7th Grade Civics — Exam Day Review Partner Checklist

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Topic & Quiz Each OtherPartner A ✓Partner B ✓
1. Declaration of IndependenceDocs
Name all 5 parts in orderPreamble → Natural Rights → Grievances → Principles → Resolution
Why did colonists write it?British ignored rights; needed to justify independence
Who wrote it & when was it signed?Thomas Jefferson, July 4 1776
2. Seven Constitutional PrinciplesConst
Define all 7 from memoryPop. Sovereignty · Limited Govt · Sep. of Powers · Checks & Balances · Federalism · Republicanism · Individual Rights
Match each scenario to its principleVeto = Checks & Balances; state gun laws differ = Federalism
3. Articles of ConfederationBoth
List 5+ weaknesses of the ArticlesNo taxes, no army, no courts, 9/13 to pass laws, unanimous to amend
Explain Shays' Rebellion & what it provedFarmers rebelled; nat'l govt couldn't stop it → Articles too weak
How did the Constitution fix the weaknesses?Gave Congress power to tax, raise army, regulate commerce
4. Constitutional CompromisesConst
Explain the Great CompromiseSenate = equal (2/state); House = proportional (by population)
Explain the Three-Fifths Compromise5 enslaved = 3 for population count; abolished by 14th Amendment
5. Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey PlanConst
Key difference between the two plansVP = proportional (large states); NJP = equal vote (small states)
Who proposed each plan?VP: Madison & Randolph · NJP: William Paterson
Identify VP or NJP from a quote/scenario'more people = more votes' → VP; 'every state equal' → NJP
6. The Legislative BranchConst
Requirements: age, term, per-state seatsHouse: 25, 2 yr, by pop | Senate: 30, 6 yr, 2/state
Who IMPEACHES vs. who TRIES?House impeaches (charges) → Senate tries (holds the trial)
Name 4+ expressed powers + Elastic ClauseTax, declare war, coin money, regulate commerce + 'necessary & proper'
7. Types of Government PowersBoth
Define Expressed, Reserved, ConcurrentExpressed = fed only · Reserved = states only (10th) · Concurrent = both
Sort examples: printing money, marriage license, taxesMoney = E · Marriage = R · Taxes = C
8. Federalists vs. Anti-FederalistsDocs
Core difference in each side's positionFeds: strong nat'l govt, supported Constitution; Anti: feared tyranny, wanted Bill of Rights
Key leaders for each sideFeds: Hamilton, Madison, Jay · Anti: Patrick Henry, George Mason
How did Anti-Feds win the Bill of Rights?Refused to ratify without written protections; Madison wrote it in 1789
9. Bill of Rights (Amendments 1–10)Bill
Name the topic of each amendment 1–101-Speech/Religion · 2-Arms · 3-Quartering · 4-Search · 5-Rights of accused · 6-Trial · 7-Civil jury · 8-Cruel punishment · 9-Unlisted rights · 10-Reserved powers
Quiz: read a scenario, name the amendmentThe #1 most-tested skill on the final
10. Final Essay PrepAll
Practice writing a strong claimState YES/NO/PARTLY + preview 3 reasons; avoid vague statements
Pick 2–3 pieces of evidence from at least 2 docsDeclaration, Constitution, or Bill of Rights
Write evidence → reasoning using the 'So What' formula[Evidence] → This shows that… → Therefore…
Essay quick-plan (2 min)
Pick YES / NO / PARTLY → name 2–3 docs → one sentence of reasoning per doc → restate claim
Exam alerts to remember
Senate TRIES impeachments • 7 principles matching • Bill of Rights scenarios are #1 tested skill