The Fed. Constitution of 1787 and the Amendments

Question 1

The Preamble’s goals

Answer 1

1) Form a more perfect union
2) Establish justice
3) Ensure domestic tranquility
4) Provide for the common defense
5) Promote the general welfare
6) Secure the blessings of liberty

Question 2

Article 1: Sections 1, 2, 3

Answer 2

Organization of the House and the Senate.

Question 3

Requirements for being a house member:

Answer 3

1) Must serve for 2 years
2) Be 25 years old
3) A citizen for 7 years
4) Reside in respective state

Question 4

Duties of the president pro tempore

Answer 4

1) Acts in absence of Vice President
2) Third in line of succession
3) Typically the longest serving senator

Question 5

Impeachment

Answer 5

1) House begins impeachment procedures with a simple majority
2) Senate votes to remove with a two-thirds majority.
3) Chief Justice presides over impeachment of a president, the Vice President presides over all other trials.

Question 6

Requirements for serving in the Senate:

Answer 6

1) Must serve for 6 years.
2) Must be 30 years old.
3) Must be a citizen for 9 years.
4) Must reside in state.

Question 7

Duties of the Vice President:

Answer 7

1) Is the President of the Senate
2) Rules over all impeachment trials, save for those of the president
3) Casts the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

Question 8

Article 1: Section 4

Answer 8

1) States are given freedom to determine voting regulations.

2) An annual session of Congress is required.

Question 9

Article 1: Section 5

Answer 9

1) Qualifications of members
2) Congress has the power to punish its members.
3) Congress must keep a record of its proceedings.

Question 10

Article 1: Section 6

Answer 10

1) Congresspeople are immune from arrest during a session.

2) Congresspeople may not hold double political office.

Question 11

Article 1: Section 7

Answer 11

Deals with bills

Question 12

Revenue bills

Answer 12

1) Must originate in the House of Representatives.

2) All other bills can originate from either house.

Question 13

Veto process

Answer 13

1) The president has a 10 day (excluding Sunday) time limit to either sign or disapprove a piece of legislation after it is presented to him.
2) IF the president disapproves the bill then it is sent back to the house from which it originated with his objections.
3) After it is sent back, a two-thirds majority is needed to override the veto.
4) OR the president will not sign the bill, in which case it will become law.
5) OR the president can not sign the bill during a period of time in which the Congress was adjourned.
6) This is called a pocket veto and Congress cannot override it.

Question 14

Article 1: Section 8

Answer 14

The powers of Congress

Question 15

Article 1: Section 9

Answer 15

The powers denied from Congress.

Question 16

Powers denied to Congress:

Answer 16

1) Cannot suspend Habeus Corpus, unless the public safety may require it.
2) Cannot create “Bills of Attainder”
3) No “ex post facto” laws
4) No tax may be levied on exports from states
5) No titles of nobility will be given

Question 17

Article 2

Answer 17

Deals with the Executive Branch and the Electoral College

Question 18

Requirements of the President and the Electoral College

Answer 18

1) President’s term is 4 years.
2) President must be 35 years old, a US resident for 14 years, and a naturalized citizen.
3) Electors will be equal to the number of senators and reps. of the state.
4) President’s salary will be set by Congress.

Question 19

Duties and Powers of the President

Answer 19

1) Commander in chief of the armed forces
2) Makes/negotiates treaties
3) Nominates ambassadors and judges.
4) Works with the cabinet.
5) Fills “recess” appointments
6) Gives an annual “State of the Union”
7) May adjourn Congress if they can’t agree on a time.
8) Receives foreign ambassadors.
9) Faithfully executes all laws
10) Commissions all officers of the military

Question 20

Federal courts

Answer 20

1) Established in A3S1
2) Inferior to the Supreme Court, created at Congress’s discretion.
3) Salaries of federal court justices set by Congress, they serve for life.

Question 21

The Supreme Court’s jurisdiction

Answer 21

1) Appellate jurisdiction over cases from lower courts
2) Actual cases and controversies.
3) Original jurisdiction over cases involving diplomats or interstate affairs.

Question 22

Treason

Answer 22

1) A3S3
2) The crime of levying war against the US or giving aid and comfort to her enemies.
3) The accused may confess in open court.
4) Two witnesses are required in open court.
5) Congress can set the punishment.
6) No “corruption of blood”

Question 23

Interstate Relations

Answer 23

1) Full faith and credit clause
2) Extradition of criminals back to another state
3) New states can be created by Congress
4) Congress remains in charge of federal properties.
5) All states are guaranteed Republican government and general protection.

Question 24

Amendment process

Answer 24

1) Congress proposes with two thirds vote of each house.
2) State legislatures ratify with three-fourts vote.
3) OR Two thirds of states request a national constitutional convention.
4) Three-fourths of specifically called state conventions vote to ratify.

Question 25

Article 6 and Supremacy Clause

Answer 25

1) Constitution is supreme law of the land
2) Leaders are bound by oath to support Constitution.
3) No religious tests for holding office.
4) All debts of the US under the Articles of Confederation will be honored.

Question 26

Article 7

Answer 26

Nine of 13 states needed to ratify Constitution.

Question 27

Admissions Clause

Answer 27

Congress admits new states. If parts of an existing state are involved, the state must give permission.

Question 28

Advice and Consent Clause

Answer 28

Treaties and nominations: President starts, Congress approves with 2/3 vote

Question 29

Appointments Clause

Answer 29

Congress can give permission for inferior officers to be set without the Senate’s approval

Question 30

Arisings Clause

Answer 30

The judicial power extends to all cases arising under the Constitution.

Question 31

Comity Clause

Answer 31

Congress can determine the effect of state laws if they conflict with the laws of other states.

Question 32

Commerce Clause

Answer 32

Congress can regulate commerce between states or with foreign nations

Question 33

Compact Clause

Answer 33

States cannot create compacts or agreement with another state without Congress’s approval.

Question 34

Contract Clause

Answer 34

States cannot pass laws impairing the obligation of contracts.

Question 35

Elastic Clause

Answer 35

Necessary and proper

Question 36

Exceptions Clause

Answer 36

Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction unless Congress makes an exception

Question 37

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Answer 37

States must honor the laws and rules of other states

Question 38

Guarantee Clause

Answer 38

Guarantees all states Republican form of government

Question 39

Origination Clause

Answer 39

Bills raising revenue must originate from the House.

Question 40

Presentment Clause

Answer 40

Bills must be presented to the executive.

Question 41

Subscription Clause

Answer 41

The list of the original signers of the Constitution.