Branches of Government
How many branches of government are listed in the Constitution
Three
TRUE or FALSE: According to Article I, you have to have been born in the US to run for the Senate or the House of Representatives
FALSE
Legislative Branch
While Congress can write and pass laws, the President can check the power of the Legislative Branch by rejecting, or ___________, that law.
Veto
SCENARIO: A guest speaker comes to an assembly to talk about music. During the assembly, they say things that are 1) explicitly wrong and 2) kind of racist. You complain about the speaker and the assembly on Instagram. The next day, you get called into the Principal's Office and she tells you that the speaker saw your comments and found them hurtful. The Principal then demands that you immediately take down your post and pray to Allah for forgiveness.
Which Amendment protects your rights in this scenario?
The 1st Amendment
--Freedom of Speech (the post)
--Freedom of Religion (no forced prayer)
VOCABULARY: A system where a government divides power between other branches
(hint: not checks and balances)
Separation of Powers
Which Article gives the President the power to appoint Judges?
Article II
This branch can guarantee a trial by jury in criminal trials
Judicial Branch
If a president has committed crimes while in office, the Legislative branch can __________ the president, or attempt to remove them from office
Impeach
SCENARIO:
A man is arrested, convicted, and sentenced to thirty years in prison for pickpocketing a pair of AirPods. He must also pay the victim $30,000.
Which Amendment protects his rights in this scenario?
The 8th Amendment
--No cruel and unusual punishment
--No excessive fines
This group is in charge of the Judicial Branch
Supreme Court
TRUE or FALSE: According to Article IV, someone accused of a crime in one state can safely flee to another state to avoid capture
(Bonus 100 points: what is this process called?)
FALSE
Bonus: Extradition
This branch (specifically its leader) can negotiate peace treaties with other nations
Executive Branch (President)
1. This branch WRITES the laws
2. This branch ENFORCES the laws
3. This branch INTERPRETS the laws - meaning they determine if a law is constitutional or unconstitutional
1. Legislative Branch
2. Executive Branch
3. Judicial Branch
SCENARIO:
The police are questioning a suspect at the station - they are not formally under arrest at this time. The suspect is not responding to the police's questions, despite their demands that she answer. After a while, the police get frustrated and arrest the suspect without another word.
Which Amendment protects her rights in this scenario?
The 5th Amendment
--Arrested without being told why
--Right to remain silent
TRUE or FALSE: The Executive Branch is the most powerful branch of government
FALSE
No branch is more powerful than any other is
The powers of the Judicial Branch are discussed in this Constitutitonal Article
Article III
TRUE or FALSE: Federal judges elected by the people
FALSE: They are chosen by the President
200 Points Each:
1. This branch can appoint judges...
2. ...but this branch can reject those judges
1. Executive
2. Legislative
200 POINTS PER AMENDMENT LISTED
You love One-Punch Man so much that you shave your head to look just like Saitama. Your teacher then sends you to the Dean because your hair (or lack thereof) is "a distraction to me and the other students." You tell the Dean that you have "free speech," but the Dean tells you that hair (or lack thereof) has nothing to do with "speech."
Which Amendments protect your rights in this scenario?
1st Amendment
--Free Speech
9th Amendment
--Constitution can't deny other rights people have; just because it's not written down, that doesn't mean it's not protected. In this case, "speech" doesn't have to be defined.
250 POINTS EACH
This Legislative Branch is divided into these two parts:
--one that has equal representation among the states
--one that is based on state population
1) Senate
2) House of Representatives
According to Article I, this branch is in charge of punishing pirates
Legislative Branch / Congress
TRUE or FALSE: Federal Judges have a ten-year term limit before someone else can take their job
FALSE:
They are there for life, until they retire, or if they are removed from office
This Amendment in the Bill of Rights ensures that the Branches of Government are only given the powers specifically stated in the Constitution; they can't overstep their bounds.
Any other powers are reserved for the States.
10th Amendment
(True) SCENARIO:
In 1998, police in Indianapolis began setting up vehicle checkpoints around the city in a bid to root out illegal drugs. At each checkpoint, police would stop a set number of vehicles. One officer would conduct an open-view examination of the car or truck from the outside, while another officer would walk around it with a narcotics dog. Stops were designed to last no more than five minutes.
1) Which Amendment was involved in this scenario?
2) BONUS DOUBLE POINTS: Was this legal? Why or why not?
1) 4th Amendment
2) NOT LEGAL: No probable cause for individual vehicles