Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Social Science Practice Test

Article 1 of the US Constitution establishes which type of legislature?

1. a bicameral legislature

2. a unicameral legislature

3. the presidency

4. the judicial branch

The correct answer is: a bicameral legislature

Article 1 of the United States Constitution establishes a bicameral legislature, which is composed of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This design was a compromise between different state interests during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, reflecting a balance between population-based representation in the House and equal representation for each state in the Senate. By creating a two-chamber system, the framers aimed to ensure a more deliberate and thorough legislative process, where both large and small states could have a voice in the federal government. In contrast, a unicameral legislature consists of only one chamber, which does not apply here, as the U.S. Constitution specifically outlines a two-chamber system. The other options, which refer to the presidency and the judicial branch, address different branches of government established by the Constitution. The focus of Article 1 is solely on the legislative branch, affirming the importance of Congress in the overall governance of the country.