Articles of the Constitution
This article of the U.S. Constitution outlines the powers and structure of the legislative branch.
What is Article I?
The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights guarantees five distinct freedoms. Name any three of them.
What are freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition?
Exclusive powers are those that are specifically granted to which level of government in a federal system?
What is the federal/national government?
How many members are there in the U.S. Senate, one of the two houses of the Legislative Branch?
What is 100 (two from each state)?
The Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) were adopted in the aftermath of which major event in American history?
What is the American Civil War?
Article II of the U.S. Constitution is dedicated to establishing the powers and responsibilities of which branch of government?
What is the Executive Branch?
The Fifth Amendment of the Bill of Rights protects individuals from being tried twice for the same crime. What is this legal principle called?
What is double jeopardy?
Reserved powers are those that are not specifically granted to the federal government and are reserved for which level of government?
What is state governments?
This branch of government has the power to declare acts of the other branches unconstitutional.
What is the Judicial Branch (specifically, the Supreme Court)?
This Amendment, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery in the United States.
What is the 13th Amendment?
This article of the U.S. Constitution addresses the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court.
What is Article III?
The Fourth Amendment of the Bill of Rights protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. What is the general requirement for a search warrant to be issued?
What is probable cause?
Concurrent powers are those that are shared by both the federal and state governments. Can you give an example of a concurrent power?
What is the power to tax?
What is the term for the process by which the President rejects a bill passed by Congress?
What is a veto?
The 15th Amendment prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on what factors?
What are "race, color, or previous condition of servitude"?
The final article of the U.S. Constitution, Article VII, describes the process that the states used to ratify the Constitution. How many states were required to ratify the Constitution for it to go into effect?
What is nine states?
The Sixth Amendment of the Bill of Rights guarantees the right to a fair trial. Name two specific rights it provides to individuals accused of a crime.
What are the right to a speedy and public trial, the right to an impartial jury, the right to confront witnesses, the right to compulsory process, and the right to counsel?
Exclusive powers granted to the federal government include the authority to negotiate treaties with foreign nations. Can you provide another example of an exclusive federal power?
What is the power to regulate immigration?
What is the term for the process by which the President nominates individuals for federal judgeships and other high-level positions?
What is appointment or nomination?
Which of the Reconstruction Amendments states that "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States"?
What is the 14th Amendment?
Article VI of the U.S. Constitution contains an important clause known as the "Supremacy Clause." What does this clause say about the U.S. Constitution and federal laws?
What is that they are the "supreme law of the land"?
The Tenth Amendment of the Bill of Rights reserves certain powers to the states or the people. What is the general principle that this amendment embodies?
What is federalism or the principle of limited government?
Reserved powers encompass a wide range of responsibilities for the states. Can you name two examples of areas where states have exclusive authority?
What are establishing local governments, regulating intrastate commerce, conducting elections, providing for public health and safety, and controlling education?
How many total members are there working in both houses of Congress?
535
These post-Civil War laws were enacted by Southern states to restrict the rights and freedoms of newly freed African Americans. What were they called?
What are Black Codes?