U.S. Constitution for beginners
These are the 2 chambers of the Legislative Branch.
The Senate and House of Representatives
How many branches of government are established by the U.S. Constitution?
Three
This part of the U.S. Constitution outlines and protects the rights of individual citizens from government overreach.
The Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments).
What is the term for changes made to the original text of the U.S. Constitution?
Amendments
What document did the U.S. Constitution replace?
Articles of Confederation
These are the 3 Branches of the United States Government outlined by the U.S. Constitution.
Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches
According to the U.S. Constitution, which branch of government is responsible for making laws?
Legislative branch
Limited
An American citizen's right to a speedy and public trial and impartial jury, the right to confront witnesses against them, to share witnesses in their favor, and access to a public defense attorney are written in this Constitutional amendment.
6th Amendment
This article establishes the U.S. Constitution as the "supreme law of the land".
Supremacy Clause outlined in Article 6
Name a power (or responsibility) of the Legislative Branch.
Answers vary.
What term describes the system by which each branch of government has the power to limit the actions of the other branches?
Checks and balances
This term defines the principle that government power is shared between the national government and state governments.
Federalism
This Amendment ensures that no law in any State can deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of the law or deny any person equal protection of those laws
14th Amendment
How many articles are there in the Constitution?
Name a power (or responsibility) of the President/ Executive Branch.
Answers vary.
What is the main purpose of the separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution?
To prevent any single branch of government from becoming too powerful, checks and balances, and ensure citizen's rights are maintained and protected.
The Constitution established a republican form of government in which citizens rule through this.
Elected officials (voting)
This Amendment would come after Americans agreed that anyone old enough to be drafted into the armed forces during war, should have equal ability to vote for their representation in government.
The 26th Amendment
This is the process in which the Supreme Court has the power to judge whether actions of other branches are constitutional.
Judicial review
What are the age limits for the Senate and the House of Representatives? Who do they each represent?
Senate = 30 yrs., citizens of the entire state
House = 25 yrs., citizens of specific districts w/in a state
Which article of the U.S. Constitution establishes the structure and powers of the executive branch?
B. Article II
This is the definition of popular sovereignty, one of the key principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Government is subject to the authority of the people.
Which part of the U.S. Constitution describes the procedures for amending the document?
d) Article V
Federalists, many of the founding members of the first United States, were worried that addressing this topic in the first U.S. Constitution, that continued debate would lead to escalating and violent conflict, and recommended to "put it off for a later date". What is the topic and roughly how many years later would this be addressed?
Slavery, almost 100 years.