Constitution Test
The Social Science Division at Bakersfield College and the College Testing and Placement Center offer an opportunity for persons pursuing a California Teaching Credential to demonstrate their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution as required by state law.
The exam consists of 100 questions; to receive certification 70 questions must be answered correctly.
The fee for taking the exam is $20.00, and there is a $15.00 fee if a re-take of the exam is necessary.
About the Test
The examination consists of 100 questions, 50 true-false and 50 multiple-choice. There is no time limit.
Four areas are covered:
- Historical Development, including the background of the Revolution, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitutional Convention.
- Key aspects of the constitution, including basic principles and specific information about the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
- The changing Constitution, including the process of amendment, the 27 Amendments, and other historical forces for change, such as: forceful presidents and justices.
- Major court cases which have constitutional importance, particularly the following:
| Case | Year |
|---|---|
| Baker v. Carr | 1962 |
| Barron v. Baltimore | 1833 |
| Brandenburg v. Ohio | 1969 |
| Branzburg v. Hayes | 1972 |
| Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka | 1954 |
| Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire | 1942 |
| Dred Scott v. Sandford | 1857 |
| Duncan v. Louisiana | 1968 |
| Engel v. Vitale | 1963 |
| Everson v. Board of Education | 1947 |
| Gideon v. Wainwright | 1963 |
| Griswold v. Connecticut | 1965 |
| Lemon v. Kurtzman | 1971 |
| Mapp v. Ohio | 1961 |
| Marbury v. Madison | 1803 |
| McCulloch v. Maryland | 1819 |
| Miller v. California | 1973 |
| Miranda v. Arizona | 1966 |
| Plessy v. Ferguson | 1896 |
| Regents v. Bakke | 1978 |
| Roe v. Wade | 1973 |
| Schenck v. U.S. | 1919 |
| U.S. v. Nixon | 1974 |
| Weeks v. U.S. | 1914 |
The following recommended text is available for purchase at the Bakersfield College Bookstore: Our Federal and State Constitution, by Alex Schmidt.
Examinees also should acquire from an online source: The Bill of Rights: A User's Guide, by Linda Monk.
It is also recommended that additional sources be studied - encyclopedias and college textbooks in American Government. The current American Government text located in the Bakersfield College Library Circulation Desk is American Government, Custom Edition for Bakersfield College.
Taking the Test
- Acquire the necessary study materials and prepare for the exam. If more information is needed, call Political Science Professor Steven Holmes at (661) 395-4289 or 395-4581.
- When ready, arrange a testing appointment with the Placement Center at 395-4469 or 395-4479.
- Take the test at the Placement Center at the appointed time. Be prepared to pay the fee of $20.00 with a check, or money order with proper identification.
- If the exam is passed, a certificate will be issued.
Retaking the Test
Applicants who fail to pass the examination will be allowed to re-take an alternate form of the examination after a three week waiting period.
If an applicant fails the re-take exam or fails to take the re-take exam within one year of the date of the original exam, then he/she must reapply as if taking the test for the first time.
In either case, a period of one year must pass before reapplying.
