Grade 8 Constitution Unit Test PDF

Name:_________________________________________________________Date:_________________Period:________ UNIT TEST CONSTITUTION GRADE 8 Directions - Read each question carefully. Determine the best answer to the question. Constitutional Amendment Process...

Name:_________________________________________________________Date:_________________Period:________ UNIT TEST CONSTITUTION GRADE 8 Directions - Read each question carefully. Determine the best answer to the question. Constitutional Amendment Process Proposed by two-thirds of the House and Senate Ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures _____ 1. Which of the following BEST describes the purpose for amending the Constitution? A. to revise the original wording of the Constitution B. to clarify specific laws passed by Congress C. to ensure the Constitution adapts to changing times D. to grant additional powers to the President In 2016, Donald Trump was chosen as the Republican candidate for president. He ran against the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump was elected president. _____ 2. Which principle of government gives the American people the right to elect their leadership every four years? A. Popular sovereignty B. Separation of powers C. Checks and balances D. Federalism All rights reserved © 2019-2022 Lowman Education LLC _____ 3. Why would slave states be in favor of counting slaves as part of their total population? A. to be required to pay less in taxes B. to have more representation in the Legislative Branch C. to gain more military presence in their areas D. to charge lower prices for their goods 4. Determine which description corresponds to the plans for the U.S. Constitution. Select the correct answer in each row. New Jersey Great Description Virginia Plan Plan Compromise Representatives chosen solely on one vote per state ☐ ☐ ☐ Representatives work together to pass laws ☐ ☐ ☐ Representatives chosen solely on state population ☐ ☐ ☐ _____ 5. The Northwest Ordinance was an act that provided rules for governing the Northwest Territory and paved the way for - A. admission of new states to the Union B. ratification of the U.S. Constitution C. expansion of slavery to northern states D. industrialization of the northern U.S. All rights reserved © 2019-2022 Lowman Education LLC  6. Why were George Mason and the Anti-Federalists unwilling to ratify the Constitution before it contained a bill of rights? Explain your answer. Think about the question carefully. Then enter your answer in the box provided. Congress has the power to collect taxes President has the power to make treaties Principle of checks and balances incorporated _____ 7. The bulleted list above is in response to issues that arose under the - A. Three-Fifths Compromise B. Declaration of Independence C. Articles of Confederation D. Magna Carta All rights reserved © 2019-2022 Lowman Education LLC  Judge or other officials could file false charges By requiring a jury to be involved in a trial, serious and sometimes fatal decisions are taken out of the hands of Unable to defend self a few judges or officials, and are put into the hands of a group of average citizens who look over the evidence. Long imprisonment, people tortured and even executed in secret trials _____ 8. The information contained in the graphic organizer above supports the creation of which constitutional amendment? A. First Amendment B. Third Amendment C. Fourth Amendment D. Sixth Amendment This graphic organizer describes an amendment in the Bill of Rights. 9. Which detail demonstrates limits placed on the First Amendment? Circle THREE correct answers. Publishing false and Providing legal Protesting an issue slanderous material representation in a facing the nation in a newspaper criminal case using violence Offering free legal Requiring Financing housing advice to someone membership to a units to America’s who cannot afford particular religious soldiers lawyer denomination All rights reserved © 2019-2022 Lowman Education LLC _____ 10. How did the Articles of Confederation ensure that state governments would have more power over the national government? A. States would partner with local Native tribes to defend their land. B. Congress needed the approval of all states to pass amendments. C. Executive actions required judicial approval. D. The president advised state leaders regarding foreign trade. I had rather be a free citizen of the small republic of Virginia, than an oppressed subject of the great American empire. _____ 11. Why would an Anti-Federalist have supported the above statement? A. Anti-Federalists believed in a strong central government. B. Anti-Federalists wanted a great American empire. C. Anti-Federalists believed in a strong state government. D. Anti-Federalists were loyal to the King of England. