U.S. Constitution — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The Constitution is organized into seven articles that set up the government.
The Constitution has exactly seven articles, each covering a different part of how the government is organized, from Congress (Article I) to the ratification process (Article VII).
2. Article I creates the legislative branch, which is Congress.
"Legislative" means law-making, so Article I sets up Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives) as the branch responsible for writing and passing new laws.
3. Article II sets up the executive branch, led by the President.
"Executive" means carrying out or enforcing, so Article II creates the presidency to make sure the laws that Congress passes are actually put into action across the country.
4. Article III establishes the judicial branch, including the Supreme Court.
The judicial branch interprets laws and settles disputes, and Article III places the Supreme Court at the top of the federal court system to have the final say on legal questions.
5. Article IV explains how states must respect each other's laws and court decisions.
Article IV requires states to honor each other's laws and court rulings so that, for example, a driver's license issued in one state is recognized when you travel to another.
6. Article V describes the process for making amendments to the Constitution.
An amendment is a formal change or addition to the Constitution, and Article V spells out how to propose and ratify one so the document can be updated as the country grows.
7. Article VI contains the Supremacy Clause, making the Constitution the supreme law of the land.
The Supremacy Clause in Article VI declares the Constitution the supreme "law" of the land, meaning no state or local law can override what the Constitution says.
8. Article VII required nine out of thirteen states to ratify the Constitution.
The Founders chose nine out of thirteen states as the threshold for ratification because it was more than a simple majority, showing broad support without requiring every single state to agree.
9. The Vice President serves as the president of the Senate.
The Constitution gives the Vice President the role of presiding over the Senate, including the power to cast a tie-breaking vote when senators are evenly split.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Article I
→ Creates Congress and the legislative branch
Sets up the presidency and executive branch
Article II
→ Sets up the presidency and executive branch
Describes how to amend the Constitution
Article III
→ Establishes the Supreme Court and judicial branch
Creates Congress and the legislative branch
Article V
→ Describes how to amend the Constitution
Establishes the Supreme Court and judicial branch
Correct matches: Article I → Creates Congress and the legislative branch; Article II → Sets up the presidency and executive branch; Article III → Establishes the Supreme Court and judicial branch; Article V → Describes how to amend the Constitution.