Social Studies: The US Constitution

Question 1

Mayflower Compact

Answer 1

First attempt at self-government in the colonies

Question 2

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Answer 2

First written constitution in the colonies

Question 3

Articles of Confederation

Answer 3

First national constitution

Question 4

Misc I

Answer 4

The Senate ratifies treaties made by the president
The “necessary and proper” clause is the “elastic clause”, grants the US Congress “implied powers”

Question 5

Three Types of Constitutional Powers

Answer 5

• Enumerated (also: expressed, listed, or delegated)
• Reserved (or residual)
• Concurrent (or shared)

Not accepted: prohibitive

Question 6

Article I

Answer 6

Creation of the Legislative Branch

Question 7

Article II

Answer 7

Creation of the Executive Branch

Question 8

Article III

Question 9

Article IV

Answer 9

“full faith and credit!”

Question 10

Article V

Answer 10

Outlines the process for amending!!

Question 11

Article VI

Answer 11

Supremacy Clause!

No religious test to hold public office.

Question 12

Article VII

Answer 12

nine states required for ratification of the Constitution.

Question 13

The “original Constitution”

Answer 13

• Refers to the Constitution including the preamble and articles, but not any of the amendments.
• Prohibited:
  
  • Passing “ex-facto laws”
  • issuing bills of attainder
  • suspending a writ of habeas corpus
  • states placing duties on imports
• Included:
  
  • Extradition of fugitive slaves
  • direct election of Senators
  • the Electoral College
  • Ability of federal government to impose taxes

Ratified 1788; first state Delaware

Did not prohibit passing taxes on individual incomes (personal income tax), did not include seperation of church and state; did not provide that states receive one vote in congress

Question 14

Methods of Amending

Answer 14

congressional legislation
judicial review
customs and usage

Congress is the only method that has been successfully used to
propose an amendment to the US Constitution, not state or national conventions.
At present, 38 states is the minimum number needed to ratify an amendment before the change could occur

Not popular referendum

Question 15

Number of Amendments

Answer 15

27 (currently)

Question 16

Bill of Rights

Answer 16

collective name by which the first ten amendments are known

Question 17

Amendment 1

Answer 17

right to petition (This means that citizens have the right to approach their government for the resolution of problems, to express dissatisfaction with government policies, or to request changes in legislation or government practices.)

protects freedom of speech, press, and religion

Question 18

Amendment 2

Answer 18

bear arms

Question 19

Amendment 3

Answer 19

no quartering of soldiers

Question 20

Amendment 4

Answer 20

unlawful or unreasonable search and seizure
warrants needed for searches

Question 21

Amendment 5

Answer 21

deals with criminal justice
protection against double jeopardy
eminent domain
associated with self-incrimination

Question 22

]

Amendment 6

Answer 22

deals with criminal justice
speedy public trial
right to confront witnesses
the court system is compliant when it allows a suspectthe “Assistance of Counsel” for his or her defense.
states in part “In all
criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial,
by an impartial jmy …. “

Question 23

Amendment 7

Answer 23

trial by jury

Question 24

Amendment 8

Answer 24

deals with criminal justice
no excessive bail
no cruel and unusual punishment

Question 25

Amendment 9

Question 26

Amendment 10

Question 27

Amendment 11

Question 28

Amendment 12

Answer 28

Seperate ballots for president and VP
Added after the disputed election of 1800 electoral vote that declared Jefferson the president

Question 29

Amendment 13

Answer 29

abolished slavery

Question 30

Amendment 14

Question 31

Amendment 15

Answer 31

deals with voting

l

Question 32

Amendment 16

Answer 32

allows Congress to levy a federal income tax

Question 33

Amendment 17

Answer 33

deals with voting
direct election of senators

Question 34

Amendment 18

Answer 34

prohibited the manufacture, sale,
and transport of alcoholic beverages within the United States, “created prohibition”

Ratified 1919

Question 35

Amendment 19

Answer 35

deals with voting
woman’s sufferage

Question 36

Amendment 20

Answer 36

eliminated the lame duck sessions of Congress

Question 37

Amendment 21

Answer 37

The only Amendment to the US Constitution to repeal a previous amendment (18th, prohibition)
Only amendment ratified by state conventions

Question 38

Amendment 22

Answer 38

1951

Question 39

Amendment 23

Answer 39

gave washington dc three electoral votes

Question 40

Amendment 24

Answer 40

prohibits poll tax

Question 41

Amendment 25

Answer 41

defines the process of removing the
president from office if he becomes disabled, unable to fulfill his duties.
Ratification was aided by the illnesses of Dwight Eisenhower
order of presidential succession Amendment

Question 42

Amendment 26

Answer 42

voting rights
precipitated by protests of the war in Vietnam (lowered voting age from 21 to 18; “old enough to fight, old enough to vote”)

Question 43

Amendment 27

Answer 43

was not ratified for over 200 years

Question 44

The Constitutional Convention

Answer 44

• 1787
• Benjamin Frankin was the oldest attending member
• NJ Plan: every state has equal congressional representation and there is a unicameral legislature
• VA Plan: congressional representation is based on state population and there is a bicameral legislature
• The Three-Fifths compromise settled the controversy over the counting of slaves.
• Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed the “Great Compromise” or “Connecticut Compromise”, the method of determining U.S. congressional representation
• There was also a Rhode Island System?
• Principal participants in the Constitutional Convention: Roger Sherman, Ben Franklin (NOT: Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry.)

Question 45

The Federalist Papers

Answer 45

documents formally advocating the ratification of the US Constitution

Authors: Hamilton, Madison, John Jay

Question 46

Patrick Henry

Answer 46

radical Virginia orator who was a leader of the Anti-Federalists, opposing ratification of the US Constitution

Question 47

Benjamin Franklin

Answer 47

Who am I? I was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1706. When I was 17, I ran away to start a
new life in Philadelphia. I started a successful newspaper, and became active in Pennsylvania
politics. During the French and Indian War I proposed a plan for colonial unity that was never
adopted. During the Revolution, I helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of
Independence, and in 1787, I was the oldest delegate present at the Constitutional Convention

Question 48

James Madison

Answer 48

“father of the US Constitution”

Question 49

Alexander Hamilton

Answer 49

• Loose construction: interpretation of the constitution supported by Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists that invoked the “elastic clause” granting enormous powers to the federal government; “evolved the theory of loose construction of the Constitution by invoking the elastic clause.”
• Leader of the Federalist Party
• Greatly admired the British political, economic, and industrial system.
• Advocated for a strong Navy to protect commercial interests.

Question 50

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 50

Believed in rule by the informed masses and the extension of democracy and became President of the US.
Believed in a strict or literal interpretation of the Constitution
Favored France and the ideals of the French Revolution

Question 51

Misc

Answer 51

• Prohibited: self-incrimination, slavery, cruel and unusual punishment
• Not prohibited: gender bias in the workplace
• Wyoming was the first state to write woman’s sufferage into its constitution
• The Constitution does not have an amendment requiring a balanced budget every year
• Federal election day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.