U.S. Constitution Quizzes: Test Your Knowledge on the Supreme Law of the Land

Question 1

Which of the following powers is NOT delegated to Congress by the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

To define the rights of citizens

Answer

To declare war

Answer

To regulate interstate commerce

Answer

To establish a national bank

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights?

Accepted Answer

To establish the rights of American citizens

Answer

To limit the powers of the government

Answer

To create a separate judicial branch

Answer

To define the relationship between the states

Question 3

Which branch of the U.S. government is responsible for enforcing laws?

Accepted Answer

Executive

Answer

Legislative

Answer

Judicial

Answer

Federal

Question 4

What fundamental principle in the U.S. Constitution ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful?

Accepted Answer

Checks and balances

Answer

Popular sovereignty

Answer

Federalism

Answer

Limited government

Question 5

Which event marked the official start of the Constitutional Convention?

Accepted Answer

The Annapolis Convention

Answer

The signing of the Declaration of Independence

Answer

The Battle of Saratoga

Answer

The ratification of the Articles of Confederation

Question 6

What was a key difference between the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution established a stronger central government

Answer

The Articles of Confederation had a stronger executive branch

Answer

The Constitution was a less democratic form of government

Answer

The Articles of Confederation protected individual rights more effectively

Question 7

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are commonly referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The Bill of Rights

Answer

The Articles of Confederation

Answer

The Federalist Papers

Answer

The Magna Carta

Question 8

Which branch of government has the primary responsibility of creating laws?

Accepted Answer

Legislative

Answer

Executive

Answer

Judicial

Answer

Administrative

Question 9

Which of the following rights is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Freedom of speech

Answer

Right to bear arms

Answer

Protection against unreasonable searches

Answer

Right to a speedy trial

Question 10

The Constitution was created to address the perceived weaknesses of:

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation

Answer

The Declaration of Independence

Answer

The Magna Carta

Answer

The Bill of Rights

Question 11

Which document establishes the fundamental framework for the government of the United States?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution

Answer

The Declaration of Independence

Answer

The Bill of Rights

Answer

The Articles of Confederation

Question 12

Which amendment to the Constitution guarantees the freedoms of speech, religion, and the press?

Accepted Answer

First Amendment

Answer

Second Amendment

Answer

Fifth Amendment

Answer

Tenth Amendment

Question 13

The principle of separation of powers divides the government into which three branches?

Accepted Answer

Executive, Legislative, Judicial

Answer

Executive, Legislative, Military

Answer

Legislative, Judicial, Administrative

Answer

Executive, Judicial, Military

Question 14

The system of checks and balances ensures that each branch of government can:

Accepted Answer

Limit the power of other branches

Answer

Overturn the decisions of other branches

Answer

Impeach the president

Answer

Declare laws unconstitutional

Question 15

Which of the following is a power granted to states under the principle of federalism?

Accepted Answer

Setting educational standards

Answer

Regulating interstate commerce

Answer

Establishing a national army

Answer

Printing money

Question 16

Amending the Constitution requires the approval of:

Accepted Answer

Congress and three-fourths of state legislatures

Answer

Congress only

Answer

State legislatures only

Answer

A national convention only

Question 17

Which of the following has played the most significant role in interpreting the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court decisions

Answer

Presidential actions

Answer

Congressional debates

Answer

Public opinion

Question 18

Who is widely recognized as the 'Father of the Constitution'?

Accepted Answer

James Madison

Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

John Adams

Question 19

Which amendment to the Constitution guarantees the freedoms of speech, religion, and the press?

Accepted Answer

First Amendment

Answer

Second Amendment

Answer

Fourth Amendment

Answer

Tenth Amendment

Question 20

What is the name of the system of government in which power is distributed among different branches?

Accepted Answer

Separation of powers

Answer

Federalism

Answer

Checks and balances

Answer

Unitary government

Question 21

Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting the Constitution and determining its meaning?

Accepted Answer

Judicial

Answer

Legislative

Answer

Executive

Answer

Administrative

Question 22

Which of the following is a key distinction between a federal system of government and a unitary system?

Accepted Answer

Power is shared between central and regional authorities

Answer

All power is concentrated in the central government

Answer

Regional authorities have no autonomy

Answer

Citizens have fewer rights in a federal system

Question 23

What was the name of the document that outlined the principles and structure of the U.S. government before the ratification of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Articles of Confederation

Answer

Declaration of Independence

Answer

Bill of Rights

Answer

Federalist Papers

Question 24

To which purpose does the Constitution NOT contribute?

Accepted Answer

Boosting economic growth

Answer

Establishing the framework for the government

Answer

Protecting individual rights

Answer

Defining the powers of government branches

Question 25

Which principle forms the foundation of popular sovereignty?

