Constitution Test Flashcards

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 the 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, establishing 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 cause 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.

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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 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

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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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

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22
Q

Which theory of the origin of the state is

the United States Constitution based on?

A

The Social Contract Theory.

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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 and 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
Live in the state they represent

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 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 the 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 is CA have today?

A

55

37
Q

What is a census?

A

A counting of the people.

38
Q

How often does the U.S. take the census?

A

10 years

39
Q

Why does the U.S. 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

51
Q

Who has the power to impeach?

A

The House of Representatives

52
Q

Who acts as the jury in an impeachment trial?

A

The Senate

53
Q

Who is the presiding judge in an impeachment trial?

A

The Chief Justice

54
Q

What part of the U.S. Constitution lists the powers of the Congress?

A

Article I - Section 8

55
Q

Who has the power to declare war?

A

The Congress

56
Q

What are the titles of the officers of the Senate?

A

President of the Senate

President Pro-tempore of the Senate