Constitution Day on September 17 celebrates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution. Here are 95 fun riddles about this historic day and the founding documents and principles of American democracy, along with their answers.
Riddles about the Constitution
1. What is the supreme law of the United States? The Constitution
2. How many articles are in the U.S. Constitution? Seven
3. What does Article I of the Constitution establish? The legislative branch/Congress
4. How often are members of the House of Representatives elected? Every two years
5. How old must you be to become a member of the House? 25 years old
6. How many senators does each state have? Two
7. How old must you be to become a senator? 30 years old
8. Who is the president of the Senate? The vice president
9. What does Article II establish? The executive branch
10. Who is the head of the executive branch? The president
11. How old must the president be? 35 years old
12. What does Article III establish? The judicial branch
13. What is the highest court in the U.S.? The Supreme Court
14. How many justices serve on the Supreme Court? Nine
15. Who has the power to nominate Supreme Court justices? The president
16. What does Article IV cover? States’ relations
17. What does Article V describe? The amendment process
18. How many states were needed to ratify the original Constitution? Nine
19. Whose signature is largest on the Constitution? George Washington’s
20. Which founding father wrote most of the Constitution? James Madison
Riddles about the Bill of Rights
21. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called? The Bill of Rights
22. Which amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly? The First Amendment
23. Which amendment protects the right to bear arms? The Second Amendment
24. Which amendment bans housing soldiers in private homes? The Third Amendment
25. Which amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures? The Fourth Amendment
26. You can’t be tried for a major crime without one – what is it? A grand jury indictment
27. What does the Fifth Amendment say you don’t have to do when testifying? Incriminate yourself
28. What does the Sixth Amendment guarantee? A speedy public trial
29. What does the Seventh Amendment guarantee? A jury trial in civil cases
30. Which amendment bans excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishment? The Eighth Amendment
31. Which amendment protects rights not listed in the Constitution? The Ninth Amendment
32. What does the Tenth Amendment say? Powers not delegated to the U.S. are reserved to the states/people
Riddles about the Constitutional Convention
33. In what city was the Constitution written and signed? Philadelphia
34. In what year was the Constitution written? 1787
35. Where did the Constitutional Convention meet? Independence Hall
36. Who was the oldest delegate at the Convention? Benjamin Franklin (81)
37. Who was the youngest delegate at the Convention? Jonathon Dayton (26)
38. About how many delegates attended the Convention? 55
39. How many delegates signed the Constitution? 39
40. Which state had the most delegates at the Convention? Pennsylvania
41. Which founder refused to sign the Constitution? Edmund Randolph
42. Which founder attended but refused to speak at the Convention? Robert Yates
43. Who presided over the Convention? George Washington
44. Who proposed the Virginia Plan? James Madison
45. Who proposed the New Jersey Plan? William Paterson
Riddles about the Constitution’s Principles
46. What form of government does the Constitution establish? A democratic republic
47. What are the three words of the Constitution that establish popular sovereignty? “We the People”
48. Name two governing principles established by the Constitution. Federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances
49. What does federalism mean? Division of power between national and state governments
50. What does separation of powers mean? Division of powers between three branches
51. What does checks and balances mean? Allowing each branch to limit the others
52. Which branch makes the laws? Legislative/Congress
53. Which branch enforces the laws? Executive
54. Which branch evaluates the laws? Judicial
55. What is impeachment? Formal accusation of wrongdoing against a public official
56. Who has the power to impeach the president? The House of Representatives
57. Who holds trials for impeached officials? The Senate
58. What fraction of votes is needed in the Senate to convict? Two-thirds
59. What is a veto? The president’s rejection of a bill
60. What fraction vote is needed to override a veto? Two-thirds in each chamber
Riddles about Constitutional Amendments
61. Which amendment abolished slavery? The Thirteenth Amendment
62. Which amendment gave women the right to vote? The Nineteenth Amendment
63. Which amendment repealed Prohibition? The Twenty-first Amendment
64. Which amendment limits presidents to two terms? The Twenty-second Amendment
65. Which amendment outlawed poll taxes? The Twenty-fourth Amendment
66. Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18? The Twenty-sixth Amendment
67. Which amendment dealt with presidential succession? The Twenty-fifth Amendment
68. Which amendment abolished poll taxes? The Twenty-fourth Amendment
69. How many amendments does the Constitution currently have? 27
70. When was the last amendment added? 1992
Riddles about Constitutional History
71. Who wrote the Federalist Papers? Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
72. Which founder established the first public school in America? Benjamin Franklin
73. Who was the only Catholic signer of the Constitution? Daniel Carroll
74. Who was the second president of the United States? John Adams
75. Who was the only U.S. president to resign? Richard Nixon
76. Which president served the shortest term? William Henry Harrison (31 days)
77. When did the first 10 amendments take effect? December 15, 1791
78. How many times has the Constitution been amended? 27
79. When did the Constitution go into effect? 1789
80. Which state was the first to ratify the Constitution? Delaware
Riddles about Constitutional Requirements
81. What are the eligibility requirements to become president? Natural born citizen, resident for 14 years, at least 35 years old
82. How often are presidential elections held? Every 4 years
83. How many electoral votes does a presidential candidate need to win? 270
84. A president can only serve two terms – true or false? True
85. How long is a senatorial term? 6 years
86. How are the number of representatives per state determined? By state population
87. How many senators represent each state? 2
88. How long is a representative’s term? 2 years
89. How many justices are on the Supreme Court? 9
90. How long is the term for a Supreme Court justice? Life
Riddles about Constitutional Rights and Responsibilities
91. Whose rights does the Constitution aim to protect? All people/persons
92. Name one right guaranteed by the First Amendment. Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition
93. There are four amendments that protect voting rights – name one. Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Fourth, Twenty-Sixth
94. What are two responsibilities of U.S. citizens? Vote, pay taxes, serve on a jury, obey laws
95. Name one promise immigrants make when becoming citizens. Renounce foreign allegiances, defend the Constitution, obey laws, serve in the military
Conclusion
The U.S. Constitution established America’s democratic republic and continues to protect individual freedoms. Its principles of popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism guide our government today. The 27 amendments address changing times but the original articles still form the foundation for the world’s longest lasting written constitution. Constitution Day celebrates the signing of this influential document and the birth of American democracy.
