Constitutional Foundations
The U.S. Constitution begins with this three-word phrase.
What is "We the People"?
This chamber of Congress has the sole power to originate revenue bills.
What is the House of Representatives?
This term describes the constitutional division of power between the national government and state governments.
What is federalism?
Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition are protected by this amendment.
What is the First Amendment?
Presidential elections are formally decided by this institution rather than directly by the national popular vote.
What is the Electoral College?
This principle divides governmental power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What is separation of powers?
The president may reject a bill passed by Congress by using this constitutional power.
What is the veto?
The Constitution specifically gives Congress the power to coin money, making it this type of power.
What is an enumerated/expressed power?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are collectively known by this name.
What is the Bill of Rights?
Members of the House of Representatives are elected for this number of years.
What is two?
This system allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches.
What are checks and balances?
The Senate has the power to approve treaties by this fraction of senators present.
What is two-thirds?
Powers such as establishing local governments and issuing driver’s licenses generally belong to this level of government.
What are the states?
This amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
People who work to persuade government officials on behalf of an organization or cause are known by this term.
Who are lobbyists?
Supporters of the Constitution used this name, while their opponents became known by a name beginning with “Anti-.”
Who were the Federalists?
Congress can override a presidential veto with this fraction of both chambers.
What is two-thirds?
This constitutional clause says that valid federal laws generally take precedence over conflicting state laws.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
This amendment guarantees equal protection of the laws and has been central to many civil-rights cases.
What is the Fourteenth Amendment?
Following Citizens United, these organizations may raise and spend unlimited sums independently of candidates.
What are Super PACs?
This compromise at the Constitutional Convention created a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation for every state.
What is the Great/Connecticut Compromise?
The Supreme Court’s power to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional is known by this term, although it is not explicitly stated in the Constitution.
What is judicial review?
This amendment is often cited as reserving undelegated powers to the states or the people.
What is the Tenth Amendment?
The process through which most protections in the Bill of Rights have been applied to state governments is known by this term.
What is selective incorporation?
Drawing legislative district boundaries to advantage a particular political party or group is known by this term.
What is gerrymandering?