Separation of Powers
This principle divides the government into three branches.
What is separation of powers?
Each branch limits the power of the others through this system.
What is checks and balances?
The first ten amendments are called this.
What is the Bill of Rights?
Power divided between national and state governments is called this.
What is federalism?
Every nation's government should have absolute power within its own boarders. What is this known as?
What is Sovereignty?
The Constitution was written in this year.
What is 1787?
The branch responsible for making laws.
What is the legislative branch?
The President can refuse to approve a law by doing this.
What is vetoing?
This amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
What is the First Amendment?
How many Central Government(s) are there in the United States?
This principle means government gets power from the people.
What is popular sovereignty?
Which countries constitution is the longest active written constitution in the world?
What is the United States?
The branch that enforces laws.
What is the executive branch?
Congress can remove a President who abuses power through this.
What is impeachment?
The amendment that protects the right to bear arms.
What is the Second Amendment?
How many state governments are there in the United States?
What is 50?
Government officials must follow the law; this is called what?
What is rule of law?
This compromise allowed equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House.
What is the Great Compromise?
The branch that interprets laws.
What is the judicial branch?
The Senate must approve these presidential appointments. (2)
What are federal judges and cabinet members?
Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
Powers shared by federal and state governments are called this.
What are concurrent powers?
The Constitution limits government power. This is known as?
What is limited government?
The Constitution can be changed through this process.
What is amendment?
Preventing one branch from controlling everything avoids this.
What is tyranny?
Congress writes laws, but this branch can veto them.
What is the Executive?
Prevents cruel and unusual punishment.
What is the Eighth Amendment?
Powers only given to the federal government are called this.
What are delegated/enumerated powers?
This means that government power comes from the people's consent (approval) for its actions.
What was the last state to ratify the Constitution?
What is Rhode Island?
This branch has the power to declare war.
What is Legislative?
Congress can override a presidential veto by doing this. (fraction)
What is a two-thirds vote in both houses?
Guarantees a speedy and public trial.
What is the Sixth Amendment?
Powers reserved for states are called this.
What are reserved powers?
The constitution creates this form of government where citizens elect representatives to the government to serve on their behalf.
What is a republic or representative democracy?
What was the first state to ratify the Constitution?
What is Delaware?
Which branch has the power to nominate judges?
What is the executive branch?
The President can negotiate treaties, but who must approve them?
What is the Senate?
Citizens cannot be forced to testify against themselves due to this amendment.
What is the Fifth Amendment?
Federalism prevents all power from being concentrated in this.
What is one central/national/federal government?
What philosopher coined the idea of unalienable rights or rights that each person is born with that cannot be taken away?
This group of three men wrote the Federalist Papers to support ratification.
Who are Hamilton, Madison and Jay?
Which founding would be strongly against a person serving in the House of Representatives at the same time as serving on the Supreme Court?
Who is James Madison?
The Supreme Court can strike down actions by the President for being illegal. This is an example of what?
What is a check on the executive branch?
Powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states according to this amendment.
What is the Tenth Amendment?
State governments cannot print money because this power belongs to the federal government.
What is the power to coin money?
In reference to our Constitutional Notes Skeleton. Which part of the Constitution does the Head/Brain represent?
What is the Preamble?
How many total Amendments are there in the Constitution?
What are 27 amendments?
The Supreme Court checks the other branches through this power/principle.
What is judicial review?
Congress controls money, which limits the President’s power to do this.
What is spend on programs without approval?
Protects rights for the people not listed in the Constitution.
What is the Ninth Amendment?
This clause allows federal law to override conflicting state law making the federal laws or Constitution the supreme law of the land?
What is the Supremacy Clause?
In reference to our Constitutional Notes Skeleton. Which part of the Constitution does the Body represent?
What are the Articles?
Only this fraction of states was needed to ratify the Constitution.
What is 9/13 states?
Which French philosopher influenced the American government principle of separation of powers?
Who is Montesquieu?
How many individual presidents have been impeached? (Only in the House, the Senate has never convicted a President and officially removed them by impeachment.)
What is three (3)?
Which political party refused to ratify the Constitution until a Bill of Rights was agreed upon?
What is the Anti-Federalists?
Even if a power isn’t specifically written in the Constitution, Congress can still act if it helps them do their job.
What is the "Necessary and Proper" Clause or "Elastic" Clause?
In reference to our Constitutional Notes Skeleton. Which part of the Constitution does the Legs represent?
What are the Amendments?
Which date do Americans celebrate as "Constitution Day" - the day the framers finished drafting the United States Constitution?
What is September 17th?