Principles of the Government
What is the principle of "limited government?"
no leader has total / absolute power
What 3 sections is the Constitution broken up into?
Preamble, Articles, Amendments
"Necessary and Proper"
What is the highest court in the judicial branch called?
Supreme Court
A group of students wants to wear shirts criticizing a government policy. The principal tells them they must change their shirts because the message is controversial and might upset other students. The students have not threatened anyone or disrupted class.
What amendment applies here and why?
1st - freedom of religion
What is the principle of "federalism?"
power is divided between the federal (national) and state government
What percentage of Congress is needed to PROPOSE an amendment?
2/3 (66%)
Which two houses make up the Legislative Branch? What determines how many members a state gets in each house?
Senate - 2 per state
House of Representatives - based on population
What is the judicial branch's "ability to interpret the constitution" called?
Judicial Review
A police officer pulls over a teenager who is driving legally, has committed no apparent traffic violation, and is not suspected of a crime. The officer says, “I just wanted to see where you were going,” and asks to search the entire car.
What amendment applies here and why?
4th - unlawful search
What is the principle of "popular sovereignty?"
rule by the people
What percentage of state legislatures are needed to APPROVE an amendment?
3/4 (75%)
How often are members of the House elected? How often are members of the Senate elected?
House - 2 years
Senate - 6 years
How many departments does the President oversee in the executive branch?
15
Police suspect a teenager of vandalizing a building. They threaten to keep questioning the teenager until they admit to the crime. The teenager says they do not want to answer questions, but the officers insist that staying silent makes them look guilty.
What amendment applies here and why?
5th - right against self-incrimination
What is the principle of "republicanism?"
the practice of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people
What part of the Constitution guarantees individual rights?
Bill of Rights
What check on the executive and judicial branches does the legislative branch have?
The power of impeachment
In the highest court in the judicial branch, how long do justices (judges serve)
Serve for life, unless convicted of a crime
A town creates a rule that anyone caught riding a bicycle on a public sidewalk must pay a $500 fine, even if it is a first offense and no one was endangered or injured.
What amendment applies here and why?
8th - cruel and unusual punishment
What is the difference between Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances?
Separation of Powers - different branches have different powers
Checks and balances - different branches have different powers over each other
The Constitution is known as the "__________________ of the Land"
Supreme Law
Under the original Constitution, who elected senators?
State legislatures
What are the requirements to be President of the United States?
Must be 35, a natural born citizen of the United States, and must have lived in the United States for 14 years
A student posts a non threatening criticism of the mayor on a personal social media account outside school hours. The mayor contacts the local police and demands that the student be punished for disrespecting the government.
What amendment applies here and why?
1st - Freedom of speech