Constitution Study Questions and Answers
After the American Revolution, what document helped to govern the states?
Articles of Confederation
What was the Annapolis Convention? What states attended the convention?
To talk about the trade problems among the states
A convention of delegates from all the states except ____________________ met in __________________, Pennsylvania in May of ______________.
Who was chosen to become President of the convention?
George Washington
On what date did the delegates finally accept the Constitution of the United States?
September 17, 1787
What was the first great political question that faced Americans?
The Founding Fathers now had to get all the states to agree that this was a good document and that they should vote in favor of it
How many states had to vote for the Constitution for it to be approved?
Nine out of thirteen
What state was the first to ratify the Constitution?
Delaware
What was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution and end the government under the Articles of Confederation?
New Hampshire
What is the cornerstone of our American government?
Constitution of the United States
What is called the “supreme law of the land”? Why?
The Constitution of the United States of America
No law may be passed that contradicts its principles and no person, or the government, is exempt from following it
Where is the purpose of the government found?
Preamble
What are the three main principles on which our government is based?
Inherent rights – rights that anyone living in America has
Self government – government by the people
Seperation of powers – branches with different powers
How many times has the Constitution of the United States been amended?
27
The Constitution is organized into three parts. Name those parts.
Preamble – describes the purpose of the document and government
Articles – establish how the government is structured and how the Constitution can be changed. There are seven articles
Amendments – changes to the Constitution, the first ten are called the Bill of Rights
Where was the Constitution Convention held?
State House (Independence Hall)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
What is the oldest written constitution in the world?
Constitution of the United States of America
What is a bicameral legislature?
Two house legislature (House of Representative and Senate)
On September 12, 1787, did the Constitution of the United States have a bill of rights?
NO
How many delegates signed the Constitution?
39 out of 42
Define Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Federalists- people who were in favor of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists- opposed the Constitution
What were the Federalists Papers?
Federalists Papers - James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Hay wrote a series of articles in favor of the Constitution
Explain the Bill of Rights
First ten amendments to the Constitution
Individual freedoms
List the amendment 1 – 27
1st amendment - Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
2nd amendment - Right to keep, Bear arms
3rd amendment - Lodging Troops in Private Homes
4th amendment - Search, Seizures, Proper Warrants
5th amendment - Criminal Proceedings, Due Process, Eminent Domain
6th amendment - Criminal Proceedings Counsel, Speedy and Public Trials
7th amendment - Jury Trials in Civil Cases
8th amendment - Bail, Cruel and Unusual Punishment
9th amendment - Unenumerated Rights - All rights not listed are Guaranteed to the people
10th amendment- Powers reserved to the states
11th amendment – Suits against states
12th amendment - Election of President and Vice-President
13th amendment - Abolition of Slavery
14th amendment - Rights of Citizens
15th amendment - Voting Rights
16th amendment - The Income Tax
17th amendment – Direction election of Senators
18th amendment - Prohibition of Alcoholic Beverages
19th amendment – Women’s suffrage
20th amendment – Presidential terms; Sessions of Congress
21st amendment - Repeal of Prohibition
22nd amendment – Limit on Number of President’s Terms
23rd amendment – Presidential Electors for District of Columbia
24th amendment – Abolition of Poll Tax in National Elections
25th amendment - Presidential Succession and Disability
26th amendment - voting age
27th amendment - congressional Pay Increases
What is the only amendment to be repealed?
18th Prohibition
Who was called the “Father of the Constitution”?
James Madison
Who became the first President of the United States of America?
George Washington
Where is the Constitution of the United States preserved for all to view?
National Archives
Washington, D.C.
Name the three branches of government
Legislative
Judicial
Executive
What is separation of powers?
Principle by which the powers of government are divided among separate branches
Explain the checks and balances that the Constitution provided.
A branch may use its powers to check the powers of the other two in order to maintain a balance of power among the three branches of government
What is the Judicial Branch made up of?
Made up of the court system
What is the highest court in the land?
Supreme Court
What is the Supreme Courts most important responsibility?
To decide cases that raise questions of constitutional interpretation
What is judicial review?
The referee in disputes among various branches of the federal, as well as state governments, and is the ultimate authority for the most important issues in the country
Explain the court decision in Brown v. Board of Education.
Court banned racial segregation in public schools.
The ruling started a long process of desegregating schools and other institutions
How many Justices are on the Supreme Court? Who is the head of the Supreme Court?
Nine
Chief Justice
Explain the process of becoming a Supreme Court Justice?
A justice is appointed by the President
Must be approved by the Senate
Sworn in by the Supreme Court Justice
She/he remains on the job for life
What are the ways a Justice of the Supreme Court can be removed?
Resign
Retire
Die
Be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate
Explain the process of a case making it to the Supreme Court.
Cases are brought to the lower courts
Persons may appeal the case to a higher court
If the higher court agrees with the lower court then the case can be brought to the Supreme Court
Only cases involving federal or Constitutional law are brought to the highest court in the land
What is the responsibility of Congress?
To write debate and pass bills
What is the two parts of Congress?
House of Representatives
Senate
Where does Congress meet?
U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
What are the powers of Congress?
Makes laws controlling trade between states and between the United States and other countries
Makes laws about taxes and borrowing money
Approves the making of money
Can declare war on other countries
How is representation in Congress determined?
House of Representatives - by state population
Senate - each state has two Senators
What is the total number of member in the House of Representatives?
435
What are the qualifications to become a member of the House of Representatives?
Be at least 25 years old
Be a U.S. citizen for the past seven years
Live in the state they represent
What are some specific jobs that only the House of Representatives can perform?
Start laws that make people pay taxes
Decide if a government official should be put on trial before the Senate if she/he commits a crime against the country
How long is a House of Representatives term in office?
Two years
How many Senators are there from each state? What is the total number of Senators?
Two from each state
100 total Senators
How long is a Senators term in office?
Six years
What are the qualifications for a Senator?
At least 30 years old
9 years as a U.S. citizen
Resident of the state for which he represents
What are the jobs only the Senate can perform?
Say yes or no to any treaties the president makes
Say yes or no to any people the president recommends for jobs, such as cabinet officers, Supreme Court justices, and ambassadors
Can hold a trial for a government official who does something very wrong
Who is the President of the Senate?
Vice President
What is the main job of the executive branch?
Makes sure that the laws of the United States are obeyed
Who is the head of the executive branch?
President
What is the job of the President?
Head of the Executive Branch
Approve the laws that Congress creates
Leader of the country
Commands the military
What if the President does not agree with a bill, what can he do?
Veto
How many votes does Congress have to have to override a Presidential veto?
2/3 vote of both houses of Congress
Can the President write bills?
No
Can the President propose a bill?
He can propose a bill, but a member of Congress must submit it for him
Who is the official head of the U.S. military?
President
What are the qualifications for becoming President?
At least 35 years old
Must b a natural born U.S. citizen
Have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years
What amendment limits the terms of the President?
22nd amendment
What is the purpose of the Presidents cabinet?
To advise the President
Who is the current Secretary of State?
Condoleeza Rice
Who is the current Secretary of Defense?
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Explain the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.
If the President of the United States is incapacitated, dies, resigns, is for any reason unable to hold his office, or is removed from office, people in the following offices in this order will assume the office of President (order of succession) provided they meet all of the qualifications for President
Name the first five positions in the order of succession.
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Amendment Test on Wednesday (Amendments 1 - 10 only)
Constitution Test on Friday (all study questions)
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