AP US history/ Constitution test/ Help plz?

Question

can someone tell me of a very smart technique of studying for the Constitution test. Its a lot of information to cover especially when i have to know in detail of the amendents and the constitution itself

Im a junior in highschool in AP US and can u tell me what u did to study for the constitution test

Answer 1

I don't know that there is a one-size-fits-all method for memorizing the Constitution, but some of this may help... just remember to adapt it to what works for YOU.

A few simple notes on the main part
Articles I-III = the three branches in (chrono)logical order (passing laws comes first, before carrying them out by the executive, followed by resolving legal disputes)
foundation = Article I, DETAILED provisions for the Legislative Branch -- the Laws!-- so FOCUS on getting this one down
Articles II & III are less detailed/fuzzier, esp. the last about the Judicial branch)

IV = relation of states
V-VII = provisions for implementing the Constitution - amendment process, oaths..., provision for ratification


As far as the amendments, I think it best, to begin by dividing them into groups by the historical period in which they were passed. If you get straight what was going on during the era when a particular set passed, you'll learn BOTH the history and the amendments better. (That beats just having a trick disconnected from history.)

Big chunks -- such as:
1-10 (Bill of Rights) - begin by setting off the last two (which have to do with "retained rights" --things not covered in the Constitution)
* 1 = general positive rights (press, religion, assembly, petition)
* 2-3 = war-related (quartering, arms)
* 4-8 = legal proceedings (in rough 'chronological'/procedural order from search to arrest to trial -criminal, then civil- to punishment)

11-12 early adjustments

13-15 [post]-Civil War (mostly concerning freeing the slaves and maintaining their rights)

16-21 "Progressive" post WW I era (includes 'reform' causes - direct election of Senators, women's suffrage, prohibition and its repeal)
(you might remember 16th as the beginnings of the 'progressive' income tax, also as connected to the Civil War, since the income tax was first used to finance the war but later found unconstitutional)

22-26 post WW II (mostly concerned with voting, Presidency)
(beginning with two-term Pres. limit, just after FDR's FOUR elections, 23-24 relate to Civil Rights movement, 25 was almost immediately invoked under Nixon, 26 inspired by Vietnam war [vote to young soldiers])

27 - an odd, interesting one [an election must intervene between a vote for and implementation of a Congressional pay raise] (passed with the EARLIEST ones, but only recently ratified)


It might help just to solidly nail every FIFTH amendment (or some other interval that helps you)

Also, you might try to remember some key THEMATIC or TOPICAL groups. There are a handful of issues that have come up at different times. - learn the numbers of some of these and those around them will more easily fall into place. (The following is not complete, but suggests some ways to sort them.)

For example, the expansion and maintenance of the right to vote
-- to blacks/freed slaves, to women, to Washington DC (for the Presidency), vs. the poll tax, to 18-year olds

Methods of election
- of President, of senators

Presidency
- means of election, term limitation, provision for succession

Answer 2

Us History Constitution Test

Answer 3

Try to answer these questions:

How many articles spell out the constitution?
What does article I set up?
What two groups are set up in article I?
What does article II set up?
Who is the head of the branch that the Article II sets up?
What does the third article set up?
How many people belong to the group that article III sets up?
How many years does a senator serve before having to be re-elected?
How many years does a represenative serve before having to be re-elected?
How long can the named in Article II serve?
What does Article IV set up? V? VI? VII?
What is the definition of amendment?
How many amendments have been made to our constitution?
What are the first ten amendments called?

There are just a few, so just take that and work with it, add to it, and ask yourself what would be a good question for you to ask someone if you were quizing them

Answer 4

How much time do you have? May I suggest the following book:

The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution

AUTHOR: Linda R. Monk

If you are in AP history you should be able to read it in 2-3 nights.

Answer 5

Memorize the basic outline and know what each amendment is. But then just read a lot about the details and then you will know it and be able to write about it.