Is it Constitutional?
Political Structures
The Constitution
Political Processes & Constitutional Principles
Random
100
The government does not like a man's ideas, so it does not allow him to make a speech in public.
Unconstitutional; First Amendment; Freedom of Speech & Assembly
100
Name the three branches and each of their responsibilities. (Enforce, Interpret, Writes)
Legislative Branch Writes the Laws Executive Branch Enforces the Laws Judicial Branch Interprets the Laws
100
The first ten amendment to the Constitution are called ______________.
Bill of Rights
100
Define impeachment and Describe the process of removing a political officer from office.
- Charges of Bribery, Treason, or High Crimes brought against someone after committee reviews evidence in House of Representatives. - If majority agrees that charges should be brought against someone, trial goes to Senate. -2/3 majority to remove someone from office.
100
The special advisors to the President are called the _____________.
Cabinet
200
A town forbids the ownership of a handgun after a violent shooting.
Unconstitutional; Amendment #2
200
Each State gets _____ Senators. The number of Representatives given to each state for the House of Reps is based on a state's _________. pt 2- Explain why we have BOTH a House of Representatives and Senate
2; Population House of Representatives is based on population so that large states are given fair representation, while the Senate gives each state 2 senators to ensure that all states, including small population states, also have equal clout in the legislative process. This came about after the Articles of Confederation brought these inequalities forth and the bicameral legislature was adopted.
200
Name the three parts of the Constitution and their purpose.
Preamble - To explain the purpose of the document and outline its contents. Articles - Outlines the rights and responsibilities of each branch and limitations on power. Amendments - Outlines rights of the people that are protected by the Constitution.
200
Define Judicial Review and explain why it is important to our political system and the role it plays in Checks and Balances
Judicial Review is the ability of a court to examine and decide if a statute, treaty, or administrative order contradicts or violates existing law. It is important because the Supreme Court has the power to decide upon the Constitutionality of laws passed by Congress...it alone can overturn lower court precedent, or prior Supreme Court precedent. It can control the power of the Legislative Branch by finding specific laws or statutes constitutional on both federal or state level, and it can also find Executive Orders completed by the president to be Unconstitutional and overrule them.
200
The official electors of the President are the _______________________.
Electoral College
300
A man accused of a serious crime refuses to give evidence against himself.
Constitutional; 5th Amendment - Self-Incrimination
300
There are _______ Representatives in the House of Reps and ______ Senators in the Senate
435; 100
300
The weak government we had before the creation of the Constitution was the ___________________________.
Articles of Confederation
300
Explain the difference between a Republic and a Democracy? Which is the United States?
A Democracy focuses on 'majority' rules solely without any acknowledgement of minority needs. (what majority votes on, goes.) a Republic includes a Constitution that protects unalienable rights of ALL people, not just the majority. The United States is a Democratic Republic - Majority rules, but minority rights are also protected.
300
How long is the term for... President? House of Representatives? Senate?
4 years 2 years 6 years
400
A woman receives a parking ticket. She insists on a jury trial. The government says she doesn't need a jury because her offense is not a serious one.
Unconstitutional; Sixth Amendment - Right to a impartial jury in criminal cases
400
Explain what Checks and Balances are and why we have this system. Give an example of how each branch 'checks' another.
Each branch of government has some measure of influence over the other branches and may choose to block procedures of other branches; so no branch becomes too powerful; answers will vary: President can veto bills passed by Congress Congress has to approve President's request to declare war Supreme Court can declare Executive Actions and Laws Unconstitutional.
400
Name THREE Rights protected by the Bill of Rights and explain why they are important
Answers will vary
400
Name all five rights protected by the First Amendment
Freedom of speech, press, assembly, petition, religion.
400
What is the Popular Sovereignty (Consent of the Governed) and why is it important to our political system?
Ideally, our government exists to serve its people. Popular Sovereignty states that the people 'rule' themselves. Based on this principle, our government exists to serve the people and should always aim to do so. This is why people are the deciding factor in who represents them in government, and those representatives are supposed to reflect the wants and needs of the people who elected them, and vote according to this. Otherwise, they are likely not re-elected. Also, if there is no formal law in place for the overall safety OF the people, then people are free to do as they choose. On the opposite end, like in a Monarchy, the people exist to serve its government.
500
A police officer enters your home and begins to search through your things. They find drugs in your possession and take you into custody.
Unconstitutional; 4th Amendment - Search and Seizure
500
Define Federalism and the levels of government involved; explain why we adopted this system; give an example of power held at each level.
Federalism is the mixed mode of government that combines federal government with state government; adopted this system after the Articles of Confederation proved to be ineffective and needed a larger, more organized mode of government to oversee the states.
500
List THREE major issues that arose from the Articles of Confederation and how the Constitution solved them.
Large States were unhappy because with bigger populations, they thought they should have more power and all states only got one vote. The new Constitution split the legislature so states had equal power in one half and power based on population in the other. States could and did ignored the laws passed by Congress created by the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution said laws passed by Congress are superior to state laws. Independent States made laws that penalized out-of-state businesses and citizens with high taxes. The Constitution required states to treat citizens of other states the same as they treat their own citizens. Military and Currency were different and individual for every state, the new Constitution made both universal for all states.
500
Explain how the number of electors per state is decided, and how popular vote plays a role in national elections.
- # of electors is based on # of representatives and senators in Congress. - Popular vote sways how electors vote, but popular vote is not factored in final winner.
500
Explain how each government form operates: Monarchy Anarchy Oligarchy Democracy Autocracy Theocracy
Monarchy - Rule by King or Queen Anarchy - Rule by None Oligarchy - Rule by Few Democracy - Rule by All Autocracy - Rule by One Theocracy - Rule by Religious Deity
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