Article I
This branch of the government is established by Article I of the Constitution
The Legislative Branch
This principle refers to the idea that the government provides certain freedoms that cannot be taken away
Inalienable Rights
This branch of the government is established by Article II
The Executive Branch
What is the purpose of the Constitution?
To set up the government of the United States of America
This branch of the government is established by Article III of the Constitution
The Judicial Branch
Do they have a right to sue?
Yes, this is a violation of their first amendment rights.
House of Representatives and the Senate
This principle refers to the idea that no one branch of government can become too powerful because the branches limit each other.
Checks and Balances
Name the leaders of the Executive Branch at the Federal, State (Illinois), and Local (Chicago) level
Federal: President Donald Trump
State/Illinois: Governor J.B. Pritzker
Local/Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson
This is the first sentence of the Constitution
The Preamble
Why is the Judicial Branch often called the weakest branch?
The Constitution says the least about it and establishes very little parameters for how it works/should run.
A woman is arrested and read her Miranda Rights (you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you . . . .)
She is unsure what all of this means, but when the officer asks if she understands, she hesitantly says yes and proceeds with questioning. Her interrogation is later used against her in court and she is found guilty.
Can she appeal her case based on the fact that she didn't actually understand her rights?
No, she will likely be unable to appeal. Miranda Rights were read to her and she acknowledged that she understood them. If she had said no, they would not be able to use her interrogation in court.
Name the Legislative Branch at the local, state, and federal levels
Local: City Council
State: General Assembly
Federal: Congress
This principle is the idea that the government's powers are split into three distinct levels: federal, state, and local.
Federalism
How long are Presidential terms? Do they have term limits?
Four years with a maximum of two terms
These are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution
The Bill of Rights
Name the Judicial Branch at the Federal, State, and Local levels
State: Illinois/State Supreme Court
Local: Circuit or Local Courts
Does he have a right to do that?
No, this is a violation of your 14th Amendment/voting rights.
How long are terms for Senators? For Representatives?
Senators: 6 years
Representatives: 2 years
This principle refers to the government being organized into three distinct branches with different roles.
Separation of Powers
Who becomes the President if something happens to him or her while in office (e.g. impeachment, death, disease, etc.)
The Vice President
These articles set up the structure of the government (the three branches, their duties, etc.)
Articles I, II, and III (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial)
This is the name for the principle that allows the SCOTUS to determine if a law is Constitutional or not
Judicial Review
A government official sends out a tweet about how much he hates President Trump. A few weeks later, the FBI shows up at his door and investigates him for treason.
Does he have a right to sue?
Technically yes, though he likely would not. Unless a threat was made, social media is protected under First Amendment free speech laws.
List the rules for becoming a US Senator and a US Representative
Senator/joining the Senate: at least 30 years old, must have been a citizen for 7 years
Representative/joining the House of Representatives: at least 25 years old, must have been a citizen for 5 years
This principle refers to the Judicial Branch reviewing laws that are passed to make sure they are Constitutional.
Judicial Review
True or False: The President of the United States MUST swear on the Christian Bible when they are sworn into office on inauguration day.
False, the President-elect may choose a text, though it is most commonly the Christian Bible.
Recite the Preamble WITHOUT STUTTERING
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
How long are terms for Federal Supreme Court Justices?
SCOTUS Justices are appointed for life
An Alabama lawmaker decides to write a bill declaring that bathrooms on the first floor of the General Assembly building are for White men only, while the second floor is reserved for Black men. Both bathrooms are cleaned daily and there is no difference between the two facilities.
Does a Black lawmaker have a right to sue?
Yes, this is still technically discrimination. Segregation in any form is illegal per the 14th Amendment and the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Who is President of the Senate? When can they vote in matters of Congress/on bills?
The Vice President of the United States is President of the Senate. They can only vote in Congress to break a tie in the Senate.
This principle refers to the idea that the people have all of the power/vest all of the power in the government
Popular Sovereignty
Name the rules for becoming President of the United States
At least 35 years old, must be born in the United States, must be a resident of the US for the last 14 years.
This article describes the amendment process/how to amend the Constitution
Article V
How many Justices are on the SCOTUS?
Nine total (1 Chief Justice, 8 Justices)
A group of three teenagers are walking down Cottage Grove after school when they are stopped by a police officer who asks to search their backpacks. He says that their refusal could be considered mob violence since there are more than two of them in the group and they are all wearing backpacks.
Does the officer have a right to search the teenagers?
No, the officer does not have probable cause to search their backpacks, and a group of three teens is not considered "mob violence."
