| A | B |
|---|
| What is known as the Supreme Law of the Land? | The Constitution |
| What are the first three words of the Constitution? | We the People |
| How do the first three words of the Constitution illustrate the principle of popular sovereignty? | Popular sovereignty asserts that people are the source of any and all government power and that governments cannot exist without the consent of the governed |
| What is the purpose of the Preamble | purpose of government |
| What is the purpose of Ariticle I | legislative branch |
| What is the purpose of Article II | executive branch |
| What is the purpose of Article III | judicial branch |
| What is the purpose of Article IV | states obligations and rights |
| What is the purpose of Article V | amending the Consitution |
| What is the purpose of Article VI | establish the Constitution as the supreme law |
| What is the purpose of Article VII | ratification process |
| What does the expression “The law is king” mean in relation to the Constitution? | everyone is subject to the rule of law including govenment officials |
| How is the principle of limited government illustrated in the ideas of constitutionalism and the rule of law? | all people are subject to the Constitution and everyone, no matter who they are, must follow the laws of the country |
| Why did the founding fathers choose to separate the powers of the American governmental system into three separate branches? | to ensure that no one branch becomes more powerful than another |
| popular sovereignty | people are the source of all government authority |
| limited government | the rule of law and constitutionalism |
| separation of powers | the president is responsible for enforcing, executing, and administering the laws of the US |
| checks and balances | a 2/3's vote in Congress is needed to overturn a presdential veto |
| judicial review | state and federal laws can be declared unconstitutional |
| federalism | education laws may vary from state to state |
| How does the Judicial Branch have more power than the other branches | they have final say when they make a ruling |
| how the system of checks and balances works | the system that allows the legislative, executive, |
| example of how the executive branch checks the legislative branch | Veto a bill, call a special session, propose a law, ask for a decleration of war |
| example of how the legislative branch checks the executive branch | override a veto, declare war, impeach, approve appoitments |
| Give an example of how the judicial branch can check both the executive and the legislative branches | declare a law unconstitutional |
| example of how the legislative branch checks the judicial | approves federal judges after they are appointed by the President |
| example of how the executive branch can check the judicial branch | appoints federal judges |
| What is judicial review? | power of a court to determine the constitutionally of a governmental action |
| What landmark Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review? | Marbury v Madison 1803 |
| What is the difference between a formal amendment to the Constitution and an informal amendment? | formal amendment to the Constitution is a change to the written word of the document while an informal change is when, overtime, changes occur, but not officially written into the Constitution. |
| explain the purpose of the elastic clause and its purpose as outlined in the Constitution | so that Congress can pass a law that is necessary and proper to carry out the job of running the country. |
| How many amendments have been added to the U.S. Constitution? | 27 |
| What are the first ten amendments collectively called? | Bill of Rights |
| Whose rights are protected by the first ten amendments? | Individuals, the people |
| Who can propose a Constitutional amendment? | Congress |
| How many states must ratify an amendment in order for it to become law | 38 states, which is 75% |
| The Executive can informally amend the Constitution | Executive order, tradition, treaties, customs, signing or vetoing a bill |
| The Legislative branch can informally amend the Constitution | passage of legislation, tradition, customs |
| The Judicial Branch can informally amend the Constitution | rulings by the court |
