Hi Jill,
Thanks for the Reminder of the Celebration marking the Anniversary of this vitally important day in our Nation's history.
What began as an American experiment - the first constitution created by the deliberation of elected representatives rather than by the force of a single leader - is now the longest-living constitution in the world. Today as we celebrate the 221st anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, refresh your knowledge of this important era and remarkable document through the following 10 questions:
1. The average age of the framers or Founding Fathers was approximately:
A. 30
B. 40
C. 50
D. 60
2. Who is popularly known as "the father of the Constitution?"
A. Ben Franklin
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. James Madison
D. George Washington
3. Questions have been raised about the eligibility of both John McCain and Barack Obama to serve as president because of their place of birth. The Constitution requires that the president:
A. Be a naturalized citizen
B. Be a natural-born citizen
C. Have resided in the United States for at least 10 years
D. Be a natural-born citizen and a resident within the United States at least 14 years
4. If a gay couple married under the laws of California moves to Kansas where gay marriage is not recognized as legal:
A. Kansas is obligated to recognize the marriage under California law
B. Kansas is not obligated to recognize the marriage under California law
C. Kansas is obligated to petition a federal court to resolve the matter
D. The legal obligation of Kansas is presently unclear
5. Prior to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920:
A. Women did not have the right to vote for president
B. Women in certain states had the right to vote for president
C. All women had the right to vote for president
D. Women married to landowners had the right to vote for president
6. The phrase "the Constitution means what the Supreme Court says it means" is stated in:
A. Article I of the Constitution on legislative authority
B. Article II of the Constitution on executive authority
C. Article III of the Constitution on judicial authority
D. Judicial decisions by the Supreme Court itself
7. Electors in each state are assigned to a presidential candidate based upon:
A. Winner takes all
B. Proportion of the popular vote the candidate wins
C. Whatever formula the state decides
D. None of the above
8. With regard to education, the Constitution explicitly provides:
A. A fundamental right to a basic education for every American
B. Federal oversight of education
C. A system of public and private education
D. None of the above
9. Which of the following is explicitly mentioned in the Constitution (including its amendments)?
A. The right to keep and bear arms
B. Separation of church and state
C. The right of association
D. The right to privacy
10. According to the Constitution, in order to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, a candidate must:
A. Reside in the state where elected for 5 years
B. Reside in the state at the time of declaring candidacy
C. Reside in the state when elected
D. Reside in the congressional district to be represented
(This article appeared on page B-11 of the San Francisco Chronicle - .Answers directly below the Graphics)
Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed in 1776, and the Constitutional Convention took place here in 1787.
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ANSWERS: 1. B, 2. C, 3. D, 4. D, 5. B, 6. D, 7. C, 8. D, 9. A, 10. C
Thanks Again My Friend,
Phil