According to Article I, which chamber of Congress has the power of initiating impeachment?
The House of Representatives
Which principle of the Constitution does this scenario reflect?
A bill is passed by Congress and goes to the President, who vetoes it until certain changes are made.
Checks and Balances
This is the official title given to the President as head of the military
Commander in Chief
Name at least one person who worked on and/or signed the Constitution (also known as the Constitutional Framers)
James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Gouveneur Morris.
Name one kind of case that automatically goes to the Supreme Court
Cases between states, appellate cases involving Constitutional rights
A woman is convicted of murder and placed in jail with a bail set at $4m. She asks her lawyer if this is considered cruel and unusual punishment because the judge knew that she doesn't have the money to cover her bail.
Does she have a right to appeal?
No, bail should match the crime committed. If the judge set the bail that high, that means they have reason to believe that she will reoffend or is at high risk of fleeing/going on the run. Her lawyer would likely lose this case.
According to Article I, how often is Congress required to meet?
At least once per year (they meet way more often than that!)
Which principle of the Constitution does this scenario reflect?
The Mayor of Chicago passes a law from the City Council regarding gun laws in Chicago. The law says each bullet in a FOID card owner's possession must be registered. This law complies with federal law.
Federalism
According to Article II, the President may be impeached for which of the following:
A. High crimes, treason, misdemeanors
B. Felonies, treason, bribery
C. Declaring war without consulting Congress first
A. High crimes, treason, misdemeanors
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
If your group answers this question correctly, you may choose one team to sit out for the next 5 minutes.
This article describes how the states should interact with each other and the federal government
Article IV
Except in cases involving ministers or ambassadors, what kinds of cases does the Supreme Court hear?
Appellate/appeals cases
A man is detained and placed in a holding cell for further questioning over an active shooter situation he was not a part of. When he asks the patrolling officer, they tell him he'll be questioned "soon." After 72 hours, he is released and told to keep quiet about the incident because he was "lucky to get off free."
Does he have a right to sue the police department?
Yes, he has a right to sue. This is a violation of his 5th and 14th amendments (right to a fair and speedy trial).
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
If your team answers this question correctly, you may steal up to half of another team's points.
Name two powers of Congress that are NOT shared with the states. Then, name two powers that ARE shared.
Shared: Taxation, establishing post offices and roads, to make laws
NOT Shared: Declaring war, coining money
Which principle of the Constitution does this scenario reflect?
In 1957, the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education overturned the previous ruling that separate but equal is a valid approach to segregation, pointing out evidence that proved that schooling for Black children was unequal to that of White children.
Inalienable Rights
Name the President who caused an amendment to be made to the Constitution limiting presidential terms to a maximum of two.
Additional 150 points if your group can tell me how many terms he served and why he was reelected so many times.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms as President of the United States (1933-1945) because of his New Deal Program, which drastically improved the US economy during the Great Depression.
These amendments (3 of them) were established after the abolition of slavery to provide freedmen with their rights.
The Reconstruction Amendments (13, 14, and 15)
According to Article III, what kind of trial must be held for all cases except impeachment?
A jury trial
Police officers patrolling a neighborhood peer into a window and see a man Googling "How to rob a house" on his iPad. They barge in and arrest him, claiming his Google search was probable cause. The officers are celebrated for stopping the crime before it took place.
Does he have a right to sue the police department?
Yes, this is a violation of his fourth amendment rights -- fair search and seizure. In the US, you are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
According to Article I, who decides the salary for Congress?
Congress themselves set the salary, to be paid out by the U.S. Treasury (the government's big pot of money).
Which principle of the Constitution does this scenario reflect?
250 years into the future, the people of the United States decide that they have had enough of their corrupt government. They collectively stop voting, protest in the streets daily, and many people are calling for a redress (restructuring) of the government.
Popular Sovereignty
According to Article II, how are the electors for the Electoral College (the body that officially elects the President) chosen?
BONUS SPACE
The team who chose this space: +150 points
All other teams: +50 points
Choose another space!
Woohoo! Free points!
Name one of the nine Justices currently serving on the SCOTUS
John G. Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Sonya Sotomayor, Samuel Alito, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Ketanji Brown Jackson
An illiterate man is jailed for committing robbery. He cannot afford his own lawyer and is forced by the courts in his state to represent himself. He is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for his crimes.
Does he have a right to appeal to the Supreme Court?
Yes, this is a violation of his sixth amendment rights. All US citizens must be appointed a lawyer if they cannot afford one.