The Constitution and the Bill of Rights Flashcards
What does the phrase “We the people” mean?
It means the constitution was made with the consent of the people, which is a great difference in ideals back then.
What does the phrase “In order to form a more perfect union” mean?
It means that the constitution was the plan to help the problem of having a weak unified government and country because of the Articles of Confederation.
What does the phrase “Establish justice” mean?
It means that the constitution was the new government the founders made to have justice because they thought that the British government was not fair or just.
What does the phrase “Insure domestic tranquility” mean?
It mean that the government will make sure that there is peace within the country.
What does the phrase “Provide for the common defense” mean?
It means that the government will make sure that the country is safe from foreign threats.
What does the phrase “Promote the general welfare” mean?
It means that the government will have the job of taking care of the well-being of US citizens.
What does the phrase “Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
It was an old fashioned way of saying that the government will protect the liberty of its citizens and their children.
What does the statement “do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” mean?
It mean that as this statement was being made by the America people, that the people give their consent to establish the Constitution and its government.
What doe the phrase “Separation of powers” refer to?
It refers to the system of government where instead having all the power in one place, it divided and separated the power among three branches.
What is the name of the system that gives each branch the power to stop or influence the actions of other branches?
The name of this system is checks and balances.
What is Congress’s power?
Congress has the power to override a veto, controls the US budget, has the power to impeach judge or president and can approve presidential nominees to Supreme Court and other positions.
What is the president’s power?
The president has the power to veto laws and call special sessions of Congress, as well he/she has the power to appoint members of Supreme Court.
What is the Supreme Court’s power?
The Supreme Court has the power to declare an action from the president or a law from the Congress unconstitutional.
What does Federalism refer to?
It refers to how the nation and the national government share governing powers, with a system similar to the separation of powers.
How many articles does the constitution have?
Seven articles.
What does the first article state?
It states the power, form and process of Congress.
What does the second article state?
It states the power, qualifications for office, the process of indirectly electing the president and vice president through an Electoral college and all the departments serve under the president.
What powers does the president have?
Vetoing legislation, acting as supreme military officer, appointing executive and judicial officers, pardoning those accused of a crime and as well the power to conduct foreign affairs.
What does the third article state?
It states that the Supreme Court will be the chief court of the land, it also states that the Supreme Court and other federal courts has the power to review other branches by reviewing laws and executive actions to decide whether it is constitutional or not.
What does the fourth article provide?
The fourth article provides cooperation among the states and cooperation between the states and the national government, as well this article requires the states to respect one another’s laws and court action to bring criminals to justice, and to return runway apprentices, indentured servants and slaves, and also the government must assist the states in preserving rights of self-government, repelling invasions, and keeping order.
What does the fifth article state?
It states the process of how, to propose and ratify an amendment.
What is the process of making an amendment?
First, you have two options, to choose from on how to propose your amend(you can either propose by having Congress do a two-thirds vote in both houses or have Congress call a national convention by request of two-thirds votes from states legislatures, then you can ratify in two ways, either by having three-fourths of state legislatures approve it or by having conventions in the states approve it by three-fourths vote.
What does article five state?
It states that the constitution and the all national laws are more superior than state law.
What does article six state?
It briefly states on how it requires nine of thirteen states to ratify a law.
