Government Quiz Constitution Hall Pass

When and where was the Constitution signed

september 17 1787

if a pres. Vetos a bill how can congress overrule it?

Get a two thirds supermajority vote from the house of rep. and the senate

how many memebers in house of rep.

400

how many members in congress

535

the United States has how many branches of government

3

What was the first branch to be described in the Constitution?/The Founding Fathers wrote more about this branch of government than any other.

Legislative branch

What is the primary job of the Legislative Branch

Making laws

What is the common name of the Legislative Branch?

Congress

What are the two houses of Congress?

House of representatives and senate

Where is the job of Congress spelled out in the Constitution?

In article one of the constitution

How do we the people have a voice in lawmaking and how do we ensure our voice is heard?

Know our constitutional rights

Where does Congress meet and conduct business? (building and location)

The US Capital in Washington, DC

Who laid the cornerstone for the Capital and when? (year)

George washington on september 18th 1793

During which war was the Capital burned down?

The war of 1812

List a minimum of 5 jobs Congress is responsible for.

Laying and collecting taxes

Regulating Foreign Commerce

Maintain the Navy

Regulate post offices and roads

Declare War

what are the steps in making a law

A member of one of the two houses introduces a bill for consideration 

The bill is discussed in a subcommitee

The bill is discussed in a regular committee meeting

The bill is discussed by the entire house.

The entire proces is repeated in another house

Who approves the law

the president

Each member of Congress has the responsibility of meeting the wants and needs of whom?

The entire Country

Where did the Continental Congress sign the Declaration of Independence?

independence hall in Philadelphia

What was the governing document of the country before the Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation

What were Madison’s words in describing a government and its people? 

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.

Who did Madison choose to present his ideas to the convention and why?

He chose Edmund Randolph because he was the governor of Virginia at the time and had more political respect.

Describe the Virginia Plan in a minimum of 10 bullet points.

• Wanted a legislature of two houses

• Based on the population of the state, they would have more people in the legislature

• The people of the state would elect people of the lower house

• The people of the lower house would elect people of the upper house

•  The upper house would be in charge of choosing executive judges

• The legis. Would choose the national executive

• Any laws established by the national legis. Would be superior to laws passed by individual states

• All of the people in the office had to swear an oath of allegiance to the national government 

• This plan made it so bigger states would outvote the smaller states.

• This plan made smaller states afraid they wouldn't be heard

• The plan had triggered a chain reaction for Williams Patterson to make his own plan.

Describe the New Jersey Plan in a minimum of 7 bullet points.

• Made by William Patterson

• It had a legislature with one house

• Each state would get one vote

• The national executive was elected by the people

• All federal laws would supersede state laws

• The new government would only be able to regulate trade

• The new government could also tax foreign goods

• They could also raise a military from the states

• The plan needed a national executive to be elected by the people

• The elected would only get one three-year term in office

• The legislature would appoint a national judiciary that would serve for life

• National laws would take precedence over state laws

Which state threatened to pull out of the Union if a fairer plan to smaller states wasn’t adopted?

Delaware

Who led the small group that proposed the Connecticut Compromise?

Roger Sherman

Describe the Connecticut Compromise in a minimum of 3 bullet points.

• Wanted a middle ground between the virginia and new jersey plan

• they had two houses 

• One house for equal representation of all states

• One house for bigger states to get more representation

What was the meaning of Benjamin Franklin’s quote “ a republic, if we can keep it”?

It's up to the citizens to put the constitution into action.

Each member of Congress has the responsibility of meeting the wants and needs of who?

Their constituents