Legislative
Some of the first Senators served two and four-year terms. Why?
What is there are three classes of senators, each class with a staggered term two years apart?
What is the Electoral College?
What is a group of electors equal in each state to the total the number of representatives and senators from the state?
What is the term of office for a justice?
What is "during good Behavior"?
How are new states admitted to the Union?
What is by an act of Congress?
What are the religious requirements for holding office?
What is none?
What is Congressional immunity? What is the aim of this provision?
What is protection from lawsuits/arrest while going about their legislative duties, except in case of treason, felony, and breach of the peace, so that they may operate without fear of interference from the other branches/outsiders?
What is the president’s term of office? How many times can the president be re-elected (under the original Constitution?) When and how did this change?
What is four years ... unlimited ... 22nd amendment (1951)?
What is original jurisdiction? Appellate jurisdiction?
What is the ability to hear the case directly in that court ... receiving a case after it has been heard by lower courts and appealed?
Americans have dual citizenship. What does this mean?
What is citizenship of both the state and the country?
What are two methods for ratifying an amendment to the Constitution?
What is three-fourths of state legislatures or conventions?
Define habeas corpus, ex post facto and bill of attainder.
What is the ability to challenge the lawfulness of imprisonment (lit., "show me the body"), a bill applied retroactively after it is made, and a bill that finds a group of people guilty?
What is the cabinet? When did this tradition start? List 4 of the 13 cabinet posts.
What is a meeting of the principal officers of each department, started by George Washington where he found he needed to gather them to consult together?
(1) Secretary of State (2) Secretary of the Treasury (3) Secretary of Defense (4) Attorney General (5) Secretary of the Interior (6) Secretary of Labor (7) Secretary of Health and Human Services (8) Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (9) Secretary of Transportation (10) Secretary of Energy (11) Secretary of Human Affairs (12) Secretary of Education (13) Secretary of Homeland Security
Define treason.
What is levying war against the US or adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort?
At the time of the Constitution, what are the states’ obligations regarding fugitive slaves?
What is, the states were, if the slave owner made a claim, to deliver up the fugitive slave from their state?
What are two methods for proposing an amendment to the Constitution?
What is a two-thirds majority of both houses, or two-thirds of state legislatures?
List 8 of the 18 delegated (or enumerated) powers.
What is:
(1) To collect taxes for the payment of debts, common defense, and general welfare (all taxes must be uniform). (2) To borrow money on the credit of the Us. (3) To regulate commerce with foreign nations, between states, and with tribes. (4) To establish rules for naturalization and bankruptcies. (5) To coin money, regulate its value, and that of foreign currency, and fix standard weights and measures. (6) To punish counterfeiting of securities and US coinage. (7) To establish post offices and roads. (8) To promise science/art through patents. (9) To form courts inferior to the supreme court. (10) To define and punish piracy/felonies on high seas, as well as crimes between nations. (11) To declare war and grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules for captures on land/sea. (12) To raise an army (funding must be provided for every two years). (13) To provide and maintain a navy. (14) To make rules for the government and regulating the armed forces. (15) To call forth militia to enforce federal laws, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions. (16) To organize, arm, and discipline the militia (states appoint officers). (17) To exercise exclusive legislation over the district where the seat of government lies, as well as military buildings/land. (18) To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying out the other powers.
List the duties of the president.
What is serve as (a) Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, (b) require the opinion of the executive department heads, (c) grant reprieves and pardons, (d) make treaties, (e) nominate ambassadors, judges, and other officers, and (f) fill vacancies in the senate.
What are some examples of types of cases the Supreme Court would handle?
What is (a) cases arising under the constitution, US laws, and treaties; (b) cases affecting ambassadors; cases of maritime jurisdiction; (c) controversies where the US is a party; (d) controversies between two or more states, between a state and a citizen of another state, or between citizens of different states, between citizens of the same state claiming land under grants of different states, or between a citizen and foreign powers.
Define republican government. What obligation does the national government owe to the states?
What is a government where the power is held by the people who elect representatives ... to guarantee a republican government and protect against invasion and internal violence?
Explain the Supremacy Clause (and how it applies to state laws).
What is the Constitution and the law of the US is to be the supreme law of the land, overriding state law where it comes into conflict?
List 5 of the 8 federal prohibitions.
What is:
(1) Slave trade shall not be prohibited by Congress prior to 1808, aside from limited taxation. (2) Privilege of Writ of Habeas Corpus may not be suspended (exception: rebellion/invasion). (3) No bills of attainder or ex post facto laws. (4) No direct tax unless it is in proportion to the census. (5) No tax on items exported from a state. (6) No preference can be given to the ports or commerce of one state over another. (7) No money can be withdrawn from the treasury unless it is by law and a record is kept. (8) No title of nobility may be given by the US, nor should any government figure accept anything from a foreign power.
Write the oath of office.
What is, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
What does “no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted” mean?
What is no one's family will be denied the traitor's property nor will the traitor's property be seized by the state?
“Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other state.” Explain.
What is states recognize what happens in other states and can request the records?
What part of the Constitution may NOT be amended?
What is Art. I, Sec. 9, clauses 1 and 4, and no state shall deprived of its equal suffrage in the senate?