2008 civics test · Question 5 · Principles of American Democracy
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
Official answer
- the Bill of Rights
What this means
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights.
They were added in 1791, soon after the Constitution took effect, because many states would only support the new government if individual freedoms were spelled out and protected. The Bill of Rights lists rights such as freedom of speech and religion, the right to a fair trial, and protection from unreasonable searches.
These protections apply to everyone living in the United States, and they limit what the government is allowed to do.
The answer here is short and worth memorizing exactly: “the Bill of Rights.”
Why this is on the test
The Bill of Rights is one of the most important terms on the whole test, and this question simply asks you to connect the name to the first ten amendments.
How this question is asked
On the 2008 civics test, the officer asks up to 10 of the 100 questions out loud and you pass by answering 6 correctly. You answer in your own words. There is no multiple choice and nothing to write down for the civics portion.
Related questions
More from Principles of American Democracy.
- 1 What is the supreme law of the land?
- 2 What does the Constitution do?
- 3 The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
- 4 What is an amendment?
- 6 What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? ★ 65/20 question
- 7 How many amendments does the Constitution have?