BILL OF RIGHTS
How many amendments are there in the Bill of Rights?
10 amendments
What compromises did the colonies focus on? (2 compromises)
Three-Fifths Compromise and Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
What are the principles of the Constitution? (there are 7)
popular sovereignty, republicanism, limited government, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, and individual rights
What does ratification mean and what article ratifies the Constitution?
The signing and making a document official; Article VII
Who was the main writer of the Constitution?
James Madison
What rights does the 1st amendment protect? (name all five)
Freedom of religion, press, assembly, speech, and petition
Why did the colonies need a compromise in the first place?
the Articles of Confederation established a weak and ineffective government (they FAILED)
What is Republicanism?
A system of government where the people have authority and responsibility to make decisions
What is the purpose of Article I?
To establish the structure and powers of the legislative branch
How many amendments were made to the Constitution?
27 amendments; the most recent was made in 1991
Who does the 5th amendment protect and what protections does it provide?
those accused of crimes; protection from self-incrimination, due-process, jury trial, just compensation, protection from double jeopardy and protection from arbitrary deprivation.
What plan was popular with large states and had bicameral legislature?
the Virginia Plan
How is our government limited by checks and balances?
each branch can check the other ones, President can veto bills, Supreme Court can rule a law unconstitutional, Congress can override a veto with a 2/3 vote
How many representatives for each state are in the Senate? What about in the House of Representatives?
Senate: 100 total; 2 from each state
House of Reps.: decided by state's population; 435 total
What is the hand sign for the 8th amendment? (act it out)
getting arrested in hand cuffs, getting punched by police; demonstrating cruel and unusual punishment
exercises 6th amendment; speedy and fair trial
What did the three-fifths compromise do? (2 parts of answer)
-counted enslaved people as 3/5s of a person
-give more power and representation to Southern States
Name 5 rights each individual is endowed by the Constitution:
any of the first 10 amendments, rights to vote; answers will vary
What qualifications does someone need to have to become President? (3 qualifications)
be born a US Citizen, at least 35 years of age and a resident of the US for 14 years
What state was spelt wrong under the "Signers" section? (it is spelt correctly in our book)
Pennsylvania; it was spelt with only two n's (Pensylvania)
Scenario: Angela arrived home one evening to find a member of the US navy sitting at the dining room table eating dinner with her parents. Angela quickly turned to her parents and said, "Why is there a military person in our home?" Angela's parents said, "We were told we had to house this soldier." Angela quickly kicked the soldier out and said to him, "Read the Bill of Rights."
exercises 3rd amendment; right to deny the quartering of soldiers in one's home
What agreements were made while creating the Great Compromise? (one answer; two parts)
-bicameral Congress (two chambers)
-the House of Reps. would follow the system of proportional representation for population
-the Senate would have equal representation
What would happen if we did not have a limited government?
Tyrannical rule, over-powerful government, too much power to one party/one person, chaos
Which Article describes the developing of new states?
Article IV (Article 4)
What is the word count of the Constitution? (if you are within 500 words the points will go to your team)
4,400 words; the US Constitution is one of the shortest and oldest constitutions of a major government in the world