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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Mr. Sherman argue concerning the question of whether the executive should be chosen by the legislature?

2. What did a legitimate government require, in James Madison's opinion?

3. Which bodies were the delegates considering as electors of Representatives in the House?

4. What reason did Mr. Mason give for the view he presented at the convention?

5. How did the South want the Constitution to regulate trade?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did delegates fear in the federal government's ability to veto state laws?

2. What were the delegates' positions on the question of Senatorial term limits?

3. Which delegates took positions on the term and election of the federal executive and what were their positions?

4. What was an argument for electing Senators in state legislatures?

5. What did delegates discuss regarding the appointment of judges?

6. Why did Benjamin Franklin believe that government officers should not receive salaries?

7. Describe the delegates' reaction to the New Jersey Plan.

8. How did Congress vote on the question of whether Congress should have the ability to veto state laws that violate national laws?

9. Where did the Federalist Papers come from?

10. What was the Great Compromise?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the paradox that a government needs to be strong in order to protect the people from the government itself. How was this notion handled by the delegates at the Constitutional Convention? What allowances were made so that the government was neither too strong nor too weak? What allowances were made to protect individual freedom?

Essay Topic 2

How did the Constitution change between its first draft after being compiled, and the final draft that was ratified by the states?

Essay Topic 3

The Great Compromise created the bicameral legislature. How else did the practice of compromise affect the drafting and ratification of the Constitution? What issues were ultimately compromised on? What issues were not?

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