Articles
Principles of the Constitution
Amendments & the Bill of Rights
Federalism & Powers
Federalism in Action
100

This article creates the law-making branch of government.

What is Article I?

100

The idea that government gets its power from the people.

What is consent of the governed / popular sovereignty?

100

This amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

What is the First Amendment?

100

This level of government controls education and marriage laws.

 What is state government?

100

Federal funds given to states to support programs like schools or highways.

What is federal aid?

200

The President and Vice President get their powers from this article.

What is Article II?

200

This principle keeps any one branch from becoming too powerful.

What is checks and balances?

200

These amendments guarantee due process protections.

What are the 4th through 7th Amendments?

200

 Coining money and declaring war are examples of these powers.

 What are national (delegated) powers?

200

Rules the national government requires states to follow, sometimes without funding.

What are mandates?

300

This article establishes the Supreme Court and the federal court system.

What is Article III?

300

The idea that the government can only do what the Constitution allows.

What is limited government?

300

 These amendments abolished slavery, granted citizenship, and protected African American voting rights.

What are the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments?

300

These are powers shared by national and state governments.
 

What are concurrent powers?

300

When federal law overrides or replaces state or local law.

What is preemption?

400

The branch described in Article I is made up of these two houses.

What are the House of Representatives and the Senate?

400

 Life, liberty, and property are examples of these.

What are natural rights?

400

 This amendment limits the President to two terms.

What is the 22nd Amendment?

400

These are powers that neither the national nor state governments may exercise.

What are denied powers?

400

Congress must pass this act to allow a territory to write a state constitution.

What is an enabling act?

500

This article gives Congress the power to make all laws “necessary and proper.”

What is Article I (Elastic Clause)?

500

The principle that lets courts strike down unconstitutional laws.

What is judicial review?

500

This amendment outlines presidential succession and what happens if the president becomes disabled.

What is the 25th Amendment?

500

 This clause makes the Constitution the highest law of the land.

What is the Supremacy Clause?

500

Shifts in this phenomenon influence whether sthe government favor stronger state or national power.

What are political parties?