Part A (RI2 – Central Ideas & Analysis):

Question

Which of the following best represents a central idea of the Bill of Rights?
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1 point
The federal government should have unlimited power to maintain order and security.
Individual freedoms and protections from government overreach are essential to democracy.
The Bill of Rights primarily serves to expand government authority.
Only state governments, not the federal government, are restricted by the Bill of Rights.
Part B (RI1 – Textual Evidence & Analysis):
Which amendment from the Bill of Rights best supports the answer to Part A?
*
1 point
The First Amendment, which protects freedoms of speech, religion, and the press.
The Third Amendment, which restricts the quartering of soldiers in private homes.
The Seventh Amendment, which ensures the right to a jury trial in civil cases.
The Tenth Amendment, which grants powers not delegated to the federal government to the states.
(RI9 – Analyze Foundational U.S. Documents)
Which of the following best describes a key purpose of the Bill of Rights?
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1 point
To establish the structure of the U.S. government and outline the powers of each branch.
To guarantee individual liberties and limit the power of the federal government.
To provide guidelines for state governments to create their own constitutions.
To encourage the expansion of federal authority over citizens' daily lives.
(RI6 – Author's Point of View or Purpose)
Which statement best describes the purpose of the Bill of Rights based on its language and rhetorical style?
*
1 point
To persuade citizens to support a stronger central government by emphasizing federal power.
To provide a poetic and philosophical reflection on democracy without enforcing legal protections.
To outline economic policies and regulations for the new nation using technical and complex language.
To establish clear limitations on government authority and protect individual freedoms through direct and assertive language.
(RI3 – Sequence of Events)
How does the Bill of Rights develop the concept of individual liberty over the course of its amendments?
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1 point
By gradually increasing government control to ensure national security.
By emphasizing the responsibilities of citizens rather than their rights.
By outlining specific protections, such as freedom of speech and due process, that limit government power and safeguard personal freedoms.
By allowing the government to revoke rights when necessary for political stability.

Answer 1

Here are the best answers for each part:

Part A:
Individual freedoms and protections from government overreach are essential to democracy.
This choice encapsulates the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights, which is to ensure individual liberties against potential government infringement.

Part B:
The First Amendment, which protects freedoms of speech, religion, and the press.
The First Amendment directly supports the central idea presented in Part A by guaranteeing essential individual freedoms.

RI9 – Analyze Foundational U.S. Documents:
To guarantee individual liberties and limit the power of the federal government.
This choice represents one of the key purposes of the Bill of Rights, which was designed to protect citizens' rights from government abuse.

RI6 – Author's Point of View or Purpose:
To establish clear limitations on government authority and protect individual freedoms through direct and assertive language.
This statement reflects the clear intent of the language used in the Bill of Rights to define and limit the powers of government.

RI3 – Sequence of Events:
By outlining specific protections, such as freedom of speech and due process, that limit government power and safeguard personal freedoms.
This answer illustrates how the Bill of Rights develops the concept of individual liberty by specifying protections that guard against government overreach.