Constitution Study Guide Flashcards
A census is taken every___________
10 years. 2000, 2010, 2020, 2030…years ending with a 0.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? When?
Thomas Jefferson. It was approved on July 4, 1776.
How old do you need to be to vote?
18
The different levels of government from highest to lowest are:
- national or federal (located in Washington, DC)
- state
- county
- city/village
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 ______________.
George Washington.
SEPTEMBER 17, 1787
The parts to the Constitution are:
- PREAMBLE
- ARTICLES
- AMENDMENTS
There are two different ways to become a US CITIZEN
- 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.
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 __________.
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
The three branches of Government are:
- LEGISLATIVE (makes the laws)
- EXECUTIVE (carries out the laws)
- JUDICIAL (interprets the laws; makes sure the laws are fair)
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.
House of Representatives and the Senate
Only CONGRESS can Declare WAR.
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.
435.
based on it POPULATION.
The ___________ approves presidential appointments and nominations.
SENATE
The census, or a count of the people, happens every _____ years. The census determines how many representatives a _______ will have.
10 years.
a STATE will have.
The requirements to be a member of the U.S. House of
Representatives are:
- 25 years old
- a U.S. citizen for 7 years.
- a resident of the state in which elected
U.S. Representatives serve a _____ year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms they can serve.
2-year terms.
There are _______ members in the Senate. Each state sends ______ individuals to the U.S. Senate.
100 members.
2 individuals.
U.S. Senators serve ______ year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms they can serve.
6-year terms.
The requirements to be a member of the U.S. Sentate are:
- 30 years old
- a U.S. citizen for 9 years
- a resident of the state in which elected.
The official leader of the Senate is the _____________. The _________________ only casts a vote in the Senate if there is a tie.
the Vice President.
The Vice President.
The President can do three things with a bill:
- Sign
- Veto
- Pocket Veto
Only _________ has the power to DECLARE WAR, but the ___________ can order troops to go to places.
CONGRESS has the power to DECLARE WAR
The PRESIDENT can order troops to go to places.
The ___________ is the chief executive of the U.S. The executive branch carries out ______________.
The PRESIDENT is the chief executive. The executive branch carries out LAWS.
The requirements to be President are:
- 35 years old
- born in the U.S.
- a resident of the U.S. for 14 years
The President serves a term of ___ years and can serve no more that ____ terms.
4 years.
2 terms.
The _________ can make a treaty with another country, but the _________ must approve it.
The PRESIDENT can make a treaty with another country, but the SENATE must approve it.
U.S. Supreme Court justices are appointed by _____________ , approved by the __________, and serve for ___________.
U.S. Supreme Court justices are appointed by the PRESIDENT, approved by the SENATE, and serve for LIFE.
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.
There are a total of 9 U.S. Supreme Court justices. (1 Chief Justice and 8 Associates)
checks and balances
a system where each branch can limit the power of another branch
census
a count of the people
veto
to reject
national government
highest level of government in the US
Amendment I
Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition (1791)
We have the right to free religion, to assemble, to petition the government and free speech
Amendment II
Right to Bear Arms (1791)
Americans may own weapons
Amendment III
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.)
Amendment IV
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)
Amendment V
Grand Jury, No Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process (1791)
Amendment VI
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.)
Amendment VII
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.)
Amendment VIII
No Excess Bail or Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment (1791)
if you are a criminal, you cannot be treated with brutality.
Amendment IX
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.)
Amendment X
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)
