US Constitution/Bill of Rights Unit Test

Define Republican

member of the republican party

What issue does Article IV (4) address?

Each state respects laws and decisions made by other states

What must the state or Oregon do about the laws of Idaho?

Respect them

Who is given the power to admit new states?

Congress

Could Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire join together to form a new state? How?

Yes, Congress and the states of Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire would have to approve of it.

What is a republican form of government?

A government elected by the people instead of a monarchy

Under the Articles of Confederation, how could the relationship between the states be described?

A loose friendship

Under the Constitution, how could the new relationship between the states be described?

Each state respects each other’s decisions

Define judicial

having to do with the court system

Define appeal

heard for a second time

What is the job of the judicial branch?

interpret/explain laws

What is the job of the legislative branch?

make laws

What is the job of the executive branch?

enforce laws

What is the name of the highest, most important court in the US?

Supreme Court

What are the titles of the men and women who serve on the high court?

Justices (8 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice)

How many serve on the high court?

9

How long do they serve on the high court?

for life

Who appoints the justices?

President

Who approves the justices?

Senate

How many district courts are there?

91

How many appeal courts are there? 

12

List the courts of the Federal Judicial System

Court of Military Appeals, US Tax Court, US Claims Court

Define amend

change

Define ratify

approve

What issue does Article V (5) adress?

amends to the Constitution

What two ways can an amendment be proposed?

2/3 of both houses of Congress has to agree, 2/3 of state legislatures call a constitutional convention

What two ways can an amendment be ratified?

¾ of legislatures in the states must ratify, ¾ of the states must have individual constitutional conventions

What fraction must propose an amendment?

2/3

What fraction must ratify an amendment?

3/4

Define unconstitutional

law goes against the US Constitution

Define treason

aiding the nation’s enemies

What is the process of checking the laws of our lands called?

judicial review

What does it mean when the Supreme Court declares a law “unconstitutional”?

This mean the law is void because the Constitution is more important

An example of treason?

Oklahoma City bombing

What must happen in court for a person to be convicted of treason?

2 witnesses must testify to the same story, accused must confess in court

Define jurisdiction

power to hear cases

What are the nine types of cases the Supreme and Federal courts have jurisdiction over?

Constitution, federal laws, treaties, law governing ships, ambassadors/public ministers, US government, 2 or more state governments, 4 citizens of different states, state/citizens vs. foreign  country/citizen

What is original jurisdiction?

The court’s authority to hear a case for the first time

What is appellate jurisdiction?

Supreme Court can only hear a case after it has gone through the court system

What is a writ of certiorari?

Formal request to the Supreme Court to hear a case

Why did the framers include Article VI (6) in the Constitution?

It establishes the Constitution as the “supreme law of the land”

Is it possible for the city of Chicago to make a treaty with the country of Germany? Why or why not?

No, only the President can make treaties with other countries

How many states must ratify the Constitution before it can go into effect?

9

How many years after the Declaration of Independence was the Constitution written?

12 years

What document was governing the US before and during the writing of the Constitution?

Articles of Confederation

List 4 signers of the Constitution

1) John Rutledge 2) Roger Sherman 3)Alexander Hamilton 4) Jonathon Dayton

What are the four divisions of the executive branch?

1) Cabinet 2) Independent Agencies 3) Government Corporations 4) Regulatory Agencies

How many Cabinet departments are there?

15

What is the title of the head of the Department of Defense?

Secretary of Defense

List 3 Cabinet departments

Department of State, Defense, and Treasury

Which President created the Cabinet and when?

President Washington in 1789

Give an example of an independent agency

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Give an example of a government corporation

United States Postal Service (USPS)

Give an example of a regulatory commission

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)/Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Define impeach

remove officials from office when they fail at their job

Define misdemeanor

minor crimes

Define bribery

offering an item to influence an individuals actions

Which house of Congress begins the impeachment process?

The House of Representatives

Which house of Congress acts as the jury and tries the case?

the Senate

Who acts as the judge at the impeachment trial of a President?

Chief Justice of Supreme Court

In order for an official to be convicted , what fractions of the Senate needs to agree?

2/3

Who was the only President to have gone through the entire impeachment process?

Andrew Johnson

At what point during the impeachment process did President Nixon resign? When?

August 9, 1974

How many Presidents have been removed from office by being found guilty after the impeachment process?

none

What are the five categories that the powers of the President can be put into?

1) Commander in Chief 2) Chief Executive 3) Chief of State 4) Chief Legislator 5) Chief of Party

What is the President’s title to the US Military?

Commander in Chief

What is the President’s responsibility to the US Military?

Makes decisions regarding the US Military

What is the President’s title to the business aspect of the US government?

Chief Executive

What is the President’s responsibility to the business aspect of the US government?

Makes sure all employees are doing their job correctly

What is the President’s title to the aspect of foreign relations?

Chief of State

What is the President’s responsibility to the aspect of foreign relations?

Represents US when traveling/greets and hosts guests from other countries

What is the President’s title to approving/disapproving/suggesting laws?

Chief Legislator

What is the President’s responsibility to approving/disapproving/suggesting laws?

approving, disapproving, suggesting laws

What is the President’s title to his political party?

Chief of Party

What is the President’s responsibility to his political party?

Makes decisions

What are the three requirements to be the US President?

1) Natural born US citizen 2)At least 35 years old 3) Lived in US for at least 14+ years

In the proper order of succession, who will take over in the event the President dies?

1)Vice President 2) Speaker of the House 3) President pro tempore 4)Secretary of State

What is the President’s salary?

$400,000

When is a President elected?

First Tuesday after first Monday in November

When is a President inauguarated?

January 20

Who usually administers the oath of office to the President?

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Define execute

carry out or put into effect

Define executive

having the power to put something into effecti

What is the title of the chief executive, or head, of the executive branch of the US?

The President

What is the title of the second in command?

Vice President

What is the job of the electoral college?

To represent the amount of votes from your state

How many electoral votes does California have today?

54

What was the original purpose of the electoral college?

To keep people from making mistakes and choosing a disastrous leader

Who chooses the President in the event of a tie?

The House of Representatives

What does “habeas corpus” mean, literally?

“You shall have the body”

Why does the Constitution prevent Congress from taking away our right of habeas corpus?

In cases of rebellion or invasion

What is a bill of attainder?

A law passed by the government that convicts a person of crime and punishes them without a trial

What is an ex post facto law?

Punishes people for crimes that weren’t crimes when they were done

What is are 4 other limits placed on the Congress?

1) Cannot tax products from a state 2) Cannot give preference to any state’s seaport 3) Government money can only be spent by passing a law 4) Congress cannot issue titles of nobility

Define delegated powers

powers given to the national government

Define concurrent powers

powers shared between the national and state government

Define reserved powers

powers that only the states have

List/describe four powers given to the Congress by Article I, Section 8

tax, borrow money, commerce, naturalization

What is the “elastic clause”?

Gives Congress the power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper”

Define enumerated powers

powers specifically given to the Congress by the Constitution