Constitutional Principles
The phrase “We the People” expresses this principle: government authority comes from the people.
What is popular sovereignty?
This branch makes federal laws.
What is the legislative branch (Congress)?
This first set of ten amendments protects individual rights and liberties.
What is the Bill of Rights?
This opening section explains the Constitution’s purposes and begins with “We the People.”
What is the Preamble?
A president issues a directive to federal agencies. This method of shaping government policy is called what?
What is executive action?
This principle divides government power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What is separation of powers?
This branch can approve or veto bills passed by Congress.
What is the executive branch (the president)?
This First amendment protects these rights (name at least 3).
What is freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and petition?
The Constitution has this many articles.
Seven.
Political parties holding primaries to choose candidates is an example of this method.
What are party practices?
This principle allows each branch to limit the power of the other branches.
What are checks and balances?
This branch interprets laws and can rule that a law is unconstitutional.
What is the judicial branch (the federal courts, including the Supreme Court)?
Name one proposed amendment topic from the review material that was never ratified.
Accept congressional pay raises or equal rights for women. Other answers may also be acceptable.
The Constitution has this many amendments.
Twenty-seven.
A Supreme Court ruling determines that a state law violates the Constitution. What constitutional power is being exercised?
What is judicial review?
This principle divides power between the national government and state governments.
What is federalism?
The Senate holds a trial after the House impeaches a president. Which branch presides over the trial?
What is the chief justice of the United States? Accept Judicial Branch.
Give one example of a right protected by an amendment other than the First Amendment.
example, such as the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment, protection from unreasonable searches under the Fourth Amendment, or the right to a jury trial in certain cases under the Sixth or Seventh Amendment.
Put these constitutional parts in the correct order: Bill of Rights, Preamble, articles.
Preamble, articles, Bill of Rights.
Congress impeaches a federal judge for failing to uphold the law. Which principle is demonstrated when one branch holds another accountable?
What are checks and balances?
Madison warned against concentrating all government powers in the same hands. Which constitutional principle helps prevent this?
What is separation of powers? Accept checks and balances if the response explains how branches prevent power from being concentrated.
Name one way each branch can check another branch’s power.
Possible Examples:
Describe a situation in which a person’s constitutional rights might apply, and identify the relevant amendment.
For example: “Police search someone’s home without a warrant or a valid exception. The Fourth Amendment may apply because it protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.”
Explain how the Constitution’s structure establishes the three branches and distributes government power.
Congress makes laws, the president carries out laws, and the courts interpret laws. Responses should explain that dividing power among the branches helps prevent any one branch from holding all government power.
Explain how the formal amendment process demonstrates federalism.
Accept responses explaining that an amendment may be proposed at the national level and must be ratified by the states. For example, Congress may propose an amendment, and state legislatures or state conventions ratify it according to the constitutional process.