the constitution

According to Article I of theConstitution, who has the

power to declare war?

1a

Congress has the power todeclare war.

1b

Compare a simple majority toa supermajority.

2a

The Constitution requires a simple majority forsome actions and a supermajority for others. Asimple majority means more than half, whilesupermajority requirements can involve a 2/3majority or a ¾ majority. Most elections in theUnited States require a plurality, or the mostvotes, but not necessarily a majority.

2b

Compare Article I withArticle II. Which article islonger and more detailed?

3a

Article I is longer than Article IIbecause it covers two legislativebodies, takes a lot of time todescribe the rules and powers of theCongress, and has to address issuessuch as taxation.

3b

The Constitution has comparatively littleto say about the structure and compositionof the Supreme Court. Identify two aspectsof the Court's structure and compositionthat the Constitution does not specify (TheConstitution does specify these two basicaspects of structure and composition forthe other two branches).

4a

The Constitution does notspecify the size of the court

and the requirements to be ajustice.

4b

The Constitution specifies athree-fourths majority forjust one process? What?

5a

The process of ratifyingamendments requires athree-fourths majority.

5b

Describe Amendment 1.

6a

Freedom of speech, religion,assembly, press, and petition

6b


7a

Right to bear arms

7b


8a

Soldiers cannot be quarteredin the houses of citizens

without permission

8b


9a

No unreasonable searches andseizures, search warrants grantedwithin reason detailing the locationto be searched and what or who mustbe seized must be issued beforesearches unless there is probablecause

9b


10a

People must be indicted by a grandjury except in military cases, nodouble jeopardy, protection fromself-incrimination, people may not bedeprived of life, liberty, or propertywithout due process, and all propertyseized for public use must be paid for

10b


11a

In criminal trials, defendants have the right to aspeedy and public trial, an impartial jury, a trialin the state where the supposed crime wascommitted, information about the nature andcause of the accusation, interrogate witnessestestifying against them, subpoena witnesses intheir favor, and to have an attorney

11b


12a

For common law cases wherethe questioned value is over

$20, there is a right to trial byjury

12b


13a

Excessive fines and cruel andunusual punishments are

forbidden

13b


14a

The people have more rightsthan the ones listed in the

Bill of Rights

14b


15a

Powers not given to thefederal government belong to

the state

15b


16a

The federal courts cannothear cases between a stateand a citizen of a different

state or country16b


17a

Electors now cast separateballots for the president and

vice-president

17b


18a

Slavery abolished

18b


19a

Anyone born in the United States isautomatically a citizen, no state cantake away citizenship from a citizen,states cannot deprive citizens of life,liberty, or property without dueprocess of law, and all citizens haveequal protection of the laws

19b


20a

The right to vote cannot beabridged on the basis of race,

color, or condition ofservitude

20b


21a

Congress can now passincome taxes

21b


22a

Senators are now directlyelected

22b


23a

It is illegal to manufacture,sell, or transport alcohol

23b


24a

The right to vote cannot beabridged based on sex

24b


25a

Changes the inaugurationdates of elected officials

25b


26a

Repeals the 18th amendment

26b


27a

2 term limit on President or10 years due to death of the

sitting president

27b


28a

Gives residents ofWashington D.C the right to

vote and three electors

28b


29a

Poll taxes are illegal

29b


30a

Better describes thesuccession of the President

30b


31a

Lowers voting age to 18

31b


32a

All changes in payment forCongress take effect after the

next election

32b

Describe Article I of theConstitution.

33a

This describes how theLegislative Branch is to be set

up, elected, run and whatpowers/responsibilities it

has.33b

Describe Article II of theConstitution.

34a

This describes how theExecutive Branch is to be set

up, elected, run and whatpowers/responsibilities it

has.34b

Describe Article III of theConstitution.

35a

This describes how theJudicial Branch is to be setup and what jurisdiction it

has.35b

Describe Article IV of theConstitution.

36a

This describes how states areto relate to one another andrules to be admitted into the

Union.36b

Describe Article V of theConstitution.

37a

This describes the process toamend the Constitution.

37b

Describe Article VI of theConstitution.

38a

This contains the Supremacy Clause,a rule that states that religioncannot be a qualification forelection, and that all debts acquiredbefore the Constitution are assumedby the Union.

