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US Constitution > Constitution > Flashcards

Constitution Flashcards

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1
Q

Why does the U.S. Constitution start with “We the people…” (2 reasons)?

A

It is a social contract between the people and their leaders.
It is based on popular sovereignty.

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2
Q

What Enlightenment Thinker is famous for writing about the Social Contract?

A

Jean Jacques Rousseau

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3
Q

What is a “Social Contract”?

A

An agreement between the people and their leaders.

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4
Q

What Enlightenment Thinker is famous for writing about Separation of Powers?

A

Baron de Montesquieu

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5
Q

Why did the founders want “to form a more perfect union”?

A

Because the Articles of Confederation had many problems and was not working.

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6
Q

What are the six purposes for establishing the U.S. Constitution?

A

To form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

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7
Q

What is meant by “establishing justice”?

A

To have a court system and judges that are fair.

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8
Q

Why did the Founders want to “establish justice”?

A

Because the Articles of Confederation had no national courts and it caused problems.

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9
Q

What is meant by “insure domestic tranquility”?

A

To make sure there is peace inside the country.

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10
Q

Why did the Founders want to “insure domestic tranquility”?

A

So there would not be riots or rebellions in the country. Like Shay’s Rebellion.

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11
Q

What is popular sovereignty?

A

Power to the people Under the Articles of Confederation there was no national army and they were unable to make the British leave the forts in the Ohio Valley as was promised.

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12
Q

What is meant by Separation of Powers?

A

There are three branches of government each with different roles.

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13
Q

What are the three branches of government?

A

The Legislative Branch
The Executive Branch
The Judicial Branch

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14
Q

What is the role of the Legislative Branch?

A

The legislative branch makes the laws.

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15
Q

What is the role of the Executive Branch?

A

The Executive Branch enforces the laws.

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16
Q

What is the role of the Judicial Branch?

A

The Judicial Branch interprets the laws.

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17
Q

What power was the Congress given to “provide for the common defense”?

A

The power to maintain an army and a navy.

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18
Q

What is meant by “promote the general Welfare”?

A

To make sure the economy is good. Everyone has good working conditions.

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19
Q

What is meant by “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”?

A

To make sure everyone for all time will not be put in jail for no reason.

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20
Q

Why did the Founders want to “provide for the common defense”?

A

Live in the state they represent

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21
Q

What are the four theories of the origin of the state?

A

The force theory
The evolutionary theory
The divine right theory
The Social Contract

22
Q

Which theory of the origin of the state is the United States Constitution based on?

A

The Social Contract Theory

23
Q

What is limited government?

A

Government which is not all powerful.

24
Q

What are the six basic principles of the U.S. Constitution?

A

Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government, Judicial Review, Checks & Balances, Federalism, Separation of Powers

25
Q

What is federalism?

A

Power divided between the National and state governments.

26
Q

What are the qualifications for becoming a Member of the House of Representatives?

A

25 or more years old
7 years a citizen
Live in the state they represent

27
Q

What are the qualifications for becoming a Senator?

A

30 or more years old

9 years a citizen

28
Q

What are the qualifications for becoming President of the United States?

A

35 or more years old
Natural born citizen
Live in the U.S. for the last 14 years.

29
Q

What is the term of office for the House of Representatives?

A

2 years

30
Q

What is the term of office for a Senator?

A

6 years

31
Q

What is the term of office for the President of the United States?

A

4 years

32
Q

How many members of the House of Representatives?

A

435

33
Q

How many members of the Senate?

A

100

34
Q

How is the number of Members of the House for each state determined?

A

By population size

35
Q

How is the number of Senators from each state determined?

A

Two from each state

36
Q

How many Members of the House does CA have today?

A

55

37
Q

What is a census?

A

A counting of the people

38
Q

How often does the United States take the census?

A

10 years

39
Q

Why does the United States take the census?

A

To determine the representation for each state

40
Q

Why is the Senate called the “House that never dies”?

A

⅓ of the Senate is up for election every 2 years, therefore they always have Senators who have some experience.

41
Q

What is “the full faith and credit” clause?

A

If two people make a contract in one state they cannot get out of it by going to a different state.

42
Q

What are enumerated powers?

A

Powers listed or numbered in the Constitution

43
Q

What are implied powers?

A

Powers not written in the Constitution, but are suggested by the powers that are written.

44
Q

What are reserved powers?

A

Powers not granted in the Constitution to the national government, so they are state powers.

45
Q

What is “the necessary and proper” clause?

A

At the end of the list of powers given to the Congress in the Constitution it gives any powers needed to carry out the listed powers.

46
Q

What is the “elastic” clause?

A

The “elastic clause” is the nickname for the Necessary and Proper clause because it allows Congress to stretch the powers given to them

47
Q

Which power of Congress has been stretched the most?

A

The most elastic power of Congress has be the interstate commerce clause.

48
Q

What are the 3 types of government that describe where the power is in a government?

A

Unitary
Federal
Confederate

49
Q

What are the 3 types of government that describe who has the power?

A

Democracy
Oligarchy
Monarchy

50
Q

What does impeachment mean?

A

To accuse of wrong doing

US Constitution (1 decks)

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