The Preamble
This phrase at the beginning of the Constitution emphasizes that government power comes from the people.
What is "We the People"?
This branch of government makes the laws in the United States.
What is the legislative branch?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known by this name.
What is the Bill of Rights?
The system that divides power between the national and state governments.
What is federalism?
This principle means that the government is based on the will of the people.
What is popular sovereignty?
One of the goals of the Preamble, this phrase means that the government should maintain peace and order.
What is "insure domestic Tranquility"?
This branch of government carries out the laws and includes the president.
What is the executive branch?
An amendment must be proposed by either Congress or this type of national gathering.
What is a national convention?
Only the national government has the power to print this.
What is money?
This right allows citizens to have a direct role in choosing their leaders.
What is voting?
The Preamble states that the government should provide this for protection against foreign threats.
What is "the common defense"?
This branch of government interprets laws and determines their constitutionality.
What is the judicial branch?
To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by this fraction of state legislatures.
What is three-fourths?
This clause gives Congress the power to regulate trade between states.
What is the Commerce Clause?
This principle means that decisions are made based on what most people want.
What is majority rule?
This goal of the Preamble refers to supporting an economy where people can prosper.
What is "promote the general Welfare"?
The two chambers of Congress that make up the legislative branch.
What are the House of Representatives and the Senate?
This amendment abolished slavery in the United States.
What is the Thirteenth Amendment?
This document is the "supreme Law of the Land," meaning that state laws cannot contradict it.
What is the U.S. Constitution?
Citizens can participate in government by joining these groups that advocate for specific issues.
What are interest groups?
The preamble of the constitution restated by memory.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
This power allows the president to reject a bill passed by Congress.
What is a veto?
This is the reason the framers created a way to change the constitution.
What is "because they knew that the constitution would need to change to include new ideas from each generation?"
This concept allows tribal governments to govern themselves independently of state laws.
What is tribal sovereignty?
The Constitution does not mention these political organizations, but they play a key role in elections.
What are political parties?