By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
Apr, 29, 2009

Editor’s Note: How many of us living under the Constitution know what the founding fathers did to protect us, as country, in 1776. We found a web site that can help us understand our Constitution, especially in these trying times.

Here is our second quiz; lets see what your IQ is:

1. The length of term of members of the House of Representatives is:

a. 2 years

b. 6 years

c. 4 years

d. 5 years

2. The Constitutional Convention met in:

a. New York

b. Philadelphia

c. Washington, D.C.

d. Boston

3. The Articles of Confederation did not provide for:

a. courts

b. Congress

c. laws

d. making treaties

4. The President of the meeting called to change the Articles of the Confederation was:

a. James Madison

b. Robert Morris

c. George Washington

d. Benjamin Franklin

5. The number of men who signed the Constitution was:

a. 39

b. 13

c. 48

d. 12

6. The number of main branches in our government is:

a. 6

b. 21

c. 7

d. 3

7. The legislative branch of our government is called:

a. the Cabinet

b. Congress

c. Supreme Court

d. the F.B.I.

8. The number of amendments the Congress added to the Constitution in 1791 was:

a. 3

b. 1

c. 10

d. 13

9. Laws for the United States are made by:

a. the President

b. the Senate

c. Congress

d. the Supreme Court

10. Our country’s first constitution was called:

a. the Articles of Confederation

b. the Declaration of Independence

c. the “Federalist Papers”

d. the Emancipation Proclamation

11. A member of the House of Representatives must have been a citizen of the United States for at least:

a. 7 years

b. 5 years

c. 1 year

d. 10 years

12. The Speaker of the House is chosen by:

a. the President

b. the Senate

c. the House of Representatives

d. the Chief

Detailed Answers

1) a. 2 years: This stipulation is found in Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution: “The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States ……….” Since the House of Representatives is the “people’s house,” it was important for the Founding Fathers to have this house change its representation more often to be more democratic.

2) b. Philadelphia: Philadelphia had been the “capital” of the colonies for most of the American Revolution and it was centrally located for a meeting of the delegates from the twelve colonies.

3) a. courts: There wasn’t a national judicial system under the Articles of Confederation. Those favoring a weak central government were afraid of the “judicial tyranny” the colonies experienced under British rule.

4) c. George Washington: Washington was the “Chairman of the Convention” who demanded and commanded tremendous respect because of his many years of service and dedication to his country. It was very important to have this national hero supportive of the endeavor undertaken in Philadelphia.

5) a. 39: There were over seventy individuals who attended some of the meetings between May and September 1787. Fifty-five attended most of the meetings and 42 were left to discuss the signing of the Constitution. George Mason, Elbridge Gerry and Edmond Randolph refused to sign mainly because of the omission of a bill of rights. Thus, 39 of those attending the convention signed the Constitution.

6) d. 3: This is based on the philosophy of the French philosopher Baron de Montesquieu. Edmund Randolph, the governor of Virginia, introduced the Virginia Plan to the convention delegates. He supported the idea of a federal government with three separate branches. The legislative branch would make the laws, the judicial branch would interpret the laws and the executive branch would enforce or execute the laws.

7) b. Congress: The Congress or legislative branch is the focus of Article 1 of the Constitution. It is the longest “article” in the Constitution and many of the agreements for this article were made as a result of what has been known historically as “The Great Compromise.”

c. 10: Twelve amendments were proposed, but only ten were approved in 1791. The Bill of Rights was proposals two through twelve. The first proposal which dealt with congressional apportionment became obsolete with the increase in population of the United States. Proposal number two (which dealt with congressional pay raises) became the 27^th amendment adopted in 1992.

9) c. Congress: This is found in Article 1, Section 1: “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” Thus, the function of Congress is to legislate or make the laws.

10) a. The Articles of Confederation: The Articles of Confederation was in effect from 1781 – 1789. It was based on the concept of a weak central government because of the experience we had under the strong influence of Great Britain. This constitution was our first written plan of government and was based on an opposition to a strong central government, strong executive, taxation and the power to control trade.

11) a. 7 years: This is found in Article 1, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution: “No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have …………. been seven Years a Citizen of the United States …………”

12) c. the House of Representatives: The Speaker of the House is next in line (after the Vice President) in the order of succession to the presidency. Article 1, Section 2, Clause 5: “The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker.” The Speaker is usually a member of the majority party in the House of Representatives although it’s not a requirement mandated by the Constitution.

Source: Constitution Facts