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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did "Brutus" say was the danger of a standing army?
(a) It did not answer to the legislature.
(b) It consumed necessary resources.
(c) It turned countries toward tyranny.
(d) It created loyalty only to itself.

2. What is the current residency requirement for citizenship?
(a) 7 years residence.
(b) 10 years residence.
(c) American birth.
(d) 4 years residence.

3. What powers did Mr. Mason argue the Congress should not have?
(a) The power to alter the budget.
(b) The power to reject judicial nominations.
(c) The power to originate budget bills.
(d) The power to recall the executive.

4. How did Patrick Henry describe fear?
(a) As the enemy to reason.
(b) As the restraint of the wise.
(c) As the passion of slaves.
(d) As the paralyzing emotion.

5. What was Mr. Mason's fear about the Constitution as it was then drafted?
(a) He objected to the three-fifths compromise.
(b) He wanted a bill of rights.
(c) He feared that his constituents would not ratify the draft.
(d) He feared that Congress did not have enough power to check the executive.

6. What limitation did delegates try to place on suffrage?
(a) National origin restrictions.
(b) Race restrictions.
(c) Literacy restrictions.
(d) Landowner restrictions.

7. What did "Federal Farmer" complain about in his second letter?
(a) The government could impose too many taxes.
(b) The government was allowed to do anything it felt necessary to govern.
(c) That there is no bill of rights.
(d) The Supreme Court had too much power.

8. How did Benjamin Franklin interpret the symbol on the President's chair?
(a) He saw it as a tree withstanding the storms.
(b) He saw it as a sun rising over the republic.
(c) He saw it as a symbol of commerce.
(d) He saw it as a predator subduing its enemies.

9. What did "Federal Farmer" argue regarding the separation of powers?
(a) That it would slow the government's response to events.
(b) That it would encourage lawsuits.
(c) That it would hide government corruption.
(d) That it was disconnected from the popular will.

10. What imbalance gave James Madison cause for worry about ratification in the states?
(a) The disparity between Northern and Southern state interests.
(b) The disparity between landowners and laborers.
(c) The disparity between national and state interests.
(d) The disparity between East Coast states and frontier territories.

11. What did James Madison worry about concerning ratification in the states?
(a) The states might not act in the national interest.
(b) The federal government would be powerless without unanimous ratification.
(c) The states could sink the ratification process.
(d) The states could hold the federal government hostage with no votes.

12. What method of ratification did Mason and Madison advocate?
(a) Ratification by straw poll.
(b) Ratification by special conventions in each state.
(c) Ratification by state legislature.
(d) Ratification national referendum.

13. What compromise did the Northeast states reach with Georgia and South Carolina over slavery?
(a) That northern states will not regulate slavery for fifty years, if southern states will abolish it themselves in that time.
(b) Northern states will regulate slavery if southern states will have lower tariffs on exported raw materials.
(c) New England would not restrict slavery if the southern states will not require 2/3 majority to pass commercial restrictions.
(d) That northern states will legalize slavery if southern states will prohibit importation of slaves.

14. What did "Publius" argue regarding the fear of a centralized government?
(a) He argued that a central government would be more efficient than a number of state governments.
(b) He argued that large nations are less dangerous than quarrelling small states.
(c) He argued that checks and balances would lead to government paralysis.
(d) He argued that a centralized government would distribute the wealth more effectively.

15. How did James Wilson address the absence of a Bill of Rights?
(a) He told his audience that there had not been enough time to write a bill of rights.
(b) He told his audience that a bill of rights would require some trial and error, and therefore time.
(c) He reminded his audience that the government only had the rights enumerated in the Constitution.
(d) He told his audience that it was unnecessary because certain rights were inalienable.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did the Pennsylvania dissenters recommend to the Constitutional Convention?

2. What did Benjamin Franklin say about supporters of the residency requirement for citizenship?

3. What did Massachusetts propose in its ratification process?

4. What did James Wilson argue concerning the Constitution's provision for a standing army?

5. What argument did James Madison make concerning the fear of a centralized government?

(see the answer keys)

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