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Mix-It-Up
100
In what year was the Constitution signed?
September 17th, 1787
100
What does "ratified" mean?
Ratified means to sign or give formal consent.
100
The president leads which of the three branches of government?
The executive branch.
100
What is the Constitution?
It is the highest law in the country. It creates Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court.
100
What are the three branches of government?
Legislative, Executive and Judicial
200
When was the Bill of Rights adopted into the Constitution?
1791
200
What is the system of "checks and balances?"
A system set by the Constitution in which the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government have the power to check each other to maintain a “balance” of power.
200
Who was the first President and vice President of the United States of America? For an extra 10 points, can you names their electoral votes?
George Washington is elected the first President of the United States under the Constitution with 69 electoral votes. John Adams is elected Vice President with 34 votes.
200
Can the constitution be changed? How?
Yes, through amendments.
200
Describe the legislative branch of government.
It is called Congress and includes the House of Representatives, the Senate. The make the laws in our country.
300
What was significant about May 25th, 1787?
The Constitutional Convention opens with a quorum of seven states in Philadelphia to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation. Eventually, all states but Rhode Island are represented.
300
What does it mean to "veto" and who can do it?
The president, who leads the executive branch of government, can veto a bill that Congress has passed. It means that even if the other two branches of government pass a bill, the president can still reject it from going further and being signed into law.
300
Who is known as "the father of the Constitution?"
James Madison
300
How many delegates signed the Constitution?
The Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates.
300
Name two of the four main powers of local government.
Answers include: Provide police and fire protection, run public schools and public libraries (with the help of state), provide public transportation such as buses and subways, collect sales and property taxes.
400
What was the date that the final state of the 13 original colonies ratified the Constitution? For an extra 10 points: Which state was it?
May 29th, 1790 is when Rhode Island ratified it.
400
What is federalism? (Two parts)
Federalism is when government powers are divided between the National (federal) Government and the states. The two levels (national and state) have separate and shared powers: a. separate powers- The National Government has some exclusive powers that cannot be exercised by states. Examples of these include the power to coin (make) money and the power to make treaties with foreign countries. b. shared powers- Some powers can be exercised by both the National Government and the States. Examples include making laws and levying and collecting taxes.
400
Who actually "penned" the Constitution?
Jacob Shallus
400
Name 3 rights on the Bill of Rights.
Answers include: Right of Free Speech, Right to practice your own Religion, Right to remain silent if arrested, Freedom from having to house soldiers, Freedom from police entering your house without a good reason, Freedom from having to testify against yourself in court, Freedom from being given unusual punishments.
400
What are the 5 main powers of state government?
Issue licenses, such as marriage and driver's license, run elections, set up local government, collect income and sales taxes.
500
What is the date of when the ninth state ratified the Constitution?
June 21st, 1788.
500
Describe the major differences between the Constitution and the Articles of the Confederation.
The Aritcles of the Confederation was a document, adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777 and finally approved by the states in 1781, that outlined the form of government of the new United States (which became the Constitution).
500
What were first the 9 states (out of 13) to ratify the Constitution to make it binding? For an extra 10 points: Which state had the most signers?
Delaware, Pennsylvania (8 signers), New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Maryland.
500
Who led the Constitutional Convention and why?
George Washington had won the respect of his countrymen as commander of the Continental Army. Washington's fellow delegates elected him president of the Constitutional Convention because they held him in high esteem. As president of the Constitutional Convention, Washington's job was to keep the meetings orderly and effective. This was no small task considering the many different points of view among the delegates. The delegates listened carefully when President Washington broke in to make a contribution.
500
Name the five main functions of the federal government.
Print Money, declare ware, run the postal system, make treaties with other countries, collect income taxes.