Constitution Scavenger Hunt

Question 1

Can a president veto a bill without sending it back to congress?

Answer 1

Article 1/Section 7/ Clause 2

-No, it gets sent back-> 2/3 of both houses must agree to come into law

Question 2

What is treason?

Answer 2

Article 3/ Section 3/ Clause 1

- waging war against country or aligning with their enemies

Question 3

How Can the Constitution be amended?

Answer 3

Article 5

• 2/3 majority in Senate and HoR OR 3/4 of state legislatures
• Ratification through 3/4 state legislatures OR 3/4 of the states have conventions

Question 4

Where must all laws dealing with money originate?

Answer 4

Article 1/Section 7/ Clause 1

-House of Representatives

Question 5

Can a bill become a law without the presidents signature?

Answer 5

Article 1/ Section 7/ Clause 2

-Yes, if the president doesn’t sign or return a bill within 10 days.

Question 6

How many senators are elected at any one election?

Answer 6

Article 1/ Section 3/ Clause 2

- One third of all total senators are elected every second year

Question 7

How many members of the House of Representatives are elected at any one election?

Answer 7

Article 1/ Section 2/ Clause 3

- the amount of representatives are elected 1 for every 30,000 people, every state must have at least 1

Question 8

Who has the power to levy taxes

Answer 8

Article 1/ Section 8/ Clause 1

-The congress has power to lay and collect taxes

Question 9

Who determines the qualifications of members of Congress?

Answer 9

Article 1 Section 5 Clause 1

- The different houses are in charge of judging the qualifications of their members.

Question 10

Can the president veto a bill passed by Congress? How can it be passed over the veto?

Answer 10

Article 1 section 7 clause 2
-The president can veto a bill passed by Congress, by returning it to the House with his objections. This can overridden by a 2/3 agreeable vote in the House and Senate

Question 11

Does the constitution allow for direct election of the president?

Answer 11

Article 2 section 1 Clause 3 , Amended by Amendment 12 on December 9, 1803
-The constitution does not allow for the direct election of the president. This is due to the electoral college. While citizens still cast their vote for the president, they also elect senators and representatives who act as electors, which ultimately have the final say in the presidency, which does not always agree with the popular vote.

Question 12

Who hears trial cases between different states?

Answer 12

Article 3-Section 2-Clause 1

The supreme court hears trial cases that involve two or more different states, or citizens of two or more states.

Question 13

What is the term of office for members of the federal judiciary?

Answer 13

Article 3 Section 1
Judges in the federal judiciary (the supreme court and inferior courts) serve for life unless they resign or are removed for unlawful behavior

Question 14

What is the minimum proof needed in cases of treason?

Answer 14

Article 3 Section 3 Clause 1

The minimum requirement is the testimony of two witnesses about the same act, or the confession of the accused in court.

Question 15

Why is a person with a driver’s license from Delaware able to legally drive in New York?

Answer 15

Article 4 Section 1
This section states that every state should honor the laws and court orders of the other states. So, if someone can legally drive in Delaware, New York is constitutionally obligated to honor this.

Question 16

What is a writ of habeas corpus? When can it be suspended?

Answer 16

A writ of habeas corpus is the privilege for an inmate to be brought before a court and have valid reason presented for his detainment. This is in order to prevent indefinite or unlawful imprisonment.
Article 1 Section 9 Clause 2– this writ can only be suspended if public safety is at risk or there is a need to detain rebelling citizens

Question 17

What is a bill of attainder? What is an ex post facto law? Are they permissible?

Answer 17

A bill of attainder is an an act that sentences a person guilty without a trial. An ex post facto law is an act that criminalizes an action that was legal when it was performed.
Article 1 Section 9 Clause 3– bill of attainder and ex post facto laws are prohibited.

Question 18

What are the terms of office for members of the House? Members of the Senate?

Answer 18

Article 1 Section 2 Clause 1
Members of the house of representatives have two year terms.
Article 1 Section 3 Clause 1
Members of the senate have terms lasting for six years. Clause 2 describes that the elections of senators are staggered from the first election so that 1/3 of the senate is up for election every 2 years.

Question 19

Who may impeach a government official? Who will hold the trial of an official who has been impeached?

Answer 19

Article 1 Section 2 Clause 5-
The house of representatives have the power to impeach an official.
Article 1 Section 3 Clause 6-
The Senate is responsible to trying all impeachments. They can only convict an official with a 2/3 agreement vote.

Question 20

Can the number of United States senators from any state be reduced?

Answer 20

Article 1 Section 3 Clause 1

No, the number of senators must be 2 per state.

Question 21

Can the number of United States senators from any state be reduced?

Answer 21

Article 1 Section 3 Clause 1

No, the number of senators must be 2 per state. This ensures equal representation of each state in the Senate

Question 22

Where is the principle of judicial review found?

Answer 22

The principle of judicial review was established in the case of Marbury vs. Madison, giving the Supreme court the right to interpret the law based on their perception of the Constitution. Also giving the supreme court the power to declare a law unconstitutional. This is not stated directly in the Constitution, but Chief Justice John Marshall argued that in Articles 3 and 6 it is implied that the supreme court would rule based on the Constitution. Article 3 Section 2 Clause 1 states that judicial power extends to all cases arising under the Constitution, and Article 6 Clause 2 states “This constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof…”, implying that the laws are created in the pursuit of fitting constitutional standards.

Question 23

What restrictions are put on members of congress when speaking in congress?

Answer 23

They can make their own rules but they have some restrictions on debate times i guess