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8th grade · Social Studies · Unit 3 of 9

Founding Ideals

Declaration, Constitution and their roots

What your child practices

The Magna Carta and Enlightenment ideas, the Declaration of Independence, and the principles of the Constitution: popular sovereignty, rule of law, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances.

Washington State Learning Standards learning standard: C1.6-8.3; C1.6-8.1; C1.6-8.4 · key ideals in the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution and their roots in earlier documents

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which is an example of checks and balances?

    • Courts elect the president
    • The Senate must approve the president's choices for judges
    • States declare war
    • The president writes all laws alone

  2. Question 2

    Montesquieu's idea that influenced the Constitution was…

    • Separation of powers into branches
    • No laws
    • Rule by a king
    • One-party government

  3. Question 3

    Why did the founders make the Constitution hard to amend?

    • So the president could change it alone
    • So it could never change
    • So it would change only with broad agreement
    • To keep it secret

  4. Question 4

    Which statement shows a gap between American ideals and reality in 1787?

    • The Constitution allowed slavery to continue
    • The Constitution created three branches
    • The Constitution was written in Philadelphia
    • The Constitution had a preamble

  5. Question 5

    The idea that government is limited and everyone, including leaders, must obey the law is called…

    • Isolationism
    • Rule of law
    • Divine right of kings
    • Manifest Destiny

  6. Question 6

    The Constitution calls treaties "the supreme law of the land." Why does this matter for Tribes in Washington?

    • Treaties don't count
    • Tribes can't make treaties
    • Treaty rights rank above most state laws
    • Only state law matters

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