4th : Government Section Flashcards
Article 1 of the US Constitution defines what branch of government?
The Legislative Branch
According to Article 7, how many states had to ratify the Constitution in order for it to go in
effect?
9 states
What is the term of office for a United States Senator?
Six years
The New Jersey Plan allowed for states to be represented in Congress based on what?
Each State had one vote regardless of size.
How many United States Senators does each state have?
Two (2)
Which state has the largest number of US Representatives?
California (53)
The US Speaker of the House is part of which branch of government?
The Legislative Branch
What is literally the “Highest Court in the Land?”
The Supreme Court
Which Article of the US Constitution defines the method by which new states are admitted into
the Union?
Article 4
Article 1 designates that all US Senators must be what age before taking office?
30 years of age
What is the fewest electoral votes any state has?
3 (seven states and DC have three)
What body of government ratifies treaties with other nations?
The US Senate
What was the “Three-Fifths” Compromise in the US Constitution?
Counted slaves at a 3/5 proportion in the population
Section 2 of Article 1 of the US Constitution deals with what part of government?
The US House of Representatives
Which Article of the US Constitution outlines the crime of Treason?
Article 4
What state was admitted to the union during the Compromise of 1850?
California
Freedom of Religion can be found in what amendment?
1st Amendment
Cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited by what US Constitutional Amendment?
8th Amendment
Which Article of the US Constitution outlines the powers of Supreme Court?
Article 3
Article 2 of the US Constitution defines what branch of government?
The Executive Branch
Which Article of the US Constitution outlines trail by Jury in the State where the crime was
committed?
Article 3
According to the US Constitution, what two entities of the Government must work together in
order to make a treaty with a foreign power?
The Office of the President and The US Senate
What do you call a group of citizens called together to hear a legal case?
Jury
According to Article 2 of the US Constitution, how old must a person be to run for President?
35 Years of Age
What is the term used to describe the process of how seats are distributed among states in the US
House of Representatives?
Apportion or Apportionment (UH-PORE-SHUN or UH-PORE-SHUN-MUNT )
What are the first ten amendments to the US Constitution called?
The Bill of Rights
What branch of government deals mainly with the creation of laws?
The Legislative Branch
What document starts with these words “Whereas, the people of the territory of the United States
south of the River Ohio…”?
The Tennessee State Constitution
Section 3 of Article 1 of the US Constitution deals with what part of government?
The US Senate
What principal within our US Constitution divides the influence among different entities within
our Government?
Separation of Powers
What branch of government interprets the laws?
Judicial
How many electoral votes are allocated to Tennessee?
Eleven (11)
What branch of government enforces the laws?
Executive
The 7th Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the right to a jury trial in any civil suits
involving at least how much money?
$20
Which part of Congress is referred to sometimes as the ‘Upper Chamber?”
The US Senate
Which branch of government is responsible for signing bills into law?
The Executive Branch
Who presides over the US House of Representatives?
The Speaker of the House
What happens if a vote is tied in the US Senate?
The Vice-President breaks the tie
The Right to Petition the Government is ensured in what US Constitutional Amendment?
1st Amendment
Being able to cross examine your accuser during a court case is guaranteed by what US
Constitutional Amendment?
6th Amendment
What branch of government determines if a law is unconstitutional?
The Judicial Branch
With the exception of a veto, what is the final act in a bill becoming law as outlined by the US
Constitution?
The President sign’s it into Law.
Unreasonable searches and seizures is prohibited by what US Constitutional Amendment?
4th Amendment
Any proposed amendment to the US Constitution must pass by what margin in both chambers of
government?
two/thirds majority (2/3)
The Amendment process is outlined in what Article of US Constitution?
Article 5
What is the term of office for a United States Representative?
Two years
What is the fewest number of US Representatives that any state has in Congress?
1 (Seven states just have 1)
Which Article of the US Constitution outlines the powers of Vice-President?
Article 2
The freedoms of speech, religion, and the press, as well as the right to assemble, are outlined in
which amendment to the U.S. Constitution?
1st Amendment
Confirming cabinet members and supreme court nominees are ways that The Senate “checks and
balances” the power of what other branch of government?
The Executive Branch
When the President chooses not to sign a bill passed by Congress, this presidential act is called
what?
A Veto (pronounced VEE-TOE)
Which Article of the US Constitution outlines the powers of Congress?
Article 1
The President’s State of the Union Address is mandated in Section 3 of what Article of the
Constitution?
Article 2
Which article of the US Constitution defines the sovereignty of the United States? (SOV-URNTEE)
Article 6
Freedom of the Speech is ensured in what US Constitutional Amendment?
1st Amendment
Which Article defined how many states had to ratify the US Constitution in order for it to go into
effect?
Article 7
What document helped govern people in the Nashville area prior to Tennessee becoming a state?
The Cumberland Compact
What does it take to override a Presidential Veto?
two/thirds majority (2/3) vote in both Houses.
Which early government document failed to provide for a head of state?
The Articles of Confederation
The right to an attorney for any accused person is guaranteed by what US Constitutional
Amendment?
6th Amendment
Freedom of the Press is ensured in what US Constitutional Amendment?
