Establishing Documents
What is the supreme law of the United States?
the Constitution
What is an amendment?
- a change (to the Constitution)
- an addition (to the Constitution)
Who makes federal laws?
- Congress
- Senate and House of Representatives
- US/national legislature
What does the judicial branch do?
- judges the laws
- reviews or explains the laws
-resolves disputes
-decides if a law goes against the Constitution
Who is in charge of the federal executive branch?
- the President
What does the Constitution do?
- sets up the government
-defines the government
-protects basic rights of Americans
What do we call the first ten amendments?
- the Bill of Rights
What are the two bodies of the US Congress?
- the Senate and House of Representatives
What is the highest court in the the United States?
- the Supreme Court
We elect a President for how many years?
- four year term
- maximum of two four-year terms
The idea of self-government is the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
"We the People"
What is one right or freedom protected by the First Amendment?
-speech
-religion
-assembly
- press
-petition the government
How many US Senators are there?
- 100
How many justices are on the United States Supreme Court?
- 9 Supreme Court Justices
In what month do we vote for President?
November
What does the "rule of law" mean?
-Everyone must follow the law
-Leaders must obey the law
-Government must obey the law
-No one is above the law
What does freedom of religion mean?
- You can practice any religion
- You can practice no religion
We elect a US Senator for how many years?
- 6 years
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
- checks and balances
- separation of powers
If the President can no long serve, who becomes President?
- the Vice President
What are two rights in the Declaration of Indpendance?
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
- 15th -- a male citizen of any race can vote
- 19th -- any citizen can vote
- 24th -- do not need to pay a poll tax to vote
- 26th -- citizen 18 and older can vote
Who is represented by a US Senator?
- all people of the state
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
- provide schooling and education
- provide protection (police)
- provide safety (fire departments)
- give a driver's license
- approve zoning and land use
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
- the President