It's My Right!
This clause in Article I, Section 8 allows Congress to pass laws necessary to execute its enumerated powers.
Necessary and Proper clause
John Locke's concept that individuals forfeit some freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of their natural rights.
Social Contract Theory
What are the three branches of government?
Legislative, executive, and judicial
Name one event that contributed to the the North American colonies declaring independence from Great Britain
Boston Massacre, Proclamation of 1763, Stamp Act, etc. etc.
Which came first, sharks or trees?
sharks!
This landmark 1803 Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review.
Marbury v. Madison
Montesquieu heavily influenced the Framers with this structural concept designed to prevent tyranny by dividing government authority.
Separation of Powers
This type of government divides power between a central national authority and regional state governments.
Federalism
America’s first governing document, which created a weak central government that lacked the power to tax.
Articles of Confederation
How much (approximately) does a cloud weigh?
1 million tons
The 14th Amendment's protection that prevents state governments from denying equal protection under the law or depriving life, liberty, or property without this.
Due Process
Written primarily by James Madison, Hamilton, and Jay, this series of 85 essays urged states to ratify the new Constitution.
Federalist Papers
When a President refuses to sign a bill passed by Congress, they exercise this check on the legislative branch.
Veto
Proposed by Roger Sherman, this agreement combined the Virginia and New Jersey plans to create a bicameral legislature.
Great/Connecticut Compromise
One state originally had it's name misspelled on the Constitution. Which was it?
Pennsylvania
This doctrine, derived from the 10th Amendment, reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states.
Reserved Powers
In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that the best way to control the political danger of these groups was through a large republic.
Factions
This procedural action in the Senate allows a senator to delay or prevent a vote on a bill through extended debate.
Filibuster
This 1798 legislation under John Adams made it a crime to print "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government.
Alien and Sedition Acts
How many horsepowers can a horse actually produce?
24
In this 1995 case, the Supreme Court limited Congress’s authority under the Commerce Clause, ruling that gun control in school zones wasn't an economic activity.
US v. Lopez
This political philosophy, favored by Anti-Federalists, prioritizes civic virtue, community good, and small-scale democracy over individual rights alone.
Classical Republicanism
How many representatives are in the House?
435
This Founding Father was in France during the Constitutional Convention and never actually signed the Constitution.
Thomas Jefferson
Name 3 states whose borders are south of Mexico
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Hawaii and South Carolina