Thursday, August 22, 2002

Andy sends this test for your constitutional IQ. Ten "easy" questions about the Constitution. Each question makes a subtle conservative point, indiscernable to most.

1. The Constitution was drafted by a group originally assembled to:
(a) form a new government.
(b) propose modifications to the existing government.
(c) declare independence from England.
(d) pass legislation to implement the Articles of Confederation.

2. The delegates at the Constitutional Convention unanimously supported it because:
(a) the dissenting delegates left before it concluded.
(b) it underwent numerous revisions in secrecy until unanimous consent was
reached.
(c) George Washington presided over it.
(d) all of the above.

3. The following resources are available for interpreting the Constitution:
(a) minutes of the discussions at the convention.
(b) media coverage of discussions at the convention.
(c) George Washington's detailed notes from the convention.
(d) none of the above.

4. The signatories to the Constitution included:
(a) Thomas Jefferson.
(b) John Hancock.
(c) William Paterson.
(d) James Monroe.

5. The Federalist Papers opposed a Bill of Rights in the Constitution because:
(a) they would imply federal powers that were never granted.
(b) the New York state constitution lacked a similar bill of rights.
(c) the statute law of Great Britain lacked a similar bill of rights.
(d) all of the above.

6. The State of Massachusetts ratified the Constitution by this percentage vote:
(a) 53%-47%
(b) 65%-35%
(c) 89%-11%
(d) 100%

7. Opponents to ratification of the Constitution feared judicial activism by federal judges because:
(a) they can use the federal government to enforce their orders.
(b) they are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
(c) they receive a salary from the federal government.
(d) they are unelected.

8. Patrick Henry opposed ratification of the Constitution because he found this new federal power especially dangerous:
(a) the power to legislate.
(b) the power to deal with foreign nations.
(c) the power to tax.
(d) the power to thwart secession.

9. The Constitution did not grant women the right to vote because:
(a) the delegates considered women to be second-class citizens.
(b) women generally did not own land, and only landowners could vote.
(c) the Constitution did not grant anyone the right to vote.
(d) none of the above.

10. States can convict defendants of felonies by less than unanimous jury vote because:
(a) majority vote is all that was ever required.
(b) the Bill of Rights do not apply entirely to the States.
(c) the right to trial by jury does not include requirements for the jury.
(d) federal juries can also convict for felonies by divided juries.

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