US Constitution Structure and Content 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What fraction of states must ratify a constitutional amendment for it to become part of the Constitution?
- Two-thirds
- Three-fourths (Correct answer)
- Three-fifths
- One-half
Correct answer: Three-fourths
Article V requires ratification by three-fourths (38 of 50) of the states.
Question 2: Which branch of government does Article III of the Constitution establish?
- Executive
- Legislative
- Judicial (Correct answer)
- Federal Reserve
Correct answer: Judicial
Article III creates the judicial branch, vesting judicial power in the Supreme Court and inferior courts Congress may establish.
Question 3: The Preamble to the Constitution begins with which three words?
- We hold these
- Congress shall make
- We the People (Correct answer)
- In order to
Correct answer: We the People
The Preamble famously opens with 'We the People of the United States…'
Question 4: Under Article II, how long is one presidential term?
- 2 years
- 4 years (Correct answer)
- 6 years
- 8 years
Correct answer: 4 years
Article II, Section 1 sets the presidential term at four years.
Question 5: Which constitutional provision forbids Congress from suspending the writ of habeas corpus except during rebellion or invasion?
- Article I, Section 8
- Article I, Section 9 (Correct answer)
- Article II, Section 2
- Article III, Section 2
Correct answer: Article I, Section 9
Article I, Section 9 lists prohibitions on Congress, including protection of habeas corpus.
Question 6: What does Article IV's Full Faith and Credit Clause require states to do?
- Share tax revenues equally
- Honor public acts and judicial proceedings of other states (Correct answer)
- Extradite all fugitives immediately
- Maintain identical legal codes
Correct answer: Honor public acts and judicial proceedings of other states
The Full Faith and Credit Clause compels each state to recognize the laws, records, and court decisions of other states.
Question 7: Article V outlines two methods for proposing amendments; which body is used by the second (never yet used) method?
- A national referendum
- A constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures (Correct answer)
- The Supreme Court
- A joint session of Congress and state governors
Correct answer: A constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures
Article V allows two-thirds of state legislatures to call a constitutional convention to propose amendments, though this method has never been used.
US Constitution Structure and Content 3
What fraction of states must ratify a constitutional amendment for it to become part of the Constitution?