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution… are reserved to the States respectively. - Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution _____ 12. The ideas outlined in the amendment above reflect which principle of government? A. Popular sovereignty B. Republicanism C. Judicial review D. Federalism All rights reserved © 2019-2022 Lowman Education LLC  Nothing is more certain than the necessity of government, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their natural rights… It is well worthy of consideration therefore, to all general purposes, be one nation, under one federal government… - Federalist No.2 _____ 13. Which idea is BEST demonstrated above? A. The power of the federal government belongs to the states. B. The United States should have a strong, central government. C. The United States should continue to operate as a confederacy. D. The people of the United States do not need their natural rights protected. _____ 14. Which of the following represents a protection guaranteed under the First Amendment? A. Probable cause needed to obtain a search warrant B. Excessive bail and fines cannot be imposed C. Right to trial by jury in civil cases D. Freedom of choice regarding religious membership For depriving Us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury. For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among Us.. Transporting Us beyond the seas to be tried for pretended offenses. - Declaration of Independence _____ 15. How did the Founding Fathers address these colonial grievances and protect the rights of American citizens? A. Article III of the Constitution, which establishes the court system. B. They are listed in the Declaration of Independence. C. The problems are corrected in the Bill of Rights. D. Article I of the Constitution, which allows Congress to tax. All rights reserved © 2019-2022 Lowman Education LLC This excerpt is from French philosopher Baron de Montesquieu. …There is no liberty, if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive. -Baron de Montesquieu, Spirit of Laws, 1748 Montesquieu’s theory of _________________________ 16 was used in the creation of the Constitution. The Framers embedded _______________________ 17 into the Constitution to prevent any abuse of power from the other branches of government. Complete the sentences by selecting the correct answer. _____ 16. The best selection is - A. Checks and balances B. Separation of powers C. Bill of Rights _____ 17. The best selection is - A. Checks and balances B. Separation of powers C. Bill of Rights Protection from double jeopardy No self-incrimination Fifth Amendment ? _____ 18. Which of the following completes the graphic organizer? A. Right to trial by jury B. Due process of law C. No cruel and unusual punishment D. No unreasonable search and seizure All rights reserved © 2019-2022 Lowman Education LLC  Person A argued: Constitution allowed the Congress to make laws regarding civil cases, including the right to trial by jury, if it wanted to, though it didn't require Congress to do so. Person B argued: Wanted the right to trial by jury written in stone, so to speak, as a guaranteed right under the new Constitution. _____ 19. How can Person A and B BEST be classified? A. A Northerner and Southerner arguing over the concept of states’ rights included in the Ninth Amendment. B. A Federalists and Anti-Federalist arguing over the concept of the structure of the judicial branch. C. A Northerner and Southerner arguing over ideas eventually included in the First Amendment. D. A Federalist and Anti-Federalist arguing over ideas eventually included in the Seventh Amendment. _____ 20. Which of the following scenarios BEST shows a violation of the Eighth Amendment? A. The Gault brothers were accused of vandalizing their school. The boys were found guilty and received a punishment of 20 hours of community service. B. Gerald Gault was caught cheating on his U.S. History test. He was given a zero on the test and had to serve two one-hour detentions. C. The Gault brothers were accused of online bullying. They were accused of harassment and required to attend four counseling sessions. D. Ronald Gault was caught shoplifting a book from his school’s book fair. He was arrested and punished with eight years in a juvenile detention center. Completing a national census form Being an informed voter Serving on a jury _____ 21. The bulleted actions above are identified as - A. instances of civil disobedience B. requirements of U.S. citizens once they turn 16 C. examples of responsible citizenship D. unalienable rights granted to all humans All rights reserved © 2019-2022 Lowman Education LLC  During the Revolutionary War era, the British recognized that the colonists would use their weapons to defend themselves, so the British made efforts to confiscate as many weapons as they could without obtaining a writs of assistance. _____ 22. Which constitutional amendment would have protected colonists against the British? A. Second Amendment B. Fourth Amendment C. Sixth Amendment D. Tenth Amendment Does any man suppose that one general national government can exist in so extensive a country as this? I hope that a government may be framed which may suit us…the question then will be, whether a consolidated government can preserve the freedom and secure the rights of the people. - George Mason, 1788 _____ 23. Based on the excerpt above, the author believed - A. in the importance of protecting individual liberties B. a chief executive was needed to govern effectively C. each state was capable of governing itself D. altering the Articles of Confederation was unnecessary All rights reserved © 2019-2022 Lowman Education LLC  Gained rights to self-government Protected civil liberties Outlawed slavery Provided for public education _____ 24. The above are important provisions outlined in which historical document? A. Virginia Plan B. Declaration of Independence C. New Jersey Plan D. Northwest Ordinance _____ 25. Which of the following BEST describes religious freedom under the First Amendment? Select TWO correct answers. A. Americans are required to follow a national religion. B. Americans have the right to pray in public places. C. Americans can be fined for not exercising their religious freedom. D. Americans have the right to practice whatever religion they choose. 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