Chapter 3 Outline

Question 1

Six Basic Principles of the United States Constitution

Answer 1

1. Limited Government
2. Separation of Powers
3. Judiciary Review
4. Federalism
5. Checks and Balances
6. Popular Sovereignty

Question 2

Limited Government

Answer 2

the government may only do those things that the people have given it the power to do
Constitutionalism - government must obey the law; government must be conducted according to constitutional principles
Rule of Law - the government and its officers, in all that they do, are always subject to - never above - the law

Question 3

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 3

the people are the only source for any and all governmental power

Question 4

Separation of Powers

Answer 4

each branch of government is equal to and independent of the others; each branch exercises different components of governmental powers and responsibilities

Question 5

Checks and Balances

Answer 5

each branch is subject to a number of constitutional checks, or restraints, by the other branches; each branch has certain powers with which it can check the operations of the other two; makes compromise necessary

Question 6

Judicial Review

Answer 6

the power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action

Question 7

Federalism

Answer 7

an equal division of power among a central government and several regional governments

• governmental power poses a threat to individual liberty
• exercise of governmental power must be restrained
• to divide governmental power, as federalism does, is to curb and prevent its abuse

Question 8

Explain the amendment process.

Answer 8

1. An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress and then…
   -ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures
   OR
   -ratified in a state convention by three-fourths of the States
2. An amendment may be proposed at national convention called by Congress when requested by two-thirds of the State legislatures and then…
   -ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures
   OR
   -ratified by conventions in three-fourths of the States

Question 9

Is the amendment process easy or difficult?

Answer 9

The amendment process is very difficult and time consuming, for if the Constitution was too easy to change, it would be changed capriciously and arbitrarily every time a new party came to power.