Constitution Concepts
What is the "federal" government? (Double points if you can also define "federalism")
The national or country level, not city or state (federalism = "the idea that the national government shares power with the state
governments.")
Name the three branches and what they do: The _______ branch ______ the laws x3
Executive carries out the laws; legislative makes the laws; judicial interprets the laws
How many amendments are in the bill of rights? (Double points: How many amendments in total, so far?)
10 (27)
What are the five freedoms protected by the first amendment?
Speech, Religion, Press, Assembly, and Petition
What is the capital of the U.S., and where is it located?
Washington, D.C.; located between (a) Virginia and Maryland or (b) in the middle of the east coast
What were the Articles of Confederation?
A list of agreements/laws that "united all of the states under one ... federal authority [to form] first U.S. government." They were later discussed and revised to create the agreements in the Constitution.
Who leads the executive branch, and who takes over if they die?
President; Vice President
Which amendment protects "the right to bear arms," and what does that mean?
#2; to have and carry a weapon (super vague, so it gets debated a lot! different states have different lots)
Which are the "Miranda Rights," and which amendment is used to protect them?
When police officers arrest someone, required to say "you have a right to remain silient, anything you say can you used against you," etc.; this is because the fifth amendment protects people from witnessing against themselves
Name the six states in New England
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut (NOT New York or New Jersey!)
Describe the two steps of amendment process.
Step 1: Propose through "congressional vote" with 2/3 of both houses to pass; Step 2: Ratify with 3/4 vote by the state legislatures (that means 38/50 states to pass)
How do the Supreme Court Justices get elected, and how long are their terms?
TWIST: They are NOT elected (they are nominated by president and confirmed by the senate); they have no term limit / they get a lifetime appointment
Which part of which amendment would protect you if a police officer searched your house, car, or body without a warrant? Name the number and quote the phrase.
#4: "unreasonable search and seizure"
What right did Korematsu claim the U.S. government violated, and why did the court make an acception?
He claimed they violated his right to "due process" when he was forcibly interned just for being Japanese (American!); the courts decided that the wartime context was an exception, as stated in the fifth amendment: "except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger"
What state is this?
(see image)
What was the purpose of the Great Compromise?
The new state disagreed about how much voting power they should have. "They agreed that the legislative branch would be bicameral, or have two houses. The Senate would have an equal number of representatives from each state. The House of Representatives would have representation based
on the state’s population. "
What are some of the powers of congress? List 3+ to earn the points
Answers include: collect taxes, borrow money, punish pirates, make rules
Which part of which amendment would protect you if you were physically tortured as a punishment for shoplifting?
#8: "cruel and unusual punishments"
Explain the difference between Mary Beth Tinker's and Matthew Fraser's cases. Why did the court decide to protect one form of speech and not the other?
Tinker and others wore an armband to school with a peace sign as symbolic speech in protest of the vietnam war to school; this symbolic speech did not disrupt the learning environment beyond making a political statement, so it was protected. Fraser spoke "lewdly" at a school event after being told not to, causing others to "hoot[], yell[], and ma[ke] gestures;" Fraser knowingly broke the school conduct code and disrupted the learning environment, so the court did not protect his speech.
Name three states on the Gulf Coast (near Mexico)
Texas, Lousiana, Mississippi Alabama, Florida