Accepted Answer

The government derives its power from the people

Answer

The government's power originates from divine authority

Answer

The government's power is inherited by the ruling elite

Answer

The government's power is based solely on the consent of those it governs

Question 26

Which branch of government holds the responsibility of interpreting laws?

Accepted Answer

Judicial

Answer

Legislative

Answer

Executive

Answer

Administrative

Question 27

What is the primary objective of the Bill of Rights?

Accepted Answer

Shielding individual freedoms from government encroachment

Answer

Outlining the powers of the national government

Answer

Establishing the structure of the government

Answer

Guaranteeing the rights of states

Question 28

Which amendment to the Constitution explicitly prohibits the government from establishing religion?

Accepted Answer

First Amendment

Answer

Second Amendment

Answer

Fifth Amendment

Answer

Fourteenth Amendment

Question 29

Which principle entails the distribution of power between the national government and state governments?

Accepted Answer

Federalism

Answer

Checks and balances

Answer

Separation of powers

Answer

Popular sovereignty

Question 30

Which document establishes the fundamental principles and structures of the U.S. government?

Accepted Answer

Constitution

Answer

Declaration of Independence

Answer

Bill of Rights

Answer

Articles of Confederation

Question 31

Which of the following principles is **not** explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Popular sovereignty

Answer

Limited government

Answer

Separation of powers

Answer

Checks and balances

Question 32

Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

George Washington

Answer

James Madison

Answer

Alexander Hamilton

Question 33

Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Judicial

Answer

Legislative

Answer

Executive

Answer

Bureaucratic

Question 34

Which amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery?

Accepted Answer

Thirteenth Amendment

Answer

Fourteenth Amendment

Answer

Fifteenth Amendment

Answer

Sixteenth Amendment

Question 35

What is the purpose of federalism in the U.S. political system?

Accepted Answer

To divide power between the national and state governments

Answer

To concentrate power in the national government

Answer

To eliminate the role of local governments

Answer

To ensure that the minority party always has a say in government

Question 36

Which of the following is **not** a right protected by the First Amendment?

Accepted Answer

Right to a trial by jury

Answer

Freedom of speech

Answer

Freedom of religion

Answer

Right to bear arms

Question 37

What is the purpose of the Electoral College?

Accepted Answer

To give small states a greater voice in the election of the president

Answer

To ensure that the candidate with the most popular votes wins the presidency

Answer

To prevent foreign interference in presidential elections

Answer

To provide an additional layer of protection against the tyranny of the majority

Question 38

How many amendments have been added to the Constitution since its ratification?

Accepted Answer

27

Answer

10

Answer

33

Answer

50

Question 39

Which of the following is a key principle underlying the Constitution's system of checks and balances?

Accepted Answer

Each branch of government has some control over the others

Answer

The president is the most powerful branch of government

Answer

The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of constitutional law

Answer

The legislative branch is subordinate to the executive branch

Question 40

Which method of interpreting the Constitution focuses on understanding the original intent of its creators?

Accepted Answer

Originalism

Answer

Textualism

Answer

Living Constitutionalism

Answer

Historical Constitutionalism

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental principle of the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Unitary government

Answer

Separation of powers

Answer

Checks and balances

Question 42

What is the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights?

Accepted Answer

To protect individual freedoms from government interference

Answer

To define the structure of the three branches of government

Answer

To establish the process for impeaching high-ranking officials

Question 43

Which branch of government is responsible for passing laws and making policy?

Accepted Answer

Legislative

Answer

Judicial

Answer

Administrative

Answer

Executive

Question 44

What is the core concept of 'checks and balances' in the U.S. government?

Accepted Answer

Each branch has the ability to limit or restrain the power of the other branches

Answer

All branches of government operate independently

Answer

The executive branch has supreme authority

Question 45

Which amendment to the Constitution secures the right to keep and bear arms?

Accepted Answer

Second Amendment

Answer

First Amendment

Answer

Fifth Amendment

Answer

Tenth Amendment

Question 46

What is the principle of federalism as outlined in the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Power is shared between the national government and state governments

Answer

The state governments hold all the power

Answer

The national government holds all the power

Question 47

What is the primary role of the Supreme Court in relation to the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

To interpret the Constitution and determine the legality of laws and government actions

Answer

To enforce laws

Answer

To create new laws

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT a freedom protected by the First Amendment?

Accepted Answer

Right to purchase firearms

Answer

Freedom of speech

Answer

Freedom of the press

Answer

Freedom of religion

Question 49

What is the process established for amending the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A proposed amendment must pass by a two-thirds vote of Congress and be ratified by three-fourths of the states

Answer

A proposed amendment must pass by a simple majority vote of Congress and be ratified by a majority of the states

Answer

A proposed amendment must pass by a three-fourths vote of Congress and be ratified by two-thirds of the states