Constitution Pt. 1
What is the Bill of Rights?
The first 10 amendments of the Constitution
What are the 3 branches of government in the United States?
Executive, Legislative and Judicial.
What are the heads of each branch of government?
Executive- the President
Judicial- the Supreme Court
Legislative - the Sentate and House of Representatives
What do we call a change to the constitution?
An amendment
What is a constitution?
A written plan for a government
What is the Legislative Branch's role?
to pass/make laws for the nation
What did the Great Compromise do to the legislative branch?
It divided congress into two houses- the Senate and the House of Representatives. Any new laws would have to be approved by both houses of Congress.
What does the first amendment include?
freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom to petition, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion.
Freedoms are rights protected by law.
What is the preamble of our constitution?
"We the people...". A preamble is the beginning/introduction of a document.
What is the Judicial Branch's role?
to interpret and apply laws for the nation
What is meant by "checks and balances"?
Government power is divided among the three branches—to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful. Each branch has specific powers to check, or limit, the actions of the others. For example, the President can veto laws passed by Congress, but Congress can override that veto. The President nominates judges, but the Senate must approve them, and the judiciary can declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional.
What was the first document made for the U.S.?
Declaration of Independence
Who is considered the "father of the constitution?"
James Madison
What is the Executive Branch's role?
to carry out and enforce the laws made by congress (to execute laws)
How are the number of senators and house of representative members determined?
The Senate has equal representation: each state gets two votes. The House of Representatives has representation based on population of a state.
At the local level, who is the head of the Executive branch?
the governor