U.S. Constitution Worksheet for 15-Year-Olds | History and Civics

Instructions

1. Read each section carefully and complete the activities in order.
2. Use the Constitution, a class text, or a trusted reference when instructed.
3. For multiple-choice questions, circle or write the best answer.
4. Explain your thinking in complete sentences when asked.
5. The challenge questions are optional and may be completed individually or with a partner.

Learning Goals

By the end of this worksheet, you should be able to:

• Identify the purposes and structure of the U.S. Constitution.
• Explain how the three branches of government share power.
• Describe checks and balances, federalism, and individual rights.
• Connect constitutional principles to real-life situations.

Section 1: The Constitution at a Glance

The U.S. Constitution is the framework for the federal government. It begins with the Preamble, contains seven Articles, and has been amended 27 times.

1. Match each term with its best description.

Answers: 1. 2. 3. 4.

2. Preamble mission statement

The Preamble begins with the words “We the People.” In your own words, explain what this phrase suggests about the source of government power.

3. Identify the purpose.

Match each phrase from the Preamble to its meaning.

Section 2: The Three Branches

Use the word bank to complete the table. Each answer may be used once.

Word bank: makes laws, enforces laws, interprets laws, Congress, president, federal courts

4. Multiple choice

1. Which branch includes the House of Representatives and the Senate?

   • A. Executive
   • B. Legislative
   • C. Judicial
   • D. State

2. Which branch can declare a law unconstitutional?

   • A. Judicial
   • B. Executive
   • C. Legislative
   • D. Local

3. Which official leads the executive branch?

   • A. Chief Justice
   • B. Speaker of the House
   • C. President
   • D. Senate majority leader

4. Which action is an example of the legislative branch checking the executive branch?

   • A. Congress overrides a presidential veto.
   • B. A court interprets a law.
   • C. The president appoints an ambassador.
   • D. A governor signs a state bill.

Section 3: Checks and Balances in Action

Checks and balances prevent one branch from becoming too powerful. Read each situation and identify the constitutional power involved.

5. Choose from: veto, judicial review, confirmation, impeachment, treaty approval

1. The president rejects a bill passed by Congress. __

2. The Supreme Court decides that a law conflicts with the Constitution. __

3. The Senate votes on whether to approve a president’s Supreme Court nominee. __

4. The House of Representatives charges a federal official with serious wrongdoing. __

5. The Senate votes to approve an agreement made between the president and another country. __

6. Scenario analysis

A president announces that a new rule will limit people’s freedom of speech, even though Congress has not passed a law creating this restriction.

• Which constitutional right might be affected?
• Which branch or institution could review whether the rule is constitutional?
• Why are checks and balances important in this situation?

Section 4: Federalism and Separation of Powers

Federalism divides power between the national government and the state governments. Separation of powers divides the national government into three branches.

7. Sort the powers

Write N for a power generally held by the national government, S for a power generally held by state governments, or B for a power shared by both.

1. Maintaining an army: _____
2. Conducting elections: _____
3. Collecting taxes: _____
4. Issuing driver’s licenses: _____
5. Regulating immigration: _____
6. Building roads: _____

8. Real-world application

Your state wants to create a rule requiring all drivers to pass a safety test before receiving a license.

• Is this mainly a state power, a national power, or a shared power?
• Why might states have different rules about driver’s licenses?

Section 5: The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Read each situation and identify the amendment that is most closely connected to it.

9. Match each situation to an amendment.

Amendment choices: First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Tenth

1. A student wants to peacefully express an opinion about a public issue. _____
2. Police search a person’s home without a warrant or reasonable cause. _____
3. A person accused of a crime asks for a lawyer and a speedy trial. _____
4. A person refuses to answer a question that could help prove their own guilt. _____
5. A punishment is extremely cruel and unusual. _____
6. A state argues that a power not given to the national government belongs to the states or the people. _____
7. Citizens discuss the right to own firearms. _____

10. Rights and responsibilities

Choose one amendment from the Bill of Rights. Explain both:

• What freedom or protection it provides.
• Why that freedom may come with reasonable limits or responsibilities.

