Three Branches of Government
This branch makes the laws for our country.
What is the legislative branch/Congress?
Everyone, including government leaders, must follow the law. This is called this principle.
What is rule of law?
This fraction of states must vote yes to add an amendment to the Constitution
What is three-fourths (or 38 states)?
5 rights in the first amendment?
religion
press
petition
speech
assembly
The Preamble starts with these three famous words about who the government serves.
What is "We the People"?
This branch enforces the laws and is led by the president.
What is the executive branch?
Power is split between three branches of government
What is separation of powers?
We can change the Constitution so it can do this when times change.
What is adapt (or stay current, or change with society)?
Police can't search your home without a good reason because of this amendment.
What is the 4th amendment
The Preamble lists six goals for our country, including forming a "more perfect" what?
What is a UNION
This branch includes the Supreme Court and decides what laws mean.
What is the judicial branch?
Freedom of speech and other protections in the Bill of Rights are examples of these.
What are individual rights?
To add an amendment, this group in Washington D.C. must approve it first.
What is Congress?
This amendment says the government can't use punishments that are too harsh or cruel.
What is the Eighth Amendment?
This article of the Constitution describes the powers of Congress, the lawmaking branch.
What is Article 1
Congress makes laws, but this person can say no and veto them.
What is the president?
The president picks judges, but the Senate must say yes. This is an example of this principle.
What are checks and balances?
To change the Constitution, you need approval from Congress and from these.
What are the states?
This amendment says you get a quick and public trial if you're accused of a crime.
What is the Sixth Amendment?
This article says the the president is the Commander in Chief of the Military
What is Article 2?
The Supreme Court can do this to laws that break the Constitution.
What is strike them down (or declare them unconstitutional)?
To change the Constitution, both Congress and the states must agree. This shows this principle.
What is federalism?
Because the Constitution can change through amendments, we call it this kind of document.
What is a "living Constitution" (or living document)?
Which 2 amendments did the Miranda rights stem from?
What are Amendments 5 and 6?
This article explains the powers of the Supreme Court and the federal court system.
What is Article 3?