U.S. Constitution Scavenger Hunt

Vocabulary flashcards covering key provisions, checks and balances, qualifications, and clauses from the U.S. Constitution.

Qualifications for the House of Representatives

Requirements specifying that a Representative must be at least 25 years of age, a U.S. citizen for 7 years, and an inhabitant of the state in which they are chosen.

Census

An actual enumeration of the population conducted within 3 years after the first meeting of Congress and every subsequent 10 years.

House Power of Impeachment

The sole power held by the House of Representatives to formally charge government officials with impeachment.

Senate Power of Impeachment

The sole power held by the Senate to try all impeachments.

Presidential Veto

A check on the Legislature wherein a bill passed by both houses is presented to the President, who may either sign it or return it with objections to the house of origin.

Veto Override

A legislative check on the Executive where a bill returned by the President becomes law if reconsidered and approved by a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Commerce Clause

A constitutional power of the Legislature to regulate trade with foreign nations, among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.

Legislative War Powers

Powers granted to the Legislature to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water.

Elastic Clause

A provision empowering Congress to make all laws necessary and proper for executing its powers and all other powers vested by the Constitution in the U.S. government.

Contested Presidential Elections

The procedure where the House of Representatives determines the President by ballot if no person receives a majority of electoral votes.

Qualifications for the President and Vice President

Requirements stating that an individual must be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years of age, and a resident within the United States for 14 years.

Commander in Chief

The executive war power designating the President as leader of the Army and Navy of the United States, as well as the militia of the several states.

Lifetime Appointment (Judiciary)

The provision that judges of both supreme and inferior courts hold their offices during good behavior unless impeached.

Amendment Process

The constitutional mechanism allowing two-thirds of both Houses of Congress, or a convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures, to propose amendments to the Constitution.

Supremacy Clause

The clause establishing that the U.S. Constitution, federal laws made in pursuance of it, and all U.S. treaties serve as the supreme law of the land.

Ratification Threshold

The requirement that conventions in 9 states were necessary to establish and adopt the Constitution between those ratifying states.

Qualifications for the Senate

Requirements specifying that a Senator must be at least 30 years of age, a U.S. citizen for 9 years, and an inhabitant of the state from which elected.