1. True or false: The First Amendment to the Constitution clearly defines the separation between church and state.
2. This amendment to the Constitution protects "freedom of the press." Name it.
3. What provision was contained in the final article of the original Constitution?
4. This founding father stated: "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' to separate the government from interfering with religious practice." Name him.
5. At the time of the Constitutional Convention, which was held from May 14 to Sept. 17, 1787, the founding father listed in the previous question was a revered leader in government, yet he was not a delegate to the convention. Why?
6. This document was drafted to avoid government tyranny in the aftermath of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. Name the document.
7. How many amendments are contained within the Bill of Rights? Of those amendments, how many are actual rights?
8. This founding father called religion, as the source of morality, "a necessary spring of popular government." Name him.
9. Following on question No. 8, which U.S. president said that statesmen "may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand."
10.True or False: The presidential oath of office is prescribed in the U.S. Constitution.
Answers
1. False. These words do not appear in the First Amendment or anywhere else in the U.S. Constitution.
2. The First Amendment reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
3. It declared that the ratification of the document by nine states would be "sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution."
4. Thomas Jefferson.
5. Thomas Jefferson was serving as a minister to France during the Constitutional Convention.
6. The Bill of Rights.
7. Ten amendments. Eight of which are rights.
8. President George Washington.
9. President John Adams.
10. True. The wording is in Article II Section I.
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