Chapter 3 American Government

A change to the constitution

What is an amendment?

rule of law

The government and its officers must obey the \___, which is another way of describing the concept of limited government.

article

An \___ is one of the seven numbered sections of the Constitutions.

checks and balances

The system of \___ helps keep one branch of government from dominating

separation of powers

Constitution provides for the \___ by creating the 3 branches of government

popular sovereignty

"We the People" establishes its authority on the basis of \___

unwritten

The President's Cabinet changing the constitution is an example of an \___ custom.

2/3 propose and 3/4 ratify

How many votes does it take for Congress to propose and ratify a formal amendment?

electoral college

The use of the \___ is a "rubber stamp" for constitutional changes from party practices.

Bill of Rights

The \___ were considered the first basic constitutional rights of the people.

president power, legally like a treaty

What is considered to be part of the executive agreement process?

impeach judges

How does the legislative branch check the judicial branch?

congressional

The Judiciary Act of 1789 was an example of \___ change to the Constitution.

checks and balances*

The President being able to veto an act from Congress is an example of the principle \___

equal state representation

What does Article V of the constitution state?

separation of powers

When there is a \___, power is distributed among the 3 branches of government

constitution

The \___ set guidelines for the government to operate, can be interpretive, and is the highest form of law in the United States

Congress

\___ can effect changes to the Constitution by passing legislation, adding meaning, and simply exercising many of its powers.

convention delegates

States legislatures ratifying amendments rather than \___ is a criticism of the formal amendment process.

proposed, ratified

All constitutional changes must be \___ and \___ as part of the amendment process.

federal. gov not being supported by the states

What does Article VI of the constitution state?

rule of law*

The government being held accountable for their actions is an example of the \___

separation of powers*

What basic principle can be diluted when the President and the majority of Congress are from the same political party?

judicial review

The power of \___ applies to actions by both the Federal and State courts.

conventions

Ratification in keeping with the principle of popular sovereignty should be done by \___

legislative

The \___ branch of government plays the largest role in the amendment process.

propose, ratify

The Constitution requires fewer votes from the states to \___, but more votes to \___.

Bill of Rights*

The \___ was added to the Constitution to meet the demands of the Anti-Federalist.

amendment

Once ratified, a constitutional amendment may only be changed by another \___

checks and balances

The constitutional changes brought by various Presidents have circumvented the principle of \___

legislative

What branch of government gets the task of "adding the flesh to the bones" of the Constitution?

constitution*

Every branch of government has had some effect on the changes made to the \___

unwritten*

A public official that violates an \___ custom is unusual and may cause the custom to be added to the Constitution