1st Amendment
Freedom to speedy trail is ensured in what US Constitutional Amendment?
6th Amendment
What part of the US Constitution answers the questions as to why we are doing this and who we
are doing it for?
The Preamble
Nominating justices to the Supreme Court is one way the President “checks and balances” the
power of what other branch of government?
The Judicial Branch
Striking down an unfair law would be one way the Supreme Court “checks and balances” the
power of what other branch of government?
The Legislative Branch
Which part of Congress is referred to sometimes as the ‘Lower Chamber?”
The US House of Representatives
Which Article of the US Constitution outlines and defines the Electoral College?
Article 2
Any proposed amendment to the US Constitution must have at least how many votes in the senate
in order to move forward?
67 votes (2/3 of 100)
How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights?
10
Which Article of the US Constitution promises to protect all states from invasion by a foreign
power or entity?
Article 4
What armed rebellion in 1787 served as a catalyst for the calling of a Constitutional Convention?
The Shays Rebellion
How do you determine a state’s electoral votes?
By adding the number of US Representatives and Senators.
Which early government document failed to provide a way to enact taxes to fund the government?
The Articles of Confederation
Having soldiers quartered in your home during peacetime is prohibited by what US
Constitutional Amendment?
3rd Amendment
How many electoral votes does it take to be elected President of the United States?
270 (as of 2008)
Who was the first US Secretary of the Treasury?
Alexander Hamilton
What was the plan that James Madison wrote which became the framework for the US
Constitution?
The Virginia Plan
What is the most electoral votes any state has?
California has 55
According to Article 2 of the US Constitution, a person has to be a natural born US Citizen in
order to hold what office?
President of the United States
Which Article of the US Constitution includes the President’s Oath of Office?
Article 2
Founding fathers who were in favor of a strong central government were referred to as what?
Federalists
Being tried two times for the same crime is prohibited by what US Constitutional Amendment?
5th Amendment
Members of the US Military are technically members of what branch of government?
The Executive Branch
Which House of Congress includes Territories and the District of Columbia, but in a non-voting
capacity?
The US House of Representatives
What is the introductory statement of the US Constitution outlining its fundamental and guiding
principles?
The Preamble
What was ratified and went into effect on March 1, 1781?
The Articles of Confederation
Who presided over the Constitutional Convention in 1787?
George Washington
Which Article of the US Constitution dictates that no religious affiliation or lack thereof is
required to hold public office in the United States?
Article 6
What is a simple definition of the Constitutional term Article?
Part
Who serves as the Speaker of the United States Senate?
The Vice-President of the United States (Would accept the actual person)
What is the fewest electoral votes any state has?
3 (seven states and DC have three)
What is the approximate size, in population, of a US Congressional District?
700,000 people
Which Article of the US Constitution outlines the powers of President?
Article 2
The Virginia Plan allowed for states to be represented in Congress based on what?
Based on Population
Which Article of the US Constitution outlines how to make changes and updates?
Article 5
After a proposed amendment clears both the House and Senate, how many states have to ratify it
in order for it to become law?
three-fourths or 38 of the 50 states.
What was the true impact of the Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention?
Two Houses of Government (House and a Senate)
According to Article 4 of the US Constitution, you can’t commit a crime in one state and do what?
Flee or hide in another state.
Founding fathers who were opposed to a strong central government were referred to as what?
Anti-Federalists
What vote is required for the US House and Senate to have in order to pass a bill?
Simple Majority of members present
Freedom to peaceably assemble is ensured in what US Constitutional Amendment?
1st Amendment
What document was the precursor to the US Constitution in America?
The Articles of Confederation
What was proposed to blend the Virginia and the New Jersey plan into something workable?
The Great Compromise
What title is conferred upon the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
Who was the first US Secretary of State?
Thomas Jefferson
Which Amendment ensures that the Federal Government has only powers delegated to it by the
Constitution, with all other powers reserved for the states?
10th Amendment
Article 3 of the US Constitution defines what branch of government?
The Judicial Branch
Article 1 designates that all US Representatives must be what age before taking office?
25 years of age
When a person “takes the 5th” it means he doesn’t have to do what?
Testify against himself in a court of law
The right to bear arms is ensured in what US Constitutional Amendment?
2nd Amendment
What principal within our US Constitution makes it difficult for one person to have absolute
control of the government?
Separation of Powers
What does the constitutional term “ratify” mean?
to give formal consent to
The United States Supreme Court has how many justices?
9 including the Chief Justice
Who leads the Supreme Court of the United States?
The Chief Justice
The US Secretary of State is part of which branch of government?
The Executive Branch
Where did the Constitutional Convention take place in 1787?
Philadelphia
Which Amendment acts to ensure individuals are afforded fundamental rights even if not
mentioned in the US Constitution?
9th Amendment
What group of delegates adopted the Articles of Confederation?
The Second Continental Congress
What does the word Posterity (PAHS-STAIR-UH-TEE) in the Preamble mean?
future generations of people
Section 4 of Article 2 defines what action that can be taken against a sitting President for actions
such as Treason or Bribery?
Impeachment
What describes how each branch of government limits and shares powers with the other
branches?
Checks and Balances
