2025 civics test · Question 14 · Principles of American Government
Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
Any one of these answers is accepted
- Declaration of Independence
- Articles of Confederation
- Federalist Papers
- Anti-Federalist Papers
- Virginia Declaration of Rights
- Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
- Mayflower Compact
- Iroquois Great Law of Peace
What this means
Several earlier documents shaped the Constitution, and naming one answers the question. Accepted answers include:
- Declaration of Independence - stated the ideas of equality and natural rights the founders wanted to protect.
- Articles of Confederation - the country’s first framework of government. It made the national government too weak, and its failures led directly to writing a new Constitution.
- Federalist Papers - essays arguing for the Constitution during the debate over whether to adopt it.
- Anti-Federalist Papers - essays on the other side that pushed for adding a Bill of Rights.
Each of these fed into the final document in some way. For the test, pick the one you find easiest to remember. The Declaration of Independence is a safe, familiar answer.
Why this is on the test
This question shows that the Constitution did not appear from nowhere, and the documents it names each show up elsewhere on the test.
How this question is asked
On the 2025 civics test, the officer asks up to 20 of the 128 questions out loud and you pass by answering 12 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 Government.
- 1 What is the form of government of the United States?
- 2 What is the supreme law of the land?
- 3 Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
- 4 The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
- 5 How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
- 6 What does the Bill of Rights protect?