Constitution Test

Question 1

Articles of Confederation

Answer 1

The federal government couldn’t tax (can’t raise money)
No leader (can’t keep things organized)
No federal military
No Supreme Court
All 13 states had to agree to make amendments
Each state had its own currency (inconvenient)
Each state had its own trade deals with other countries

Question 2

Social Contract

Answer 2

Government protects peoples natural rights

People give up less important freedoms

Question 3

Virginia Plan

Answer 3

Number of lawmakers based on population

Question 4

New Jersey Plan

Answer 4

Number of lawmakers equal

Question 5

Roger Sherman

Answer 5

Great Compromise

Question 6

Great Compromise

Answer 6

Connecticut Compromise

Senate, an equal number of senators, House of Representatives, based on population

Question 7

Three-Fifths Compromise

Answer 7

Each slave equals three-fifths of a person

Question 8

Electoral College

Answer 8

Every state has a certain number of electoral votes
Representatives + Senators = Electoral Votes
Vote for who gets electoral votes
Electors can vote for whoever they want
Party who wins the popular vote in state chooses electors
Total electoral votes= 538

Question 9

Bill to Law

Answer 9

Proposed law
Most do not turn into a law
Bill goes to Speaker of the House and they decide whether it is worth sending to the House
Speaker assigns it to right committee
House Committee researches bill if they like it they sign it
Then the House debates it
Majority vote, if wins, Speaker signs it
Vice president in charge of Senate when gone, President Pro Tempur
Senate Committee research and approve
Senate debate and a majority vote
If no revisions go directly to the president, if not goes to Conference Committee
They must agree on the final compromise bill
House must majority vote and agree
Senate must majority vote and agree
Goes to the president
President can do four things: sign it, veto it (goes back to House, House votes, 2/3 of House must agree, goes to Senate, Senate votes, 2/3 of Senate must agree, if both go through, bill becomes law), 10 days to leave it alone if Congress in session on 10th day (after 10 days becomes a law), leave alone for 10 days if Congress is not in session on 10th (after 10 days bill dies, pocket veto)

Question 10

2nd Amendment

Answer 10

Right to bear arms

Question 11

19th Amendment

Answer 11

Women’s right to vote

Question 12

13th Amendment

Answer 12

No slavery

Question 13

Supreme Court

Answer 13

Judicial Branch
Nine justices
Decides if laws are constitutional
Appointed by president
No official requirements
Serves for life
Checks Executive and Legislative branches: Decides if their decisions are constitutional

Question 14

The Senate

Answer 14

Legislative branch
535 members, 100 are the Senate
Main job: Make laws
Elected by state people
Have to be at least 30, have to be a citizen for 9 years, must live in the state
Serve 6-year terms, can be elected unlimited terms
Check and balance judicial: impeach judges, rejecting judge appt | executive: override a veto, impeach the president, refuse to approve treaties, reject Cabinet appt

Question 15

President

Answer 15

Executive Branch
17 people in the branch
Main job to carry out laws
Elected by electors through the electoral college, must have at least 270 votes
Must be at least 35, lived in the US for 14, be natural born US citizen
Term 4 years, can run for 2 terms
Checks judicial appoints judges, legislative, can veto laws

Question 16

House of Representatives

Answer 16

Legislative Branch
435 members and 5 non-voting members
Create and pass laws
Chosen every 2nd year, by people in the district
Must be 25 or older, must be a citizen for 7 years, and be the rep of state in which you live
Length of term is 2 years, can be re-elected unlimited times
Checks Judicial Branch by impeaching judges, can reject the appointment of judges, checks Executive Branch by impeaching the president, overriding veto, reject appts, can refuse to approve treaties

Question 17

5th Amendment

Answer 17

Right to remain silent

Question 18

6th Amendment

Answer 18

Right to a speedy trial

Question 19

1st Principle

Answer 19

Popular sovereignty

Question 20

2nd Principle

Answer 20

Limited government

Question 21

3rd Principle

Answer 21

Separation of powers

Question 22

4th Principle

Answer 22

Checks and balances

Question 23

5th Principle

Answer 23

Federalism

Question 24

6th Principle

Answer 24

Republic

Question 25

7th Principle

Answer 25

Individual rights

Question 26

Alexander Hamilton

Answer 26

New York representatives at Constitutional Convention
Wrote majority of Washington’s Farewell Address (warning against political parties and “foreign entanglements”
July 12, 1804- Died from a duel with Aaron Burr

Question 27

What Hamilton did as 1st Secretary of Treasury.

Answer 27

Began paying back war bonds purchased by citizens
Had federal government assume state debt from Revolutionary War
Began a federal system for tax collection
Helped the US establish credit with other nations

Question 28

Federalist Papers

Answer 28

Written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton
Argued for ratification of Constitution
Wrote 600 pages; 2 essays per week without time for proofreading or revision
Supreme Court quoted Federalist Papers 291 times by 2000

Question 29

The Preamble

Answer 29

We the people of the United States, in order 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, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.