Amendment chosen: __

Section 6: Constitutional Case File

Read the case and answer the questions.

A public school creates a rule stating that students may not wear clothing with political messages. A student wears a shirt expressing an opinion about an upcoming election and receives detention.

11. Analyze the case

1. Which amendment is most relevant? __

2. What freedom may the student claim? _____

3. What additional facts would a court need to know before deciding the case?

4. Write one argument supporting the student and one argument supporting the school.

Student’s argument:

School’s argument:

5. What would be a fair constitutional question for a court to decide?

Section 7: Convention Challenge

Imagine you are a delegate creating a new government. You want a government strong enough to solve national problems but limited enough to protect liberty.

12. Design decisions

Complete the chart. The example row shows how to begin.

13. Reflection

Which decision above would be most difficult for delegates to agree on? Explain why.

Optional Challenge: Constitutional Reasoning

14. The Necessary and Proper Clause gives Congress power to make laws needed to carry out its listed powers. Why might this clause be useful? Why might some people worry that it gives Congress too much power?

15. The Constitution can be amended, but amendments are difficult to pass. Why is it useful to make constitutional change possible but challenging?

Answer Key

1. Matching

1. B 2. D 3. C 4. A

2. Preamble mission statement

Sample answer: Government gets its authority from the people. The people are the ultimate source of political power.

3. Preamble meanings

• “form a more perfect Union”: Strengthen cooperation among the states.
• “insure domestic Tranquility”: Maintain peace and order within the country.
• “provide for the common defense”: Protect the nation from threats.
• “promote the general Welfare”: Support the well-being of the country and its people.
• “secure the Blessings of Liberty”: Protect freedom for present and future generations.

Section 2

Table answers may be organized as follows:

• Legislative: Congress; makes laws.
• Executive: president; enforces laws.
• Judicial: federal courts; interprets laws.

4. Multiple choice

1. B
2. A
3. C
4. A

5. Checks and balances

1. veto
2. judicial review
3. confirmation
4. impeachment
5. treaty approval

6. Scenario analysis

Sample answer: The First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech might be affected. Courts could review whether the rule is constitutional. Checks and balances are important because they allow another institution to limit government action that violates constitutional rights.

7. Federalism and sorting

1. N
2. S
3. B
4. S
5. N
6. B

8. Real-world application

Sample answer: This is mainly a state power because states generally issue driver’s licenses and regulate driving requirements. States may have different rules because state governments handle many local safety and transportation decisions.

9. Bill of Rights matching

1. First
2. Fourth
3. Sixth
4. Fifth
5. Eighth
6. Tenth
7. Second

10. Rights and responsibilities

Answers will vary. A strong response identifies an amendment accurately, explains the protected right, and gives a reasonable example of a limit or responsibility.

11. Constitutional case file

1. First Amendment
2. Freedom of speech or expression
3. Possible facts include whether the message disrupted school activities, threatened others, violated a neutral dress code, or was part of a school-sponsored activity.
4. Sample student argument: The shirt expressed a political opinion, which is protected expression. Sample school argument: The school may enforce reasonable, viewpoint-neutral rules if the clothing caused a substantial disruption or violated a safety rule.
5. Sample constitutional question: Did the school violate the student’s First Amendment rights by punishing the political message?

12. Convention Challenge

Answers will vary. Strong answers should connect each proposal to principles such as popular sovereignty, representative government, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, individual rights, or the amendment process.

13. Reflection

Answers will vary. A strong explanation identifies a conflict, such as balancing national power with state power or protecting liberty while maintaining public order.

14. Necessary and Proper Clause

Sample answer: The clause allows Congress to respond to new situations and carry out its listed responsibilities. Critics may worry that Congress could interpret the clause broadly and claim powers beyond those intended by the Constitution.

15. Amending the Constitution

Sample answer: Making amendments possible allows the government to adapt to major changes. Making them difficult protects stability and prevents temporary majorities from changing fundamental rules too easily.