Pre-Constitution Documents
The Declaration of Independence was written by this person.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
This is the name for the 57 words that open the U.S. Constitution.
What is the "Preamble."
This principle means the government cannot establish an official religion. 5 words.
What is "separation of church and state"?
Article 1 established this branch of government.
What is the "legislative branch"?
The Bill of Rights consists of ___ (number) amendments.
What is "10" or "ten"?
Before being replaced by the Constitution, the United States was governed by this document.
What was the "Articles of Confederation"?
These are the first three words in the Preamble.
What are "We the People"?
Baron de Montesquieu's influence on the Constitution is obvious with this PRINCIPLE that resulted in three branches of government. Looking for three words.
What is "separation of powers"?
Article 2 established the _______ branch of government, while Article 3 established the ________ branch of government.
and
What is the "judicial branch"?
The ____ (number) Amendment provides the right for citizens to bear arms and form militias for self-defense.
What is the "2nd" or "Second" Amendment?
The Declaration of Independence was signed on __________ (full date) and in the city of _________.
What was "July 4, 1776"
and
What was "Philadelphia"?
When this preamble objective is met, the basic safety needs of citizens are met by protection and service. Looking for two words.
What is "domestic tranquility"?
When interpreting the Constitution, a literal interpretation is called a ___________ construction view, whereas a more flexible interpretation is called a ___________ construction.
What is "strict" construction?
and
What is "loose" construction?
Article 4 discusses the powers held by the _______. Powers held by both this level of government and the federal government are called _______________.
What are "states"?
and
What are "concurrent powers"?
The ____ Amendment provides protection against self-incrimination. A defendant should never answer questions without the counsel of a/an ____________.
What is the "5th" or "Fifth" Amendment?
What is a "lawyer" or an "attorney"?
The Declaration of Independence lists dozens of complaints called ________________. The complaints were against what "he" did or did not do for the colonists. "He" was ___________.
What are "grievances"?
Who was "King George III"?
"Providing for the _______ ___________" means providing a standing military. Looking for two words.
What is "common defense"?
Article 1 Section 8 provides the ______ ________ (two words), which allows Congress the flexibility to pass new laws that it considers "__________" for the country.
What is the "elastic clause"?
and
What is "necessary"?
According to Article ___ (number), the ____________ is the highest law in the land. Moreover, when there is a conflict between federal and state laws, the _________ law prevails.
What is Article "6" or "Six"?
What is the "Constitution"?
What is "federal" law?
The ____ (number) Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Law enforcement needs a __________ signed by a __________ before a search can occur.
What is "4th" or "Fourth" Amendment?
What is a "warrant"?
What is a "judge"?
"We hold these truths to be __________ (two words), that all men are created ________, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain _________ Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
What is "self-evident"?
What is "equal"?
What is "unalienable" rights?
"...secure the Blessings of ________ to ourselves and our __________ ..."
What are "Liberty" and "Posterity"?
The Supreme Court's Dredd Scott vs. Sandford (1857) decision found that __________ were not citizens of the United States. The ___ (number) Amendment overturned this decision by declaring that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens.
What is "African-Americans" or "Blacks"?
and
What is the "14th" or "Fourteenth" Amendment?
Article 5: to amend the Constitution, the proposal most be passed by ____ (fraction) of both houses of _________; then ratified by ____ (fraction) of the states.
What is "2/3" or "two-thirds"?
What is "Congress"?
What is "3/4" or "three-fourths"?
The 5th Amendment says criminal charges cannot be brought unless an ___________ is issued by a ______ ______ (two words). It protects individuals from ______ jeopardy.
What is an "indictment"?
What is a "grand jury"?
What is "double jeopardy"?