US Constitution Test Study Guide

Question 1

Where does the power of the DoI come from?

Answer 1

The people

Question 2

What is the purpose of the DoI?

Answer 2

Colonists wanted to be free of England and explained reasons why.

Question 3

When was the DoI signed and approved?

Answer 3

July 4, 1776

Question 4

Who wrote the DoI?

Answer 4

Thomas Jefferson

Question 5

What is popular sovereignty?

Answer 5

The idea that govt can only get its power from the people.

Question 6

What group signed and approved the Const?

Answer 6

The Const Convention

Question 7

When was the Const signed and approved?

Answer 7

September 17th, 1787

Question 8

Who is known as the father of the Const?

Answer 8

James Madison

Question 9

What was the Great Compromise?

Answer 9

Settled disagreements between small and large states over how many representatives in Congress by creating two houses

Question 10

What is in the Const?

Answer 10

Preamble, articles and amendments

Question 11

What is the Preamble?

Answer 11

First part of the Const, stated belief govt gets its powers from the people

Question 12

How many articles are in the Const?

Answer 12

7

Question 13

How many amendments are in the Const?

Answer 13

27

Question 14

What do the first 3 articles of the Const do?

Answer 14

Established idea of separation of powers, outlines three branches of govt

Question 15

What is the Bill of Rights?

Answer 15

The first 10 amendments

Question 16

What did the Const establish?

Answer 16

Federalism and Separation of Powers

Question 17

What is Federalism?

Answer 17

The divide of power between a national and state govts

Question 18

What is Separation of Powers?

Answer 18

The divide of govt into 3 separate but equal branches.

Question 19

What are the types of powers given to the govt?

Answer 19

Reserved, Concurrent, Exclusive, Delegated

Question 20

What are reserved powers?

Answer 20

Powers given to the states if the powers are not given to the federal govt or not forbidden to the states.

Question 21

What are concurrent powers?

Answer 21

Powers given to both state and federal govt

Question 22

What are exclusive powers?

Answer 22

Powers only given to the national govt

Question 23

What are delegated powers?

Answer 23

Powers given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution

Question 24

How often must Congress meet?

Answer 24

At least every year

Question 25

What article of the Constitution states how often Congress must meet?

Answer 25

Article I

Question 26

What powers does Congress have?

Answer 26

Declare war, set federal tax rates, regulate immigration

Question 27

What powers are denied from Congress?

Answer 27

Recognize other nations, Ex Post Facto Laws, Habeas Corpus

Question 28

What does Ex Post Facto Laws mean?

Answer 28

To make an act illegal after the act was done and prosecute someone for it.

Question 29

What is Habeas Corpus?

Answer 29

Unjust indefinite imprisonment

Question 30

How many senators are in the US Senate?

Answer 30

100 (2 from each state)

Question 31

What are the requirements for becoming a US senator?

Answer 31

30 years old, citizen for 9 years

Question 32

How long are the terms for a US senator?

Answer 32

6 years

Question 33

How many members are in the US HoR?

Answer 33

435 members (members per state based on state populations)

Question 34

What are the requirements for becoming a representative in the US HoR?

Answer 34

25 years old, citizen for 7 years

Question 35

How long are terms for representatives in the US HoR?

Answer 35

2 years

Question 36

Who presides over the Senate?

Answer 36

Vice President or President Pro Tempore

Question 37

Who presides over the HoR?

Answer 37

Speaker of the House

Question 38

Through what process is the president elected?

Answer 38

Electoral College

Question 39

What decides what a state's electoral college votes go to?

Answer 39

Popular vote, winner takes all

Question 40

Can the president declare war?

Answer 40

No (big myth)

Question 41

What is the Cabinet and what does it do?

Answer 41

They are the heads of Executive Departments and they advise the President

Question 42

How does a Cabinet member become a Cabinet member?

Answer 42

They are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate

Question 43

What are the requirements for becoming the President?

Answer 43

35 years old, lived in the US for 14 years, natural born citizen

Question 44

What powers does the president have?

Answer 44

Commander in Chief, recognizes other nations

Question 45

What does the V.P. do?

Answer 45

Takes the place of the president if necessary

Question 46

How do national judges become national judges?

Answer 46

Appointed by President and approved by the Senate

Question 47

How long do national judges serve for?

Answer 47

For life

Question 48

What is the main power of the US Judicial Branch?

Answer 48

Judicial Review

Question 49

What is Judicial Review?

Answer 49

Courts power to review Legislative and Executive actions

Question 50

In what case was Judicial Review established?

Answer 50

Established by Marbury v Madison

Question 51

What did the case Brown v Board of Ed Topeka Kansas do?

Answer 51

Overruled laws stating segregation was legal

Question 52

What are the types of courts on the national level?

Answer 52

District Courts, Courts of Appeals, and Supreme Court

Question 53

What is the only crime defined in the Const?

Answer 53

Treason

Question 54

What is treason?

Answer 54

Making war against the US or aiding an enemy

Question 55

What are the requirements for being convicted of treason?

Answer 55

Must confess in open court or have two eyewitnesses testify against them

Question 56

What does the 1st amendment do?

Answer 56

Provides freedoms to express self and disagree and criticize the government, freedom to observe any religion one wishes

Question 57

What do the 5th and 6th amendments do?

Answer 57

Give rights when accused of a crime: - Can not be forced to testify against self. - Can not be tried for same crime twice - Right to a speedy and public trial

Question 58

What does the 10th amendment say?

Answer 58

Powers not given to Congress and not forbidden to the states are powers reserved and belong to the states. (Reserved Powers)

Question 59

What did the 13th amendment do?

Answer 59

Prohibited Slavery and involuntary servitude

Question 60

What does the 14th amendment say?

Answer 60

All people born in the US are citizens

Question 61

What does the 16th amendment say?

Answer 61

Congress has the power to levy and collect taxes

Question 62

What did the 18th amendment do?

Answer 62

Prohibited the making, sale or consumption of alcohol, aka prohibition

Question 63

What did the 21st amendment do?

Answer 63

Repealed the 18th Amendment allowing the making, sale and consumption of alcohol legal

Question 64

What did the 22nd amendment do?

Answer 64

Limited presidents to two terms, created by FDR