Bill of Rights Day, commemorating the adoption of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, is December 15.
The quiz below, from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University in Ohio, provides an opportunity for you to test your knowledge of the Bill of Rights, which was ratified in 1791 and is considered essential not only to American law and government but also to the protection of individual liberty.
1. The First Amendment addresses the right to freedom of
A. Religion
B. Speech
C. Assembly
D. All of the above
2. How many specific rights are enumerated in the Bill of Rights?
A. 10
B. 15
C. 26
D. 30
3. The Third Amendment states that without the consent of the owner of a house
A. There shall be no quartering of sailors in time of peace
B. There shall be no quartering of sailors in time of war
C. There shall be no quartering of soldiers in time of war
D. There shall be no quartering of soldiers in time of peace
4. The “Indictment of Grand Jury” clause of the Fifth Amendment applies only to
A. Capital or otherwise infamous crimes
B. Civil cases
C. Misdemeanor cases
D. Foreign princes and potentates
5. According to the Sixth Amendment
A. In criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have the assistance of counsel
B. No person shall be compelled in any civil case to be a witness against himself
C. No (search) warrants shall be issued but upon reasonable doubt
D. In civil prosecutions, the accused shall have the right to life and limb
6. The Second Amendment states that the right of the people
A. To be secure in their persons shall not be violated
B. To keep and bear arms shall not be infringed
C. To peaceably establish religion shall not be infringed
D. To disband regulated militias shall not be violated
7. According to the Eighth Amendment
A. Cruel, but usual, punishments can be inflicted
B. Magna Carta Day shall be established
C. Excessive bail shall not be required
D. The right to trial by jury shall be preserved
8. Which state was the first to ratify the Bill of Rights?
A. Delaware
B. Massachusetts
C. New Jersey
D. Virginia
9. Which state did not vote in favor of adoption of the Bill of Rights until 1939?
A. North Carolina
B. Massachusetts
C. Virginia
D. Rhode Island
10. Disagreement at the time about the need for the Bill of Rights took place between
A. Constitutionalists and Socialists
B. Democrats and Republicans
C. Federalists and Antifederalists
D. Northern States and Southern States
Answers: 1-D, 2-C, 3-D, 4-A, 5-A, 6-B, 7-C, 8-C, 9-B, 10-C
Gordon Lloyd is a senior fellow of the Ashbrook Center and the author of the forthcoming Ashbrook Center book compilation “The Creation of the Bill of Rights: Core Documents.” He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
