Constitution
This opening section of the Constitution explains the goals of the new government and begins with "We the People."
What is the Preamble?
This body has the power to confirm federal judges nominated by the president.
What is the Senate?
This system prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful by dividing authority among branches.
What is separation of powers?
This power allows the Supreme Court to strike down laws that violate the Constitution.
What is judicial review?
This determines a state's number of Electoral College votes.
What is the total number of senators and representatives?
This principle divides power between the national and state governments.
What is federalism?
The number of representatives a state receives is determined by this factor.
What is population?
This presidential power allows a bill passed by Congress to be rejected.
What is a veto?
Article III explicitly creates only this federal court.
What is the Supreme Court?
Based on the 2020 Census, Illinois has this many Electoral College votes.
What is 19?
This principle prevents one branch from becoming too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the others.
What are checks and balances?
The Vice President serves in this role within the Senate.
What is a presiding officer who breaks tie votes?
The Constitution allows the president to veto bills partly to maintain this principle.
What is checks and balances?
Federal judges serve during "good behavior," which is commonly interpreted to mean this.
What is life tenure?
This amendment clarified what happens if a president dies, resigns, or becomes unable to serve.
What is the 25th Amendment?
This constitutional principle is shown by the fact that every state receives two senators regardless of population.
What is equal representation in the Senate?
As leader of the House, this official controls the flow of legislation and assigns bills to committees.
What is the Speaker of the House?
This branch can declare laws unconstitutional.
What is the judicial branch?
The Constitution protects federal judges by preventing this action.
What is reducing their salaries while in office?
Ratified after Franklin Roosevelt's four terms, this amendment limits presidents to two elected terms.
What is the 22nd Amendment?
The Constitution is considered the "supreme law of the land" because of this clause in Article VI.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
Congress can override a presidential veto with this level of support in both houses.
What is a two-thirds vote?
This landmark Supreme Court case established judicial review.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
One reason judges receive life appointments is to help ensure this quality in their decisions.
What is judicial independence?
This amendment moved presidential inaugurations from March to January.
What is the 20th Amendment?