Rules and Laws

What’s the difference?

Constitution Trivia

Let’s see what you know…

Approximately how many words are in the U. S.

Constitution?• 4,440• That’s between 16

and 18 pages.

There is one major typographical error in the

Constitution. Which word is misspelled?

The following laws were once passed by lawmakers in the various states mentioned. Think about what conditions and/or concerns

might have led to their passage…

• It used to be a criminal offense to wear a costume while collecting a debt in Massachusetts.

• A Michigan public health law said that the failure to provide individual drinking utensils was a misdemeanor.

• A Tennessee law said that a man could not divorce his wife unless he left her 10 pounds of dried beans, 5 pounds of apples, 1 side of meat, and enough yarn to knot her own stockings for a year.

• In Nevada, a teacher must swear that she or he had never taken part in a duel before she or he was allowed to take a teaching position.

• A Portland, Oregon city law forbade anyone to bathe in the rivers, lakes, or creeks within its corporate limits without wearing a dress that covers the body from the neck to the knees.

• A Washington state law said that a driver of a car not equipped with ashtrays is liable for a $200. fine.

• It was against the law in Altoona, Pennsylvania for a babysitter to raid her or his employer’s refrigerator.

• In Blue Earth, Minnesota, a law said that no child under twelve could talk on the telephone unless accompanied by a parent.

Rules and laws are everywhere, right? See whether you can tell the

difference…

• When you were little, your parents had rules about when you had to go to sleep.

• rule• You cannot sleep on a park bench.• law• I say you cannot sleep in class.• rule

• Clothes have to pass inspection.• law• Conroe High has a dress code.• rule• Some schools require uniforms.• rule• Children’s clothes must be flame

retardant.• law

• Prices charged by telephone companies are decided by law.

• law• You can’t make prank calls.• law• You can’t use a cell phone at school

between 7:17 a.m. and 2:35 p.m.• rule• You have to pay your cell phone bill.• rule

• You can’t got swimming for an hour after you’ve eaten.

• rule• You can’t go in the water if the water

is polluted.• law• You can only watch TV one hour each

day.• rule• You cannot sell copies of DVDs.• law

So, you’re getting the idea. Rules become laws when they are made and enforced by governing bodies.

• Rules and laws are made for the same reasons – for protection, safety, and to see that there is equal treatment for all.

• Rules and laws are different in that it is more serious to break a law. Punishment for breaking laws is more severe. Usually when you break a law, you must go before a judge.

Constitution Trivia

Approximately how many words are in the U.S.

Constitution?• about 4,440• That’s about 16-18

single-spaced, typewritten pages…

• The world’s longest is India’s, about 500,000 words.

• Ours gets the prize for the oldest and shortest.

There is one major typographical error in the Constitution. What is

it?• Pensylvania

(should be Pennsylvania…)

How many people signed the Constitution?

• 39 men

Who was the oldest person to sign the Constitution and how old was

he?

• Benjamin Franklin at age 81

Who was the youngest person to sign the Constitution and how old

was he at the time?

• Jonathan Dayton, at age 26, from New Jersey

How many people lived in the United States when the

Constitution was signed?• 4 million

What is the population of the U.S. today?

• about 300 million

What was the largest city in the United States when the Constitution was signed?

• Philadelphia - (population about 40,000 then, today’s is about 1.5 million)

How many amendments have been added to the

Constitution?• 27

Constitution quiz

Let’s see what you know!

What is the name of the written document that representatives of the original 13 states signed which listed the rules of how our government will

work?a) the Declaration of

Independenceb) the Constitutionc) the New York

Timesd) the American way

b) the Constitution

The Constitution said this group could pass laws.

a) the Presidentb) the Supreme

Courtc) the Congressd) the Texas Rangers

c) the Congress

This person is to make sure the laws are executed and is in charge of the army, navy, and air force.

a) the Presidentb) the Supreme

Courtc) the Congressd) the Texas Rangers

a) the President

The Constitution said this group will make sure the laws that

Congress passes are fair and do not violate our rights.

a) The Presidentb) The Supreme

Courtc) The Congressd) The Texas

Rangers

b) the Supreme Court

This is where we look to find the rules like how old the President

must be, how many people are on the Supreme Court, and how we

are to choose our Congress.a) the Presidentb) the dictionaryc) the Constitutiond) the Supreme

Court

c) the Constitution

Which people helped write the Constitution?

a) George Washington

b) James Madisonc) Benjamin Franklind) Arnold

Schwartzeger

a) George Washington

b) James Madisonc) Benjamin Franklin

What is the part of the Constitution called that lists the rights we have that the

government cannot violate?a) the Articles of

Incorporationb) the Bill of Rightsc) the “no no” listd) the White House

papers

b) the Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution when it was first written

to protect the people from the government. The Bill of Rights lists 10

rights which are protected. These added items to the Constitution are

numbered and called…a) amendmentsb) appendixc) add-onsd) attachments

a) amendments

Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of press

are found in what amendment?

a) the 25th amendment

b) the 1st amendmentc) the last

amendmentd) the free

amendment

b) 1st amendment

Which amendment, passed after the Civil War, made sure that all rights

protected under the Constitution were guaranteed to all people regardless of

their color?

a) the Civil amendmentb) the 14th amendmentc) the Fair amendmentd) the Right

amendment

b) the 14th amendment