Constitution Study Guide

Question 1

A census is taken every___________

Answer 1

10 years. 2000, 2010, 2020, 2030…years ending with a 0.

Question 2

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? When?

Answer 2

Thomas Jefferson. It was approved on July 4, 1776.

Question 3

How old do you need to be to vote?

Answer 3

18

Question 4

The different levels of government from highest to lowest are:

Answer 4

1. national or federal (located in Washington, DC)
2. state
3. county
4. city/village

Question 5

The Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in _____, was originally called to revise the Articles of the Confederation. _________ was chosen to preside over the Constitutional Convention. When it became apparent that the Articles had too many weaknesses to be revised, the delegated decided to write a new constitution for the country. The Constitution was signed on ______________.

Answer 5

George Washington.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1787

Question 6

The parts to the Constitution are:

Answer 6

1. PREAMBLE
2. ARTICLES
3. AMENDMENTS

Question 7

There are two different ways to become a US CITIZEN

Answer 7

1. BIRTH: someone is born in the U.S. or American soil.

2. Naturalization: someone that goes through the five year process to become a naturalized citizen.

Question 8

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the ___________. Make sure you are familiar with the freedoms included in the first 10 amendments known as the __________.

Answer 8

Bill of Rights.

Freedoms included in the Bill of Rights are: 3 of them are Freedom of speech, Right to bear arms, Right to avoid illegal searches by the police, Freedom of religion and Right to assembly, Right to petition Congress

Question 9

The three branches of Government are:

Answer 9

1. LEGISLATIVE (makes the laws)
2. EXECUTIVE (carries out the laws)
3. JUDICIAL (interprets the laws; makes sure the laws are fair)

Question 10

The legislative branch (Congress) has two houses. Congress makes the laws. The houses are called the _________________ and the _________. Only ________ can Declare _____. Article 1 of the Constitution deals with the Legislative branch.

Answer 10

House of Representatives and the Senate

Only CONGRESS can Declare WAR.

Question 11

There are ______ member in the U.S. House of Representatives. Each state is allowed a certain amount of representatives based on its ___________. The Constitution guarantees that each state will have at least ONE representative.

Answer 11

435.

based on it POPULATION.

Question 12

The ___________ approves presidential appointments and nominations.

Answer 12

SENATE

Question 13

The census, or a count of the people, happens every _____ years. The census determines how many representatives a _______ will have.

Answer 13

10 years.

a STATE will have.

Question 14

The requirements to be a member of the U.S. House of

Representatives are:

Answer 14

1. 25 years old
2. a U.S. citizen for 7 years.
3. a resident of the state in which elected

Question 15

U.S. Representatives serve a _____ year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms they can serve.

Answer 15

2-year terms.

Question 16

There are _______ members in the Senate. Each state sends ______ individuals to the U.S. Senate.

Answer 16

100 members.

2 individuals.

Question 17

U.S. Senators serve ______ year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms they can serve.

Answer 17

6-year terms.

Question 18

The requirements to be a member of the U.S. Sentate are:

Answer 18

1. 30 years old
2. a U.S. citizen for 9 years
3. a resident of the state in which elected.

Question 19

The official leader of the Senate is the _____________. The _________________ only casts a vote in the Senate if there is a tie.

Answer 19

the Vice President.

The Vice President.

Question 20

The President can do three things with a bill:

Answer 20

1. Sign
2. Veto
3. Pocket Veto

Question 21

Only _________ has the power to DECLARE WAR, but the ___________ can order troops to go to places.

Answer 21

CONGRESS has the power to DECLARE WAR

The PRESIDENT can order troops to go to places.

Question 22

The ___________ is the chief executive of the U.S. The executive branch carries out ______________.

Answer 22

The PRESIDENT is the chief executive. The executive branch carries out LAWS.

Question 23

The requirements to be President are:

Answer 23

1. 35 years old
2. born in the U.S.
3. a resident of the U.S. for 14 years

Question 24

The President serves a term of ___ years and can serve no more that ____ terms.

Answer 24

4 years.

2 terms.

Question 25

The _________ can make a treaty with another country, but the _________ must approve it.

Answer 25

The PRESIDENT can make a treaty with another country, but the SENATE must approve it.

Question 26

U.S. Supreme Court justices are appointed by _____________ , approved by the __________, and serve for ___________.

Answer 26

U.S. Supreme Court justices are appointed by the PRESIDENT, approved by the SENATE, and serve for LIFE.

Question 27

There are a total of _____ U.S. Supreme Court justices. ( __ Chief Justice and ___ Associates) In the Constitution there are no requirements to be on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Answer 27

There are a total of 9 U.S. Supreme Court justices. (1 Chief Justice and 8 Associates)

Question 28

checks and balances

Answer 28

a system where each branch can limit the power of another branch

Question 29

census

Answer 29

a count of the people

Question 30

veto

Answer 30

to reject

Question 31

national government

Answer 31

highest level of government in the US

Question 32

Amendment I

Answer 32

Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition (1791)

We have the right to free religion, to assemble, to petition the government and free speech

Question 33

Amendment II

Answer 33

Right to Bear Arms (1791)

Americans may own weapons

Question 34

Amendment III

Answer 34

No Quartering of Troops (1791)

(this is saying that the government will not force you to keep soldiers housed in your home, whether we are in a time of war or not. They must have permission to do so.)

Question 35

Amendment IV

Answer 35

Illegal Search and Seizure (1791)

(this is saying that the government cannot search your property, or take it, without a reason to believe you’ve done something unlawful)

Question 36

Amendment V

Answer 36

Grand Jury, No Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process (1791)

Question 37

Amendment VI

Answer 37

Criminal Prosecutions- Jury Trial, Right to Confront and to Counsel (1791)

(if you are accused of a crime, you will be tried in a court soon and it can be public if you wish it to be.)

Question 38

Amendment VII

Answer 38

Guarantees the right to a jury in civil cases. Jury Trial. (1791)

(if you are accused of a crime, you have the right to have a trial determined by the jury. If you are not guilty, no one can take you to court again for that same crime you were accused of.)

Question 39

Amendment VIII

Answer 39

No Excess Bail or Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment (1791)

if you are a criminal, you cannot be treated with brutality.

Question 40

Amendment IX

Answer 40

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. (1791)

(the rights that aren’t specifically mentioned in the constitution are protected. For example, the right to have an abortion isn’t mentioned in the Constitution, but women have the right to do so.)

Question 41

Amendment X

Answer 41

The Powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. (1791)

(Powers that aren’t the Federal governments’ are the states’ power or the people that live in that state. Education and Marriage are two examples of some state powers)