38b

Describe Article VII of theConstitution.

39a

This describes how theConstitution is to be ratified.

39b

Expressed Powers

40a

The powers of theConstitution that are

specifically granted to thebranches of government or to

office holders40b

How does the House ofRepresentatives determine

the rules of proceedings (theability to have debates,

amendments, etc.)41a

The House determines itsrules of proceedings by

voting on them. Each Housesets its own rules.

41b

How might theses clausesabove have impacted the

power of the federalgovernment?

42a

These clauses would be usedto increase the power of the

federal government.

42b

How were U.S. Senatorschosen before the

Seventeenth Amendment?

43a

They were elected by statelegislatures.

43b

Identify two expressedpowers of Congress.

44a

Congress can borrow moneyand establish post offices.

44b

Identify two expressedpowers of the President.

45a

The President can maketreaties and nominate

Supreme Court Justices andother officials.

45b

Identify two powers deniedfrom Congress in the

Constitution.

46a

Congress cannot pass Bills ofAttainder or Ex Post Facto

laws.

46b

Identify two powers theConstitution prohibits from

the States.

47a

States cannot enter intotreaties or grant titles of

nobility.

47b

If no candidate for the presidencywins a simple majority of the totalnumber of electoral votes, whatbody has the power to choose thepresident?

48a

The House ofRepresentatives chooses the

President.

48b

List a power that theexecutive branch has over the

judicial branch and statewhere it is in the

Constitution.49a

Nomination of Justices,Article II, Section II

49b

List a power that theexecutive branch has over the

legislative branch and statewhere it is in the

Constitution.50a

Veto power, Article I, SectionVII

50b

List a power that the judicialbranch has over the executivebranch and state where it is

in the Constitution.51a

Justices are free fromexecutive control because

they serve for life under goodbehavior, Article III, Section

I51b

List a power that the judicialbranch has over the

legislative branch and statewhere it is in the

Constitution.52a

Justices are free fromlegislative control because

they serve for life under goodbehavior, Article III, Section

I52b

List a power that thelegislative branch has overthe executive branch and

state where it is in theConstitution.

53a

Charge and try a Presidentfor impeachment, Article I,

Section II and III

53b

List a power that thelegislative branch has over

the judicial branch and statewhere it is in the

Constitution.54a

Senate approvesappointment of Justices,

Article II, Section II

54b

There are two "due process"clauses. Where are they?

What does "due process" oflaw imply?

55a

The two due process clauses are located in theFifth and Fourteenth Amendments. Due processof law can be broken down into two ideas.Procedural due process is making sure thateveryone has a fair trial and gets the same legalrights. Substantive due process is the idea thateveryone has certain fundamental rights such asthe right to privacy, the right to travel, the rightto vote, and the First Amendment rights.

55b

The Twenty-Fifth Amendmentdescribes the sequence of eventsthat would install the vice-presidentas acting president against the willof the president. Outline thatsequence of events.

56a

If the Vice-President and half of thecabinet agree that the President isunfit to serve, they may remove himfrom office and the Vice-Presidentbecomes Acting President. Theremoved President may go toCongress to override this.

56b

What are the express powersof the Vice President?

57a

The Vice President can breaka tie in the Senate and take

over if the President isincapacitated.

57b

What are two waysAmendments can be ratified?

58a

They can be ratified by three-fourths of the state

legislatures or three-fourthsof state convention

representatives.58b

What are two ways topropose Amendments?

59a

They can be proposed by atwo-thirds vote of both

houses or at a convention oftwo-thirds of the states.

59b

What bodies have the powerto override a presidential

veto?

60a

Congress has the power tooverride a veto.

60b

What body has the power toimpeach the President?

61a

The House charges thePresident with impeachment

and the Senate tries thecharges.

61b

What body has the power toratify treaties?

62a

The Senate has the power toratify treaties.

62b

What does the word impeachmean?

63a

To impeach means "to bringcharges against" or "to

indict".

63b

What eligibility requirementsdoes the Constitution

establish for members of theHouse?

64a

The Representative must beat least 25, been a UnitedStates citizen for 7 years, andlive in the state they arerepresenting.

