Founding Facts
Constitution Basics
Branches and Powers
Vocabulary
100

This group of men helped write the Constitution in 1787 and are called the ______________.

Founding Fathers

100

The Constitution starts with an introduction called the ______________.

Preamble

100

The branch that makes rules (laws) for the whole country is called the ______________ branch.

Legislative Branch

100

The introduction of the Constitution = ______________.

Preamble

200

 The Constitution was written in this city in Pennsylvania in 1787: ______________.

Philadelphia

200

 The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called the ______________ of Rights.

Bill

200

The president leads the ______________ branch.

Executive

200

Formal approval process for the Constitution = ______________.

Ratification

300

The meeting where the Constitution was written is called the Constitutional ______________.

Convention

300

What does it mean to ratify the Constitution? (one-sentence answer)

Ratify means to formally approve (agree to) the Constitution.

300

Name the two houses of Congress created by the Great ____________ (fill in the blank).

 Great Compromise (or Great Connecticut Compromise) — Senate and House of Representatives

300
  • Decides if laws are fair and follow the Constitution = ______________.

Judicial branch

400

Name one reason people wanted to change the Articles of Confederation and make a new Constitution (short answer).

Example answers: central government was too weak; needed a stronger national government for trade and defense.

400

Write one thing the Constitution does for the country (short answer).

Example: It creates rules for how the country is run; it sets up government and protects rights.

400

What is federalism?  

Federalism is the sharing of power between national and state governments.

400

Writers of the Constitution = ______________.

Founding Fathers

500

Explain what a compromise is and give one simple example related to making rules (short answer).

Compromise — an agreement where each side gives up something; example: creating two houses in Congress so both big and small states agreed.

500

Describe how the Constitution helps people by giving an example of a right or rule it protects (short answer).

 Example: Freedom of speech; protects people’s rights; or establishes how laws are made.

500

Name two powers that only the federal government has

Examples: printing/creating money; declaring war; making treaties; maintaining the military.

500

Fill in the blank from the word bank 

  • The three parts of government are called the three _________ of government.
  • The _________ of Rights are the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

Branches

Bill