The Preamble and the Constitution's big principles

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Federalism, limited government and rights

   Box National government: has the powers the Constitution delegates to it; its laws are the supreme law of the land. Box States, or the people: keep the powers not delegated to the nation nor denied to the states. Box Individual rights: listed in the Bill of Rights (1791), which limits what government may do. Arrows: from National government to States, or the people: shares power with; from Individual rights to National government: limits. Line 1 (Constitution (1787), Article VI; as printed in 1820, p. 30): "This constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land…" Line 2 (Constitution, Tenth Amendment (1791); as printed in 1820, p. 33): "The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."

2. 1.

   By line 1, what is the supreme law of the land, Noah asks?

   • Each state's own laws
   • The Preamble alone
   • The Constitution, laws and treaties
   • The Articles of Confederation of 1781
3. 2.

   By line 2, who keeps the powers not delegated to the nation, Pia asks?

   • Congress
   • The states, or the people
   • The president and the cabinet alone
   • The Supreme Court
4. 3.

   Which principle does line 2 show best, Tala asks?

   • Popular sovereignty
   • Checks and balances
   • Federalism
   • Separation of powers
5. 4.

   Which principle does the Bill of Rights box show best, Zee asks?

   • A strong king
   • Individual rights, limited government
   • Supremacy of each state's laws over the nation's
   • Separation of powers
6. 5.

   Which line shows that national law wins over state law, Ari asks?

   • Both lines
   • Line 2
   • Neither line
   • Line 1
7. 6.

   A state law conflicts with a national law made under the Constitution. Which wins, Bo asks?

   • Neither law, until a vote
   • The state law, since states are older
   • Whichever law is older
   • The national law
8. 7.

   The Constitution says nothing about running schools. Who holds that power, by line 2, Esme asks?

   • The Supreme Court in Washington
   • No one
   • The president
   • The states, or the people
9. 8.

   Why is the government called limited, Jun asks?

   • Its powers are listed and limited
   • It has unlimited power over the states
   • It has few workers
   • It has a short term
10. 9.

    Luz's note says, "The Bill of Rights gives the government more power." Which fix is right?

    • Change Rights to Wrongs
    • Change gives more power to limits
    • Change government to states
    • Leave it: rights are powers
11. 10.

    Milo's note says, "Line 2 comes from the 1787 Constitution." Which fix is right?

    • Change 1787 to 1776
    • Leave it: it is in the Constitution now
    • Change it: it is the Tenth Amendment, 1791
    • Change Line 2 to Line 1