitutional Convention?
To amend the Articles of Confederation
What was the compromise reached regarding the slave trade?
It was protected for 20 years.
How were slaves counted for the purpose of representation in the federal government?
As three-fifths of a person.
What distinction does the Constitution of the United States hold?
It is the oldest-written constitution in force in the world
What was the main provision of the Connecticut Compromise?
Proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
How many times has the US Constitution been amended since its adoption?
27 times.
What is the collective term for the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution?
The Bill of Rights.
Study Notes
The United States Constitution
- Became the supreme law of the United States on March 4, 1789, replacing the Articles of Confederation.
- Originally consists of seven articles, outlining the structure of the federal government.
- Articles I-III establish the separation of powers, dividing the government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Separation of Powers
- Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Article I)
- Executive branch: president and subordinate officers (Article II)
- Judicial branch: Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III)
Federalism and State Governments
- Articles IV-VI describe the relationship between state governments and the federal government.
- Article IV outlines the rights and responsibilities of state governments.
- Article V explains the process of constitutional amendment.
- Article VI describes the shared powers between state and federal governments.
Ratification and Drafting
- Ratified by the 13 original states using the process outlined in Article VII.
- Drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787.
- Delegates from 12 states attended the convention, with Rhode Island refusing to participate.
Key Compromises
- The Connecticut Compromise established a bicameral Congress with proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the upper house (Senate).
- The compromise on slavery allowed the importation of slaves for 20 years and counted three-fifths of slaves as part of a state's population for representation purposes.
- The compromise on proportional representation gave less populous states disproportional representation in the Senate and Electoral College.
Amendments and Impact
- The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its adoption in 1789.
- The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, protect individual liberty and justice and restrict government power.
- The Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written national constitution in force in the world.
This quiz covers the basics of the US Constitution, the supreme law of the United States. Learn about its history, structure, and key principles.
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