US Constitution

Question 1

what is the constitution?

Answer 1

a collection of rules, principles and conventions which outlines the political system, location of sovereignty and relationship between the government and those being governed

Question 2

what is the federal government?

Answer 2

the federal government is the national government of the USA, consisting of three branches- congress (legislative), presidency (executive) and the Judiciary (judicial)

Question 3

what is federalism?

Answer 3

Federalism is the system of government in which power and sovereignty are shared between the federal government and individual states

Question 4

What is the US Constitution?

Answer 4

-the governing document of American politics for over 200 years
-the source of all political power in the USA
-provides a clear structure for federal government
-protects the rights and liberties of US Citizens
-outlines federalism
-basis for Supreme Court rulings
-constrains the power of the branches of US government

Question 5

what are the origins of the US Constitution?

Answer 5

In Philadelphia in 1787, 55 men (known as the founding fathers) assembled to remedy the political problems evident in the Articles of Confederation. They then drafted a replacement for the Articles of Confederation ,the US constitution. Until 1788 when New Hampshire became the ninth state the ratify the Constitution making it binding.

Question 6

When was the US constitution written?

Answer 6

1787 and ratified in 1789

Question 7

How many times has the US constitution been formally amended?

Answer 7

27 times

Question 8

what are the key features of the US Constitution?

Answer 8

-7,000 words
-to avoid becoming outdated, the language in the Constitution is purposefully vague, to allow it to be adapted and interpreted over time
-The US constitution is CODIFIED (therefore sovereignty lies in the Constitution as the source of political authority and power)
-US Constitution is ENTRENCHED which means it is protected by the law

Question 9

what are the three branches of US Government?

Answer 9

EXECUTIVE (president)
LEGISLATIVE (Congress with includes the Senate and the House of Representatives)
JUDICIAL (Supreme Court)

Question 10

How can the EXECUTIVE branch check the powers of the LEGISLATIVE?

Answer 10

• can amend, delay or reject legislation

Question 11

How can the EXECUTIVE branch check the powers of the JUDICIAL?

Answer 11

-Can issue pardons
-can use the veto override

Question 12

How can the LEGISLATIVE branch check the powers of the EXECUTIVE?

Answer 12

• can veto bills
  -can impeach the president
  -can reject and approve appointments

Question 13

How can the LEGISLATIVE branch check the powers of the JUDICIAL?

Answer 13

-approves judicial appointments
-can create lower courts
-can suggest constitutional amendments

Question 14

How can the JUDICIAL branch check the powers of the EXECUTIVE?

Answer 14

-can rule actions of the executive branch unconstitutional
-nominates judges
-send nominations and treaties to congress

Question 15

How can the JUDICIAL branch check the powers of the LEGISLATIVE?

Answer 15

-can rule legislation unconstitutional

Question 16

How can the US Constitution be amended?

Answer 16

the US Constitution can only be amended formally though the process laid out in Article V entrenchment

Question 17

What are the 2 stages of the Amendment process?

Answer 17

1. A proposal stage at national level
2. A ratification stage at state level

Question 18

What is the ratification time limit?

Answer 18

Congress can place a time limit on the ratification process, typically 7 years. This is to avoid events like the 27th amendment, which took more that 202 years to ratify

Question 19

what are the strengths of the amendment process?

Answer 19

• the process works, with 27 amendments having been added
  -the constitution and its principles have endured the test of time, with the amendment process protecting these principles
  -the process requires bipartisanship, which prevents tyranny of one party or opinion
  -the process protects federalism by preventing the federal government from gaining too much power

Question 20

what are the limitations of the amendment process?

Answer 20

-the requirement of supermajorities has made the process too difficult
-the unelected Supreme Court gains too much power through interpretive amendments
-the process can allow for a tyranny of the minority, with just a few members of Congress or states being able to hold up amendments
-the process means it is difficult to incorporate new and evolving ideas into the US constitution, making it increasingly out of date
-the process has allowed for poor amendments such as the 18th amendment with was later repealed 14 years later by the 21st amendment

Question 21

what are the 5 key principles of the constitution?

Answer 21

1.the separation of powers
2.checks and balances
3.bipartisanship
4.limited government
5.federalism

Question 22

what is the separation of powers?

Answer 22

Governmental powers are divided between three branches of government, all of which can act independently and interdependently
IN THE CONSTITUTION: the powers that are outlined in Articles 1, 2 and 3. The branches are physically separate

Question 23

How effective is the separation of powers today?

Answer 23

effective:
-the branches remain completely separate from one another and act independently
ineffective:
- the president haas usurped some of Congress’s power (eg: dominates military actions)

Question 24

what are checks and balances?

Answer 24

each of the three branches of government can exercise control over the other branches
IN THE CONSTITUTION: the checks laid out in Article I, II and III

Question 25

How effective are the checks and balances today?

Answer 25

effective:
-use of checks such as veto and overide demonstrate their continued importance
ineffective
- checks and balances can lead to gridlock and ultimately government shutdowns

Question 26

what is bipartisanship?

Answer 26

the requirement of political parties to act together
IN THE CONSTITUTION: the 2/3 requirements for amendments and the veto override

Question 27

how effective is bipartisanship today?

Answer 27

use of veto override proves that bipartisanship