64b


establish for members of theSenate?

65a

The Senator must be at least30, been a United States

citizen for 9 years, and live inthe state they are

representing.65b


establish for the President?

66a

The President must be atleast 35, been born in theUnited States, and have livedin the United States for atleast 14 years.

66b

What is a bill of attainder?

67a

It is a legislative act allowingsomeone to be imprisoned

without trial.

67b

What is an appellate court?

68a

Appellate courts hear cases on appealfrom lower courts. In what cases is theSupreme Court the court of originaljurisdiction?/The Supreme Court hasoriginal jurisdiction in cases where a stateis a party or any case involving anambassador, minister, or consul.

68b

What is an ex post facto law?

69a

An ex post facto law is a lawthat punishes someone for an

act that was committedbefore it was illegal.

69b

What is habeas corpus?

70a

Habeas corpus means, "You musthave the body". A writ of habeascorpus requires that the governmenthave a legitimate reason fordetaining someone.

70b

What is the court of originaljurisdiction?

71a

The court of originaljurisdiction is the first court

that hears a case.

71b

What is the standard forimpeachment?

72a

The standard forimpeachment is conviction of

treason, bribery, or otherhigh crimes andmisdemeanors.

72b

What margin is required tochoose the president?

73a

A simple majority is requiredto choose the president.

73b

What margin is required tooverride a presidential veto?

74a

2/3 of the votes in bothhouses are required to

override a veto.

74b

What margin is required toratify treaties?

75a

2/3 of the Senate is requiredto ratify treaties.

75b

What power does theConstitution give the

President in the area of war?

76a

They are the Commander inChief of the military, so theywage war, but not declare it.

76b

What vote is required toimpeach?

77a

The vote has to be 2/3 of theSenate.

77b

Where are bills of attainderdiscussed and what does it

say?

78a

It is in Article I, Sections IXand X. It says that the federaland state governmentscannot pass laws restrictingthe passage of bills attainder.

78b

Where are ex post facto lawsdiscussed and what does it

say?

79a

It is in Article I, Sections IX and X.It says that the federal and stategovernments cannot pass lawsrestricting the passage of ex postfacto laws.

79b

Where in the Constitution isthe Electoral College

described? (Hint: there aretwo parts)

80a

It is mentioned in Article II,Sections II and III.

80b

Where in the Constitution isthe impeachment power

described?

81a

It is in Article I, Section III.

81b

Where in the Constitution isthe ratification power

described?

82a

It is in Article II, Section II.

82b

Where in the Constitution isthe veto power described?

83a

It is in Article I, Section VII.

83b

Where is the "CommerceClause" and what does it say?

84a

It is in Article I, Section VIII. It saysthat Congress has the right toregulate interstate commerce andtrade along with trade with foreignnations.

84b

Where is the "equalprotection clause"? What

does this imply?

85a

It is in the Fourteenth Amendment. Thisstates that everyone get equal protectionunder STATE laws. The courts, however,have determined that since substantivedue process applies to state laws, theEqual Protection Clause applies to thefederal government through the FifthAmendment.

85b

Where is the "Full Faith andCredit Clause" and what does

it say?

86a

It is in Article IV, Section I. Itsays that states must respect

the laws of other states.

86b

Where is the "Necessary andProper Clause" and what

does it say?

87a

It is in Article I, Section VIII.It says that Congress has thepower to make laws that helpexecute their enumeratedpowers.

87b

Where is the "SupremacyClause" and what does it say?

88a

It is in Article VI. It says thatfederal law and decisions

trump state laws anddecisions.

88b

Where is the habeas corpusclause and what does it say?

89a

It is in Article I, Section IX. Itsays that the federal

government cannot pass lawsrestricting writs of habeas

corpus.89b

Which amendment (s) of theConstitution protect the

rights of women?

90a

The 19th amendmentprotects the rights of women.

90b

Which amendment(s) of theConstitution protect the

rights of African Americans?

91a

The 13th 14th 15th and 24thamendments protect their

rights of African Americans.

91b

the constitution

Documents

for10bdescribe amendment

attorney11bdescribe

country16bdescribe amendment

arms7bdescribe amendment

petition6bdescribe amendment

athe constitution

asimple majority

athreefourths majority