Study Guide

Test Design and Test Objectives
Field 33: Constitutions of the United States and Arizona

Test Overview

Format	Computer-based test (CBT) and online-proctored test
Number of Questions	100 selected-response questions
Time	2 hours and 30 minutes (does not include 15-minute tutorial)
Passing Score	240

Test Objectives

Table outlining test content and subject weighting by sub area and objective

Subareas		Range of Objectives	Approximate Test Proportions
I	U.S. Constitution	01–03	60%
II	Arizona Constitution	04–06	40%
Total Proportion			100%

 

Subarea I–U.S. Constitution

Objective 0001: Understand major constitutional principles as defined in the preamble and in the articles of the U.S. Constitution.

For example:

• the structure, functions, and powers of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government
• relationships among the three branches
• major steps in the legislative process
• major principles and procedures of the election process
• terms and qualifications of U.S. senators, representatives, and the president
• the relationship between the states and the federal government
• the “supremacy clause” of the Constitution
• procedures for amending the Constitution

Objective 0002: Understand the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

For example:

• the five civil liberties of the First Amendment
• historical and political context of the Bill of Rights
• ways in which the Bill of Rights limits the power of government
• due process protections
• amendments that have expanded popular participation in government, including that of historically excluded groups
• civil rights issues and election procedures
• amendments related to state lawsuits, taxation, and governmental organization

Objective 0003: Understand ways in which the U.S. Constitution has been defined through interpretation.

For example:

• landmark Supreme Court decisions regarding the Bill of Rights and civil rights issues, governmental powers, and the rights of teachers and students

 

Subarea II–Arizona Constitution

Objective 0004: Understand the principles of the Arizona Declaration of Rights and direct democracy.

For example:

• the historical and political context of the Arizona Declaration of Rights
• basic civil liberties and due process protections
• limitations on the powers of state government
• provisions related to suffrage and direct democracy (initiative, referendum, recall)
• the role of the Progressive movement in the development of the Arizona Constitution
• the procedures for amending the Arizona Constitution

Objective 0005: Understand the structure, functions, powers, and limitations of the three branches of Arizona government.

For example:

• the structure, functions, and powers of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of state government
• terms and qualifications for state legislators, members of executive departments, and judges
• major steps in the legislative process
• relationships among the three branches
• the jurisdiction of Arizona courts
• procedures for electing, removing, and replacing members of government
• the relationship between sovereign tribal governments and the state government

Objective 0006: Understand other provisions of the Arizona Constitution.

For example:

• provisions regarding interrelationships of state and local (municipal, county, special districts) governments
• provisions regarding education, including the structure of the Arizona public school system and the education of all pupils, including exceptional students
• provisions regarding revenues and taxation
• various other provisions of the Arizona Constitution (e.g., regarding corporations, labor, militia, English language)